B&W 802d

[English210]

The odds of me buying a Lexus LX 570 is a lot higher.

EEEWWWWW....

I think the Aerial 7T are probably great speakers. It's just that I'm pretty much done with buying audio gears for the foreseeable future. I am utterly blissful with my electronics, speakers & subs.

I think a lot of speakers sound pretty great, especially over $2K.

I'm very sorry to hear that....

I kind of agree. It's like a pendulum, and the higher-line you go, the shorter the swings. The key is to find that spot where the swings are minimal in terms of compromises, and the bank balance (or rich uncle) will allow....With so many choices, though, and the differences so hard to quantify, it is a hard choice.

 

[English210]

Yeah, I was going to say he needs dual subs regardless.

But I didn't want to sound presumptuous.

And it doesn't have to be JL. It could be any number of brands.

I knew that's what you were thinking, and said it for ya - I'm not afraid to be presumptuous, especially with someone else's money.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I knew that's what you were thinking...

What gave it away?

The part where I own 11 subs.

 

[English210]

What gave it away?

The part where I own 11 subs.

Just the part where you said anything sounds better with subs, I missed the part about you owning 11.....

 

[PENG]

Yeah, I was going to say he needs dual subs regardless.

But I didn't want to sound presumptuous.

And it doesn't have to be JL. It could be any number of brands.

I don't doubt there are better ones. The Funks probably are better just that I know the JL Fathom series sound great to me and I have not heard any Funks. I wonder how they compare in price.

 

[PENG]

(wonder if you'd prefer them in the 803 as well?)

I don't know about him but I can tell you the 803 didn't come close. That may not apply to the 803 diamond and the 802 diamond but I would think it probably does apply. Amazingly the 804 diamond sounds great to me. Long after I made my choice, i read a Stereophile review by Kal Rubinson who seemed to say it differed from the 800 and the 7T (he did say the 7T's mid a little smoother) only in the low end and power handling.

Bowers & Wilkins 804 Diamond loudspeaker Page 2 | Stereophile.com

I don't always put a lot of weight on professional reviews but I do on this one because I have listened to those speakers (not the 7T) enough. So if you seriously considering the 802 and 803 you may want to look at the 804 diamond plus sub scenario. For me, in the end I went with the Focal but then I am always neutral in terms of British or French.

 

[PENG]

Remember a long time ago in a galaxy far far away when I got excoriated for saying I thought the Def Tech BP7000SC sounded better than the 800D?

I also said the RBH T2 sounded better than both the BP7000SC & 800D?

Well, each BP7000SC has like a built-in 14" 1800 watts powered sub!

And each RBH T2 has an actual 1010 sub.

So it was never a fair comparison. It's "almost" like comparing the 1028be + dual JL subs vs 802D w/ no subs.

Yeah, adding dual subs makes a huge difference for sure.

Of course I remember, but don't you remember I was the one, or at least one of those who PM'ed you several times about how the 802D was the best speaker ever heard? I had to do it via PM in those days when I couldn't afford flame suits and that long thread was dominated by your DIY buddies, could remember their name now but I do remember someone like WmAx (something like that) was torn apart by your buddies just because like me he was a 802D fan. Hard to believe now you finally got converted enough to say at least some nice things about the diamonds. I am still waiting for you to come around and embrace Audyssey though, at least the flat. At the moment you are okay with DEQ but let's see, you might just get there eventually..

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I don't doubt there are better ones. The Funks probably are better just that I know the JL Fathom series sound great to me and I have not heard any Funks. I wonder how they compare in price.

JL sound great too. It would just be remiss not mentioning the other brands.

Got to get what you KNOW sound great. I know my passive Funk 18.0 and passive RBH SX-1010N sound great, but you don't know that. You do know the JL sound great.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Of course I remember, but don't you remember I was the one, or at least one of those who PM'ed you several times about how the 802D was the best speaker ever heard? I had to do it via PM in those days when I couldn't afford flame suits and that long thread was dominated by your DIY buddies, could remember their name now but I do remember someone like WmAx (something like that) was torn apart by your buddies just because like me he was a 802D fan. Hard to believe now you finally got converted enough to say at least some nice things about the diamonds. I am still waiting for you to come around and embrace Audyssey though, at least the flat. At the moment you are okay with DEQ but let's see, you might just get there eventually..

