Amp for My New Nautilus 802s

[maxc85]

Just picked up a pair of N802s and need to get an amp to pair them with. My budget is $5000. Looking at either a used Pass Labs X250.5 or a used McIntosh MC402. Any opinions on either of these amp with the N802? Other amps I should look into?

[PBM]

Originally Posted by maxc85

Just picked up a pair of N802s and need to get an amp to pair them with. My budget is $5000. Looking at either a used Pass Labs X250.5 or a used McIntosh MC402. Any opinions on either of these amp with the N802? Other amps I should look into?

Classic combinations are Chord (pro line e.g. 1232) or Classe. Both are very nice.

[MASSIVE Master]

Big fan of the Pass 250... First amp I had that "let the 802's loose."

One I can suggest you avoid -- I thought the Bryston 4B / N802 combo was a match made in hell. Loved that amp on a bunch of speakers - But not on those...

[Greg Reierson]

You should audition a Hypex. The new Ncore is supposed to be even better than the UcD, which is saying a lot.

GR

[Frost]

I have an all classe powered mastering system. It's very good and a good match with b&w. That being said the pass stuff is better. More transparent. Even more horsepower in reserve. Run a dedicated circuit, it's worth it

[tomdarude]

Hypex Ncore

[ORC]

Parasound JC1 Monoblocks, Pass 250.5, Classe, Hypex, oh and the Emotiva XPA-1 monoblocks are just beasts! I don't care for the Bryston/B&W combo either.

[MASSIVE Master]

Forgot about the Emotiva thing... I had my X250 in for service and bought an Emotiva XPA-2 (stereo) as a backup (it was cheaper than renting a X250) and I have to say, that was quite an amp for the $$$. Heck, it was quite an amp, period.

It wasn't a Pass X250 and I was very happy to get it back. But I have no plans of selling it (the XPA-2) off either.

[OhioGreg]

After more than 5 years I still feel these are the best all around speaker I have ever heard. They are very revealing of both the recording and the electronics. They do need power, lots of power.
I feel Bi-Amping them is the best solution.
As for amplification, I'm having wonderful results woth a pair of pure Class A 100W mono-blocks, PA-100MB from QES Labs.
One of the PA-100MB's most appealing qualities was its nonelectronic presentation: its freedom from etch, edge, grain, and grit while not sounding rolled-off or dark. They deliver a seductive combination of richness, solidity, purity, and cohesiveness.
I've experienced other, very different amps, mostly brighter and airier presentations that also satisfied, but none has offered the remarkable image weight and density offered by a pair PA-100MBs.

[Simon Lomax]

What did you end up getting? I am using the TQ iridium X SECA with my N802s working very nicely!

[maxc85]

Simon,
I ended up getting a really good deal on a pass X250.5 It made the McIntosh stuff I tried sound very slow and lifeless. However, I may be ditching the 802s for a pair of Tyler D1s.

-Max