B&W amplifier

A new version of Monteverdi's Vespers arrived today. It's a US Telarc recording, and I notice that, among the equipment used (Monster cable, B&W Matrix 802 speakers), there was a "B&W MPA 810" power amplifier. I thought B&W was exclusively a loudspeaker manufacturer. Is this solely a professional amplifier?

 

AFAIK the proper Nautilus is Active, presumably with B&W amps. Apparently, its the only B&W speaker that is actually any good. Given what you say, I guess they use their own amps in all their subs.

 

My Aura amps were manufactured by a diviosn of B&W. I hope the amps used in your recording were a bit more reliable.

 

Nope but it does use an external crossover.

"Apparently" being the key word here. Have your heard any ?

 

voodoo,
sorry but the nautilus IS active see here:
http://www.bwspeakers.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/products.models/label/Model Nautilus

btw - each speaker weighs nearly as much as me which is a frightening thought!

alex,
didn't you used to use some podular form over function monstrosoties? or was that a different alex?
cheers


julian

 

Julian,

I had the O'Heocha ISO5s - A lot of fun, until you put on some music :>):Pods

 

Sorry Julian but I can't see anywhere that mentions any onboard amplification ?

The webiste states : "100W - 500W into 8 ohms one amplifier channel is required for each drive unit. Electronic crossover supplied with speaker".

This would appear to be B&W telling prospective buyers that multi-amping is required.

 

Grahams have had a pair all week. They say they're active.

 

They are probably referring to the cross-overs provided.

From the Nautilus user manual :

"With suitable pre and power amplifiers, one unit [crossover] is required for each loudspeaker and should be located next to the power amplifier."

 

active doesn't have to mean 'on board'. linn and naim speakers can be made active by removing the passive crossovers and replacing them with an active crossover and a number of power amps.
active usually refers to the crossover. i.e. if it has no seperate power supply and is between the cones and the power amps then it's passive. if it has it's own power and is between the pre and power amps it's active.
the fact that some speaker manufacturers decide to mount the amps and active x-o inside the speaker doesn't matter, in fact this type of speaker is more accurately referred to as 'powered active'.

this is straight from the b&w nautilus page

cheers


julian

 

This is the discrepancy :

Fair enough Julian but what you mention is not what we're talking about .This is a thread about B&W amps NOT active crossovers. The Nautlius does not come with ANY amplification - it comes with an active crossover that is connected up (as mentioned) between the pre and power amps.

Seems pretty obvious to me.

 

yes but the nautilus is active (which was the point of contention) it's just not restrictive about which amps you can use. e.g. i believe b&w distribute rotel and classe amps but they don't force you to use them.

b&w do in fact make amplifiers mainly for their powered active speakers such as the asw subs and some power towers for the american market. so it';s concievable that the amps mentioned above were domestic amps.
cheers


julian

 

Presumably Voodoo's upset because he uses B&W speakers - who wouldn't be.

 

Not upset in the slightest. I just don't appreciate people poo-pooing products when they haven't even heard them - a fact which you admitted in the same post.

You might like to know that Julian also uses B&W's.

Nautilus speakers DO NOT come with any amplification so there's no point presuming that it's made by B&W. I'll gladly retract my previous comment about it not being active as I meant this in the sense of it being active with built in amplification a la ATC.

 

I've heard them with Classé electronics (8 huge mono power amps, fronted by a Classé CDP): I seem to remember that they sounded hugely impressive in a hi-fi sort of way

 

voodoo,
no grief - i was just feeling pedantic. i guess i've been hanging out on hfc too much this week.
yes i use b&w speakers and very happy with them i am too.
don't worry about alex, he chooses to listen to old bmw/rover bits as speakers
cheers


julian

 

Here they are, bottom of the page:

http://www.hifi-forum.ch/de/dept_11.html

 

Ban him ! BAN HIM !!!!

 

Tones:
If you're looking for an amp, you'd be better off with the Accuphase

 

Obviously I've not tortured myself by listening to the entire B&W range but those I've listened to I don't like and those I've owned I've liked even less since they cost me money.

I now listen to MF9s which are quite good in a hi-fi sort of way. With the pods I built a Rover which I rolled off Beachy Head.