I've owned both. Both are great speakers. I loved the diamond tweeter on the 802Ds, but overall I liked the integrated sound of the Salon2 better. You really should go listen for yourself though... |
I've been interested in hearing the Salon2's as well and I just found a dealer around me that has them so I'm going to try to audition them by next week. Where I live though, they cost considerably more than the 802Ds so I'm not sure it's a fair comparison.
About the 802Ds, however, what a FANTASTIC speaker! I loved them so much while auditioning that I bought them! They were way expensive for what I originally budgeted, but after hearing them against so many other speakers for over two months, from Focal, Wilson, Paradigm, Swan, NHT, Energy, Def Tech, Klipsch, JBL, KEF, MartinLogan, Quad, and others, the 802Ds crushed most of these. I even tried some ID speakers from AV123 and Salk and only wasted my money with shipping back and forth. The only one that came close was the Wilson Sophia which was excellent and was in my final two, but I preferred the 802Ds in the end.
If just remembering about the listening experience makes your hair stand up, then I think you've found your speaker. Only my final two did that for me, which made my decision easier. You can read all the reviews you want and get as many opinions online as you want, but those can be as adverse as they can be helpful. Bottom line is you know what you like best so don't be afraid to jump in if you really like something.
On that note I have a friend that also took a long time auditioning and finding a pair of stereo speakers for his dedicated listening room. He found one that he really liked, but he went online and a bunch of strangers trashed it and said he HAD to hear these other ones, which had better FR, had this and that type of driver, got these reviews, etc. He went and heard them, THOUGHT he liked them better than what he initially chose, bought them and now he totally regrets it. He basically convinced himself that they were "better" because it seemed "everybody else" thought so, and thus he had to get them. Then he got them home and after breaking them in, they still don't do it for him and all he does is dream about his intial choice. Now he wants to sell them but his wife is so pissed he spent that kind of money and is unhappy with them that she's forbid him from buying anything else, even if he sells the speakers he has since he will have to take a loss and she thinks he's just wasting money.
What my friend learned is that "everybody else" isn't paying for his speakers, "everybody else" aren't using his ears, and "everybody else" doesn't matter at all, only his opinions matter in the end.
So a very expensive lesson to learn. Anyway, you should demo the Salon2s if you are really interested in them as well and demoing more and more speakers is always good, but you should do it with an open mind and be honest with yourself, not try to convince yourself you "should" like something because a review or people on the web told you you should like it. |
I suggest that if you like the the 802D's : support your local dealer and get them these from him |
I am in Fort Worth, North near Saginaw/Haslet |
Rshad0000
Unfortunately I wasn't able to make it. I just returned from a Holiday visit to Los Angeles and wasn't able to find any dealer that had them on the floor (I called several area dealers). I'm planning a visit to Stacey's this weekend for a listen. I'll keep you posted.
Arthursmuck
That is an impressive system you have there.
Thanks for the invite, I would certainly like to stop by.
Where are you located? |
Franco, you are welcome to come by and listen to my line arrays for a different point of view.... |
Francodanco,
Out of curiousity did you ever make it back to Stacey's to try out the Salon 2s? What were your impressions? |
Well I made it to Stacey's, unfortunately the "house expert" and only person able to demo the speakers is only there on weekends. I'm planning on trying again on Sunday. |
Thanks for the advice Yyz and Jkalman.
I will be heading over to Stacey's today to hear the Salon2s, thanks for the heads up Rshad I appreciate it.
And Jkalman........awesome system you have there!
Thanks again for everyone's input. |
Both excellent speakers, but I definitely preferred the Salon2 to the 802D. You should listen to both and see which you prefer more. |
Francodanco,
Stacey's Furniture off of 114 and main in Grapevine has a pair of Salon 2s hooked up to a McIntosh that you can audition. The showroom is on the second floor back in their home theater furniture area. |
You maybe find that you can get very close to the performance of the Salon2 with the Salon1 for much lower price point (1/2 the price of new B&W 802D).
I listened to the Studio2 with decent ML gear and I heard a little bit more detail (very small improvement) over Salon1 in the highs. They sounded very much like the Salon1 but with less bass (Studio2 vs Salon1).
As a pervious owner of a Salon1 I would think I would buy those again over spending much more for the Salon2. I would get more satisfaction in the 50% saving over the xx% improvement in sound. I would guess the Salon2 would sound very much like the Studio2 except it should have a more fuller sound. Just like the Studio1 vs Salon1 comparison.
Anyways, just some random thoughts from a penny pincher. |
I too read it, along with other raving reviews.
Apparently no dealers in the Dalla area have them in house.
I will be in Los Angeles Christmas week, I should have better luck there. |
FWIW, I just read an ad where the Salon II is Stereophile's speaker of the year for 2008. if this is true I am not surprized at all, it was very impressive.
