2. amps-preamps
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buying today,need your thoughts

today a local in Santa Barbara is BRINGING to MY HOUSE
B&W N803
Arcam CD 23
Kimber bifocal 4'
Kimber 1011 qty 1

I get to hear these thru the Perreaux 2150B and SM 2 I own.
I am buying the above for $3,000.
He is also offering the Plinius CD LAD for a great price as well...maybe $500.

So, I wanted to know:
cable ideas matching the Perreaux and Arcam and N803's
other things to help..power conditioners, cords, etc I read about from you all.

If I buy the CD LAD, do you think it is best to try it with the 2150b instead of the SM 2 to see how that sounds as a total unit?
would there be a good idea on an amp to use with the CD LAD?
should I bi amp?
is the 2150B and SM2 a good match for the N803/CD23

what would you do...

I isten to mostly rock, guitar players, Clapton,Santana, Allman Brothers, also jazz,miles and coltrane etc and acoustic like Hedges,.

I definitely like to TURN IT UP
and really desire.....the sound to be clear and refined and powerful as I increase the volume when I know a great part is coming. That is why I am spending this money...I dont want to play it loud, and then hear imperfections that get in the way of the total love and passion of the music playing.

thanks
128x128turnitup1234
rsbeck
887 posts
 
With the right amplification, in a moderate sized room, you can play the N803's loud enough to make your ears bleed.
steveaudio
331 posts
 
I haven't heard N803's, but I have owned several B&W speakers, including M802's. I remember the review in TAS when the N803's first came out; they mentioned that they weren't at their best when played really loud.........

Also, I don't know your amp(s), but I second Philjolet's suggestion that most larger B&W 's like LOTS of power.
sean
6,231 posts
 
Playing "loud enough" and "sounding good" while doing it are two different things. Most good sized speakers hit a brick wall at somewhere around 105 - 108 dB's at an appr 8' - 10' listening distance. Momentary peaks may be higher, but if you try to sustain "rock concert levels" or "long duration crescendo's", most speakers will fall on their face. Smaller, less efficient speakers may not even come close to the aforementioned figures.

Rsbeck: I think that the speakers would give out LONG before anyone's ears begin to bleed. Even highly efficient horn loaded speakers like K-Horns and La Scala's can't do that. Not even sitting one meter from the speakers. That's because Klipsch rates even their "Pro" versions of these speakers as having a max output of 128 dB's @ 1 meter. Sure, they can cause permanent hearing loss, but bleeding out of your ears, no way. Especially not a far less efficient speaker like B&W's at a typical listening distance. Sean
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philjolet's avatar
philjolet
2,305 posts
 
My buddy had N803 with several different amps, the best being Rowland, but every time he turned it up the speaker sounded strained. His room is very big, about 20 x 30 with a very high ceiling so I am sure that is part of it...

He now has 802D and they fill the room effertlessly.
rsbeck
887 posts
 
>>but bleeding out of your ears, no way<<

Mmmm....I don't know how to tell you this, but -- it is just a figure of speech.
I didn't really mean you would sprout a plasma gusher from the ear holes. I
meant that with the right amplification, you could play them real loud. I've
heard them driven with a Plinius SA 250 Mark IV and they played real loud
and real clean. I am open to the argument that loud to me might not be loud
to Philjolet, but try telling that to Philjolet while he has buckets of human
ketchup pouring out of the sides of his melon.
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