2. amps-preamps
  3. 1162286737

Which amps with B&W 800D's... Pass Labs or Classe?

I am finally down to the wire... I am considering either the Pass Labs X350.5, a pair of the X600's, or a pair of the Classe CA-M400's to power my B&W 800D's. I am having the hardest time making this decision. I love my music loud, and I listen to alot of large-scale symphonic music, choral music, jazz, and various recordings that are very grand in nature. I am planning on incorporating a center channel and surrounds eventually in a theater and multi-channel setup and I would like to use the same brand of amp for those speakers once I decide to add them. I have heard great things about all of the amps above, but I cannot make that final leap of faith. Are the Pass Labs amps and the CA-M400's from Classe in the same league? I would love to get the Omega Omicron monos, but the budget does not exist for those right now. If I get the Pass Labs X600's, I am considering upgrading to the X600.5's when the budget allows. I have heard great things about the class-a capability of the Pass Labs amps. I am not keen on bi-amping and I really need some help in making this decision. I look forward to your advice! Thanks.

-Dave
mad14
longhornsrule's avatar
longhornsrule
1 posts
 
I love B&W nautilus line and see the 800d's come up at a great price now and again, but I am so surprised nobody mentioned trying Krell here. I used to buy and sell all kinds of used amps and processors just to try,a nd the Krells always put out such incredible bass control, and lovely upper extension even on their 250 wpc home theater line amps, that I would be shocked if the new Krell class A amps that just came out couldn't drive those things all day with 300 WPC and to the point where you couldn't imagine needing more power. They are 90 db efficiency, and I tested so many brands.

The IBias Krell duo channel @ 300 wpc into 8ohms I am sure would rock those speakers all night long and sweet. I would love to hear that before trying others. I hate Classe, love pass but not as much as Krell, and McIntosh does work well with B&W, but I hadn't heard the beyond the 801 which was $120000 retail and had only the single huge woofer personally.
skinzy's avatar
skinzy
180 posts
 
I recently purchased a pair of Classe CT-M600’s. I love these amps. They run cool and sound great with my Wilson Alexia’s. These are simply a higher power version of the CA-M400’s. Best amplification value in high end audio.
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 

Dave (Mad14)
We listened just yesterady to many amps on the B&W800D's which are a pig of a load (combined impedance and - phase angle), and the amp that won was the one that could double it's wattage for each halving of impedeance from 8 to 4 to 2ohms.
And the only one game enough to advertise this out of all the amps that you listed that do this right down to 2ohms, is the Classe Omega Omicron Monos.

Cheers George
tli
52 posts
 
I have used B&W 800 series speakers for over 10 years. Starting with the original N800 to the latest 800 Diamond. The speakers had been driven by high power tube amps like Sonic Frontiers Power 3 and Audio Research Reference 250 and solid state amps like Mark Levinson 436 and Pass Labs Xs150.
I think I know the sonic signature of B&W 800D. The treble extends to the top but the presentation is light and no bang. The bass goes deep and tonal but not tight enough for some people. The midrange is the weakest part. The borderless driver lacks dynamics and resolution when compared with more resolving speakers like Wilson Audio.
B&W has to be driven by high power solid state amp with fast and bright sound to compensate the speaker deficiency. Class A Pass Labs is not a good match because it has more a tube sound than many tube amps. Top model Classe should match it well.
jafant's avatar
jafant
19,733 posts
 
Classe' is a natural, sonic match for those B&W speakers.
Especially, seek out the Omega series- it will be worth it.
Top it all off w/ Transparent cables/cords and you are set!
Happy Listening.
More to discover