[lextek]

I think I got those names straight. I'm thinking about getting "monitor" size speakers. Take a little break from constant headphone use. Anybody every compare these? I have the B&W P5's in home theater duty now. Thinking about a nice tube integrated amp, suggestions???

 

[Old Pa]

I've really liked the "B&W" sound since I heard Matrix 800s over 20 years ago. The N800s I'm running now are a bit different from the N805s you are reffering to, but employ much of the same technology. Sort of my model of a good loudspeaker. Still, they needed an SS amp which really seized and took control of the bass drivers (I wound up with a Bryston 14B for this). I don't know how good a tube amp would be for this.

 

[lextek]

The reason I mentioned tubes is the shop that I had heard the 805' had Conrad Johnson driving them. I wasn't looking for speakers at the time. I was listening to CD players. Diane Krall never sounded so good. They might have been a pair of monoblocks, don't know.

 

[Old Pa]

I understand. I prefer Patricia Barber. Conrad Johnson electronics are really nice, if you can afford to buy them and maintain them (imagine maintaining Diane Krall). Everything else I said still stands.

 

[bkelly]

Lextek,

You're going long and deep now looking at these kind of speakers and tube amps.

You might want to seriously consider Jolida amps. They are famous for their affordable tube amps but they have also got a line of hybrid tube/transistor integrated amps that are also affordable.

My best suggestion is to look around for a pair of B&W 605 speakers with bult in powered subwoofers in each cabinet.
I think they have been discontinued so you may find them cheap at a dealer or look into the used market. That way you could use a tube amplifier fopr the top end and the powered subwoofers that are built in. Beleive me whern I say stereo subwoofers make a big difference. These are also engineered for music production and designed to work exclusivelyu with these speakers. If you want to use them for music the amplifiers have built in EQ settings to do that.

Hope that helps. Keep in touch.






Best
Brian

 

[KShaft]

look into aci saphires there Lextek! Excellent monitor.

k.s.