Did you get a chance to audition them yet? |
Tigerwoodkhorn,
Thanks for your input Chris, I appreciate it. |
I have to jump on the bandwagon here. I had N801's and now have Signature 800's and there is nothing to "fix."
B&W bashing makes some feel superior. One of my favorite quotes that I read in a few threads when doing some research on the S800's was "B&W's have certain flaws that are inexcusable." Oh aren't we important! Give me a break.
To the original post, at CES last year the Revel Salon II's sounded amazing with a minimal front end system. I heard them in a room set up in a corner. This was a digital amp circuit board manufacturer that had borrowed the speakers for the show. They had them set up with a very minimal system (chip amps, Luxman CD player from the 80's). The Wilson WP8's were also a show stopper but with $150,000 of VTL front end gear (not saying that they would not be great with a lesser front end). I did not hear the B&W's atthe show.
The Theils and Ushers sounded really harsh but this was at a show so YMMV. Not exactly a fair to pass final judgment on a bad sounding setup at a show.
Personally, I would buy the Salon II's for the same price as the new B&W 802's. Less depreciation and they are just wonderful speakers, probably more in line with the B&W 800's but I am just guessing. I am obviously a B&W guy but you really cannot go wrong with the Revels and if you decide you want something else you can flip them easily (make sure you get the boxes). Your room is a good size so I am guessing that they will work well in there. |
Budt, well said.
I for one think the midrange of the B&W 800 series speakers to be among the best. If my budget was just a little higher then it is I would own B&W 801D's - but unfortunately such is life.
Of the speakers mentioned in this thread not one is a dog, they all afford very high performance, and each has certain strengths the others may not have.
This hobby is about sharing our knowledge, but our personal preference when it comes to the equipment we purchase and the sound we hear from it is very personal.
Rick. |
I can't understand why people knock a good speaker/amp/cdp etc etc. It is fine to say it is not your cup of tea but statements by people like Mtdking are simply ridiculous.In one thread he states how esoteric cdps are at the bottom of the pile and in another thread he recommends an esoteric x-01 as one of the best. It would be better if people like this kept their opinions to themselves as they are simply too mixed up to give sound advise.
I have come to realize audio is a lot like sports cars.You have a nandful of really ggod speakers, amp etc and they are all good but you may like one over the other for various reasons. Some people like ferrari while other will swear by lamborghini etc etc. To say you like one and that the other is junk is simply ludicrous and so it goes with highly opinionated audiophiles. |
Make sure you listen to the 802D on your own gear before you buy them. If they ever fix the midrange in any of the B&W's they would be a good speaker not a great speaker though. Good highs good lows but the midrange is just awful. |
Thanks to everyone for responding. Sorry for the delay in my response, I was out of town and without internet access this weekend.
I should start by providing more information.....my listening habits...50/50 2-channel music/HT...
My room is approx 20'x16' with 18' cathedral ceilings, open on one side to a long foyer....
My music tastes varies....classic rock and R&B, jazz, and salsa/meringue....
I spoke with a local Wilson dealer (also carries Revel) and I'm planning on auditioning the Sophia 2 and hopefully the Revels next week.
I will look into checking out the Thiel 3.7s, KEF 207/2s, as well as the MA PL300s.
Thanks to all for the suggestions, and any further advice offered. |
Stereophile "Speakers 2008" : Revel Salon2 & KEF 207/2. |
If you have a Monitor Audio dealer near enough to go have a listen to the new PL300's I would encourage you to do so. I was very close to buying a pair of Harbeth M40.1's, this after listening to a couple of the speakers you have mentioned....the MA's changed my mind at first listen.
Won't hurt to give them a listen. |
I like the 802D pretty well even though they take a lot of flack around here. I like B&W much better than a lot of bands (focal, sonas faber, etc) but there are speakers I like better ( Sophia, Thiel 3.7).
How big is your room? The only real down side to the 802d is in a small room they can be too bassy.
At this price rang everything is pretty good and it comes down to personal taste. |
I am not surprised with your findings. And YES - other speakers in that quality range may also shock you compared to your current setup. I would not pull the trigger too quickly. Without more details on your listening tastes it is hard to say more - except you seem to like plenty of bass and therefore B&W makes sense and so does Wilson. . |
I also live in the Dallas area and have made the rounds as far as speakers go at this price point. The 802D sound great and had a chance to listen to some Studio 2s in Grapevine, but have not heard the Salon 2s(I believe they are a lot more expensive than the 802Ds).
You may want to also give the Dali MS5 and the Wilson Sophia 2 a try. Both are great speakers for different reasons and can be found in showrooms in the DFW area. |
I had Salon1 and I am now considering buying the B&W 802D.
I just started my search and the one speaker I really want to hear is the Thiel 3.7. Based on the great comments about it online it seems to be a must listen for my musical tastes.
The following thread may have some useful info for you, especially if you are into Rock music.
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?cspkr&1228071317 |
