Amp choice for B&W 683s2

[hybridauth_Google_117364081398234604241]

Hello ,

I'm going to buy a new pair of 683s2 in the next weeks , but can't get a good compromise in what comes to the amp .

I have some choices :

-The Cambridge Audio CXA60 for a price that exceeds my budget , but if it's really necessary I'll try to have it .

-The Rotel Ra-12 , just for my budget , but I don't know how it will be , powerful enough ?

-A second hand Arcam-A28 I found for a really decent price , under my budget (how does it compare to the A19 which i heard is a great choice for the 683s2 ?)

-An Arcam A19 which i found also in my bidget .

-A pretty cheap Yamaha A-S500 , that some say is good with the 683s2

Anything else I should consider ? Any other amps for the same price-range ? Which would be the best for me ?

Andrei

 

[Al ears]

Hello ,

I'm going to buy a new pair of 683s2 in the next weeks , but can't get a good compromise in what comes to the amp .

I have some choices :

-The Cambridge Audio CXA60 for a price that exceeds my budget , but if it's really necessary I'll try to have it .

-The Rotel Ra-12 , just for my budget , but I don't know how it will be , powerful enough ?

-A second hand Arcam-A28 I found for a really decent price , under my budget (how does it compare to the A19 which i heard is a great choice for the 683s2 ?)

-An Arcam A19 which i found also in my bidget .

-A pretty cheap Yamaha A-S500 , that some say is good with the 683s2

Anything else I should consider ? Any other amps for the same price-range ? Which would be the best for me ?

Andrei

Welcome to the forum

Perhaps you could advise us what your budget actually is, where in the world you are, and what source you will be using.

Thanks.

 

[hybridauth_Google_117364081398234604241]

Oh , i didn't think about these , my bad .

My budget is approximatively 700euros , but like i said , i could add the extra 150 euros for the CXA60 if it's really necessary .

I am from Belgium , and my source would be a Pc , playing music from Tidal is FLAC .

Thanks

 

[gasolin]

so you going for expensive speakers and a cheap amp?

marantz,rotel, mabye a onkyo tx-8050 or a one of the big nad's (used) if you like bass

 

[rainsoothe]

Hi. If you don't mind the size and the heat and the lack of headphone output, get an XTZ A100 D3. It sounds kinda like a Marantz, but with greater authority. The heat is because it runs in class A for the first 60watts, and switches to class AB when it needs more or if it gets too hot. But this would be my top preference with this budget and speakers.

Alternatively, check Abrahamsen V 2.0 UP, it's getting very good user reviews on this forum. My third option would be Rotel RA1570 (maybe you could find a deal on one) or Arcam, but the A19 and A28 need better bass control for the 683s.

 

[ID.]

Because the impedance of B&W speakers can drop quite low I'd want something that remains stable at lower impedences. Personally I'd be aiming for one level up from the amps you are considering, but I guess most of them do an OK increase in power from 8 to 4 ohms. Out of those I think I'd avoid the Yamaha.

So why not go for the amplifier you auditioned the speakers with? Or did you buy the speakers without listening to them because they are a 5 star product? The amp speaker combination/interaction is, in my opinion, the most important factor in a system (well, other than the room interactions). I don't know how one would buy speakers without hearing them paired with the amp one intends to buy. Then again, I've usually been an amp first kind of guy.

You really need to hear the combinations and get what you like the sound of best. I like the Arcam presentation, so I'd be aiming for the A19 or A29 if you were prepared to up your budget enough. I also like what I've heard of the Marantz PM8005 with the new s2 B&W 600 series. It struck me as a very smooth, natural sound with enough body to the presentation.

 

[GCE]

MARA 8005 : http://us.marantz.com/us/Products/Pages/ProductDetails.aspx?CatId=HiFiComponents&ProductId=PM8005

High Current Power Supply

The robust power supply features a high current toroidal main power transformer that is rated at 625VA, to easily provide extra power to the amplifier stage in order to handle demanding short term peaks. High current Shottky barrier diodes in the rectification stage are rated at 20 amps, with the ability to handle up to 180 amps peak current, providing sufficient power reserve to handle virtually any loudspeaker load.

 

[Al ears]

If your main source is computer why are you looking at amps without day built-in?

Do you already have one?

If not I would go for the Cambridge, or something like the Yamaha RN500.

 

[hybridauth_Google_117364081398234604241]

I've heard a lot over the XTZ A100 D3, but I can't find one of these anywhere.

