Amplifier for B&W

[RaceCarDriver]

Michi P5 Pre $3,999 US
Michi S5 Stereo $6,999 US
Michi M8 Mono $6,999 US

Also announced

X3 integrated, 200W x2 $4,999
X5 integrated, 350W x2 $6,999

[Dilettante]

Originally Posted by RaceCarDriver

Michi P5 Pre $3,999 US
Michi S5 Stereo $6,999 US
Michi M8 Mono $6,999 US

Also announced

X3 integrated, 200W x2 $4,999
X5 integrated, 350W x2 $6,999

I think those are the correct pricings

[Dilettante]

Originally Posted by silversurfer6

3.5k for the pre, 6k for the stereo and 6k for the mono. I guess the mono could be classified as expensive.

But u do get 500W for the stereo and 1080W for the mono @ 8 ohms which is crazy. If you compare these with the similar specs macs then they are cheap.

Realy looking forward to test them.

Pricings for the new Michi products : $4k for the pre, $7k for the stereo amp, $14k/pair for the monoblocks. I guess they are cheap compared to the new Classe Delta products or Macs.

[obiwankenobi]

Looking at 803D3 for some time. I know this is not ideal but has anyone paired this with Marantz AVR SR7013 or the new SR8015? Does it match well? My listening pattern is 50/50 for music and movies. I dont intend to get a subwoofer for movies as I am quite satisfied with the bass it produces.

[PeterMusic]

Originally Posted by obiwankenobi

Looking at 803D3 for some time. I know this is not ideal but has anyone paired this with Marantz AVR SR7013 or the new SR8015? Does it match well? My listening pattern is 50/50 for music and movies. I dont intend to get a subwoofer for movies as I am quite satisfied with the bass it produces.

I have not heard either of those amps, but I think they are about 10% of the price of 803s, so it's hard to imagine they will do the 803s justice. Most would spend as much, or almost as much, on amplification as they would on speakers.
You might be much happier with dropping your speaker budget and increasing your amp budget. Maybe 804s, or 805s and a sub, then spend the balance on a stereo amp?

[doggiehowser]

The Marantz has one good feature - its HDMI board is extensively tested with all manners of TVs and sources and is generally bullet proof.

Amplification however is not so good. I reckon the older Marantz and Denons in the 2000s era would sound way better.

Try the 601x series. 6011/2/3 already support a lot of the latest acronyms. And it can handle up to 11 channels of processing.

So the best thing you could do is get a power amp to work the 803D3 and use the preamp outputs for LR to the power amp. I personally prefer Anthem to Rotel’s 15 series. But if you can spring for it, Arcam’s Class G (running in Class A for 15/25W and then up to 80/120W AB) is a really good match for B&W. Short of going to something like a Classe Delta. Or a Dan D’Agostino. Or PS Audio BHK

[obiwankenobi]

Originally Posted by PeterMusic

I have not heard either of those amps, but I think they are about 10% of the price of 803s, so it's hard to imagine they will do the 803s justice. Most would spend as much, or almost as much, on amplification as they would on speakers.
You might be much happier with dropping your speaker budget and increasing your amp budget. Maybe 804s, or 805s and a sub, then spend the balance on a stereo amp?

Originally Posted by doggiehowser

The Marantz has one good feature - its HDMI board is extensively tested with all manners of TVs and sources and is generally bullet proof.

Amplification however is not so good. I reckon the older Marantz and Denons in the 2000s era would sound way better.

Try the 601x series. 6011/2/3 already support a lot of the latest acronyms. And it can handle up to 11 channels of processing.

So the best thing you could do is get a power amp to work the 803D3 and use the preamp outputs for LR to the power amp. I personally prefer Anthem to Rotel’s 15 series. But if you can spring for it, Arcam’s Class G (running in Class A for 15/25W and then up to 80/120W AB) is a really good match for B&W. Short of going to something like a Classe Delta. Or a Dan D’Agostino. Or PS Audio BHK

Thanks for your advice. Good info there. The idea of a poor man 803D3 might not be feasible after all. The plan is to get the speakers now and slowly hunt for a capable amp. I am actually eyeing for the Japan-made Marantz SR8015 which supports 140W per channel... in theory that is before saving up for amps.

https://www.us.marantz.com/en-US/sho...ceivers/sr8015

[hdvidguy]

Originally Posted by obiwankenobi

Thanks for your advice. Good info there. The idea of a poor man 803D3 might not be feasible after all. The plan is to get the speakers now and slowly hunt for a capable amp. I am actually eyeing for the Japan-made Marantz SR8015 which supports 140W per channel... in theory that is before saving up for amps.

https://www.us.marantz.com/en-US/sho...ceivers/sr8015

Separates are really the way to go. Yes, expensive but try used market and move up over time. It’s a great and fun hobby. I heard the 803 D3 with Bryston 4BSST and Bryston pre amp, I think was the BP-17. Sounded great!

[Dilettante]

Originally Posted by obiwankenobi

Looking at 803D3 for some time. I know this is not ideal but has anyone paired this with Marantz AVR SR7013 or the new SR8015? Does it match well? My listening pattern is 50/50 for music and movies. I dont intend to get a subwoofer for movies as I am quite satisfied with the bass it produces.

I wouldn't pair the 803 D3 with an AVR period. Far from ideal pairing. It's like putting a Honda Civic engine in the Ferrari.
The B&W 600 series or 700 series S2 would be more suitable pairing with AVRs.

[silversurfer6]

I agree that an AVR is not a good match, you are wasting your money on the 803. There are lots of simple very powerful integrated amos that can drive these speakers:

Rotel Michi new integrateds
Marantz PM10, PM12
Any of the Mcintosh amps

The above are some of the ones I use. Almost any brand wil have an amp to suit them.