How much power for B&W 803 speakers ?
Zorglub
I am about to spend a few (!) dollars for a pair of Nautilus 803.
Those are probably the speakers that gave me the best listening
experience, given my budget.
Now, what about the power ? I was about to go for a Rotel RB-1080
(2x200W), but the salesguy suggested that, if I can afford it, I
should shoot for the RB-1090 (2x380W). That sounds a lot, especially
since the room I will initially set the system in is not that big.
But is it a factor ?
What do you guys think ? Is the extra cost worth it ? What does extra
power bring ?
Xavier.
Joseph Oberlander
1: Zilch if you can't drive it.
2: Anything over 100 watts(total per pair) is going to be extremely
loud anyway.
3: Efficiency and impedance is much more important. A 85db speaker
will not sound half as loud as a 93db model. The 93db model also
uses a lot less power from your amp as well - a win-win situation.
4: The salesperson is trying to get a larger commission.
Todd Spangler
IMO, 100 wpc would be sufficient, and 200 wpc would be more than
you would probably ever need. I continue to be amazed at the
plethora of megawatt amps available, many of which seem to be
hooked up to relatively efficient speakers. My own speakers are
91 dB sensitivity B&W 604's, driven by two channels of a 120 wpc
Bryston 5B-ST. I have yet to get the amplifier more than slightly
warm; although, it must be said that my room is on the small side.
Perhaps I am just not enough of a headbanger.
Todd
Mark
that it is plenty of power for these speakers unless you are into
blasting your eardrums.
Mark
"Zorglub" <brun...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:9oahg...@enews4.newsguy.com...
Ray
803.
> Now, what about the power ? I was about to go for a Rotel
RB-1080
> (2x200W), but the salesguy suggested that, if I can afford it, I
> should shoot for the RB-1090 (2x380W).
Great choice of speakers!
I think the Rotel 1080 will be just fine. However since you are
presumably buying this stuff from your local high-end dealer, they
should be able to let you borrow both amps. That way, you can
determine which amp you like in your own listening room. I did
that, and as a result I am very happy with my choice of amp. I
took the time to listen for an entire weekend and kept swapping
between the 2 stereo amps I was considering buying, and for the
hell of it I also occasionally tried a Yamaha receiver and a home
theater amp. Tell you what, you definitely see the law of
diminishing returns in action, and you'll see how much you are
paying for the last few percent in sound quality.
Usually, the store will request to authorize, but not charge, the
amount of the borrowed equipment on your credit card. If you've
been a customer at the store, they'll even open up a new box and
let you borrow that if they don't have a "demo" handy. That's the
kind of service you pay for and get to expect from a local dealer.
Tony Skitt
You won't hear the difference, but you will spend the next 10 years
feeling smug because your amp is more powerful than almost every
other one mentioned on rec.audio.high-end. If you buy the 1080 you
will spend the next 10 years wondering what you missed!
Regards
Tony Skitt
Zorglub wrote in message <9oahg...@enews4.newsguy.com>...
Jordan Gilman
> (2x200W), but the salesguy suggested that, if I can afford it, I
Xavier, I am powering Nautilus804's with a Bryston 3B-ST 120 watt power
amplifier. I do not believe that the power requirements of the 803 are
different than the 804. I could be wrong. The Bryston/B&W combination is
terrific, however it isn't hard to drive the amplifier into the red.
However, at this volume level the police would probably arrive to arrest me
at the request of my neighbors before I would notice any audible distortion.
I would suggest saving the money, or using the money to buy a BETTER
amplifier instead of a more powerful one. One word about these speakers,
they are revealing. You need top notch electronics to power them. I don't
know how much the price difference would be, but if you can afford it, the
amplifier I would suggest for you would be the Bryston 4B-ST. This is a
BETTER amplifier than the Rotel. And considering that the Bryston has a 20
year warranty, you could pick one up used and save a bundle. You might be
impressed by the Rotel in the short term, but if your ears are at all as
sensitive as mine, it will not be long before you start noticing its
shortcomings.
-Jordan Gilman
Ben
not good but not in the same league. As far as I'm concerned, the
difference between the 3b and 4b is not much and this is based on a personal
listening session at home with both amp. But the 4b has definetely an edge
over the 3b.
Ben
Jordan Gilman wrote in message <9ortl2$dqo$1...@bourbaki.localdomain>...