you could listen to an Emotiva USP-1 and XPA-2 (or a pair of UPA-1s) in your own home with our own speakers and if you don't like what you hear return them within 30 days for a full purchase price refund. These units perfrom far above their price point.

http://www.stereophile.com/axpona2010/affordable_emotiva/index.html

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/preamplifiers/689-emotiva-usp-1-stereo-preamplifier.html?start=1

http://www.audioxpress.com/reviews/media/lyle710.pdf

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/power-amplifiers/496.html?task=view

http://www.tonepublications.com/review/the-emotiva-usp-1-preamplifier-and-upa-1-amplifiers/

10,000 dollar of amplification on the B&W 683? I would sell the B&W and buy some other speakers, B&W CM9? or maybe a Dynaudio X32? 

starguygwb wrote:

I'm taking my Rotel Surround gear downstairs to make a nice little HT. Never did care for the Rotel gear for stereo anyway. I'm looking for entry level Hi-end ( Krell s-300i To somewhere under $10000.00) I have not heard either of these units, but have had the pleasure of being interduced to Nad Master series M3-M5 set up at a local hifi shop. My question is How can I compare all of the different units without hauling my B&W 683 floorstanders to each and every dealer. Do I just take cd's that I'm familiar with and just look for the best soundstanging, speaker disappearence, ability to render music at all levels, or just when they turn it up. My B&Ws seem to come alive with more power added to them. I will admit the Nad M3 connected with balanced cables to the M5 sacd/cd player made it as if James Taylor was sitting in a chair about 7 feet in front of me. I also have a problem of soundstaging, I hate when you can tell music is coming from the speaker and you know it. I want transparity.

Starguy,

I have owned a number of B&W speakers going back to the DM-10's from the 80's. One thing they definitely show is that they like to be driven. They are not speakers for low level listening in my experience.

I own the Krell S-300i and it drives any speaker I have paired with it. I have no doubt it will drive your B&W's. The Krell is neutral and detailed. I do not like bright electronics and the S-300i is not thin sounding or bright. The integrated amp is very detailed with good soundstage width and depth.