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  #201  
Old 09-02-2020, 09:14 PM
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Originally Posted by obiwankenobi View Post
Looks like I will be broke soon in a few months, or at least until D4 comes around.

Sorry for the noob question. If I save up for MC601, I would need two of these to power each speaker? Considering each costs about US$10k!

Is there a single, mid-range amp that is able to do a decent job?
Yes they are mono blocks but try looking on the used market. Amps tend to hold up over time especially McIntosh. There is always 601’s for sale especially with the newer model 611’s coming out recently. You should be able to find them in the $9k range. At least in the US.

Before I bought the 803d3 I demo them with a few different amps. Mark Levinson, Rotel, Parasound, Audio Research and a mc452. Of all of them my wife and I preferred the 452 driving them. In the end I decided to “go big or go home” so I purchased the mc601 and I was not disappointed. I believe you would be happy with a used Mc 452 driving the 803d3 but only you can decide that.
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  #202  
Old 09-02-2020, 09:43 PM
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MC601 can be bad for under 10K a pair.
MC611 new are $7,500 each
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  #203  
Old 09-02-2020, 11:00 PM
obiwankenobi obiwankenobi is offline
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Originally Posted by dkorbal View Post
Going from AV power to the MC601 definitely made a difference. With the Denon and Marantz AV there was always ear fatigue when played at higher volume. Which was my major concern with the 803D3. With the mc601 that’s not an issue any longer. The music is much smoother and relaxed. They effortlessly drive the speakers. The bass got a little tighter and clarity got better.
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Exactly. Setting aside the specifics, this is a great illustration of why it's critical to invest in amps--speakers are only half the equation. (Ok, maybe 60%, haha)
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Originally Posted by dkorbal View Post
Yes they are mono blocks but try looking on the used market. Amps tend to hold up over time especially McIntosh. There is always 601’s for sale especially with the newer model 611’s coming out recently. You should be able to find them in the $9k range. At least in the US.

Before I bought the 803d3 I demo them with a few different amps. Mark Levinson, Rotel, Parasound, Audio Research and a mc452. Of all of them my wife and I preferred the 452 driving them. In the end I decided to “go big or go home” so I purchased the mc601 and I was not disappointed. I believe you would be happy with a used Mc 452 driving the 803d3 but only you can decide that.
Yes MC452 seems more affordable for me as I only need to get 1 to drive both speakers. I have heard 803D3 with Rotel and they sounded amazing. How do you find MC452 compared to this?
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  #204  
Old 09-03-2020, 07:46 AM
hdvidguy hdvidguy is offline
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Originally Posted by obiwankenobi View Post
Yes MC452 seems more affordable for me as I only need to get 1 to drive both speakers. I have heard 803D3 with Rotel and they sounded amazing. How do you find MC452 compared to this?
I posted somewhere this forum that I heard the 803D3's on all Bryston gear. The amp I heard was the 4B Cubed. It sounded very nice. Sorry, I have nothing else to compare it to. If you are looking for a stereo amp, they have the 14B or monos the 7B Cubed. Both have the same power ratings. You can search for pricing in your region, but guessing they would be less $$ then the other listed just recently in this thread.

Maybe someone can chime in if they have compared Bryston to MC611/MC601? Unfortunately, there's is not a dealer here in the Toronto GTA that carries both.

Last edited by hdvidguy; 09-03-2020 at 08:07 AM.
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  #205  
Old 09-08-2020, 04:11 AM
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Which of the lot do you reckon offers the most value for money?

I would highly recommend listening to the 800D3 series with an Arcam Class G amplifier. I’m listening to the Arcam SA30 right now and it’s a beautiful pairing. Drive. Dynamics and a richness. Doesn’t cost the earth either. You can still use a Marantz AVR for the surround audio decoding and use the SA30 as a power amp for front channels in HT mode. The SA30 is also a music streamer with a really good ESS9038 DAC.
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  #206  
Old 11-27-2020, 10:56 PM
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Originally Posted by doggiehowser View Post
I would highly recommend listening to the 800D3 series with an Arcam Class G amplifier. I’m listening to the Arcam SA30 right now and it’s a beautiful pairing. Drive. Dynamics and a richness. Doesn’t cost the earth either. You can still use a Marantz AVR for the surround audio decoding and use the SA30 as a power amp for front channels in HT mode. The SA30 is also a music streamer with a really good ESS9038 DAC.
I would believe having dedicated pre and amp would give you the best sound with 800 D3. It’s a great investment.
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  #207  
Old 12-31-2020, 01:55 PM
Eugene Brusilovsky Eugene Brusilovsky is offline
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I am looking for some amp recommendations for B&W 804d3.

