New Speakers under consideration - but I’m afraid
I really like my speakers but I am considering an upgrade. I have B&W 801 S2 MkIII that I bought new in 1999 (re-coned with modded x-over). I’m afraid that what I get will not equal them and new may just be different.
They are bi-amped with McIntosh up top and Krell on the bottom. Analog is Revox B77 and dig is Oppo 105D with Bryston DAC3.
I will also likely upgrade the DAC but this thread is about speakers.
I need a dynamic loudspeaker that is as good with chamber music as it is with acoustic jazz, rock and electronic music (everything but Country and Rap).
I haven’t heard anything yet but am considering Borrersen X3, Wilson Sasha and B&W 803 D4.
Should I be afraid or will these speakers all best a 25 yr old design?
If one reads the specifics the OP is looking for, then "X" might be a good fit. Even if the person suggesting it owns "X". Now suggesting "X" only because you own it and love it, is not helpful. If I say I want a speaker that will shine with a 4 watt tube amp, don't tell me your Wilson Audio Alexx is the one I should buy. |
@ozzy62 there is a difference between suggesting what might be a good fit and the other one I criticized. But one can always argue both ways, that I am suggesting X because it's the best fit for OP, not because I love it or I am selling one right now. I stay away from suggesting what I love for this exact reason, it's too biased. There are enough objective criteria, I'd leave the subjective out of it. The OP clearly doesn't know 95 out of a 100 brands (like most of us), to me it's wild to start throwing brand names into the mix, when he has preferences. And I could go on and on... |
Let me offer up another thought. The fellow who designed many of the best technologies and speakers at B&W is Laurence Dickie. After leaving B&W he continued to develop and improve upon many of the technologies he had pioneered at B&W. He founded Vivid Audio with a partner and continued this upward trajection of speaker design. The Vivid Audio line of speakers is, in a manner of speaking, what B&W could have become. You should experience what Vivid Audio has to offer. If you like your B&Ws I have a feeling you'll find the Vivid speakers exactly what you're looking for. |
One consideration I would add is resale. These could be my last set of speakers. Or perhaps not. A more esoteric brand of speaker will be harder to shift. I'm inclined to stick with a better know brand. When I throw that into the mix it favors something like the 802 D4. On resale there seem to be a ton of used Sashas and Wilsons in general - why is that- because they sell a lot of them, hence more for resale? |
