Eggleston Works Andra II versus B&W 800


Need some guidance. Have an opportunity to purchase either pair new at attractive price. Will be used in dedicated audio listening (not part of HT) using Krell FBR amplification, CJ front end. Very large room - 30'x 15' with one long wall mostly glass. Need to place speakers on short wall due to WAF issues. In area where I can't audition either, no local dealers.

Thanks for any input.
hotdownhere
Would anyone have the web address to the Andra site, I'm curious to find out more about them and see what they look like. Thanks
I have auditioned both speakers and, for once, have to agree with Jayctoy. The Andra is a much better, thoroughly enjoyable loudspeaker. Tobias suggests that "your wife might not like the way the Andra looks." Considering that the speaker has more than a passing resemblance to the male organ, I feel sorry for that particular husband.

Sincerely,

Holton Corsey
OK, I made a contentious comment on the speaker's looks. I did not wish to insult anybody's taste, or anybody's wife's taste, and I apologize.

My own personal taste is very catholic (I don't mean in the religious sense), in that what matters to me is music, not appearance. I have a lady companion who does not keep her opinions a secret and I can imagine her comment on the Andra II's looks. So I should have said "my wife might not like the way they look", and not "your wife, etc ". I do beg everyone's pardon. The Andra IIs are IMHO superb speakers, and at the price, they should be.

Mr. Corsey, thank you for your sympathy, it is much appreciated.
I've lived with the Andra II's for about a year (converted foom Andra I's), and am very familiar with the B & W 800's, both at dealers and one of my friends' houses. I very much prefer the A II's, and find something a bit (comparatively hard) and bright about the 800's with most solid state amps (exception might be the big Lamm hybrids, which are very good at putting a bit of space around big speakers, or the new Rowlands. You use Krells, and I wouldn't think that was a particularly good combination with the 800's, but I've never heard them together). One factor you might consider is that the A II's, like the originals, are designed to go pretty close to a back wall, while the 800's, like most speakers their size (e.g Eidolons, Revel Salons, Kharmas), are not. To use my previous B & W's in my (22 X 13.5 X 9') living room, I had to put tube traps behind and to the side of the speakers, while the A II's sound better without them.