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Is difference between B&W 802D & 800D worth price?

First time poster. I currently have McIntosh 501 monoblocks, 1 TB music server with Squeezebox Duet and Benchmark DAC1 PRE, and B&W 803 matrix speakers. The server set up and Macs are recent additions and next will be new speakers. I must say, however, that the 803s sound much better with my new gear. I previously had the Adcom 555 Mark II and the Adcom CD changer.

The speakers under consideration are the B&W 800D and 802D. (I love the 801s but they score low on spousal approval. I temporarily have a set of borrowed 801 series 3 at home now and they are simply wonderful.)

Has anyone out there compared the 802D and 800D in their listening room and if so, what were your thoughts? I am several months away from making a purchase and want to make a good decision. Thanks!
joeswest
mpit's avatar
mpit
56 posts
 
go to your local dealer and tell them what you are thinking. They can either try and make a deal with you or kiss your business goodby. Prices on Audiogon have forced many retailers to lower their pricing policies. In this market they will do what they can to move merchandise.

I had a Wilso dealer drop about $8k on some 7's to earn my business over a used pair on Audiogon. B&W dealers are doing the same thing, if pushed.

I might also add the same Wilson dealer has since sold me numerous other items and i got good prices on all of them.
joeswest OP
7 posts
 
Mpit:
Thanks for the advice. I'll try that.
pabrognara
12 posts
 
dude, i´ve seen your post in many foruns

I think you must go to a 801D speaker, as you own currently M801S3 model. If you go to 802D you will feel lack of bass. In the 800D probably the bass slam will be the same. BUT, IMO, if you go to 801D you will be plenty satisfied coz the 801 to my ears still the most balanced from their series. And the 15" woofer bring to ya amazing bass response.

talk with your wife, the 801D also looks wonderful and it should have high wife-acceptance ;)
pkoh70
34 posts
 
Joeswest, first when I auditoned b&w 802d and 800d, I personally thought they were a terrible match with Mc Monoblocks regardless of what dealers may say. I am lucky to be living in a country where you can audition a lot of the top gears in a room side by side.
What I can say is unless your mind is absolutely set on b&w's, I recommend you try to audition others around their price range. For the price, B&W's midrange falls too short(too recessed) and the bass on both are overblown, making their overall sound "artificially perfected". If you want honest music that you can enjoy through your speakers, I suggest follow fews to try that may save you money eventually down the road.
Thiel 3.7, KEF 207/2 Reference, Wilson WP8 or Sasha if you can afford the price, Revel Ultima Salon2.
Out of all, I liked Sasha the most but too pricey. For the price vs. performance, I personally felt Thiel 3.7 to be the best in the bunch (awesome soundstage, pinpoint imaging, perfected balanced sound that is true to it's music source, and unlike some previously models, it is not harsh at the top, and overall very musical that you can listen to all day without any fatigue)
Sorry to steer you away from your two models, but personally I know the pain of having to switch gears if they don't work out as intended in the actual home setting. your risk of that is much higher with b&w 802d/800ds.
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