B&W

crazy
crazy Posts: 443
edited January 2006 in Speakers
Greetings,

I know this is a Polk thread but I couldn't help but write about my recent experience listening to B&W speakers with Rotel electronics. The sound was unbelievable - hard to believe how good it was. I couldn't believe anything could sound better than my setup (Polk Audio) but this blew my mind - the best part was that the sound that was coming from just 2 speakers seemed to be all around me - even when I was right next to the speakers, I couldn't tell where they were coming from. It was a truly amazing experience.

Unfortuantely after getting back home, I HATED my Polk setup :(
Distant Dream - A New Beginning
www.distantdream.com
(Now also available on iTunes)
Post edited by crazy on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited January 2006
    I have yet to find a B&W rig that I like...and I have tried...listening to many...lots of demos...from the DM300s to the Nautilus. I know they are the holy grail for some...but for whatever reason, they just don't suit my ear.
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

    "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • cmy330go
    cmy330go Posts: 2,341
    edited January 2006
    shack wrote:
    I have yet to find a B&W rig that I like...and I have tried...listening to many...lots of demos...from the DM300s to the Nautilus. I know they are the holy grail for some...but for whatever reason, they just don't suit my ear.

    +1

    I don't dislike B&W but I have yet to hear a pair that thrill me, or live up to their price tag.

    just another 2 cents worth.
    HT
    Mits WD-65737, DirecTV, Oppo DV-970HD, XBOX ONE, Yamaha RX-A1030, Parasound Halo A23, Rotel RB-985, Music Hall MMF-7, Parasound PPH-100, LSi-15, LSi-C, LSi-FX, LSi-7, PSW-1000, Monster HTS2600

    2 CH
    Parasound Halo P3, Parasound Halo A21, Sutherland Ph.D, VPI Classic 3 w/ 3D arm & Soundsmith Aida Cartridge, Arcam CD72T, B&W 802 S3, Monster HTS2500,
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,779
    edited January 2006
    What Polks do you have?

    Things to consider about your setup over the B&W setup is the following...

    Components the Beemer setup was using (Amps, Source, Pre)
    Cables the Beemer Setup was using
    And just the overall placement of the thing...

    Soundstaging, that whirling 3D image that just about any speaker can do - has alot to do with the components and placement...

    Something to chew on.
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,986
    edited January 2006
    Yeah, blah blah blah, B&W sucks, didn't we just have this thread, with all the usual rhetoric?

    Good post Sid.
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited January 2006
    I like all the little ones I've heard. The big flagships are overpriced and underperform. I can't figure why Troy wants a pair. He never heard them in this house and that seems to be a serious buying criteria for heem.

    George Grand (of the Jersey Grands)
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • aaharvel
    aaharvel Posts: 4,489
    edited January 2006
    Good speakers; even though the price/performance ratio is not what i'm looking for.
    H/K Signature 2.1+235
    Jungson MagicBoat II
    Revel Performa M-20
    Velodyne cht-10 sub
    Rega P1 Turntable

    "People working at Polk Audio must sit around the office and just laugh their balls off reading many of these comments." -Lush
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited January 2006
    RuSsMaN wrote:
    didn't we just have this thread, with all the usual rhetoric?
    Yep...just before the last "cables do/don't make a difference" thread and right after the last "which reciever/speaker/CDP should I buy?" thread.
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

    "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,086
    edited January 2006
    George Grand wrote:
    I like all the little ones I've heard. The big flagships are overpriced and underperform. I can't figure why Troy wants a pair. He never heard them in this house and that seems to be a serious buying criteria for heem.

    George Grand (of the Jersey Grands)

    Just trying to expand my horizons a little......

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited January 2006
    Uh-Uh. That's not it. Say it. You know what I mean.

    George Grand (of the Jersey Grands)
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,086
    edited January 2006
    Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo......
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • kmartin971
    kmartin971 Posts: 236
    edited January 2006
    Perfect!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just replaced a yamaha 700 series with the SR803. The increase is performance is amazing!
    TV = WS65611
    Pre-Amp Onkyo 830
    Amp Aragon 2007
    Panamax 5510
    Towers = LSi25s
    Center = LSiC
    Side Rear (2) = LSiFX
    Rear (2) = LSiFX
    JBL S120P II
    Sony Upconverting DVD Player
    XBox
    XBox 360 (Wireless connection live and media center enabled)
    PS3
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • beardog03
    beardog03 Posts: 5,550
    edited January 2006
    I heard a pair when I went to get my Ah!, and Jolida..
    Not sure what mobel they were, but the were pyramid shaped and about 4-5ft tall with an outboard tweet on top..

