I am thinking of upgrading my surround speakers in the front from B&W 601 and B&W CC6 to all B&W 805 Matrix. I realize the 805 Matrix is older, but many people still say they are still really good speakers (and hopefully an upgrade from the 601). I have a few questions:
1) Has anybody heard the horizontal ones? Most reviews are for the upright ones. I am looking to buy a pair of horizontal ones for about $750. I already have a Matrix HTM center I got for $200. Does $750 sound like a fair price for a pair in good condition with consecutive serial numbers?
2) Should I be able to drive these well with my NAD T762 surround receiver (100w per ch)?
3) Which would be better matches for my rear surrounds in such a system - DM 601 S1 or the older 600i? I now am using the DM 601 up front and the 600i in back.
By the way, if you recognize me from my other recent posts, I have decided since my NAD is now working well again that maybe I should upgrade speakers with the money I had been prepared to spend on a new receiver.....you know how it gets once you start looking at equipment with the intent of buying something - you get diverted on all kinds of buying projects.
I don't know the specs on the Matrix 805's and as such speaker specs don't always tell the whole story. Many B&W speakers like a fair bit if power and their impedence can dip down to about 3 or 3.5 ohms making them a little difficult unless the amplification can handle them. I'd talk to a reputable B&W dealer (or two) and ask their advice before committing to these speakers to work with your NAD reciever (which on many occassions do not marry happily with dificult loads).
I had 602 S3's (and 601's for surround) and really liked them, but they only thrived on decent power. That's my 2 cents worth.
Anybody know the answer to my third question - Which would be better matches for my rear surrounds in such a system - DM 601 S1 or the older 600i? I now am using the DM 601 up front and the 600i in back. I am going to sell the ones I do not use for rears.
What do you mean regarding the receiver? You mean it should fit well, or it will have trouble handling high volumes? I had heard that the NAD AVRs handled tough speaker loads well, which is why I got one. Do you think it would not be good enough to handle the Matrix 805s?
to put it bluntly, you are trying to match a mid grade receiver with high end (when new) speakers. You need to match like with like.
This is like taking the engine from a ford escort and putting it in a corvette and expecting to get the same level of performance out of the higher end car.
Granted, my example was a little more extreme, but it is still relevant. The speakers demand more than what the receiver is going to give them. They were not designed to be used with a receiver driving them. They were designed with a good, strong amp feeding them.
garbage in = garbage out (and possibly damage to your components)
805's would chew up any AVR. Amps need to be added if your going to keep the T762, or go with separates all together. The T762, for an AVR is quite powerful( I owned one ) but it is still an AVR.
Could I just add a three channel amp to the NAD AVR (through the receiver's pre-outs) and biwire with the AVR amp and the additional amp? It would seem that this might be the least expensive option.
I guess that previous post may have been misinformed (I am something of a newbie - so please excuse my ignorance). I guess I would just try to get a good 3-channel amp of at least 120 watts/channel and use the pre-outs on the NAD to run the front 3 speakers. Then, I could just use the NAD for the back two channels. Would people think that is what I should do if I do not have the money now to get a good separates system for everything? Although Outlaw also has a good deal on a separates system (120 watts/channel) for about $1300...more than I wanted to spend, but if I sold my NAD, and some of my extra speakers, I could probably swing it.
Sean, most of us have pieced our way up to where we are currently, and I think that all of us would like to see you succeed without the expense and hassle (although experience counts for a lot).
Step back, man. Look at your room, and where you might live 3 years from now. Look at the whole system as one thing, not a piecemeal process, it seldom pays off.
Decide what yoy like in MUSIC, not a hifi. Go listen to live music. Visit dealers, ask questions. Listen a LOT!
Thank you for the input. I must say I am too busy and too impulsive to follow all of your directions. I did buy the Matrix 805 speakers, and you were right that the NAD could not handle them. I then got a used Carver AV405 for $200 from somebody locally, which I am using to power my front three speakers (Matrix 805s) with the NAD powering the B&W 601s in the back. It works quite well and has improved sound quality immeasurably. I am quite happy.
I do have one more question though - how much difference in sound quality does going to a pre-amp instead of running through my NAD make?
Any opinions? I am quite happy with my system now, but I am thinking of getting a pre amp down the road if it will enhance sound quality significantly. Furthermore, I may want to do it while my NAD still has re-sale value. Also, do people have any opinions on the Emotiva pre amps?
Thanks in advance, and I apologize for being a compulsive amateur, but I have to admit it is fun.
If a hobby is not compulsive, it isn't that fun...
It is just that most of us have enough experience with equipment mating to know what sounds good with what. This is not always the case, but about 95% of the time.
Stick around! This is a great place to learn. When I came here years ago on my first ID, I was trying to mate a pair of klipsch speakers with an onkyo receiver...
that combo sounds even worse than what you tried to do
hence why my last post was so direct. Trust me, I have been there and I have wasted lots of cash.
Sean , Improving from your NAD to a separate Pre amplifier ( Stereo ) will make a huge difference. I am thinking you are not looking for a Processor , even then the change will be noticeable. Have not heard the emotiva , so cant comment on that particular pre/ processor. have used the Lexicon MC4 , Try these processor if you can . your B&W speakers need these type of Processors and good power amps.
