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Alternatives to B&W 805 D4

Hello,

I’m planning to buy a pair of bookshelf speakers that I hope will last for the rest of my life. I’ll turn 50 next year, so it’s not too far fetched!

I’m thinking about the B&W 805 D4 because I'm familiar with this brand, but in this price range, there are certainly good alternatives. The ones I have in mind are the Totem Element Fire V2 and Focal Sopra No1.

My goal here if there is to use the collective mind to learn if there are other makes/models worth considering. Once I’ll have a shortlist, I’ll find places where I can try them to make a final choice because, in the end, we all know the beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I’m using B&W V203/DS3 for decades with integrated amp Arcam Alpha 5 that I recently upgraded with second-hand McIntosh C712 + MC7100. The source is Sonos Connect.

I’m in Montreal, Québec - it could change the availability of some brands.

Thanks for your input.

Papyneau
papyneau

Showing 4 responses by james633

james633
1,051 posts
 
You will be fine. You don’t need the best speaker ever made just ones you like. They are all colored and limited in reality. 
You can learn a lot from the measurements but there is a lot of subtlety in them so truly reading and understanding them is another thing (not claiming I can). 
I would guess the Sopra 1 is an amazing stand mounted speaker based on hear the larger models and looking at the measurements. 
Here is a binary recording (use headphones) of the Sopra 1 and 805d3 in the same room same song same system. Just YouTube…. So take it with a grain of salt but still interesting.  
https://youtu.be/FxTQvqlsp54


Another long video comparison here. 
https://youtu.be/Msaq4kCYclw
james633
1,051 posts
 
The B&W 805d3 (have not heard the d4) are pretty bright both to my ear and in measurements. I have not heard the Sopra 1 but based on my experience with focal they will be more balanced than the B&W. 
I have not heard the others. 
805D4 measurements look pretty bad to me at least for what I want to hear. If you have some upper hearing loss they could be nice (I mean that…)

https://www.soundstagenetwork.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2629:nrc-meas...


Focal Sopra 1 looks very nice. 

https://www.soundstagenetwork.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2275:nrc-meas...



The Kef Reference 1 has strong bass for a book shelf. Worth a listen if you are not using subs. I think the kefs sound harder in the treble than focal as a whole. Not heard these models but higher models in the same line. 
https://www.soundstagenetwork.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1298:nrc-meas...


Revels sound a lot like focal these days and they are 1/2 the price. That leaves a lot of money for a good sub or two. 

https://www.soundstagenetwork.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2128:nrc-meas...
james633
1,051 posts
 
Well I would not believe the specs. Looking at the measurements posted above you can see the Sopra 1 and 805D4 reach about the same depth.
james633
1,051 posts
 
I know you said bookshelves but the Revel 226be floor standing speaker would be another option. It will take up less floor space than the Sopra 1 on stands and is cheaper. They sound a lot alike to me. The Sopra is what, $10,000 now with the price hikes?

The Sopra might have a touch more air or it could just be a hair more tipped up too. The Revel counters with being able to play stupid loud if your into loud. Sometimes loud is fun. But both these brands are much better than the B&W 805d3 (probably d4 too). Both to my ear and objectively based on the measurements.


After demoing the Kef reference 3,Wilson Audio Sabrina, Sonus Faber Olympica nova III, Klipsch Cornwall IV, 803d3,804d3, revel 328be among others I bought the Revel 228be.

Anyway listen for yourself in this comparison video linked below. I think you will find they have very similar house sounds. Back to back sound demo, same room, same song, same system of the Sopra 1 and 226be. If I listen to this demo with my eyes closed I have a hard time telling the speakers changed. 
https://youtu.be/Y7xJjesFGKk



Review with kippel measurements here. https://youtu.be/r1JjCVVgIdc


Detailed measurement breakdown here. https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/revel-performabe-f226be-floorstanding-spe...

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