music4nusic
pfm Member
In essence I have always had B&W speakers (27 years now) currently the 802 Diamond D2's. Yet the remaining elements of my system have evolved massively over the years while striving for the ultimate (to my ears). But there remains something missing. Because of this I have been on an endless search and a very expensive one at that, that has seen me buying, buying, buying, changing cables and different components from amps to decks to carts. I am starting to face the demon of demons and the forced contemplation that it may actually maybe my speakers that are what need changing. I did this same thing 3 years ago and stepped from B&W 803's to the 802D's. Here I am again.
To amplify (pardon the punn) on the course i was about to embark upon:
Firstly, let me say that the 802 diamonds thrill me in the lower frequencies and the treble i adore but there are times when the vocals become tiring and etchy and this seems to be attributed to the mid range Kevlar diaphragm (guessing). I have for years now refused to believe it could possibly be my speakers and yes that was probably based on my initial impressions years ago that for the money you just cant get better than B&W. Recently i contemplated my amplification set up might be the thorn in my side; and please lets not get into the debate of bi-amping but i am a believer. I have a Musical Fidelity AMS 50 driving the top end and 2 Musical Fidelity M8-700's driving the base. All into a Musical fidelity Primo pre-amp. Upon experimenting and swapping top to bottom it always resulted in the AMS 50 doing a more refined and airy presentation of either base or treble whichever it was attached to. Taking the Bi-amp out and returning to stereo (only the ams 50 driving all) it was more what Im after but lacking the punch probably as id just reduced the total power output significantly by removing the M8-700's from the equation. Now we all know the B7W's need a lot of umpff and the initial solution might seem to be to replace the M8's with another AMS 50, but you just cant get them any more.....despite searching.
That led me to consider replacing the M8's with valve mono blocks in order to replicate that very relaxed and yet solidly gripped presentation of the AMS 50. Icon audio 845's i thought, perhaps MB90's, who cares? The problem is; can i get to hear these things in my system!!! The answer is no. It just seems that dealers these days aren't interested in a 10k sale.
Then came the thought ....speakers....B&W have a new range of the diamonds out the D3's! So, here I am at a decision point and Im finding the process quite demoralising in that the dealers out there just dont seem interested in what must be a reasonable sale to grab. Home demo? "Are you kidding we want to sell we don't want to make an effort", well that's the impression I'm getting.
So I'm calling upon the wealth of knowledge and experience out there of my fellow PFM members, and here are my options:
Replace the M8-700's with some silky smooth valve mono blocks, while at the same time not wanting to dampen that tweeter on the 802's. Replace the B&Ws with.....wait for it.....I was considering either the new 802 D3's or, Triangle Magellan Quatuor, or, Focal Sopra n3?
One thing is for sure, I'm not making the same mistakes again by buying blind and if it means going to the European dealers to get a home demo then so be it, but I was hoping that you guys might have some experience of the items mentioned above and I welcome any opinion but would rejoice if this stumbled across a dealer who was interested in helping and potentially making a sale that would result in my system being resolved from the issue described herein.
Thank you in advance to all.
To amplify (pardon the punn) on the course i was about to embark upon:
Firstly, let me say that the 802 diamonds thrill me in the lower frequencies and the treble i adore but there are times when the vocals become tiring and etchy and this seems to be attributed to the mid range Kevlar diaphragm (guessing). I have for years now refused to believe it could possibly be my speakers and yes that was probably based on my initial impressions years ago that for the money you just cant get better than B&W. Recently i contemplated my amplification set up might be the thorn in my side; and please lets not get into the debate of bi-amping but i am a believer. I have a Musical Fidelity AMS 50 driving the top end and 2 Musical Fidelity M8-700's driving the base. All into a Musical fidelity Primo pre-amp. Upon experimenting and swapping top to bottom it always resulted in the AMS 50 doing a more refined and airy presentation of either base or treble whichever it was attached to. Taking the Bi-amp out and returning to stereo (only the ams 50 driving all) it was more what Im after but lacking the punch probably as id just reduced the total power output significantly by removing the M8-700's from the equation. Now we all know the B7W's need a lot of umpff and the initial solution might seem to be to replace the M8's with another AMS 50, but you just cant get them any more.....despite searching.
That led me to consider replacing the M8's with valve mono blocks in order to replicate that very relaxed and yet solidly gripped presentation of the AMS 50. Icon audio 845's i thought, perhaps MB90's, who cares? The problem is; can i get to hear these things in my system!!! The answer is no. It just seems that dealers these days aren't interested in a 10k sale.
Then came the thought ....speakers....B&W have a new range of the diamonds out the D3's! So, here I am at a decision point and Im finding the process quite demoralising in that the dealers out there just dont seem interested in what must be a reasonable sale to grab. Home demo? "Are you kidding we want to sell we don't want to make an effort", well that's the impression I'm getting.
So I'm calling upon the wealth of knowledge and experience out there of my fellow PFM members, and here are my options:
Replace the M8-700's with some silky smooth valve mono blocks, while at the same time not wanting to dampen that tweeter on the 802's. Replace the B&Ws with.....wait for it.....I was considering either the new 802 D3's or, Triangle Magellan Quatuor, or, Focal Sopra n3?
One thing is for sure, I'm not making the same mistakes again by buying blind and if it means going to the European dealers to get a home demo then so be it, but I was hoping that you guys might have some experience of the items mentioned above and I welcome any opinion but would rejoice if this stumbled across a dealer who was interested in helping and potentially making a sale that would result in my system being resolved from the issue described herein.
Thank you in advance to all.