how to hook up B&W Matrix 804?

[jaross]

Most B&W speakers are rated 8 ohms nominally and typically have very reasonable efficiency ratings. Both of those receivers could drive those speakers to modest levels of output with the original tweeter properly installed.

can I not drive them as hard without the proper tweeters installed? Could I get them loud enough for say a dance party in a small garage (with a separate sub..)?

I can switch from 4 to 8 ohms on the Onkyo. I would assume I would want 8 and not 4 because they are 8 ohm speakers, but does it matter at all if its less ohms then what they call for?

 

[WmAx]

can I not drive them as hard without the proper tweeters installed? Could I get them loud enough for say a dance party in a small garage (with a separate sub..)?

I can switch from 4 to 8 ohms on the Onkyo. I would assume I would want 8 and not 4 because they are 8 ohm speakers, but does it matter at all if its less ohms then what they call for?

You will probably blow that Realistic super tweeter. But the B&W speakers will be fine if you don't drive them into mechanical failure. If you want to be sure you don't, you would have to add on a safety high pass filter to keep excursion low. I don't know what capabilities your receiver has, but if it can apply a 40-50Hz crossover point, then that will do the job. Just set the front speakers to 'small' on the receiver and set the xover for the range specified.

-Chris

 

[Seth=L]

I don't know how I missed that. I looked through both the new and discontinued product achieves and didn't see that.

 

[Seth=L]

You will probably blow that Realistic super tweeter. But the B&W speakers will be fine if you don't drive them into mechanical failure. If you want to be sure you don't, you would have to add on a safety high pass filter to keep excursion low. I don't know what capabilities your receiver has, but if it can apply a 40-50Hz crossover point, then that will do the job. Just set the front speakers to 'small' on the receiver and set the xover for the range specified.

-Chris

Neither of those recievers feature bass management (they are but simple stereo receivers).

OP, you want to use the 8 ohm setting. The 4 ohm setting is a setting for "dummies" that don't know when to turn their stuff down when their is an audible problem, or for paranoid individuals as well. The 4 ohm setting actually limits the current output of the receiver, regardless of impedance.

 

[Adam]

I don't know how I missed that. I looked through both the new and discontinued product achieves and didn't see that.

I couldn't find anything on the B&W page either! I happen to come across that little golden nugget on a classified add for a pair of the 804s (that I found during my initial search for pictures of the binding posts).

 

[Seth=L]

I couldn't find anything on the B&W page either! I happen to come across that little golden nugget on a classified add for a pair of the 804s (that I found during my initial search for pictures of the binding posts).

But the address comes from B&W's site, WTF?

 

[jaross]

Neither of those recievers feature bass management (they are but simple stereo receivers).

OP, you want to use the 8 ohm setting. The 4 ohm setting is a setting for "dummies" that don't know when to turn their stuff down when their is an audible problem, or for paranoid individuals as well. The 4 ohm setting actually limits the current output of the receiver, regardless of impedance.

I dunno. Will the 4 ohm setting change the way they sound work in a big noticeable way?

I am a college student and I have a lot of drunk retards coming through my house from time to time who don't know a lick about decent stereo equipment. Last party we had this kid kept turning it up to levels of distortion because the speakers were in the garage (where everyone was dancing) and he wanted it to be just as loud in the rest of the house. Then people kept messing with my eq thinking that it did not have L and R channel separate ya know? All I could say was "if you cant hear the difference then what the hell are you doing?"

What is bass management? The Denon has a knob on it that says "variable loudness" but I don't mess with that because it just makes everything sound muffled to me. The Onkyo has a button that says "selective tone count" which doesn't seem to do too much..

 

[jaross]

Plan of Action!

okay, here is what I am doing with these. I know you will all say I need to get the originals from B&W and whatnot, but that simply is not an option for my budget right now. I am going to get the malfunctioning driver rebuilt for a shop in denver. I could get a new one from B&W for $120something which is in my price range but they said that it is a newer model and I would need to get two if I wanted to have identical speakers. Its $50 to get it fixed from the place in Denver.

As for the tweeters, I don't know. I definatly cannot afford $260 each from B&W. The Realistic tweeters are not what I suppose you call flat enough for me, after getting rheostats for them...

