Greetings all. I have had some discussion with a local Focal dealer, South Western Ontario) and he has provided some rather interesting information on MSR price for the 1038 Be, a good comparison to the B & W 803 Diamond ( 3 bass drivers) and the 1028BE, a good comparison to the B & W 804 Diamond ( 2 bass drivers).
Focal has a reduced the MSR for the two above referenced speakers due to difference in finish. 1038BE @ $9,999.00 /pr and the 1028BE @ $6,999.00 /pr. and is willing to negotiate.
In contrast, the 803 Diamond @ $11,000.00 /pr and the 804 Diamond at $7,500.00 /pr and the tight collared B & W guys, in most cases will not budge from MSR price.All pricing in Canadian funds.
I also heard that B & W will be launching a newer 800 series version costing in the range of 30% more than the current series?
If this happens, from a pragmatic perspective, I truly believe IMhumbleO that they will loose a significant market share.
What do you think! Cheers
Since you live in Ontario, check out PSB's ( a Canadian speaker manufacturer in Pickering) new Imagine T3 .. Here's what Sound & Vision magazine has to say about them
http://www.soundandvision.com/content/psb-imagine-t3-speaker-system-review#YEuxePFxslA0LT0H.97
Conclusion
Is PSB’s Imagine T3 system otherwise perfect? Of course not—though frankly, I’m straining to find shortcomings, other than the cost. Even for a full-sized 5.1 setup, the Canadian suite is far from cheap. But then again, for what it delivers—reference-class performance in every parameter—the PSB suite is, if not a downright bargain in today’s high end, a very fairly priced offering.
Read more at
http://www.soundandvision.com/content/psb-imagine-t3-speaker-system-review-page-2#dAA3Ci27ePhzdmHP.99
Test Bench
L/R Sensitivity: 88 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz
Center Sensitivity: 88 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz
Surround Sensitivity: 86 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz
image:
http://cdn.soundandvision.com/images/715psb.meas.jpg
This graph shows the quasi-anechoic (employing close-miking of all woofers) frequency response of the Imagine T3 L/R (purple trace), SubSeries 300 subwoofer (blue trace), Imagine C3 center channel (green trace), and Imagine S surround (red trace). All passive loudspeakers were measured with grilles at a distance of 1 meter with a 2.83-volt input and scaled for display purposes.
The Imagine T3’s listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +0.96/–2.72 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz. The –3dB point is at 28 Hz, and the –6dB point is at 24 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 4.40 ohms at 90 Hz and a phase angle of –35.82 degrees at 71 Hz.
The Imagine C3’s listening-window response measures +2.10/–5.42 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. An average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal responses measures +2.79/–5.83 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3dB point is at 55 Hz, and the –6dB point is at 48 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 4.66 ohms at 992 Hz and a phase angle of –63.48 degrees at 134 Hz.
The Imagine S’s three-face averaged response in dipole mode measures +1.07/–5.29 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3dB point is at 95 Hz, and the –6dB point is at 82 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 5.64 ohms at 221 Hz and a phase angle of –48.96 degrees at 136 Hz.
The SubSeries 300’s close-miked response, normalized to the level at 80 Hz, indicates that the lower –3dB point is at 23 Hz and the –6dB point is at 21 Hz. The upper –3dB point is at 133 Hz using the LFE input.—MJP
Read more at
http://www.soundandvision.com/content/psb-imagine-t3-speaker-system-review-test-bench#mRFRbALVfw2IHwBL.99