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B&W 804s too bright

Hi all, I have just purchased a used pair of 804s in good condition. But the thing is, I find that they actually sounded a bit too bright. Before this I was using a pair of Martin Logans and had no such problem. I was thinking whether it is my other equipment which is giving me the problem.

I am running the 804s with Emotiva XPA-3 power amp, ERC-1 CDP and Marantz 6003 as preamp. In between pre and power I have a Yaqin tube buffer to add a tinge of tube taste to all.

Any suggestions?
chaozhoi
gpgr4blu
1,077 posts
 
McIntosh goes very well with B & W, esp the tubed amps. Tames the highs v well.
mechans
3,048 posts
 
The suggestion to try Cardas cables is a good one to tame some of the harshness, but is only a step in the right direction. You will need to get rid of the class D Emotiva amp.
You have already said no to tubes, which I eventually went with, on a long journey to find the right gear for my hyper fetailed JM Lab/Focals speakers. I really liked the speakers and knew that I would eventually find a way to get the sound I heard in the store.
McIntosh might not be such a bad idea but they are expensive. I never could find a great deal on a Mac and ended up buying a real small, real old power, cosmetically challenged amp to use with my vintage Klipsch LaScalas. The 2505 was an early SS model that put out 50wpc. It has the channel gain pots you can use for balance or even as volume pots instead of a pre. If you do that you are limited to a single source.
chaozhoi OP
8 posts
 
i forgot to mention. Although I am using Emotiva ERC-1, it is actually connected to a MF M1 DAC. I have also gotten rid of the Marantz 6003 as preamp and got a Adcom 750.

I am using Belden interconnects and looking at changing them to Chord CrimsonPlus XLRs. Power amp wise i will need some time to choose and get for the price involved. Do u think Chord CrimsonPlus is a good choice? Reviews also mentioned that VDH will sound smoother and warmer which might be a good thing for me but comes with a higher price tag.

Wonder if anyone has experience with Chord CrimsonPlus IC or should I just go for VDH?
lewinskih01
906 posts
 
I have 804S with McIntosh MC275 tubes and love it. You don't want tubes. At the time I auditioned McIntosh MC252 (ss) which was very good too. Try and audition. Classe was good too, but I myself preferred the McIntosh SS sound to Classe with the 804S. Mc also has good HT amps.

A used Rowland would also be a nice amp for these. Some have mentioned Mark Levinson too.
chaozhoi OP
8 posts
 
Anyone uses Chord CrimsonPlus XLR with the 804s? Not easy to get Van Den Hul or Cardas in my country. We do have a lot of Chord options.
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