BW 801 D4 or BW 802 D4 + 2 subs


Which combo you prefer?

1. BW 801 D4
or
2. BW 802 D4 with 2 REL S812 subs

Will listen with stereo (not home theather), with a Mcintosh MA9500 and mostly with streamer/dac.

Listen to every type o music (eletronic, rock, jazz, mpb)

Tks.

gfguimaraes

Personally 801. I much prefer completely coherent sound across the spectrum. B&W has put a huge amount of effort into making these things the best they can… flat to 15hz. Why add subs to the mix when they are unnecessary. 
 

Also, from the  aesthetic point of view, single towers are much more elegant. I remember finally getting rid of my subs… both from an aesthetic and sonic perspective… a much cleaner and more elegant solution!

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May I suggest that you go to the next step above B&W. The engineer responsible for most of the finest technologies at B&W left when B&W was sold and eventually formed (with a partner) Vivid Audio. Vivid has refined these technologies and taken them to the next step.  Rather than a B&W 801 D4 ($35K) or 802 D4 ($14K) with subs, go with the Vivid Audio Kaya K45 ($19K), K90 ($28K), or Giya G4s2 ($34K).  Regardless of what specifications might tell you, the bass response of each of the three models is simply amazing. These speakers offer another level of transparency, detail, and the ambience of the recording. If you had been considering the B&W 801 D4, you should here the Vivid Giya G4s2. Next level performance.

801D4 - you can add subs at any point later on if you find you need more bass. 

Although the 802D4 shares the same midrange enclosure and tweeter as the 801D4, Bowers has done some magic on that xover, midrange driver, and woofers to separate it enough from its lower sibling. The 801D4 when i auditioned it had a much effortless and fuller sound. Besides the deeper bass it was the midrange that stood out enough.