803D4 - what integrated we thinking is a better match? Hegel? McIntosh? Other?


Hello fellow crazy people.

Running an 803D4, currently powered by a Cambridge Evo 150

Just set up a office pair of Genelec's 8330A's with a 7350A, used the Genelec SMA calibrator.... and love the sound.   They sound better than the BW's, which means the Evo is at a limit.

Bound by "real life" constraints of not being able to convert the system into a whole room dedicated with separates and cables etc etc so.... looking at integrated amps.

Anyone have any experience with Hegel H400 vs H600?
Of course considering the MA9500 

What else should be on the radar?

Thank you!

pritchettsclosets

You can throw a lot of money away trying to make a pair of B&W speakers sound right. Some people can listen to them all day long. If you are one of those people, that's fine. You just need to make sure before you spend a lot of money. If you have a dealer, or some friends that can loan you an amp for a couple of days, do it.

Over the years, I've owned several pairs of B&W's (most were 800 series), and some of the brands I thought went well with them are, Rowland, Plinius, Belles, Pass and ARC. Just keep in mind that this is just my subjective opinion. What I like, you may not. I suspect McIntosh would be a good match, but I don't have enough experience with them to give a recommendation. I know most of their products have tone controls. They can be useful.

@pritchettsclosets 

Get any McIntosh with autoformers, it'll tame that egregiously aggressive high end that B & Ws have!

Depends completely on what specific improvements you’re looking for and what sound characteristics are most important to you. 

I've owned and heard at several audio shows B&W speakers paired with Musical Fidelity integrateds - good combo.

Have you considered the Primaluna EVO 300 Floyd integrated amp. I’m using is with an earlier B&W 803 diamond speaker and it’s great. It has plenty of grunt that the speaker needs and a tube preamp section. It’s really a fantastic amp. 
 

Good luck in your search.