B&W 686 speakers - anyone with experience?

I think you have a ton of options here but we need more information. How much are you looking to spend? What sources are you running?

I think any of your basic receivers, even 2channel receviers should suffice as long as it's not a $250 receiver...

If you have a 5.1 receiver or larger you could always run two channels into each speaker if you have no use for the extra channels. I believe that's "bi-amping" which is different than bi-wiring. I'm contemplating B&W 685's with a Pioneer SC61 (130wpc) or a yamaha aventage 820 (100wpc) for a slight reference. But i'm also using all of my channels to power speakers...

The HK 3490 or Onkyo 8050 would be good choices.

IMHO, the HK 3490 is very musical. It's essentially an integrated with a tuner. The Yamaha A-S500 would be a nice choice as well with plenty of power and it's rated for 4-ohms (like the HK). The 686s most likely present some 4-ohm dips along with the lower sensitivity.

Yes, but if you look at actual measurements (and this is true for any speaker) there are dips below 8 ohms. The manufacturer is simply listing nominal impedance. The Outlaw RR2150 is attractive as it comes with bass management and a USB DAC. I'd actually say this is the best option you've listed so far but with a heftier price tag at $699. The DAC would be nice should you decide to graduate to flac or ALAC (apple's lossless audio codec).

For a 14x12 office, I would say that any decent receiver will do. I have the 686 and tried them with my Marantz 1402 receiver and it got quite loud even in my larger room. I was using them with an older Denon 890 receiver and it was plenty loud and clear. The advantage of a receiver over integrated amps is that they have bass management to ensure a proper sub/speaker blend if you choose to add a little sub (recommended in the case of a 686). If you go with a receiver, the Marantz 1403 or 1603 would be my recommendation

As another option, I would actually recommend a Teac AH01. I am using this with my desktop system with similarly inefficient PSB Imagine Mini (85.5 dB/1W/1M) and it is way more loud than I need in a similar sized room. And it's compact and cool running. The Teac can put out 50W in 4ohms. It's also got a DAC/digital inputs for connection to your computer but it doesn't have a phono input so you would have to get a standalone phono preamp.

I thought I would throw in this as an option if you are interested in a small/compact system


Edited by warpdrive - 2/14/13 at 6:55am

Bass management is a plus in the Outlaw because it's impossible to find otherwise except in AVRs.

USB DAC is definitely nice for playback from computer audio. If you need a separate DAC, the ODAC is very transparent and very small. I recently changed over from the Asus Xonar STX to the ODAC with an HK 3390, and feel like its giving a little better SQ. The downside to internal sound cards are that even the best ones can be subject to the internal noise of a computer. USB DAC or optical tends to eliminate that problem.

The 2150 can't bi-amp. It does however have a solid power supply.
I was recently running a pair of b&w 686 with the 2150 in a room
Of similar size to yours. With the volume up 1/3 of the way it was
Pretty darn LOUD. Louder than I care to listen.

With those speakers I suggest you pick up a good subwoofer.
I crossed the 686 speakers on the 2150 @ 100Hz. It really made
The speakers open up,they sounded better when they didn't
Have to re-produce the lower bass notes.

I am very happy with my 2150...I actually bought it because
I fancied it's good looks.

The Outlaw M8 subwoofer would possibly be a good
Match with those b&w's. $250.

The advantage of bi-amping comes from running two different amps, not hooking it up twice to the same receiver

Don't have to have 2.1. Check out this SVS SB12-NSD. It has a built in high and low pass crossover (most subs do not) that is fixed at 80hz. So if you got an integrated amp or receiver that has pre outs and main in connection back to the amplifier, then you can insert the sub in the chain in between. And if you don't like having the crossover that high, you always have the choice with it of using the unfiltered line out and setting the sub crossover to the low frequency roll off of your speakers.

See if your iPod works with an LOD cable. What that does is bypasses the built in headphone amp to provide a direct line out.

Yeah. My Denon has the bi-amp option, too. I "imagined" I heard a difference. Then later on I switched it back, and didn't find that difference was there any more

I found a pair of Paradigm Studio 40's v4,ending a long quest for these now
Discontinued speakers. Sold the 686 to a good friend who is very happy
With them. He's running them with a HK 3490 and an iPod dock by the
Way.

The 3490 is very highly recommended on this forum for
2 channel applications. Great value with an amp section
That can drive almost any speaker...including the 686

My decision on a 2 channel amp came down to the
3490 & the Outlaw. As noted I picked the rr2150.

I wouldn't assume that. How are they dated??? There haven't been any significant changes to analog amplifier design.

Also, I would strongly encourage that you take a look at the ODAC. Here is the story behind it. There's no need to limit yourself to buying an amp or receiver that has digital input. The ODAC has been compared favorably to $500 or more DACs (google reviews of it), and it is about half the size of an iPhone (a little thicker). Won't take up any extra room in a setup and could easily be tucked away behind the amp.

I expect AVRs to go through a radical change in the next few years. One of the manufactuers is going to get smart, build Android into their receivers, and then add multiple USB ports. No more need of an HTPC. Add external hard drives, bluetooth keyboards & mice, etc. Pick your onscreen music player from Android options for playing your digital content. Use ANY music subscription service that has an Android app. Use your receiver just like a computer for facebook, browsing the web, Netflix, etc. It would be absolutely awesome