scleary20
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B&W 683 Amplifier Help
Jan Vigne
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Joined: Mar 18 2006 - 12:57pm

I would encourage you to learn what I consider to be the single most important lesson of all in audio; don't just throw money at a problem.

http://www.tnt-audio.com/casse/waspe.html

http://www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/speakerplacement.html

http://www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/roomacoustics.html

http://www.audioholics.com/education/acoustics-principles/acoustics-101-course-by-john-dahl-of-thx

B&W's tend to range from relatively easy to drive to rather difficult. However, the Onkyo should be sufficient until you've worked out other issues in your system and room. Merely adding a new amplifier will be somewhat unrewarding if the underlying causes of poor sound remain.

Jim Tavegia
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Joined: Sep 1 2005 - 4:27pm

You don't mention if the speakers are new, but if they are you should put about 200 hours on them before making any new gear decisions. That is what I would be doing.

Secondly, what was the amp (integrated or preamp/amp combo you auditioned them with? I might not be convinced that just combining your receiver with a new amp would work.

You have more detective work to do and remember that your room and the dealer's acoustical properties are also different. I doubt this is as simple as an amp change. We have all gone through this so don't panic and spend more money right away.

Once the speakers are broken in you may find all is well afterall. If that is not the issue then you have to decide if the expense of a new amp IS what you need to consider or are some room acoustic treatments are in order. Think of all the speaker movements the reviewers go through to find their sonic bliss in THEIR rooms.

jackfish
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Joined: Dec 19 2005 - 2:42pm

More than double your price limit, but a pair of Emotiva UPA-1 monoblocks (200 watts RMS) for $708 delivered would drive those B&W 683s nicely. For around your price point the UPA-2 (125 watts RMS per channel) would cost you $374 delivered. You can try either solution for 30 days and if you don't want it return it for a full purchase price refund. They also have B-stock with full five-year warranty which is reduced $25-$50 per unit.

http://emotiva.com/upa1.shtm
http://emotiva.com/upa2.shtm

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