Pls Help me ID a pair of B&W

organ

Well, after more than one year of being free from upgradetitus, the audio bug has bitten me again:frown:. Now I'm looking for my next pair of speakers and it will most likely be a pair of B&W.

In the early or mid 90's, I used to chill at a friend's house a lot and his dad had a pair of B&W powered by Adcom that sounded absolutely fantastic. It had the most incredible mid-range and highs (going by memory). I loved the sound. Problem is, I don't know the model number and was hoping someone could help me out.

It was a tower (not big), with the mid driver sitting on top in a boxy looking enclosure and the tweets sat on top of the mid range enclosure. The tweeters didn't use the funky cone thing. Does it ring a bell to any of you?
I've looked for pics but can't find any. Been checking the local used market but they never show up.

Now I'm saving up for a pair of B&W 683 and I'm wondering if the 683 sound as good as the unknown speakers I mentioned above (if you happen to know which model it is). I'm looking to get the same kind of sound or better and I'm hoping the 683 will sound as good or better.

To those who have experience with the 683, will my NAD C270 power them alright? It handles my LSi9 easily.

Oh man, if only I knew the model. I'll never forget the detail in those tweets, the neutral and clear mids, and that punchy clean bass.

Thanks

zingo

I believe they were one of the Matrix 80x models. I know both the 801 and 802 models had the stacked enclosures.

Big Dawg

Maybe one of the matrix series?

organ

OK, just finished another goodle search and I finally found them... Looks ugly without the grilles lol.

organ

Oh yeah, can anybody tell me how they sound against the current 683?

zingo

Matrix 802 I believe...

I'm not sure how they would stack up, but the entire 8xx series is a legend in speakers for a reason. Those older Matrix B&Ws are ugly in my book, but probably sound better than anything by B&W other than another 8xx.

devani

they look much better in person...series 2 is the most well regarded version...

I had a change to buy them for $500 but didn't....the cabinet had swollen due to moisture but sure sounded sweet....

Joe08867

Gonna agree with Zingo on this. Ugly looks, amazing sound.

Not sure how they would compare. My guess is the older series is the better one.

organ

Thanks for the help guys. I actually really like their looks. They were also the first high end speakers I heard and they got me into audio.
I did some more reading around the net and it looks like they do pop up in the used market around here once in a long while. Previous ones sold for $1500 to almost $2000. That's already the price of the current 683 model. So I'm going to assume these Matrix speakers are much better. Also, looking at B&W's website, it looks like the 800 series are their higher end models.

So I guess I will save up some cash and keep checking the used market. Do you guys know how well these speakers (drivers, x-over, etc) age? I want to make sure that if I ever come across a pair that they would last me many years.

Joe08867

The drivers age well. They have rubber surrounds so that isn't an issue. The caps will get old just like any other electronics. That could get expensive. But then again you get what you pay for.

If it helps I would buy them. I really like the B&W sound.

adb3da

Here's a pair of Series 3 on the bay...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/B-W-MATRIX-802-SERIES-3-FLOOR-SPEAKERS-PAIR-/350553347707?pt=Speakers_Subwoofers&hash=item519e9b967b#ht_1185wt_1163

olilugo

organ wrote: »

Thanks for the help guys. I actually really like their looks. They were also the first high end speakers I heard and they got me into audio.
I did some more reading around the net and it looks like they do pop up in the used market around here once in a long while. Previous ones sold for $1500 to almost $2000. That's already the price of the current 683 model. So I'm going to assume these Matrix speakers are much better. Also, looking at B&W's website, it looks like the 800 series are their higher end models.

So I guess I will save up some cash and keep checking the used market. Do you guys know how well these speakers (drivers, x-over, etc) age? I want to make sure that if I ever come across a pair that they would last me many years.

The matrix series is the predecessor of the Nautilus which then was replaced by the S series which then was replaced by the D series which then is being replaced by the dimmond series.
they are all the top of the line B&W class of speakers.

The 683 is a different class at a different price point.

you can argue that due to the age and components of the matrix series is what you could find in the 6x series of the now, but the woofer in matrix 802 is bigger than the 6x series.

organ

Joe,
Thanks. Good to hear they age well. I'm cool with having to replace the caps eventually. It's the drivers that I'm more worried about.

Adb,
Thanks for the heads up, but unfortunately I only have about $500 saved up at the moment to go towards my next upgrade. That's a great price. I think I will be looking for a local sale though. I really don't like the way postal workers handle audio gear.

Olilugo,
That's what I was thinking because the 683 has quite a bit of trickle down technology. It even has that extenstion on the rear of the tweeters if you remove it from the cabs. Also, it has the Kevlar mids like the 802 Matrix.
Going with mids and highs, do you think they sound close enough to the 802M in that area? I don't have info on the tweeters. I don't know if they're the same ones or not.