    Beautiful sound...
    I e-mailed the guy to ask what they were (model), but no reply..
    I think they were around 8k though..
    Cary SLP-98L F1 DC Pre Amp (Jag Blue)
    Parasound HCA-3500
    Cary Audio V12 amp (Jag Red)
    Polk Audio Xm Reciever (Autographed by THE MAN Himself) :cool:
    Magnum Dynalab MD-102 Analog Tuna
    Jolida JD-100 CDP
    Polk Audio LSi9 Speaks (ebony)
    SVS PC-Ultra Sub
    AQ Bedrock Speaker Cables (Bi-Wired)
    MIT Shotgun S1 I/C`s
    AQ Black Thunder Sub Cables
    PS Audio Plus Power Cords
    Magnum Dynalab ST-2 FM Antenna
    Sanus Cherry wood Speak Stands
    Adona AV45CS3 / 3 Tier Rack (Black /Gold)

    :cool:
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Ferres
    Ferres Posts: 310
    edited January 2006
    I listened to a pair of BW 804's running on a Musical-Fidelity amp with ixos speaker cables/ Nordost rca, Denon Sacd player.

    I thought the sound was rather thin but detailed. At low volumes the phantom center barely showed a hint. I was not impressed. I got better sound for a pair of Tannoy DC2's that I was home auditioning.

    Perhaps(most likely) they just set it up wrong. But for $4000 you expect more from a flagship.
    Gear: Rotel RC 1082, Rotel RSP 1068 pre/pro, Rotel RMB1077 amp, Cayin CDT 15a CD player, S301 bluray.

    Speakers: Tannoy DC sensys speakers, Paradigm Servo15 Sub, Velo Spl-1500r

    Conditioner: Isotek :D
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Joey_V
    Joey_V Posts: 8,586
    edited January 2006
    Ferres wrote:
    I listened to a pair of BW 804's running on a Musical-Fidelity amp with ixos speaker cables/ Nordost rca, Denon Sacd player.

    I thought the sound was rather thin but detailed. At low volumes the phantom center barely showed a hint. I was not impressed. I got better sound for a pair of Tannoy DC2's that I was home auditioning.

    Perhaps(most likely) they just set it up wrong. But for $4000 you expect more from a flagship.

    804 isnt the flagship though.
    Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Mazeroth
    Mazeroth Posts: 1,585
    edited January 2006
    crazy wrote:
    - even when I was right next to the speakers, I couldn't tell where they were coming from.

    If you were right next to them and couldn't tell where the sound was coming from, I think you were under the influence of something.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited January 2006
    I happened to listen to some yesterday. I really like the sound of them, (802's - 12k / pair).

    I have only heard them at a local shop and running with excellent equipment. While I do like the sound, I have to wonder how my LSi's would sound with that kind of supporting equipment. To me they sound like a little more detailed and slightly laid back Paradigm.

    While I do like the sound, for me they in no way justify their price and I think it would be a close match between them and my LSi15's running in the same setup with the same equipment. (forgetting the price for now)

    If you like a laid back sound, the 15's would fare very well. If you like the detail of the LSi series but they seem a little TO laid back - paradigm studio or B&W may be just your thing.

    Michael
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
    Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • unc2701
    unc2701 Posts: 3,587
    edited January 2006
    I've heard some B&W 803's on a Bryston 14bsst w/ a Musical Fidelity pre and an upper-range pro-ject TT then compared to my setup with LSi 25's on a pair of bridged 4bsst's (basically the same as that 14b), Dodd ELP and a pro-ject Debut plus a POS phono stage.

    My findings? I could A/B, but the LSi's deffinitely handled better at low power levels and deliver better bass across the full power range. At very high volumes, the B&W's sounded better, but this was far beyond where I'd ever crank the system. Bottom line, I'd take my LSi's and $4000 over the 803's. 802's &801's are a different story.
    Gallo Ref 3.1 : Bryston 4b SST : Musical fidelity CD Pre : VPI HW-19
    Gallo Ref AV, Frankengallo Ref 3, LC60i : Bryston 9b SST : Meridian 565
    Jordan JX92s : MF X-T100 : Xray v8
    Backburner:Krell KAV-300i
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • crazy
    crazy Posts: 443
    edited January 2006
    Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote:
    Soundstaging, that whirling 3D image that just about any speaker can do - has alot to do with the components and placement...

    Something to chew on.

    Greetings - thank you for the help. I have an Onkyo TX-SR603X receiver. Are there any articles/ forum postings that you could suggest regarding soundstaging and 3D image?
    Distant Dream - A New Beginning
    www.distantdream.com
    (Now also available on iTunes)
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 2+2
    2+2 Posts: 546
    edited January 2006
    You were comparing that receiver....what speakers....what the....nevermind....
    System 1: Martin Logan Vantage, Rotel RC 1070, B&K Reference 200.2, Music Hall DAC 15.2, Yamaha 2300

    System 2: LSi15 w/db840, Marantz SR8400, Rotel 1080, RM6800 (C&S), Sony X2020ES

    System 3: LSi7, Yamaha SW215, Music Hall Maven, Music Hall MMF CD25 w/627opamps

    System 4: RTi100, Harman Kardon AVR 230, Panasonic DVD
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter