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Add sub to 802D4s?

I’ve been thinking about adding a sub to my newish B&W 802D4s. They’re driven by a McIntosh 462. I love the tightness and quick response of the speakers, and I love the thump of the bass. I listen to mostly rock, new, old, alternative, and less often to chill, jazz or blues, piano or classical.  I have a friend who is quite knowledgeable that thinks it’s a bad idea, as the speakers are very capable and well balanced, so a sub would not only be superfluous but counterproductive. Any experts here agree, or disagree? 

cmb13
jeffreyw's avatar
jeffreyw
270 posts
 

@soix 

#1

@james633 

You will have to search very hard to find an amp that produces hard-hitting bass like the MC 611s. The closest I have heard was a Gryphon Diablo, but I believe the Mac trumps it. However, if you want to get into amps that are stratospherically priced, you would find quite a few.

darkblacksmoke's avatar
darkblacksmoke
21 posts
 

@jeffreyw 

I have 802D4s that I bi-amp. I use two mono-blocked MC275s for the highs and the mids and at first had an MC302 dedicated to the lows. It did the work but not without the feeling that it while it did the it, it would rather spend its time knitting or pressing flowers. I now use Pass Labs xa160.8 monoblocks for the lows and when they're not eating road kill or give filterless cigarettes to kids they make the MC302 look like it failed out of clown school. The MC462 is an objectively better amp than the MC302, no question, but it's still playing minor league/Class A/B baseball in comparison to the effortlessness of the fully Class A Pass Labs. 

I had initially decided to go with Mc 600w mono-blocks but hearing those even against the xa25.8's I knew immediately I wasn't getting the Mc monoblocks.

piebaldpython
61 posts
 

I tried everything under the sun to integrate subs with Maggies. In the end I had to get an active crossover (Bryston 10B sub) to get things right. 

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