B&W 803D3

Posted by: tonycurran1 on 11 June 2018

was at my dealers today and he was doing a dem with 803D3 drivin by Cyrus 300 signature mono blocks

I was really impressed

i asked him could I hear them drivin by Naim 300DR the Cyrus was able to control them so much better

i really like the speakers and they offered me a good price for my 804D3

i can’t afford the funds to upgrade the next Naim amp

any advice would anyone go with the 300 signature mono blocks.

Posted on: 12 June 2018 by douglas

Hello Tony.

Not quite "like for like", but whilst my 500 was away being DR'd my dealer kindly lent me their demo 300DR. At that time my speakers were B and W 802 Diamonds. The combination was a success, even more so when the 500 came back, but that's another story.

I now have 802 D3's which are streets ahead of the previous generation.

This is a long winded way of saying the 300DR is an excellent amplifier and I doubt you will be disappointed. At this level they should give you a home demo. INMO these speakers need an amp to grip them firmly. This applies to current and previous generations, although they have got easier to drive with each new revision.

Hope this helps

Posted on: 12 June 2018 by Innocent Bystander

douglas posted:
Hello Tony.
Not quite "like for like", but whilst my 500 was away being DR'd my dealer kindly lent me their demo 300DR. At that time my speakers were B and W 802 Diamonds. The combination was a success, even more so when the 500 came back, but that's another story.
I now have 802 D3's which are streets ahead of the previous generation.
This is a long winded way of saying the 300DR is an excellent amplifier and I doubt you will be disappointed. At this level they should give you a home demo. INMO these speakers need an amp to grip them firmly. This applies to current and previous generations, although they have got easier to drive with each new revision.
Hope this helps

I think the OP was as,ing views on getting the Cyrus 300 not the Naim...

Posted on: 12 June 2018 by tonycurran1

Yes that was my question cheers.

Posted on: 12 June 2018 by Timo

I thought you listened to both amps -- just trust your ears rather than Forum opinions!

Posted on: 12 June 2018 by tonycurran1

Hi they dropped the 803 off and as I expected the Naim 300 is the winner by a mile

just took your guys advice never buy speakers without a home dem

thanks for all your great advice.

Posted on: 13 June 2018 by Got Hi-Fi?

So, in the store, the Cyrus beat out the Naim, but at home, the Naim beat out the Cyrus?

Posted on: 13 June 2018 by tonycurran1

no it was more having the 803 in my own lounge.

Posted on: 13 June 2018 by living in lancs yearning for yorks

I had a similar (ish!) experience recently - SL2s in my own living room on a 300 sounded better than SBLs on the 300 in my own living room which in turn sounded better than SL2s on 2x250dr in previous owner’s living room (he prefers his SBLs in his own living room on the 2x250dr compared to the SL2s there too)