Making of the B&W 802 Diamond

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Film: The making of an 800 Series Diamond loud-speaker | Bowers & Wilkins | B&W speakers

20 layers of beech, 10 coats of lacquer, 4 days of buffing/polishing/sanding.

And do they really let women with long red fingernails assemble the drivers?

 

[Hocky]

Cool video.

 

[96cobra10101]

Very cool and interesting.

 

[agarwalro]

Among the many speakers I'm aware of, I consider these the most evocative.

 

[agarwalro]

Speaker under test, couldn't resist.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

The 802 Diamond will probably be sitting in my room when InTheIndustry can get them for me.

He was talking to a B&W rep, but probably got too busy and got sidetracked.

I don't care what that graph says.

All I'm seeing in my mind is the 20 layers of beech, 10 layers of lacquer, 4 days of polishing, and red fingernails running across that sexy high-gloss piano black. Brainwash complete.

 

[PENG]

The 802 Diamond will probably be sitting in my room when InTheIndustry can get them for me.

He was talking to a B&W rep, but probably got too busy and got sidetracked.

I don't care what that graph says.

All I'm seeing in my mind is the 20 layers of beech, 10 layers of lacquer, 4 days of polishing, and red fingernails running across that sexy high-gloss piano black. Brainwash complete.

I think many of us know all along deep down you do want to own a pair of 80XD regardless of how they sound. I am not sure if the newer version would sound better to you but I heard the original 802D a couple of times and cannot imagine how it cannot beat all your other ones aside from the Revels perhaps. I am hoping that you will be pleasantly surprised and can't wait to hear your verdict, so tell ITI to hurry up.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I think many of us know all along deep down you do want to own a pair of 80XD regardless of how they sound. I am not sure if the newer version would sound better to you but I heard the original 802D a couple of times and cannot imagine how it cannot beat all your other ones aside from the Revels perhaps. I am hoping that you will be pleasantly surprised and can't wait to hear your verdict, so tell ITI to hurry up.

ITI is doing me a favor, so I can't rush him.

It might be 1 year, it might be 2. Whenever he is able to line it up.

 

[cpp]

I'm just surprised these weren't the speakers you purchased first, or second or third..

Nice video

 

[PENG]

ITI is doing me a favor, so I can't rush him.

It might be 1 year, it might be 2. Whenever he is able to line it up.

Wow that's a big favor for sure considering the price and even weight of those speakers. I wish I had a friend like that..

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I'm just surprised these weren't the speakers you purchased first, or second or third..

Nice video

I auditioned the 800D & 802D at Audio Dimensions in Norman first, then in Edmond at their new big store.

I was impressed with their aesthetics. Piece of art.

That was before I auditioned the Salon2, Orion, & KEF.

Have you auditioned them?

 

[cpp]

I left the store in Raleigh last week and they sounded pretty darn good. They look impressive, they should for the $$ they cost.. Your right they look like art. But I do feel for the money the Phil3's or the 2's are just as musically clean, transparent and accurate, might not be as "pretty" or artsy, but for the $$ I think you will be happy with the Phil3's and your Salons.

 

[Irvrobinson]

I bet the 802D could be equalized to fix the spectral balance issues. I still haven't heard them image like the Revels can. Not even close. Not enough front-to-back imaging. The Salon 2s have me so spoiled.

My spouse, who thinks the Salon 2s look awesome, thinks the B&Ws are ugly. I like 'em. Must be a guy thing.

The fit and finish on the B&Ws is very nice. They make other speaker look a bit "kit car-ish", if you know what I mean. I think that helps sell them, even to jaded audiophiles.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

The Salon 2s have me so spoiled.

I can't argue with that.

So just looking at prices, the 802 Diamond is $15K retail, but can probably be had for $8K brand new.

The Studio2 is $16K retail, probably $9K deal.

Orion is $15K, no room for deal.

Soundscape 10 is $12K, no discount either.

KEF 207/2 is $20K retail. I could've/ should've gotten for $10K.

Given those prices, how would you rank them if it were a school test.

 

[Irvrobinson]

I can't argue with that.

So just looking at prices, the 802 Diamond is $15K retail, but can probably be had for $8K brand new.

The Studio2 is $16K retail, probably $9K deal.

Orion is $15K, no room for deal.

Soundscape 10 is $12K, no discount either.

KEF 207/2 is $20K retail. I could've/ should've gotten for $10K.

Given those prices, how would you rank them if it were a school test.

Your prices look low, at least for authorized dealers. Are you referring to unauthorized dealers? I thought the 802D was $16K? The 802D can probably be had for about 20% off MSRP, or about $12K from a dealer. Authorized dealers for the Salons appear to be able to go about 20% under MSRP too. $22K x 0.8 = $17.6K, which is approximately the best price on a Salon 2 a friend found by calling around. Apparently that guy in NM does about $14K or so + shipping for Salon 2s.

How can you get the 207/2 new for $10K? Those aren't prices I ever found. Next time I'm buying a car I'm taking you along.

I see lots of "new" Salon 2s on Audiogon now for $11K-$12K, plus shipping. I wonder where they're coming from.

To answer your question, at your quoted prices I think the 207/2 wins, followed or perhaps equaled by the Studio 2, but I've never heard the Soundscape.