I do like the 802D2 a lot as long as they are playing with my seven subs.

Yeah, I just can't tell the difference between Audyssey Flat vs. Audyssey Bypass L/R. So I could just use Flat too. But, no, Bypass it is + DEQ.

And I'm more than just okay with DEQ. I'm preaching the gospel of DEQ.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I don't know about him but I can tell you the 803 didn't come close. That may not apply to the 803 diamond and the 802 diamond but I would think it probably does apply. Amazingly the 804 diamond sounds great to me. Long after I made my choice, i read a Stereophile review by Kal Rubinson who seemed to say it differed from the 800 and the 7T (he did say the 7T's mid a little smoother) only in the low end and power handling.

Bowers & Wilkins 804 Diamond loudspeaker Page 2 | Stereophile.com

I don't always put a lot of weight on professional reviews but I do on this one because I have listened to those speakers (not the 7T) enough. So if you seriously considering the 802 and 803 you may want to look at the 804 diamond plus sub scenario. For me, in the end I went with the Focal but then I am always neutral in terms of British or French.

I remember you were torn between the 2. I thought you went with the Focal because it measured a lot better than the B&W.

 

[PENG]

I remember you were torn between the 2. I thought you went with the Focal because it measured a lot better than the B&W.

That hurts... Well, also I didn't think I would be allowed to spend another 3K on a sub, a junior JL or Funk and that's just for one. The Focal does have a little better bass response that the 804 diamond, and that's marginally enough for me in my 12X20X8 room.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

That hurts... Well, also I didn't think I would be allowed to spend another 3K on a sub, a junior JL or Funk and that's just for one. The Focal does have a little better bass response that the 804 diamond, and that's marginally enough for me in my 12X20X8 room.

It is a tough decision between the 1028 (9K) vs. 804 (7.5K) vs. 803 (10K).

I don't know what I would choose. I think they all sound great.

Back then I was torn with Salon2 vs. 800D2 vs. 207/2. I crossed out the B&W b/c it had the worst measurement and audition.

So it was really between Revel & KEF. Look what happened.

 

[PENG]

It is a tough decision between the 1028 (9K) vs. 804 (7.5K) vs. 803 (10K).

I don't know what I would choose. I think they all sound great.

Back then I was torn with Salon2 vs. 800D2 vs. 207/2. I crossed out the B&W b/c it had the worst measurement and audition.

So it was really between Revel & KEF. Look what happened.

The 802D2 would have been an easy choice for me back then if I were single and had a bigger room. 1028 and 804 was a tough choice, one seem to sound a little sweeter but not measured near as well as the other (couldn't lie to you as you already know) and in Canada they could be had for the same price, 803 cost more but I definitely prefer the 804D2 plus sub. The 207/2 would be an easy choice today if I were single, after I found out the R900 at 1/3 the price sounded almost as good as the Focal. The Blade would be even more a no brainer than the 207/2 if I were single. Anyway, not that I wish I were single, as life is more than hifi, I mean, almost..

 

[Irvrobinson]

Anyway, not that I wish I were single, as life is more than hifi, I mean, almost..

Right. There are fast cars too.

 

[TheStalker]

As good as the Focal Electra line is, the B&W Diamonds sound better. And who cares about measurements?

 

[PENG]

As good as the Focal Electra line is, the B&W Diamonds sound better. And who cares about measurements?

If you want to land on another planet, you do, same principles, but yeah I hear you.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I've been switching back and forth between Salon2 & 802D2 (which I've done many times). And it could go either way in terms of preference. Neither one sound flat or boring or lifeless.

So anyone who says one speaker sounds unequivocally better than the other speaker in the same class have utterly no idea what he is talking about.

 

[TheStalker]

I've been switching back and forth between Salon2 & 802D2 (which I've done many times). And it could go either way in terms of preference. Neither one sound flat or boring or lifeless.

So anyone who says one speaker sounds unequivocally better than the other speaker in the same class have utterly no idea what he is talking about.

If you cannot tell much difference between the Salons and the 802s, then I don't think you need all that high end stuff at all.

 

[Alex2507]

 

[Jeepers]

All of us express our opinions, preferences on sound and vision; what is wrong with this ?