Bachtoven's System

[Bachtoven]

My B&W 803D3 speakers arrived yesterday--wow! The transparency and details are astounding.

 

[Addicted to hifi]

My B&W 803D3 speakers arrived yesterday--wow! The transparency and details are astounding.

View attachment 80076

Excellent congratulations.

 

[Andrew S.]

Congratulations on a wonderful system - I bet it sounds terrific.

The B & W 803D is a very highly regarded speaker - as I've never heard one (the larger B&W's haven't been part of my education - seen a few in dealers shops, never heard any going) - may I ask what else did you have a think about and/or auditioned? or were you really happily with B&W and decided to stay within brand?

Does the Mac have an integrated phono? or is that something else I see on the second shelf (though it might be the psu for the VPI - if they have such things).

Where have you put the sub? Not sure I can spot it in the photo. Have you dialed in the XO, or are you happy with the 803 w/o sub: I imagine they play plenty deep by themselves.

Hope you enjoy many, many hours of happy listening.

 

[Bachtoven]

I went in intending to buy Martin Logan Impression 11a's, but I far preferred the B&W's. They sounded more natural and just as detailed.

Yes, the Mc has has integrated MM/MC phono stage. The little black box is the Chord Qutest DAC. (It sounds way better than the built-in DAC.)

Oops...I forgot to remove the sub from my signature! No, the B&W's don't need more bass.

Thank you!

 

[Andrew S.]

The little black box is the Chord Qutest DAC. (It sounds way better than the built-in DAC.)

Do you mean than in the Esoteric?

Thanks for your detailed reply - very interesting.

 

[Bachtoven]

Do you mean than in the Esoteric?

Thanks for your detailed reply - very interesting.

No, better than in the McIntosh. The Esoteric's DAC is limited to 96k...I have lots of DSD files.

I also considered Vivid Audio Kaya 45s, but I think the B&Ws have better bass, similar transparency, and my wife thought the Kaya 45s looked a little funky based on pictures!

 

[Addicted to hifi]

The ma9000 is a excellent integrated amplifier.

 

[LL21]

I went in intending to buy Martin Logan Impression 11a's, but I far preferred the B&W's. They sounded more natural and just as detailed.

Yes, the Mc has has integrated MM/MC phono stage. The little black box is the Chord Qutest DAC. (It sounds way better than the built-in DAC.)

Oops...I forgot to remove the sub from my signature! No, the B&W's don't need more bass.

Thank you!

Congrats! I see you also have the 800S headphones. As a big fan of Sennheiser for over 20 years...thinking about the 800S as well as they are now widely available demo/2nd hand. Thanks for any advice on how they compare with others you considered!

 

[Andrew S.]

thinking about the 800S as well as they are now widely available demo/2nd hand. Thanks for any advice on how they compare with others you considered!

Seconded. I would love to know how they pair as well. Is there a hp output on the McIntosh? Or do you use a separate hp amplifier?

 

[rando]

I have lots of DSD files.

A part of me wanted to ask where the other three speakers are.

Hope these B&W bring you many years of satisfied listening. What is the probable next purchase, DAC?

 

[Bachtoven]

A part of me wanted to ask where the other three speakers are.

Hope these B&W bring you many years of satisfied listening. What is the probable next purchase, DAC?

Thank you. No, the Chord DAC is quite new, too, and I love it. I might go back to a tube amp at some point, possibly an Ayon Audio Triton EVO.

 

[Bachtoven]

Congrats! I see you also have the 800S headphones. As a big fan of Sennheiser for over 20 years...thinking about the 800S as well as they are now widely available demo/2nd hand. Thanks for any advice on how they compare with others you considered!

They are extraordinarily transparent and detailed, but not as etched as the original 800 model. I only compared them to some high-end Grados (I forgot the model, but they had aluminum ear cups), and the 800s were much more transparent and less colored.

 

[Bachtoven]

Seconded. I would love to know how they pair as well. Is there a hp output on the McIntosh? Or do you use a separate hp amplifier?

I use the McIntosh hp output--sounds fine!

 

[Addicted to hifi]

I use the McIntosh hp output--sounds fine!

Mcintosh headphones output is excellent as I own Mac and use it with my headphones as well.no need for anything else.

 

[The Knife]

I went in intending to buy Martin Logan Impression 11a's, but I far preferred the B&W's. They sounded more natural and just as detailed.

Yes, the Mc has has integrated MM/MC phono stage. The little black box is the Chord Qutest DAC. (It sounds way better than the built-in DAC.)

Oops...I forgot to remove the sub from my signature! No, the B&W's don't need more bass.

Thank you!

Interesting. I choose between the D3s and the ML 11, and in the end opted for the ML. I had other MLs in the past and guess I just are very used to their sound signature. I also feel the MLs are easier to live with in an apartment. They don’t have the same impact on walls etc. Given their construction. I.e I can play louder with the MLs without causing my neighbours to much pain. But the D3s are great! Congrats!