B&W 802d heaven ...

crazy
crazy Posts: 443
edited April 2006 in Speakers
Unfortunately these don't belong to me - they belong to a dear friend of mine who's as crazy (or crazier) about hi-end audio gear as I am.

These sound so good that it's scary! The thing I like about this setup is that it looks super clean (IMHO) and the decor around the speakers are perfect.

All this room needs now is a 50" Plasma :D
Distant Dream - A New Beginning
www.distantdream.com
(Now also available on iTunes)
Post edited by crazy on
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,986
    edited April 2006
    Hardcore.

    Ask your friend about the weenie dog artwork, I'd like to buy that for a friend.
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • Nelson57
    Nelson57 Posts: 190
    edited April 2006
    Whats the rest of the electronic gear?
    Main theater: Paradigm Studio 100's v4 L/R, CC690 Center, ADP 590 x4 Surrounds. Dual Outlaw LFM-EX-1's, Yamaha Aventage RX-A1010 as Processor, Anthem PVA-7 Amp

    Secondary System: Polk RTi 6 L/R, CSi3, Center, FXi3 x4 Surrounds, Def-Tech Supercube II, Pioneer Elite VSX-23 Receiver
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  • crazy
    crazy Posts: 443
    edited April 2006
    Nelson57 wrote:
    Whats the rest of the electronic gear?

    Krell 400Xi (for now) and Krell SACD standard
    Distant Dream - A New Beginning
    www.distantdream.com
    (Now also available on iTunes)
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  • Nelson57
    Nelson57 Posts: 190
    edited April 2006
    Thats an really nice setup, sure it sounds great.
    Main theater: Paradigm Studio 100's v4 L/R, CC690 Center, ADP 590 x4 Surrounds. Dual Outlaw LFM-EX-1's, Yamaha Aventage RX-A1010 as Processor, Anthem PVA-7 Amp

    Secondary System: Polk RTi 6 L/R, CSi3, Center, FXi3 x4 Surrounds, Def-Tech Supercube II, Pioneer Elite VSX-23 Receiver
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  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited April 2006
    Crazy,
    it looks like a great system! I haven't been into Bowers since the mid 80s, and that was with the entry level DM series.
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
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  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited April 2006
    Zero wrote:
    Having that TV as a diffuser definately helps.
    What? :confused:
    George Grand wrote: »
    Jstas wrote: »
    Simple question. If you had a cool million bucks, what would you do with it?
    Wonder WTF happened to the rest of my money.
    In Use
    PS3, Yamaha CDR-HD1300, Plex, Amazon Fire TV Gen 2
    Pioneer Elite VSX-52, Parasound HCA-1000A
    Klipsch RF-82ii, RC-62ii, RS-42ii, RW-10d
    Epson 8700UB
    In Storage
    [Home Audio]
    Rotel RCD-02, Yamaha KX-W900U, Sony ST-S500ES, Denon DP-7F
    Pro-Ject Phono Box MKII, Parasound P/HP-850, ASL Wave 20 monoblocks
    Klipsch RF-35, RB-51ii
    [Car Audio]
    Pioneer Premier DEH-P860MP, Memphis 16-MCA3004, Boston Acoustic RC520
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  • Holydoc
    Holydoc Posts: 1,048
    edited April 2006
    This is the first time I have ever seen the 802's. Kind of reminds you of a very sleek R2D2. They are definitely a very nice looking speaker. I love the fact that they look artistic as well as sounding that way.
    Holydoc (Home Theatre Lover)
    __________________________________________
    Panasonic -50PX600U 50" Plasma
    Onkyo -TX-NR901 Receiver
    Oppo -Oppo 980HD Universal DVD Player
    Outlaw -770 (7x200watt) Amplifier
    PolkAudio - RTi12 (Left and Right)
    PolkAudio - CSi5 (Center)
    PolkAudio - FXi3 (Back and Surround)
    SVS - PB-12/Plus (Subwoofer)
    Bluejean Cables - Interconnects
    Logitech Harmony 880 - Remote
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  • thehaens@cox.net
    thehaens@cox.net Posts: 1,012
    edited April 2006
    audiobliss wrote:
    What? :confused:

    Maybe he meant the curtain behind the TV.....:confused:
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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited April 2006
    Beautiful. What's the retail on a pair of those bad boys?
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  • Dennis Gardner
    Dennis Gardner Posts: 4,861
    edited April 2006
    organ wrote:
    Beautiful. What's the retail on a pair of those bad boys?