In what comes to the DAC, I really didn't think about it, so I think that my choice would go on the Cambridge, which I listened paired to the 863s2, and I loved. I was just trying to see if there are any other choices that would be better for me, but with the built in DAC argument I think the Cambridge wins

 

[friendly_ghost]

I believe the RA-12 also has a dac, plus Rotel and B&W are supposed to be a very good match as they are designed to work together (same company).
At least give it an audition. Where in Belgium do you live?

 

[gasolin]

I've heard a lot over the XTZ A100 D3, but I can't find one of these anywhere.

In what comes to the DAC, I really didn't think about it, so I think that my choice would go on the Cambridge, which I listened paired to the 863s2, and I loved. I was just trying to see if there are any other choices that would be better for me, but with the built in DAC argument I think the Cambridge wins

You didn't try hard enough http://www.xtz.se/product/class-a100-d3

 

[hybridauth_Google_117364081398234604241]

I've heard that the RA-12 wouldn't be powerful enough to drive the 683s2, (they are in some packs with the much smaller brother 685s2)

In am from Rixensart, in the French part, why?

 

[rainsoothe]

I've heard a lot over the XTZ A100 D3, but I can't find one of these anywhere.

In what comes to the DAC, I really didn't think about it, so I think that my choice would go on the Cambridge, which I listened paired to the 863s2, and I loved. I was just trying to see if there are any other choices that would be better for me, but with the built in DAC argument I think the Cambridge wins

?

You didn't try hard enough http://www.xtz.se/product/class-a100-d3

There you go. But if you heard the Cambridge Audio and liked it, then it's already a great bet. The XTZ will sound warmer, more refined and with bigger sound. In most places they don't have a dealership, they're mainly an online company. In Bucharest (salut btw ) there is a dealership where I heard the XTZ and to me it's an absolute bargain, it sounds amazing. And also has a dac.

A note on the dac btw, neither the XTZ nor the CXA60 have USB dacs, so you'll need at least an USB to SPDIF converter cable. If you can't find one, the cheapest way to get good sound out of your laptop is an audio interface - Behringer UCA202, which you can find on thomann.

Mult noroc

 

[gasolin]

Danish store where you can get the xtz amp http://danstv.dk/shop/xtz-a-100-d3-3685p.html 805€ or the same as the marantz PM8005 cost in denmark if you only need the dac for your pc the Audioquest dragonfly is an easy way of upgradring sound from your pc and your not limited to an amp with built-in dac

 

[Al ears]

Danish store where you can get the xtz amp http://danstv.dk/shop/xtz-a-100-d3-3685p.html 805€ or the same as the marantz PM8005 cost in denmark if you only need the dac for your pc the Audioquest dragonfly is an easy way of upgradring sound from your pc and your not limited to an amp with built-in dac

I f the XTZ contains a day, and although it doesn't mention it on the eurostore, it does mention one optical input which would imply it has, it offers better spec than the Cambridge but you are going to have to buy it on trust as you will be unable to audition first.

Having said that and knowing their reputation I would.

 

[gasolin]

Danish store where you can get the xtz amp http://danstv.dk/shop/xtz-a-100-d3-3685p.html 805€ or the same as the marantz PM8005 cost in denmark if you only need the dac for your pc the Audioquest dragonfly is an easy way of upgradring sound from your pc and your not limited to an amp with built-in dac

I f the XTZ contains a day, and although it doesn't mention it on the eurostore, it does mention one optical input which would imply it has, it offers better spec than the Cambridge but you are going to have to buy it on trust as you will be unable to audition first.

Having said that and knowing their reputation I would.

you can tried it for 14 days and return it if you don't like it

You could also buy an amp with no built in dac an buy one like the marantz 8005

 

[hybridauth_Google_117364081398234604241]

Thanks for all your answers ,

Now , i just found a Nad c370 for a good price , and i've seen a few reviews saying that it's great , with a nice a nice amount of power (2x120w) . Would it be good ? Ok , it has enough power to supply the 683s2 , but how will the musicality be ? Would it compare to the Rotel Ra1570 which is the best one for these speakers ?

Thanks , Andrei

 

[Reijer]

In my search for an amp for my 685 the Rotel sounded less than the NAD. Less grip, less musicality, less entertaining. Maybe because it was not run in...

NAD amp are famous for there power to drive big speakers without clipping. Only one thing: no DAC. But a simple fix can do the trick: Audioquest dragonfly.

 

[paulkebab]

why the OP needs a DAC unless I've missed something - the method of connection from PC to hi-fi isn't mentioned.

 

[Reijer]

Just wandering, Paul. Why playing FLAC while using the inferieur DAC of your laptop. IMO a waste....