Makes sense, I'm not into HT and have a tendency to skip past details on it and was thinking just one system.
Amp/Receiver for B&W Matrix 803
- Thread starter c n
- Start date
Mrv8q
Audiofool
I’ve had your M803’s big brothers, 802S2s since 1997. Started out with an Adcom 555 amp at 200W/channel. Upgraded to a Rotel 1095 also at 200 per side. A bigger amp is going to be better; lots of 555s around and are good but the oldest are now approaching 40 years of age..
Do check the 803s and see if all drivers are operating. There was an optional B&W bass alignment filter for all 800-series Matrix speakers; do you have that as well?
Do check the 803s and see if all drivers are operating. There was an optional B&W bass alignment filter for all 800-series Matrix speakers; do you have that as well?
Let me preface this with a note of sorrow for being the typical PIA that I am, my response is meant to snap you back into reality: You bought those B&W speakers without doing your due diligence and you should just sell them and start over from scratch. You will never find a suitable amplifier for them for less than $2500, let alone $300.
Buy some Home theater speakers that are designed for use with low powered AV receivers. B&W speakers are higher end (aka not really for home theater use) and require powerful amplifiers that cost a lot of money. Look for some Polk or similar speakers that will do what you want without breaking the bank.
www.polkaudio.com
Buy some Home theater speakers that are designed for use with low powered AV receivers. B&W speakers are higher end (aka not really for home theater use) and require powerful amplifiers that cost a lot of money. Look for some Polk or similar speakers that will do what you want without breaking the bank.
Home Theater Sound Systems | Polk Audio
Polk Audio offers high-quality home theater systems. Enjoy immersive audio with our speakers, sound bars, & subwoofers for an unbeatable experience.
www.polkaudio.com
totally not true. 3 amps have been mentioned in this thread so far that are more than capable and far less than $2500
The OP might consider becoming a subscribing member (click on subscribe in the upper header). For $25 per year, you get access to Barter Town; a subscriber only forum where members buy, sell and trade with each other. Mostly audio equipment, but there are other categories. 2 amps that recently sold are a B&K Reference 4420 ($495) putting out 350w into 4 ohms and a Forte Model 3 ($600) putting out 400w into 4 ohms. Both are high current amps, more than capable of driving the B&W speakers.
I've owned an ex4420 (slightly less power than the Reference), and currently use a Forte Model 3 to drive my KEF 104/2's. The Forte is, by far, the better sounding amp.
Personally, I'd keep the B&W speakers, and save up to get the necessary amp/pre to drive them.
I've owned an ex4420 (slightly less power than the Reference), and currently use a Forte Model 3 to drive my KEF 104/2's. The Forte is, by far, the better sounding amp.
Personally, I'd keep the B&W speakers, and save up to get the necessary amp/pre to drive them.
I'm happy to become a paying member again. Pretty sure I was for a couple years when I started my vinyl journey. At that time I had lucked into a turntable off Craigslist that needed repair but which was higher quality than I had a right owning. I used these forms extensively to figure out what I'd gotten myself into. Ended up selling it along with the Ohm speakers when I hit a financial rough patch. I don't regret selling the turntable because my Fluance has been just fine but I do regret selling the Ohms.
I wouldn't try to run them loud with any of those three amps... (I like serious overkill, not merely adequate)
@c n , I wouldn’t panic too much and would just enjoy those 803’s. That Yamaha is a sweet little receiver but may not have the juice for the 803’s in a big room. I own quite a few legitimate options in the <$300 range that would drive the 803’s and sound very good doing it. Would they bring out the best the 803’s can offer? Probably not quite but that doesn’t mean you can’t have great sound just the same. Keep your eyes peeled both here on Barter Town and FB Marketplace. Some great deals to be had for sure. NAD integrated and power amps can be excellent for the dollar and units from Adcom, Acurus, Denon, Yamaha, Rotel come to mind for offering very good value and good sound, especially those from ‘90’s.
And they are all ancient and likely need work to be reliable, I wouldn't use them (new iron is more reliable IMO). My ancient Onkyo M-508 with 200 wpc amp is now used to run very efficient Monitor Audio Silver 100 bookshelf speakers. Even when brand new in 1986 it couldn't handle the 1.6 ohm load my Infinity RS4b throw at it when turned up and went into protection. My Schiit Tyr mono blocks and Schiit Wotan laugh at them, and even my little 160 wpc Parasound A23+ can handle them easily.
Just admit he's right @painttoad after all you should know better than many that older kit can't be freshened up and made as good as or better than when it was new. 
Open that wallet and get something new for $2500+
Open that wallet and get something new for $2500+
nope. i know better. no point in arguing. it's up to everyone else to talk the op out of believing that it requires a $2500 amp to drive those speakers. i've said my piece.Just admit he's right @painttoad after all you should know better than many that older kit can't be freshened up and made as good as or better than when it was new.
Open that wallet and get something new for $2500+
Im sorry but I call complete BS on this post... A Nelson Pass designed Adcom or a Hafler XL280/500/600 will drive those speakers ALL DAY long without breaking a sweat and then ask for more.. The 280 is 2 ohm stable and can take 1 ohm dips.. Please tell me you dont think these amps are going to keel over and die because you hooked up some 803's to them...
Best part is if something breaks on the amp ( YOU CAN FIX IT )..
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My point is they are old and need to be recapped to be reliable... BTW my RS4b's with their stupid crossover design that has two dips to 1.7 ohms at 2Khz and 1.6 ohms at 50HZ made an Adcom 555 release the magic smoke and it was only two years old at the time.
Last time I checked we are on a forum for Vintage Audio right? Recap? Thats like $100 or less. I get what your saying but its not accurate... This gear can be tuned up and repaired over and over and over for dirt cheap.. Some of the new stuff tanks in value as soon as you buy it, I love Schiit gear but you can have killer sound without spending thousands.
He can use the Yamaha for phono; either temporarily or permanently if he wants.