    12 bigun's The 800d are $20k. I would take either, the diamond tweeter was much better than I imagined it to be. No real shrillness, just very detailed and clean.
    HT Optoma HD25 LV on 80" DIY Screen, Anthem MRX 300 Receiver, Pioneer Elite BDP 51FD Polk CS350LS, Polk SDA1C, Polk FX300, Polk RT55, Dual EBS Adire Shiva 320watt tuned to 17hz, ICs-DIY Twisted Prs, Speaker-Raymond Cable

    2 Channel Thorens TD 318 Grado ZF1, SACD/CD Marantz 8260, Soundstream/Krell DAC1, Audio Mirror PP1, Odyssey Stratos, ADS L-1290, ICs-DIY Twisted , Speaker-Raymond Cable
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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited April 2006
    Dennis Gardner wrote:
    12 bigun's The 800d are $20k. I would take either, the diamond tweeter was much better than I imagined it to be. No real shrillness, just very detailed and clean.

    OMG:eek: . I gotta go demo a pair one day.

    My friend's dad owns a pair of Beemers and I've always loved the sound. It's an older model that looks similar but more boxy. That was a long time ago.
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  • Dennis Gardner
    Dennis Gardner Posts: 4,861
    edited April 2006
    I heard the 800d pair on Classe' Delta series 400 wpc monoblocks, the same setup that Abbey Road Studios is using now.

    In a single word..............effortless.
    HT Optoma HD25 LV on 80" DIY Screen, Anthem MRX 300 Receiver, Pioneer Elite BDP 51FD Polk CS350LS, Polk SDA1C, Polk FX300, Polk RT55, Dual EBS Adire Shiva 320watt tuned to 17hz, ICs-DIY Twisted Prs, Speaker-Raymond Cable

    2 Channel Thorens TD 318 Grado ZF1, SACD/CD Marantz 8260, Soundstream/Krell DAC1, Audio Mirror PP1, Odyssey Stratos, ADS L-1290, ICs-DIY Twisted , Speaker-Raymond Cable
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited April 2006
    I'm glad you enjoy them, as it's all about perspective. I haven't heard a stellar B&W demo to date.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited April 2006
    OK, to those who don't like Beemers... Just wondering what it is about their sound you don't like?

    I dig them, especially the mids and highs. But I like my Klipsch a lot more than the two different Beemers I've heard.
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited April 2006
    They didn't exhibit anything above and beyond what I've heard in 20 other monkey coffins.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • Dennis Gardner
    Dennis Gardner Posts: 4,861
    edited April 2006
    dorokusai wrote:
    I'm glad you enjoy them, as it's all about perspective. I haven't heard a stellar B&W demo to date.

    Mark, I would have to say that the Classe' amps and cdp/DVD that I heard made quite a difference in both the 800d and 802d. I heard them on Rotel gear and McIntosh and didn't care as much as alot of detail was lost and was veiled/muddy sounding. The Mac source was their big digital server and I didn't care for it at all. A couple minutes was all that was needed for me to know the Mac SS stuff didn't do the speakers justice in that room.

    I'll have a pair of the bigger Beemers someday, even for only awhile, but it will be at the 40% of retail preowned they are selling for recently. They aren't worth more than what I drive..............
    HT Optoma HD25 LV on 80" DIY Screen, Anthem MRX 300 Receiver, Pioneer Elite BDP 51FD Polk CS350LS, Polk SDA1C, Polk FX300, Polk RT55, Dual EBS Adire Shiva 320watt tuned to 17hz, ICs-DIY Twisted Prs, Speaker-Raymond Cable

    2 Channel Thorens TD 318 Grado ZF1, SACD/CD Marantz 8260, Soundstream/Krell DAC1, Audio Mirror PP1, Odyssey Stratos, ADS L-1290, ICs-DIY Twisted , Speaker-Raymond Cable
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited April 2006
    Dennis - B&W was a brand that 15 years ago, woke me up to high end. I remember the yellow? baffles of some model that had me vexed. I think they are definetly above average, but they just don't do anything for me and I've heard the current line. The only thing I've heard them on is Rotel, Parasound and Manley.