 

[PENG]

Your prices look low, at least for authorized dealers. Are you referring to unauthorized dealers? I thought the 802D was $16K? The 802D can probably be had for about 20% off MSRP, or about $12K from a dealer. Authorized dealers for the Salons appear to be able to go about 20% under MSRP too. $22K x 0.8 = $17.6K, which is approximately the best price on a Salon 2 a friend found by calling around. Apparently that guy in NM does about $14K or so + shipping for Salon 2s.

How can you get the 207/2 new for $10K? Those aren't prices I ever found. Next time I'm buying a car I'm taking you along.

I see lots of "new" Salon 2s on Audiogon now for $11K-$12K, plus shipping. I wonder where they're coming from.

To answer your question, at your quoted prices I think the 207/2 wins, followed or perhaps equaled by the Studio 2, but I've never heard the Soundscape.

He's probably counting on dealer's cost that his friend can get him. If I could get the 802D for 8K or even 10K they would have been in my room right now. Where I am, for 8K I could barely touch the 804D after tax. Regarding that imaging and off axis thing I am very skeptical about what people are saying and I am usually not the "go the ears" only kind of person so I do read specs, reviews and manufacturer's marketing stuff, but I experienced no such reported issues with the 800 series when I auditioned them. Even the 804 sounds fantastic to me. For the prices he quoted I would take the 802D for the look if nothing else and of course he knows that already.

I think people can be extremely subjective and yet easily influenced by what they read, were told prior. If not, everyone who can afford it would have a pair of Salon2. Actually I am beginning to wonder if I can think of some theories (not literally) about why/how people "think" they hear what they hear but that would be for a different thread.

 

[Irvrobinson]

Regarding that imaging and off axis thing I am very skeptical about what people are saying [snip]

I think people can be extremely subjective and yet easily influenced by what they read, were told prior. If not, everyone who can afford it would have a pair of Salon2. Actually I am beginning to wonder if I can think of some theories (not literally) about why/how people "think" they hear what they hear but that would be for a different thread.

Imaging-wise I'm not influenced by what I read, though I admit to being influenced by Atkinson's measurements in terms of speakers I might consider auditioning. If you read the quote above a skeptic would interpret it to mean "people don't agree with what I think, so they must have skewed thinking and I'll even develop a theory for how they're deluded". Right.

I know people who prefer the 800D or 802D over the Salon 2s and the Studio 2s. Two of them, actually. Both think the Salon 2 is sort of bland. Both use their 800Ds for a mix of HT and music. Kal Rubinson, who writes for Stereophile, claims the 80xDs image just fine, and his descriptions read a lot like mine for the Salon 2s, so perhaps I just haven't heard the 80xDs properly set up. (But I doubt it. The dealer rooms I've auditioned them in have been very good.)

Other serious listeners that have heard my system also think the imaging is extraordinary. The only other speaker I've heard that images the way the Salon 2s do is the Linkwitz Orion, but I still preferred the Salon 2's performance (even though at the time I paid the twice for the Salon 2 over what Wood Artistry was selling assembled Orions for).

At the end of the day I think speakers are still in the you-got-to-listen-for-yourself category, and I have no doubt that a large fraction of people might prefer the B&Ws over the Revels. Just because I'm still awed by the Salon 2s doesn't mean I expect everyone else to like them.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Your prices look low, at least for authorized dealers.

How can you get the 207/2 new for $10K? Those aren't prices I ever found. Next time I'm buying a car I'm taking you along.

To answer your question, at your quoted prices I think the 207/2 wins, followed or perhaps equaled by the Studio 2, but I've never heard the Soundscape.

Like they say, it's not what you know; it's WHO you know.

Actually I could've gotten the 207/2 B-stock for $8000 w/ full 5 yr manufacturer warranty from authorized dealer. I should've gotten that; I feel really stupid looking back now.

I feel like speakers are like foods, wines, and movies; everyone has a certain taste. Perhaps you and I have similar tastes (Revel & KEF).

But unlike foods, wines, and movies, I think a lot of these speakers actually sound a lot alike. So the other buying factors kick in - like aesthetics, price, reputation, reviews (didn't hurt to have 6 pro reviews to say that the Salon2 are speaker of the year, did it?).

At this point, I'm just "collecting" art more than anything.

We'll see. Gotta love that video.

Just when I thought I was out, they pulled me right back in.

 

[Irvrobinson]

Like they say, it's not what you know; it's WHO you know.

Actually I could've gotten the 207/2 B-stock for $8000 w/ full 5 yr manufacturer warranty from authorized dealer. I should've gotten that; I feel really stupid looking back now.

I have to admit that an $8K deal for 207/2s with a warranty would have sold me, and I would have never looked back.

 

[Irvrobinson]

So the other buying factors kick in - like aesthetics, price, reputation, reviews (didn't hurt to have 6 pro reviews to say that the Salon2 are speaker of the year, did it?)

In my case, the reviews motivated me to travel to listen to the Revels. Not one dealer in my home town displayed them at the time I was buying, and I was afraid not to listen to them before I spent big bucks on speakers. I also admit to thinking the Orions were a must-hear after reading Aczel's reviews. Nonetheless, I'm not like my friend Pete in San Diego who has all of the reviews of his equipment on his coffee table in his listening room so that everyone can see that he has someone's seal of approval. [If Pete reads this there might be some Irv's stupidity stories in our future...]