Does anyone feel bad about not going with their dealer and instead gets a used deal?

Joey_V

Hey Jessie,

Not looking to run the idea by everyone here but I did want to get input from other aficionados here who I am sure have been through the same thing as I have. Given that we have lost like what - half the dealerships in the Dallas area post-recession, it's a valid question.

But yeah, I think I wasn't looking for an answer, but was just curious if the majority thought one way or another. And given the response, it's pretty much look out for number 1 - yourself.

Joey_V

halenhoang wrote: »

Joey,

I am curious, do you have news of B&W coming out with a new line? The 800s have been around for some time and the only recent update was the D2 tweeters. I used to go High End many moons ago. One particular day, the prices of the the entire 800 series went up at least $1,000. I was informed it was due to the currency rate difference between Europe and the States. All was good and no ill will felt, I ended up purchasing mine elsewhere.

Good luck on your journey. I will be heading to Houston area this Thursday, got some seafood I need to pick up.

Halen

800 diamond series 2 has been out since late 2010. My guess is late 2016 new ones will pop out. The question will be how good will they be and how much. Another reason to future proof myself with a good deal now so I can sell later.

WLDock

Jesse has a point. Its up to you to decide how and where to spend your money.

There's nothing wrong with dropping $20K+ large at a dealer if you have the means and appreciate their service. We all would like to do that at least once! I'm sure many have run across an **** audiophile snob sales person. The kind that won't give you the time of day unless they think you are holding an AE Black card. So, when you find a great one, do give them business.

If saving money, and taking advantage of deals on the use market are important to you then you might not be able to make every purchase through them. The Houston purchase comes with amps that you may or may not need. You might like your Cary amps better and decide to sell off the 1201 and turn that money around and spend it at the dealer. Or you may decide to Bi-amp with tubes on the upper and smaller McIntosh SS on the lower. You might even end up selling all four amps and going with something totally different. You already know that this audio thing could go in many different directions.

And as far as choices....those are only two! There has to be many more. I'm sure there are other used 800D sets out there. Here are some others...but all purchases rather they be NEW from a local dealer all the way to USED overseas, come with pluses and minuses! The choice is yours to make.

800D - $14,700 + Shipping from UK
http://www.audioasylumtrader.com/ca/listing/Speakers-Subwoofers/b-amp-w-800-series-diamond/800/series-diamond/127023

800D - $10,045 + $1854 Shipping from portugal
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BOWERS-WILKINS-B-W-800-D-SPEAKERS-PAIR-USED-CHERRYWOOD-/281611324790?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item419157cd76

There's the 802D option you were thinking about...with maybe a sub or two? JL Audio Fathom? Buy from your local dealer to show him some love and ease your conscience.

802D - $6,400+ shipping
http://app.audiogon.com/listings/full-range-b-w-802d-diamond-rosenut-speakers-pair-2015-02-15-speakers-05-118

802D - $8000+ shipping
http://app.audiogon.com/listings/full-range-b-w-802d-in-rosenut-2015-02-16-speakers-11215-brooklyn-ny--3

OK, once again I've said far too much having never paid $20K+ for speakers and amps? Heck, my next car will be $20K or less. I want a used 2014 Chevy Impala in LTZ trim!

cfrizz

Joey_V wrote: »

cfrizz wrote: »

Hi Joey,

Your wife is right, it is just business. It's nice to be loyal to a good retailer, but you have to consider everything. What after services does this dealer give? If something goes wrong with a speaker, can you bring it back in for him to ship back to have fixed etc.

Trust me the dealer is not sitting around waiting for you to come back in. In the end you have to do what's best for you and your wallet.

After service include a 3h set up and full guarantee that any issue is dealt with swiftly. Say the diamond driver goes out, he sends a tech over to replace the driver.

He says he knows how to set up a speaker using the sumiko method, similar to how they set up the sonus faber stradivari. Much better than I know how. He said he will teach me how to do it for future installs.

Plus he delivers. Plus I'll obviously be in on any new things he gets and probably better pricing too when the 900 diamonds or whatever comes out. He does not do trade ins, I already asked, so I'll be in the hook at that time to sell on audiogon or use the 800 diamonds on a secondary system but not sure what will happen when that time comes.

My biggest issue is that the diamonds are such behemoths that it is hard for me to lift it around myself and even with friends. If one of my friends injured themselves, I might be on the hook.

Plus my other issue is the purchase at Houston itself. The guy wants me to go to his house and pay cash, I'd rather have the speakers and amps sent to his dealer and I can meet him there as I find this more legit and we were going to use his dealers transport network to deliver it to Dallas. We meet at his dealers location and I pay there. Rather than me going to some guys house on craigslist with 20 on hand.

Looks like you have it all figured out Joey, I agree with your thought process. Have you asked this seller to consider doing it your way? you should. If he declines, then yes I would go and get them from your dealer. And if you do decide to buy them from this seller make sure you bring back up with you. We are talking a lot of money either way, and to do it at some strangers house with not witnesses/backup could be trouble.

I just went back up and read the rest of the thread. Joey, we are only talking about a 2k difference which will get eaten up with the Uhaul rental, gas, etc. Go get them from your dealer!

