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B&W Speakers Bowers & Wilkins Greatest |
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#1
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Power to drive Nautilus 803 S speakers
Seeking opinions on downsizing my system. I will be downsizing my system moving from a 5.1 setup to 2 channel After making an investment in a Bryston sp 3 processor which sounds absolutely tremendous. However the sp 3 is underutilized. My front three channels are currently being driven by a 3 channel bryston 6b sst amp rated at 300 wpc. I am considering an investment in the bryston b135 sst2 which is rated at 135 wpc. Originally I was going to use my B&W CM5 's as my new stereo speakers but really don't want to part with the 803's as they not only currently sound great but in my opinion are amazing from an industrial design standpoint in my opinion.
Do you believe that the 803's will sound disappointing due to the lower power output? How would you articulate the expected difference? Would you recommend the CM 5's to be driven by the 135wpc integrated amp? Thanks for reading this as I value the opinions of B&W forum readers. |
#2
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Hello,
I posed a somewhat similar question to B&W Support recently about adequate amplification for my own 803's (newest Diamond line). Though I was asking about a 60watt Class A amp (PASS XA60.5) and they were pretty adamant about not going to an amp that small. I guess depending on your expected MAX SPL output level in the room you have them located in you could probably get a general idea of how loud they will play given a 135w input. In theory that is enough power to produce well over 100db of output given their sensitivity. Things get tricky though when the speakers start to dip below 4ohms so the Integrated Amp will need to be able to maintain an good steady output as the load becomes more brutal. |
#3
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Thank you for your detailed response. this is interesting and helpful. tony
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#4
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Those B&Ws are power hungry, the more power you give them the sweeter they will sound. I would say a minimum of 200 wpc.
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#5
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audiomania... Welcome!
__________________
Ivan FLORIDA MX136, MC1.2KW(10) MC2KW(2), MCD1100, MS750(2) MVP881, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, HT-2 SUBS(2) HT3F(2) WS350(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) XCS350(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" MOTORIZED SCREEN, CINEMA-TECH SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES Reference System: ACCUPHASE A300 AMPS, C3900 PRE-AMP, DP1000 CD/SACD TRANSPORT, DC1000 DIGITAL PROCESSOR, DG-68 DIGITAL EQUALIZER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, PS1230 POWER SUPPLY, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, WW PLATINUM CABLES CAPE COD MX150, MC501(2) MC1.2KW(10) MC2301(2) MR88, MVP881, MCD1100, MDA1000, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, ESOTERIC K-01X 30th ANNIVERSARY (BLACK) SACD/CD PLAYER, G02-X CLOCK, HT3F(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(4) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) KALEIDESCAPE STRATO & TERRA SERVERS 80-TB, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" SCREEN, SONUS FABER STRADIVARI, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, FORTRESS SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES Analog Rig: CLEARAUDIO INNOVATION WOOD, UNIVERSAL ARM w/ Da VINCI' CART, 2nd UNIVERSAL ARM w/ GOLDFINGER STATEMENT CART, HRS-MXR REFERENCE RACK-GLOSS BLACK w/ M3X SHELVES, AESTHETIX RHEA SIG PHONO-PRE, BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, WW PLATINUM CABLES Reference System: BURMESTER 911MK3 AMP(3), 088 PRE-AMP, 089 CD PLAYER, 100 PHONO PRE-AMP, 948 POWER CONDITIONER, ACCUPHASE DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, AVID ACUTUS REFERENCE SP TT, GRAHAM PHANTOM II SUPREME ARM, BENZ MICRO LP-S CART, GRANDIOSO P1X/D1X STACK, G1X RUBIDIUM MASTER CLOCK, N05 NETWORK PLAYER, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, SONUS FABER AIDA SPEAKERS, JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(2) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) WW PLATINUM CABLES Library System: GRANDIOSO M1 MONOBLOCK AMPS, C1 LINESTAGE PRE-AMP, K1X CD/SACD PLAYER, G1 MASTER RUBIDIUM CLOCK, E02 PHONO-PRE, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, AERIAL ACOUSTICS 20T V2, AERIAL SW12 SUBS(2), CANTON REF K1’s, VPI HRX TT w/ SDS POWER SUPPLY, ORTOFON CADENZA BLACK CART, KLAUDIO RCM, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2, SHUNYATA OMEGA QR’s, WW PLATINUM CABLES Esoteric/Bryston System: ESOTERIC C02-X PRE-AMP, P-02X TRANSPORT, D02-X DAC, G02-X CLOCK, BRYSTON 28B3 CUBED MONOBLOCK AMPS(4), BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2(2) EVEREST 8000 POWER CONDITIONER(2) ALTAIRA CG & SG HUBS, AMR-DP777-SE DAC, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, QUADRASPIRE RACK, WW PLATINUM CABLES Accuphase/Canton System: ACCUPHASE E800 INTEGRATED, DP570 CD/SACD PLAYER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, PS530 POWER SUPPLY, CANTON REF K3’s, CANTON REF K5’s, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS MXR REFERENCE MAHOGHANY RACK w/ M3X2 SHELVES, WW GOLD CABLES |
#6
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I agree. I was using 130wpc and recently upgraded to 300wpc, then realized how much detail i missed. Go for the highest wpc, most natural sounding, and eye pleasing power amp you can!
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#7
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Hard to see you being happy with CM5 after 803s. Keep what you have, maybe sell the surrounds.
You need the big amp for the 803 and because its a 3 channel amp it should have more in reserve in two channel mode. |
#8
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Welcome audiomania!
About the 803's, dont short them on power, its ok to have more power then what's nominal, a number of people here are using 600w or more then 1kw amp's on B&W speakers. The 803s's call for 250, I wouldn't go less then that, so I woud stick with the Bryston at 300wpc. Technical Details Peak Power Handling 250 watt Nominal Power 250 watt Frequency Reponse 42 Hz - 20 kHz Impedance 8 ohm Sensitivity 90 dB I think you would regret stepping down to the CMT5's from the 803's. |
#9
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I concur with what others have said regarding keeping the 803s and keeping the power as high as you can. Welcome to the forum and enjoy the music!
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