Anyone know what the crossover is for the tweeter outputs on the 804s or any of the other stats on the tweeter outputs?? Can anyone recommend a tweeter which might go well with these speakers? I was thinking of making mini enclosures to go with them depending on what tweeter I get. Whatabout any of these; http://www.partsexpress.com/webpage.cfm?&WebPage_ID=3&Cat_ID=49&ObjectGroup_ID=454&sm=1&so=1

Other links?

 

[WmAx]

The only thing I can suggest is to see if B&W will sell the tweeter drivers without the little enclosures that sit on top of the cabinet. I suspect the drivers will be around $85-$100 each without the enclosures. Then make your own little enclosures for the tweeters.

This is the only way to get correct performance cheaper. The odds of getting another drop in and work right tweeter are incredibly small.

-Chris

okay, here is what I am doing with these. I know you will all say I need to get the originals from B&W and whatnot, but that simply is not an option for my budget right now. I am going to get the malfunctioning driver rebuilt for a shop in denver. I could get a new one from B&W for $120something which is in my price range but they said that it is a newer model and I would need to get two if I wanted to have identical speakers. Its $50 to get it fixed from the place in Denver.

As for the tweeters, I don't know. I definatly cannot afford $260 each from B&W. The Realistic tweeters are not what I suppose you call flat enough for me, after getting rheostats for them...

Anyone know what the crossover is for the tweeter outputs on the 804s or any of the other stats on the tweeter outputs?? Can anyone recommend a tweeter which might go well with these speakers? I was thinking of making mini enclosures to go with them depending on what tweeter I get. Whatabout any of these; http://www.partsexpress.com/webpage.cfm?&WebPage_ID=3&Cat_ID=49&ObjectGroup_ID=454&sm=1&so=1

Other links?

 

[jaross]

The only thing I can suggest is to see if B&W will sell the tweeter drivers without the little enclosures that sit on top of the cabinet. I suspect the drivers will be around $85-$100 each without the enclosures. Then make your own little enclosures for the tweeters.

This is the only way to get correct performance cheaper. The odds of getting another drop in and work right tweeter are incredibly small.

-Chris

here is what I have now http://diyaudioprojects.com/Drivers/40-1310/40-1310.pdf


okay well the enclosures are only $18. The tweeters are $260 each. There has got to be a way to get atleast better then what I have now with some other tweeters. It would be nice to get the originals, and some day not too long from now I probably will be able to, but I don't have that money right now. If it is a system which just splices into the speaker wires coming from the reciver that is fine (what I have now) but I am sure that there is some sort of tweeter out there which would be even a whole lot better then what I have now. Any help with this?

 

[jamie2112]

I would do as Chris says and suck it up or wait till you can afford it and get the B&W tweeters. I have a set of Matrix 804s and I love them. I really think you got a great deal with the 804s. $150? Thats nuts man.....I paid 600 for mine and I thought I got a good deal......I would say save up and get the original tweeters as you will not be dissapointed..

 

[jaross]

I would do as Chris says and suck it up or wait till you can afford it and get the B&W tweeters. I have a set of Matrix 804s and I love them. I really think you got a great deal with the 804s. $150? Thats nuts man.....I paid 600 for mine and I thought I got a good deal......I would say save up and get the original tweeters as you will not be dissapointed..

thats great, I will! but there has got to be some other solution which would be better then what I have now in the mean time. (they were actually $100..)

 

[WmAx]

here is what I have now http://diyaudioprojects.com/Drivers/40-1310/40-1310.pdf


okay well the enclosures are only $18. The tweeters are $260 each. There has got to be a way to get atleast better then what I have now with some other tweeters. It would be nice to get the originals, and some day not too long from now I probably will be able to, but I don't have that money right now. If it is a system which just splices into the speaker wires coming from the reciver that is fine (what I have now) but I am sure that there is some sort of tweeter out there which would be even a whole lot better then what I have now. Any help with this?

In order to do use a different replacement tweeter properly, you have to be able to measure the drivers for appropriate data and be able to at least operate crossover design software and have some degree of knowledge of how a crossover and driver interact and what target response you are after. Even at the most basic level to do it right will require extensive investment in time and some considerable expense in gear. The easiest thing to do would be to post on diy speaker boards like Madisound and Parts Express Tech Talk and try to find a local diyer of sufficient skill that could help you do this.

-Chris