I plan on auditioning some speakers. This list includes B&W, Revel, & RBH.
The B&W dealer has the 803D ($8K/pr), 802D ($12K/pr), & 800D ($22K/pr). Components include NAD M55, M15, & M25. The ~ 16’W x 18’L x 12’H room is fully decked out with giant acoustic panels, sofas, & drapes. The speakers are ~ 3’ from the front wall and ~4’ from the side walls, ~ 7’ apart, toed inward. The listening position is centered and ~ 8’ away.
The Revel dealer has the Performa M22 ($2K/pr). Components are from Lexicon & Mark Levinson. The room is about the same size as the B&W dealer, but even more decked out with fancy beautiful looking acoustic panels that blended in perfectly with the walls. Distances were similar to the B&W.
The RBH dealer has the T3 flagship system. I have not been this dealer yet. The speaker system actually resides inside the owner’s personal home theater room. I’ve only spoken to the owner. I’ll have to set up an appointment in about 2 weeks since things are busy for me the next 2 weeks.
Today I auditioned the B&W 803D & 802D and the Revel M22. I spent about 2 hrs on the B&Ws and 1 hr on the Revel.
Tomorrow the B&W dealer will set up the 800D in the same room for me to audition.
I brought along a Mozart Piano Concerto no. 20 & 21 CD (Infinity Digital DDD, Sergei Uruvayev pianist). I've listened to these 2 concertos (different recordings) since I was in 17 yrs old.
I also brought along my favorite CDs that I listen to on a daily basis:
1) Smallville: Island In The Sun, Superman, Don’t Dream It’s Over, Time After Time
2) The Eagles Hell Freezes Over
3) Deadzone: New Years Prayer, Someone Like Me
B&W 803 impressions:
I paid close attention to the piano and strings on the Mozart concertos. The treble and midrange were not any more special than any $2K speakers I’ve listened to. Actually, I thought they sounded a little compressed somehow. The piano sounded like any $2K speakers I’ve listened to, and so did the violins and the rest of the orchestra. When it came to the Pop/Rock CDs, the bass was seriously lacking for my personal taste.
B&W 802D impressions:
I thought the treble and midrange sounded the same as the 803D – not anymore special than other $2K speakers. The bass on the Pop/Rock music was better than the 803D, but still lacking for my tastes.
Revel M22 impressions:
I thought the treble and midrange sounded better than both the B&Ws. I thought overall the M22s were clearer and more dynamic than the B&Ws. I thought the M22 sounded better than the B&Ws when playing the Mozart CD. However, the bass was seriously lacking (what do you expect from a bookshelf?).
For today I will conclude that just because I am not very impressed with these B&W speakers doesn’t mean anyone else will feel the same. The B&W 802D & 803D may sound like the best speakers in the world to some people. Their midrange and treble may be the absolute best to some, and their bass may be absolutely adequate to some. I truly believe it. I have no doubt about it. I have a lot of respect for the members here who hold these B&W speakers dear to their hearts. May we all find the speakers that suit us all the best.
I plan on listening to the B&W 800D tomorrow and hopefully the RBH 3T in a couple of weeks.
