Monitoring with B&W 804s and Arcam c31 - 2 X P1 amplifier?

monitor · 12th June 2009

Hello folks,

I record orchestral and Chamber music.
I currently monitor on Genelec 1032, Beyerdynamic DT990pro and Stax headphones, and record a Soundfield mike into a Korg MR1000 @ 5,6 MHZ.

I need urgently to decide to buy a second hand but almost never used B&W - Arcam system.

What are your thougths on monitoring trough B&W 804s and Arcam FMJ C31 preamp and 2x FMJ P1 monoblock poweramps gear?
Any pros, any cons?

Thanks!

LX3 · 12th June 2009

I think, depending on how much you're paying, that rig would kick serious ass.

Yes, they're "hi-fi" products. No, the 804s aren't 801s. But if you were to spend the same money on "pro audio" monitoring equipment you probably couldn't get close to the same sort of quality.

Of course, the 804s are floorstanders, which often aren't compatible with many studio layouts. But that said, if you can keep the area between yourself and your speakers clear of mixing desks and LCD monitors, you will have a better monitoring environment than most studios. (There are plenty of mastering studios that are laid out more like a hi-fi demonstration room than a recording studio, and for good reason.)

It might be advantageous to invest in a balanced to unbalanced conversion box of some kind, to give the Arcam a pair of XLR inputs.

You also should have no problem selling the 804s, or any of the kit for that matter, should it not quite work for your tastes.

That's my 2c anywho.

LX3 · 12th June 2009

Having heard how much you're spending...

Interesting. If you want a hi-fi system, it seems reasonable. If you're building an actual studio however, there are lots of other options for that kind of cash. Maybe a secondhand Bryston and PMC IB1s?

tsvisser · 12th June 2009

I think that the only real keepers of that combo are the P1 amplifiers, which are good, but not necessarily spectacular. I suppose it comes down to how good of a deal you can get. I don't like the 804s, nor do I really like the 805s, 801s, 802s that much either. I know a lot of people swear by the Nautilus line for mastering, and your line of work is closer to mastering than it is traditional mixing... but I don't feel that they are honest monitors.

The preamp is sort of consumerish... you'd be better off with a monitor controller so that you could switch between your Hi-Fi setup, headphones, and maybe a near field set for checking certain details.

monitor · 13th June 2009

Thanks a lot for the info! - I will look for better hifi/high-end products-

12th June 2009	#1
monitor Gear interested Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 14 Thread Starter	Monitoring with B&W 804s and Arcam c31 - 2 X P1 amplifier? Hello folks, I record orchestral and Chamber music. I currently monitor on Genelec 1032, Beyerdynamic DT990pro and Stax headphones, and record a Soundfield mike into a Korg MR1000 @ 5,6 MHZ. I need urgently to decide to buy a second hand but almost never used B&W - Arcam system. What are your thougths on monitoring trough B&W 804s and Arcam FMJ C31 preamp and 2x FMJ P1 monoblock poweramps gear? Any pros, any cons? Thanks!

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12th June 2009	#2
LX3 Lives for gear Joined: Aug 2005 Location: London, UK Posts: 1,034	I think, depending on how much you're paying, that rig would kick serious ass. Yes, they're "hi-fi" products. No, the 804s aren't 801s. But if you were to spend the same money on "pro audio" monitoring equipment you probably couldn't get close to the same sort of quality. Of course, the 804s are floorstanders, which often aren't compatible with many studio layouts. But that said, if you can keep the area between yourself and your speakers clear of mixing desks and LCD monitors, you will have a better monitoring environment than most studios. (There are plenty of mastering studios that are laid out more like a hi-fi demonstration room than a recording studio, and for good reason.) It might be advantageous to invest in a balanced to unbalanced conversion box of some kind, to give the Arcam a pair of XLR inputs. You also should have no problem selling the 804s, or any of the kit for that matter, should it not quite work for your tastes. That's my 2c anywho.

12th June 2009	#4
tsvisser Lives for gear Joined: Feb 2007 Location: Honolulu HI Posts: 1,852	I think that the only real keepers of that combo are the P1 amplifiers, which are good, but not necessarily spectacular. I suppose it comes down to how good of a deal you can get. I don't like the 804s, nor do I really like the 805s, 801s, 802s that much either. I know a lot of people swear by the Nautilus line for mastering, and your line of work is closer to mastering than it is traditional mixing... but I don't feel that they are honest monitors. The preamp is sort of consumerish... you'd be better off with a monitor controller so that you could switch between your Hi-Fi setup, headphones, and maybe a near field set for checking certain details.

13th June 2009	#5
monitor Gear interested Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 14 Thread Starter	Thanks a lot for the info! - I will look for better hifi/high-end products-