Do you think this will be a weird B&W setup? (1 Viewer)

[JimTW]

Hi folks,

First time poster here. Been lurking for a while.
I am planning on going with a budget setup... was thinking:

B&W 602 S3 front mains
B&W 601 S3 rear surrounds
B&W LCR600 S3 center
B&W ASW600 subwoofer

All powered by Rotel 1056.

BUT, I auditioned these speakers for the first time this
past weekend... they DO sound great for the price. But, I
also auditioned the 804s and was completely blown away.
I have plenty of listening experience with the Matrix 805s
and they sound GREAT too.

So, here I am... the 804s and 805s have me wanting more from
the 600 series... =D

So, the real question is... would it be weird if I swap the
front main speakers for either 804s or 805s? (And maintain
the 600 series center speaker, rear surrounds, and subs.)

Will this package sound weird? Unbalanced? My thinking is
if I listen to music, I'll listen to JUST the 804s without
the sub, and if I watch a movie, the LCR600 are pretty good
anyway.

What ya'll think?

Thanks,
Jimmy

 

[Alan Pummill]

Jim,

I don't have much experience with the 804s and 805s, except for the short time that I heard them at the dealer. But I did recently put together a 6.1 B&W/SVS home theater in my family room powered by a Pioneer Elite VSX-54TX.

I went with:
602.5 S3 (mains)
LCR600 S3 (center)
LM1 (side & rear surrounds)
PC-Ultra (sub)

I went with the LCR600 S3 over the LCR60 S3 for the center as I felt that the center is very important in DVD playback. The LCR600 S3 is a very nice center, much better than a Paradigm CC-350 that I had in a previous HT system. I went with the 602.5 S3 over the 602 S3 for my mains because I like floor standing speakers. I did put them on 8" high stands. And the LM1s do just fine for surrounds!!

I have a separate 2 channel system for music only consisting of Magnepan MG1.6QRs and a MartinLogan Depth sub. But if I was going to want to listen to music from just one system like you, I would probably go with the 804s or 805s. I think it would sound great for music or movies, and not weird at all. Let us know what you decide to go with!!

EDIT:
I'm thinking that what Seth is saying below may be right. The 3 front speakers should be as timbre matched as possible. Maybe your dealer will let you do a side by side with those 2 center channels and your choice of mains!!

 

[SethH]

I think the center would cause problems. I don't think they'd even come close to matching. The surrounds wouldn't be too big of a deal though. I'd go with 805's up front with one of the HTM centers. Also, you might think about another sub as the lower-end B&W subs aren't generally considered to be all that great. Look into Hsu, SVS, Velodyne, etc.

 

[Ned]

I would want a separate power amp for the 804's. The 1056 is 75? w/c? You can "get away" with that temporarily but the 7 and 8 series need a real power amp.

I agree with the HTM for center, dont mix lines with the front 3 speakers. For surrounds it's not a big deal. Also agree about the sub, B+W just doesn't make great subs.

 

[Robert_Dufresne]

Ned when you make this broad statement do you include the ASW875

 

[JimTW]

Alan,

How did the 602.5 sound compare to the 602 when you
auditioned them? I did audition the 601, 602, and 604
and found the 604 had slightly more bass. I have to listen
to them again with my own cd's next time to further tell
the difference. The 602.5s have a slightly smaller
mid range woofer than the 602s, could you tell a difference?

Thanks!
Jimmy

 

[JimTW]

Seth,

If I go with the 805s as front mains, I think the HTM4
will work well. If I upgrade down the road from 805s to
804s, do you think the HTM4 would be in adequate for the
804s? Would an HTM3 be over powering for the 805s as front
mains?

Thanks,
Jimmy

 

[JimTW]

Ned,

Yeah, the Rotel 1056 is a 75watt 5 channel amp with
7.1 channel processing. Is that "definitely" not enough
power to the 804s to allow them to show off their real
capabilities?

When I auditioned the 804s at the HT store, they were
powered by all McIntosh equipment... and the 804s sounded
like heaven. Would the Rotels sound almost just as good
or not quite? I know Rotel is at the affordable higher-end
side of things.

Thanks,
Jimmy

 

[SethH]

I don't think the HTM3 would be overpowering when paired with the 805's as long as everything is properly calibrated.

 

[Robert_Dufresne]

Jim

McIntosh equipment alone would send me to heaven

 

[Robert_Dufresne]

Were the 804s you listened to the new ones with diamond tweeters ??

 

[SethH]

I thought only the 803's (and above) were offered with the diamond tweeter. If I'm wrong about this then you'll absolutely want your center's tweeter to match the tweeter in your front speakers so that would help you pick a center.

 

[JimTW]

Robert,

Seth is correct. Only the 803s and above have the new diamond
tweeter. The 804s however were the ones from this model year.
Not sure if it's updated or not, but they sounded great.

 

[JimTW]

Seth,

Do you think the HTM4S center will work flawlessly with the
804s? Or do you think it would have to be atleast the HTM3S
to make the front stage work with the 804s?

I'm just thinking ahead... if I get the 805s as the front
mains now, I'll get the HTM4S center... if not the HTM3S.
Say, down the road, I move the 805s to the rear, and get a
pair of 804s in the front, I'll have the HTM4S center... not
sure if it will fit well with the 804s. What do you think?

Thanks,
Jimmy

 

[Robert Dagner]

EMAIL MANUFACTURER .TRY TO GET SYSTEM THAT USES SAME TWEETER AND MIDRANGE WITH SAME CROOSOVERS.ALSO ASK IF THEY BALANCE THEIR SYSTEMS. IF SO; WHAT THEIR SPECS ARE. THE DIFFERENT CABINET SIZES WILL MAKE DIFFERENCE BUT OVER ALL YOU WILL BE A LOT HAPPIER. REALLY BE PICKY ON SUB WOOFER. ONE THAT GOES WELL WITH SYSTEM IS GREAT.ONE THAT DOES NOT WILL MAKE YOU VERY UNHAPPY QUICKLY. I HAD SNELL XA 90 WITH BUILT IN GRAPIC EQUALIZER FOR SUBWOOFER.AFTER YOU FINALLY GET IT BALANCED OUT IT GAVE STEREO A REAL BOOST ON LOWS.

 

[SethH]

Jim, does your local dealer have both centers? If so, I'd ask to listen to each configuration. As long as you're actually planning to buy from them, they should be more than happy to do it. I would lean toward the HTM3 -- the center channel is pretty important and it sounds like you plan to get the 804's eventually (IF you don't get them now).