    Keep in mind, I'm a planarhead, so my focus shifted awhile ago. Coffins are cool, but easy to do. Planars, Electrostat, Line Array, Open Baffle...are theories that interest me from a listener perspective.

    I know you are into quality sound and the gear, rock on, it's just not my bag.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited April 2006
    Sean,
    I find the mids and highs very "airy". I can see how some people hear it as sterile, lifeless or boring. Of course, I like their sound for softer stuff. You're one of the hardest guys to please around here;).

    Doro,
    Cool. I plan to try a pair of Maggies one day. You know, that special offer for the MMG that's like $500 or something. First I need to get a solid amp to power my LSi9, then I'll get the Maggies and use them on the same amp.

    I've never heard planars before, and I'm very curious as to how they sound compared to box speakers.
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  • crazy
    crazy Posts: 443
    edited April 2006
    Well ... to all those comments about B&Ws, all I can say is that B&W speakers have given me a new meaning to listening to stereo music and I'm loving every bit of it. I listen to music everyday - no more playing video games!!!

    I think that a lot depends also on the electronics also. I remember reaming beamers on Rotels and they were not bad, but I wasn't blown away by them. Then I heard them on Krell gear and was totally mesmerized!

    I still do love my Polks but unfortunately my small place doesn't have space for 2 setups. I've been trying to sell mine but found no buyers so far :(

    But back to the B&W, I auditioned quite a few speakers - Klipsch and hi-end Polks of course, Thiel, ML (but they were on crap electronics so that doesn't count), Sonus Faber, Vienna Acoustics, Dali etc. etc. and in the end B&W's won quite easily.

    The 802d (as shown in the picture) was way out of my budget but the first time I heard a Dave Brubeck performance on these (running on over $20K worth of electronics), I was so stunned that I wanted to get up and clap! I didn't think that I could even go with the 804s but thanks to Joey_V who hooked me up on a great deal on a Krell integrated amp, I was able to get those amazing speakers and life's been good :)

    One slight issue - I'm broke!!! Or atleast till I can sell the Polk setup ...
    Distant Dream - A New Beginning
    www.distantdream.com
    (Now also available on iTunes)
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  • mldennison
    mldennison Posts: 307
    edited April 2006
    crazy wrote:
    One slight issue - I'm broke!!! Or atleast till I can sell the Polk setup ...
    lets hope you bought a few cd's before you spent all the money on the beemers :D

    my experience with B&W seems to be what most others feel. have not heard the high end stuff so cant really comment. i did like the 700 series on Rotel although i have heard other speakers in the same range that i like better. my old roommate had a 600 series HT setup (601, 603, lcr60) that i did not like at all, it seemed totally lifeless for all the money he paid. i am sure though that if you have the money to spend on the better stuff that you are getting what you pay for
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  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited April 2006
    How are they with HT?
    Sharp Elite 70
    Anthem D2V 3D
    Parasound 5250
    Parasound HCA 1000 A
    Parasound HCA 1000
    Oppo BDP 95
    Von Schweikert VR4 Jr R/L Fronts
    Von Schweikert LCR 4 Center
    Totem Mask Surrounds X4
    Hsu ULS-15 Quad Drive Subwoofers
    Sony PS3
    Squeezebox Touch

    Polk Atrium 7s on the patio just to keep my foot in the door.
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  • crazy
    crazy Posts: 443
    edited April 2006
    wingnut4772 wrote:
    How are they with HT?

    They are incredible with HT and with multi-channel music. Unfortunately it is incredibly expensive to build a HT setup with these - plus you'll need to spend a small fortune on quality electronics.
    Distant Dream - A New Beginning
    www.distantdream.com
    (Now also available on iTunes)
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