What to power my B&W with?

Webb_03

Bought the CM 10's today, they are 30-300 watts @ 8 ohms. Now i have a Carver M4.0t that runs 375 rms, Obviously enough power and headroom. I'm In rebuilding mode though. Trying to possibly get away from Carver/Sunfire. I was looking into Rotel. Seemingly nothing in the 300wpc power range is ever for sale on ebay, other than big **** mono blocks. Should i find a 5 channel thx amp and bridge it for cheap bang for the buck? Is this gonna sound inferior to a good 300wpc amp? Any other brands anyone has heard on b&w speakers that sound good or better?

Erik Tracy

Are you sticking with separates or willing to consider a good used integrated?

And - most importantly - what is your budget so we can help spend every single penny! :cheesygrin:

deronb1

Congrats on the new speakers! I have never heard the CM10s but have heard various B&Ws powered with McIntosh, Cary, Parasound and Rotel. If I had to rank em, i guess i would go Cary, Mac, Parasound, Rotel

rpf65

I vote for something from NAD, M2 If in your price range.

tonyb

Webb_03 wrote: »

Bought the CM 10's today, they are 30-300 watts @ 8 ohms. Now i have a Carver M4.0t that runs 375 rms, Obviously enough power and headroom. I'm In rebuilding mode though. Trying to possibly get away from Carver/Sunfire. I was looking into Rotel. Seemingly nothing in the 300wpc power range is ever for sale on ebay, other than big **** mono blocks. Should i find a 5 channel thx amp and bridge it for cheap bang for the buck? Is this gonna sound inferior to a good 300wpc amp? Any other brands anyone has heard on b&w speakers that sound good or better?

Is this inquiry based on what your reading on the back of the speaker ? 30-300 watts ? You think you need a 300 watt amp ?

Those manufacturer stated numbers mean little. Current....good high current amps is all you really need. Parasound, B&k, McCormack, Bat, Cary, Butler, just to name a few, would pair up nicely. Integrateds from Musical fidelity should too. The Rotel imho isn't a good match.

mantis

I suggest looking into NAD and Rotel. They are the 2 by far are the best bangs for bucks on the planet right now new.

You got great speakers, don't cheap out on driving them.

RamZet

Im was driving my CM9s with a Rotel @ 135w per ch. Sounds great but its not enough. Any B&W owner will tell you that they are hard to drive.
I bumped up to a Crestron AMP. I have the unit in bridge mode. I am sending 220w to the highs and 220w to the lows ( 440w to each speaker).

They sound even better and I can tell they want more.

But back to your question.
I would get at least 150-200 watts into each of the CM10s. Anything lower and you would being yourself a disservice.
Like others have stated, B&W pairs nice with Mcintosh, Krell, Rotel and Classe.
Rotel and B&W are partners ( B&W Group is made up of B&W, Rotel and Classe).

B&K amps sound great on B&Ws and so do Bryston amps.

I would get something with at least 4ch so you can take advantage of all four post on the speakers.

( I am basing all of this on my 7 years of nearly exclusive B&W installs and experience with the amps above.)

soundfreak1

deronb1 wrote: »

Congrats on the new speakers! I have never heard the CM10s but have heard various B&Ws powered with McIntosh, Cary, Parasound and Rotel. If I had to rank em, i guess i would go Cary, Mac, Parasound, Rotel

Think you hit the nail right on the head thier deronb1! +1 in that order.

Erik Tracy

I think we have a 'drive by'...

Webb_03

I'm looking to spend 500-1000 on an amp. And I have always been of the opinion that it is better to have too much power than risking not enough. Lots of good input so far tho.

bobsauto49

Get a B&K 200.2, or a REF 2220, and NEVER look back! Wish I had mine back!!