My top choice is currently is the Rotel rb1590. Given that B&W are matched with Rotel by B&W I would assume that this would be one of the best or most efficient combinations. I have listened to the smaller Rotel amps with these speakers and have really enjoyed the sound but have never tried the rb1590. I did prefer the Rotels to Mcintosh and Arcam when auditioning.

I am also considering a Bryston 4b3 but am not sure if it would pair as well as the rb1590. For me, given a larger price tag performance different would have to be substantial to justify a 2x cost. By substantial I mean any normal person should be able to point out the difference easily.

Given that I do enjoy the sound of the Rotel, but may appreciate something more analytical and accurate (not sure if it exists at a comparable pricepoint), is the Rotel Rb1590 a good choice or would you recommend I look into others to compare to?
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  #208  
Old 12-31-2020, 05:09 PM
PHC1 PHC1 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Eugene Brusilovsky View Post
I am looking for some amp recommendations for B&W 804d3.

My top choice is currently is the Rotel rb1590. Given that B&W are matched with Rotel by B&W I would assume that this would be one of the best or most efficient combinations. I have listened to the smaller Rotel amps with these speakers and have really enjoyed the sound but have never tried the rb1590. I did prefer the Rotels to Mcintosh and Arcam when auditioning.

I am also considering a Bryston 4b3 but am not sure if it would pair as well as the rb1590. For me, given a larger price tag performance different would have to be substantial to justify a 2x cost. By substantial I mean any normal person should be able to point out the difference easily.

Given that I do enjoy the sound of the Rotel, but may appreciate something more analytical and accurate (not sure if it exists at a comparable pricepoint), is the Rotel Rb1590 a good choice or would you recommend I look into others to compare to?
Welcome to AA Eugene!

The word "normal" is a very abstract term in audio.

Seeking a linear relationship of dollar input vs performance output is also futile.

While I have not personally heard the RB1590, it seems like a very well designed, brute of an amp under the same parent company as B&W. If you preferred the Rotel sound with B&W over other amps, why try spending 2x as much?

The Bryston amps are fantastic, neutral, powerful and fast sounding as they take full control over speakers. The 350W Rotel RB1590 is no slouch either, I am sure. Following what your own ears and intuition tells you upon an audition is a much better bet than advice and opinions of others, of which there is no short supply.


The RB1590 should be a great match.

Good luck in your quest.
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  #209  
Old 01-01-2021, 01:53 AM
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Eugene Brusilovsky... Welcome to AA!
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  #210  
Old 01-01-2021, 04:08 AM
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I would believe having dedicated pre and amp would give you the best sound with 800 D3. It’s a great investment.


I agree that a Pre and power combo would sound better but he was on a tight budget and I have heard how well the Arcam works with the 805D3 and 702S2

Normally the 804 and up get partnered with pricier amps so I haven’t actually heard the Arcam SA30 with the 804

I’ve recently been playing with an Accuphase E380 which I really like - really complements the Diamond tweeter. They have the E480 which has more power too and they have monos that are stable down to 1 or 2 ohm loads.

While it is true Rotel is used in Bowers designs, I reckon it was only true for some of the lower ranges. The higher end models used to be designed with Classe. So it definitely pays to try a better amp to go with the 800s. The old adage about fitting cheap tires to Ferraris still applies. I feel if you are already splurging for an 800 series, it’s worth stepping up the amp quality too.

And as much as Rotel is a good brand, I always feel their best days are behind them. The new models very often feel like reskinned versions of their older models. Some would say the older ones were even better built.
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