I have two pair of 801c series 2 and one has the North Creek crossovers. They are being driven by Classic 150 amps that have had cap upgrades done at Audio Research. The crossovers greatly improve the overl performance of the speakers. The bass is more solid and the mid-range has gained detail and musicality. I like experimenting with new possibilities, but the cost of upgrading on the performance of these 10 year old speakers would be substantial.
How to upgrade B&W Matrix Series 2
The upgrade frame-of-mind is starting to set in and I am considering upgrades to the B&W Matrix Series 2 speakers, purchased new in the late 1980s. Unfortunately, the only local dealers are midfi at best although there is a Vandersteen dealer within a 90 minute drive. The amplification components are all Pass/Threshold with the S550e amp and Fet 10e preamp and Sony SCD 777ES CD player. I think the speakers still carry a good trade-in value. The budget could probably accomodate new speakers in the list price range of $4,000 or so and then I would work to trade or sell the 801's. Auditioning in my location is difficult, so I am searching for opinions which can make my search a little more efficient. Thanks.