Abbey Road Studios Upgrades to B&W 800 Series Speakers
Abbey Road Studios has upgraded all of its reference systems with both the new 800 Series and Classé CA-M400 amplifiers.
London’s Abbey Road Studios, inseparably associated with The Beatles’ greatest recordings and the site of hundreds of more recent, highly acclaimed classical, pop and film-score sessions, has purchased new reference systems featuring no fewer than 33 Classé CA-M400 mono power amplifiers and 40 loudspeakers from the new B&W 800 Series.
Commenting on the new systems, Simon Campbell, Head of Technical Services, remarks:
"B&W have surpassed themselves yet again. Immediately on hearing the new 800D's we decided to equip all of Abbey Road's control rooms that have surround monitoring. They are all biamplified by the excellent Classé CA-M400's and used in combination with the mighty new ASW855 sub. The 800D's clarity and evenness throughout an extensive frequency range produces stunning results. We're also investing in the 802Ds and 805Ss to give our clients an even greater variety of monitoring options."
Studio 3 and The Penthouse now feature systems comprising 5 x B&W 800D, 1 x ASW 855 and 10 x bi-amplified Classé CA-M400. Due to space restrictions, the famous Studio 1 uses ceiling mounted HTM2D’s for surround purposes.
“We’re delighted and honoured that Abbey Road has chosen the CA-M400 for its amplification needs,” says Classé’s Dave Nauber, executive VP for brand development. “To be an integral part of a site associated with so much great music-making in all genres, at the very highest level of professionalism, is a special thing—fittingly, since the CA-M400 is a very special amplifier,” continues Nauber. “Abbey Road’s use of B&W references is long-standing; that they have now selected Classé amplifiers to maximize their performance is a gratifying confirmation of our designs’ superiority.”
The Classé CA-M400 is a single-channel power amplifier of 400/800 watts (8 Ohms/4 Ohms) and weighing some 82 pounds. Fully balanced from input to output, the CA-M400 exploits the firm’s sophisticated power-supply engineering and obsessive attention to detail in circuit layout and component selection to achieve unequalled sonic results in the most demanding applications and conditions.
The value of this outstanding reference system can already be appreciated through the superb sonics of early projects completed using it, including the recording and mixing of the musical scores to Star Wars, Episode III—Revenge of the Sith, and the new Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Allwired Technologies is an authorized B&W Speakers dealer.
