B&W Formation Duo Wireless speakers

WLDock

Interesting, it looks like B&W has jumped into the wireless game. They are up there in price, more than the KEF, ELAC, etc. but less than the Dyns.

Bowers & Wilkins Formation Duo - $3999
https://www.avsforum.com/bowers-wilkins-formation-duo-wireless-speakers-unveiled/
https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/bandw-formation-duo
https://9to5mac.com/2019/04/22/bowers-wilkins-formation-speakers/



https://youtu.be/thM0Fm9opOw

displayname

Although I have no interest in these wireless systems currently, I love what they are doing for the market. I've had friends ask me several times about the middle ground between a traditional stereo and a sound bar. I feel like these types of systems hit the nail on the head for functionality and price point. I think these will be a big factor in stereo and hifi making a comeback into more average households.

Clipdat

@displayname I admire your optimism.

nooshinjohn

DSkip wrote: »

I’ve seen some ugly speakers. Those are up there. Looks like a trash bin on a pedestal.

R2D2 and a toaster oven had kids...

nooshinjohn

displayname wrote: »

Although I have no interest in these wireless systems currently, I love what they are doing for the market. I've had friends ask me several times about the middle ground between a traditional stereo and a sound bar. I feel like these types of systems hit the nail on the head for functionality and price point. I think these will be a big factor in stereo and hifi making a comeback into more average households.

It certainly eliminates having a large stack of components. All you need is the space for a couple speakers. Depending on style, the WAF should go up considerably.

displayname

Clipdat wrote: »

@displayname I admire your optimism.

Haha, I know that it'll never be in most households, but I do know it's something I've actually watched people consider. Losing the gear stack and wires is a big appeal to a lot of people. Especially wires. I think when the average price for a good wireless system gets closer to $2K is when a big jump will happen. Especially if they did 2K + free year of Tidal or another lossless service. I think that bundle price point would get a lot of people started.

Clipdat

Most women hate seeing any sort of cables for some reason. Personally, it doesn't bother me.

halo

Clipdat wrote: »

Most women hate seeing any sort of cables for some reason. Personally, it doesn't bother me.

That might be due to the fact that you aren't a woman.

stangman67

The lack of cables wasn’t the appeal to me. There are still plenty of visible cables with the LS50W. The lack of what amounted to 5 or 6 audio component boxes plus the speakers/stand is what was the deciding factor. Was a lot to have put in the open in the living space. Too much of an attention grabber in an adult living room in my opinion (and my fiancé’s although she refused to ask me to sell everything). The simplicity is also fantastic.

These high (er) end integrated setups are very surprising and I’m sure most of you would be floored hearing something like the KEFS with a nice source. In the end it’s a major money saving venture as well as there just isn’t much to upgrade. The revolving door of audio components is no longer a thing and it’s a freeing feeling actually

WLDock

DSkip wrote: »

I’ve seen some ugly speakers. Those are up there. Looks like a trash bin on a pedestal.

Yeah, they look odd. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I'm no designer, but for $4K B&W could have done better. I mean the whole point of a speaker like this is to have great sound, great looks / WAF, less clutter, and ease of use. Something like the Paradigm Persona goes down a similar design direction in the white variety but takes a completely different more pleasing turn. They need something 'pretty' if these are going to make it into some living spaces. Heck, my wife thinks the KEF LS50W look hideous!

stangman67 wrote: »

The lack of cables wasn’t the appeal to me. There are still plenty of visible cables with the LS50W. The lack of what amounted to 5 or 6 audio component boxes plus the speakers/stand is what was the deciding factor. Was a lot to have put in the open in the living space. Too much of an attention grabber in an adult living room in my opinion (and my fiancé’s although she refused to ask me to sell everything). The simplicity is also fantastic.

These high (er) end integrated setups are very surprising and I’m sure most of you would be floored hearing something like the KEFS with a nice source. In the end it’s a major money saving venture as well as there just isn’t much to upgrade. The revolving door of audio components is no longer a thing and it’s a freeing feeling actually

Yes, the sound, minimal components are what makes them attractive to me. I'm sure by the time I'm ready there will be version 2.0 out so I"m banking on finding a used deals out there. Even still, I showed them to the Mrs. and as i stated above, she thinks they look hideous. So, even if a lessen the components, go with small wireless speakers, its still going to take some work on the WAF to get a system in my living room.

Geoff4rfc

No demo??? The dude drops 4K plus what ever for the stands, and "doesn't expect much"...………? Dude kinda looks like Geddy Lee.

WLDock

Yeah, Steve Guttenberg looks like Geddy Lee somewhat. He reviews a ton of gear for cnet, etc... https://www.cnet.com/profiles/theaudiophiliac/ ....so maybe he has his reasons for not expecting much. Seems like an interesting guy with interesting perspectives on audio and the high end.

His own system: https://youtu.be/dfqoOHz4Sp4

Here’s why most insanely expensive audio systems don't sound insanely great
https://youtu.be/qtUQzd4VoEU

Good reasons to buy high-end audio other than the sound
https://youtu.be/wnZ6fJyvklE

How crazy Is It to play a $40k audio system with $550 speakers?
(Klipsch RP 600M cnet speaker of the year) https://www.cnet.com/news/the-klipsch-reference-premiere-600m-is-the-audiophiliac-speaker-of-the-year/
https://youtu.be/aGmOK3T3c5w

His youtube channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9wBmplRUhaCi-aNrkfgeTg/videos

displayname

Geoff4rfc wrote: »

No demo??? The dude drops 4K plus what ever for the stands, and "doesn't expect much"...………? Dude kinda looks like Geddy Lee.

He’s a very seasoned reviewer. He didn’t drop a dime for those, and he generally knows what to expect, especially from companies he’s familiar with.
But he does like to highlight things that surprised him, and I think that’s where these fall in.

Geoff4rfc

Very interesting looking at his gear...….he doesn't have a headphone rack, he has a headphone tree!!! I think I spied a couple of grado's in there

WLDock

The headphone collection is insane!