Need thoughts on new Speakers

Posts: 8,038
edited April 2009 in Speakers
This past Friday I sat in a local dealer and auditioned a pair of B&W 802Ds and HTM2D and was completely amazed at how clear they sound, the soundstage was very good on these. Details could be heard up front and I listened to Beethoven and Mozart on an Esoteric CDp. All high end gear nonetheless, everything I heard was clear and precise. In a simple word "Mind Blowing". Being that I'm in Japan and I really need your thoughts on this, I'll share the asking price which was 18k with a discount.

Over the weekend I called around and talked to dealer in CA, who could get me the same speaker package for less around 15k. Now here is where I'm sort of confused. I'm also looking at Swan speakers as I have heard good things about them, I can get the package for less coin and it would be the 2.3B or 2.5 speaker. Any thoughts on Swan product gents and they look very good, but Im unfamiliar with sound of ribbon tweeters and the like. Few pics are included. Here are 2.3s and 2.5s Link to the dealer here in Japan

http://www.k-i-t.jp/~soundgallery/index.html

FYI: The pics are from a dealer as he also owns the 2.3s in his own setup and wanted to share. Beautiful speakers though, any thoughts appreciated on Swan product vs B&Ws. Thanks

Swan 2.3B
DSCF1477.jpg

2.3B
23side.jpg

Smaller Swan 2.5

DSCF1491-2.jpg
Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!

Home Theater Pics in the Showcase :cool:

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=73580
Post edited by Sherardp on

Welcome!

It looks like you're new here. Sign in or register to get started.

Comments

  • Posts: 5,144
    edited April 2009
    Thats a very nice looking system.
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
  • Posts: 2,562
    edited April 2009
    Theyre effin huge! but way out of my leauge
  • Posts: 14,340
    edited April 2009
    I really hope that's a temporary setup in his living room.

    As for B&W's, you can a lot better for that kind of coin.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
  • Posts: 25,511
    edited April 2009
    I have heard the B&W to which you refer and am in agreement that you can do better for the money, unless you consider A'gon, where I found these...
    http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrfull&1242098791&/B-W-802D-Cherrywood-(Factory-s

    http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrmoni&1244188498&/B-W-HTM2D-center-speaker-(pric
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
  • Posts: 3,521
    edited April 2009
    B&W is very good but the Swan speakers are also very good (especially in the line arrays with ribbon tweets and mids). I think it'll be very hard to choose between the two and the personal preference and the brand image is all that matters. My next speaker projects are all Ribbon Type coz I really like the openness of the ribbons for the vocal and highs.

    While I haven't heard B&W 802D on the other hand, I am quite sure the Diamond tweeter design in B&W is top notch and well engineered. What other gears (pre, amp, and source) you have in mind to pair with your future speaker?
    Trying out Different Audio Cables is a Religious Affair. You don't discuss it with anyone. :redface::biggrin:
  • Posts: 14,340
    edited April 2009
    I recently heard a pair of Focal Scala Utopias side by side with a pair of diamond tweeter B&W's...the B&W's sounded cheap in comparison.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
  • Posts: 19,337
    edited April 2009
    Pure Beryllium vs ribbons? I wouldn't doubt that.
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
  • Posts: 17,211
    edited April 2009
    Yes I also agree. The Focal speakers with the beryllium tweeters are simply amazing. Every pair actually by Focal are truly amazing. More versatile then the B&W's in my opinion. B&W speakers are tuff and very picky. If you place them incorrectly, they fall on there face. but when you get them right, they have that magic anyone audiophile would want.
    I also suggest looking at the Confidence line from Dynaudio. Like the C4's which by the way are my favorite speaker. They are a little more forgiving and sound just as good and in some cases better then the Diamond B&W's.

    It's a personal decision but I strongly suggest you shop around before you drop that kind of money. And also evaluate your gear so you can run what ever you buy.

    Dan
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
  • Posts: 25,511
    edited April 2009
    SDA-SRS 1.2tl's with all the upgrades done and save the extra coin perhaps?
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
  • Posts: 8,038
    edited April 2009
    Face wrote: »
    I really hope that's a temporary setup in his living room.

    As for B&W's, you can a lot better for that kind of coin.

    That's exactly what the Swan dealer said when I spoke to him. Didnt push the Swans on me, but simply stated for the coin being spent there's a ton out there that sounds better. The Swans definitely look gorgeous, however I have zero experience with them. I'm going to spend some time in the theater room and take some measurements. The 2.3s are huge as they stand at 76 inches. Not sure what amps I would use to power them either. Not sure how my current amps would perform with them. Any thoughts on amps to power them if I decided to buy them? When I spoke with the dealer he mentioned powering his own system with Emotiva amps. Will my ICEAmps be up to the task?
    Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!

    Home Theater Pics in the Showcase :cool:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=73580
  • Posts: 2,467
    edited April 2009
    Never heard the Swans, but in your price range I would checking out Sonus Faber, Dynaudio and even Magico.
    Venom
  • Posts: 25,511
    edited April 2009
    how would top of the line Magnepan 20R's compare to these?
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
  • Posts: 8,038
    edited April 2009
    Zero wrote: »
    You're in Japan. There's plenty of hi-fi there. Make a roadtrip - listen to as much as you can.... Who gives a flying crapola what anyone here has to say? If you dig those 802D's and you find them to be the cats meow, then thats all that matters.

    edit: I will say this. If you like the 802D type-sound, than you will probably also dig on Revel, JM Lab, Kharma, and Mark and Daniel.

    Yes I am in Japan and I have been trying to get out and listen to gear. I do like the 802Ds, but out here in Japan they're 14K, that's some serious coin. My take was asking you guys here as there is a ton of experience here, plus I appreciate feedback from the knowledge here. Thanks for the recs, I am looking into the Focal/JM Lab, as well.
    Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!

    Home Theater Pics in the Showcase :cool:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=73580
  • Posts: 8,038
    edited April 2009
    Last question on this, How important that all speakers match? Im definitely going to swap out fronts and center, will I be ok if I keep my FXi3s and Rti4s as surrounds? Im going with Swan F1.1F or F2.2Fs. Any thoughts on this would help, if I need to swap out surrounds I will but if its not a must I won't.
    Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!

    Home Theater Pics in the Showcase :cool:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=73580
  • Posts: 8,038
    edited April 2009
    Bump, see above question
    Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!

    Home Theater Pics in the Showcase :cool:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=73580
  • Posts: 14,340
    edited April 2009
    It's most important that the front end is timbre matched.

    As for the surrounds, it may sound fine. Crossing between product lines or brands can be hit or miss though. I would give it a try, and if it doesn't work out, order the additional speakers later on.

    One other tip, if the surrounds don't quite right with your new speakers, try reversing the phase of your rears, it may help. If not, you know what you need to do. ;)
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
  • Posts: 5,218
    edited April 2009
    I've heard a lot of very high-end speakers go through my local hifi shop. The B&Ws sound good, but Dane, Karma and Focal all sounded better.

Welcome!

It looks like you're new here. Sign in or register to get started.

Welcome!

It looks like you're new here. Sign in or register to get started.