ZLTFUL

Cathy. the difference is more significant than that.
For $2000 less than the dealer price for *just* the speakers, he is getting the same speakers and a pair of McIntosh MC1201 monobloc amps.

cfrizz

Doesn't he already have amps? Does he truly need them or is it simply because it's a good deal and he wants the Mac name in his rig? There is no guarantee that he will like them etc.

I personally think that if he can't get the seller to agree to better, more public location to do this transaction, I would walk away.

Since his dealer has the speakers, see if he also has Mac amps, or just bring his amp over to the dealer and hook them up to the speakers he wants to test drive them.

ZLTFUL

It's the deal. His thought was he tries them out and if he doesn't like them, he flips them to recover nearly half the cost of the speakers alone.

Joey_V

Thanks guys for the input - always appreciated. The 1201 is too good of a deal. I have Cary 211FE which are same level price point as 1201 but tube power instead of SS power. ZLTFUL is right, the 1201 mcintosh can be flipped for about 10 which would make the speakers cost only 10 in the end, which is a significant savings over the new 22.

One thing about the macs that I like is that the best I heard the 802 Diamonds (1 below the 800) was on a Mac 550 cdp -> my cary slp 05 tube preamp -> mac 601. It was a holographic presentation, or at least nearly holographic. I still think the Sonus Faber Strads had a bit of an edge in terms of holography but it's been about 4 months since I last heard the Strads so it could be an audio memory trick...

... If the 1201 works out then I am going to for sure have a better system than I heard... although there's a good chance I can still better it with a better CDP like an esoteric or the Mac 1100 cdp. Also, the Cary 211FE might sound better than the Mac 1201 or 601, and the 1201 will be a moot point.

Though another reason why I'm attracted to this deal is that even if the 1201 doesn't work out in the main system, I can use it in the secondary. Though it seems like I lost the Magico Mini 2 bid today as my offer got rejected in lieu of a pending wire from another audiogoner. That speaker is only 87db/1watt/1meter sensitivity and could use some beefy power. Nonetheless, a pair of 1201 would be great to have either today or for someday.

Just my thoughts.

WLDock

Joey_V wrote: »

... If the 1201 works out then I am going to for sure have a better system than I heard... although there's a good chance I can still better it with a better CDP like an esoteric or the Mac 1100 cdp. Also, the Cary 211FE might sound better than the Mac 1201 or 601, and the 1201 will be a moot point.

See...you already know what you are getting into with getting those 1201. More toys to play around with...and like I said....who knows! In due time...you might get bored and go listen to something wild and crazy like the Devialet 400 or 800 on the 800D's and get that good feeling. Then end up flipping the Cary stuff, and/or the1201's.
http://en.devialet.com/speakers/bowers-wilkins/b-and-w-800-diamond/
http://www.avhub.com.au/features/hi-fi/devialets-andy-kennard-talks-sam-speaker-active-matching-at-the-melbourne-av-show-397483
http://hifipig.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/DSCF3685.jpg

Crazy piece of gear right there... hard to believe that some went through tubes and the Big Mc's and ended up with that unit driving their 800s & 802's. Some seem to take the wild adventure ride through the audio wonderland. Peoples taste are all over the place.

Joey_V

Let's start with getting this deal through first before thinking about the number of outlets needed. The stereo room has 2 outlets that are dedicated. Should be enough since I have a 20amp and a 15 amp outlet there.

There is only 1 other spot that the 1201 would fit and that's the gameroom... No way can it or will it be allowed in the family room by my wife. The gameroom only has a single 15 amp outlet shared among several plugs... Will need to add power and dedicated power outlets. I have been quoted 750-1000$ per outlet.

Joey_V

WLDock wrote: »

Joey_V wrote: »

... If the 1201 works out then I am going to for sure have a better system than I heard... although there's a good chance I can still better it with a better CDP like an esoteric or the Mac 1100 cdp. Also, the Cary 211FE might sound better than the Mac 1201 or 601, and the 1201 will be a moot point.

See...you already know what you are getting into with getting those 1201. More toys to play around with...and like I said....who knows! In due time...you might get bored and go listen to something wild and crazy like the Devialet 400 or 800 on the 800D's and get that good feeling. Then end up flipping the Cary stuff, and/or the1201's.
http://en.devialet.com/speakers/bowers-wilkins/b-and-w-800-diamond/
http://www.avhub.com.au/features/hi-fi/devialets-andy-kennard-talks-sam-speaker-active-matching-at-the-melbourne-av-show-397483
http://hifipig.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/DSCF3685.jpg

Crazy piece of gear right there... hard to believe that some went through tubes and the Big Mc's and ended up with that unit driving their 800s & 802's. Some seem to take the wild adventure ride through the audio wonderland. Peoples taste are all over the place.

I've heard about samming your speakers. I think it corrects the low frequencies only. I like how the output graph of the 800 diamond is particularly close to the source signal graph. The devialet improves it but it's not as dramatic as other speakers in their library like the sonus faber olympicas.

Btw, 800D = 1st gen. 800 diamonds = 2nd gen. That's why you see variable used pricing on audiogon. Same applies to 802.

WLDock

Yeah, I messed up the name on the first listing. I did read about the different gens. I've yet to listen to the Diamonds.

Joey_V

Just saw an 802 Diamond pop up on audiogon, 10K. That's the cheapest I've seen yet.