Sony SS-AR1 vs. B&W 800 Diamond

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Zieglj01 reminded me that Stereophile had posted the review of the SS-AR1 on their website:

http://www.stereophile.com/content/sony-ss-ar1-loudspeaker-measurements

On Axis FR: looks like the bass goes down to ~ 32Hz @ -3dB; @ 60-70Hz it is @ +7dB; between 200Hz-10kHz, the worse point appears @ 10kHz @ +3.5dB; then @ around 17kHz it's @ + 4.5dB.

Here is the B&W 800 Diamond:
http://www.stereophile.com/content/bampw-800-diamond-loudspeaker-measurements

Their on-axis FR look similar. The SS-AR1 seems to have a better polar response (off-axis) than the 800 Diamond.

 

[zieglj01]

It looks like Sony has a winner - if their marketing department can handle it.

 

[j_garcia]

It almost seems odd to think of Sony making excellent speakers, but a buddy of mine has a pair of nice Sony towers that he's had for years and I am frequently surprised at how good they sound when I am over there and we do some listening.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I think these $27K Sony speakers will sound great too.

But just from looking at the on-axis FR, it doesn't look all that impressive considering the fact that it costs that much.

Do you guys think all the measurements look very impressive at all?

I mean nothing looks too bad, but nothing grabs you and makes you want to go "WOW, check out those measurements" either.

It seems like both the Sony & B&W boost the bass response a little around 50-100Hz?

Since I like my bass hot anyway, I might prefer that boost. But coming from an accuracy point of view, academically, the measurements of their frequency responses are just average.

At the end of the day, both of these speakers may sound fantastic, though.

 

[timoteo]

Well it has officially become plain & clear to us all what is really going on! I have seen numerous posts from you, acudeftechguy & what I have suspected all along has now been confirmed...
You know how when a little boy who likes a girl, but doesnt want others to know that he likes her, so he ignores her & will even make fun of her??
Or the guy who grew up liking the Celtics but lives in L.A, that is always at his friends houses watching the Lakers play but rooting for any team they play because hes a "Celtics Fan". But then one day he realizes that the last few years hes secretly been enjoying seeing Kobe sink the winning buzzer shot so has to come to terms with the fact that he is a Lakers fan!!?
Well...you my friend have spent so many post complaining about the so called "bad measurements" that B&W speakers have, the "bad" off axis & "polar" something or another, that its obvious how much you truly have a crush on Bowers &/or Wilkins!!!!! Its O.K...this is nothing to be embarrased or ashamed about, really. Hey I also have the same love for their sound & you dont see me beating around the bush!
Look if you want someone to talk to about it or a "sponser" to help you through the transition I'd be more than happy to help buddy!!
Its nice to see we have another believer!!!!
WELCOME FRIEND!!!! LOL

 

[PENG]

Well it has officially become plain & clear to us all what is really going on! I have seen numerous posts from you, acudeftechguy & what I have suspected all along has now been confirmed...
You know how when a little boy who likes a girl, but doesnt want others to know that he likes her, so he ignores her & will even make fun of her??
Or the guy who grew up liking the Celtics but lives in L.A, that is always at his friends houses watching the Lakers play but rooting for any team they play because hes a "Celtics Fan". But then one day he realizes that the last few years hes secretly been enjoying seeing Kobe sink the winning buzzer shot so has to come to terms with the fact that he is a Lakers fan!!?
Well...you my friend have spent so many post complaining about the so called "bad measurements" that B&W speakers have, the "bad" off axis & "polar" something or another, that its obvious how much you truly have a crush on Bowers &/or Wilkins!!!!! Its O.K...this is nothing to be embarrased or ashamed about, really. Hey I also have the same love for their sound & you dont see me beating around the bush!
Look if you want someone to talk to about it or a "sponser" to help you through the transition I'd be more than happy to help buddy!!
Its nice to see we have another believer!!!!
WELCOME FRIEND!!!! LOL

I agree with him on most thing except this one, that the off axis thing is all that critical. Seems to me he has been fixated on that issue due to the numerous posts by AJIFLA (something like that) and a couple by Dr. Olive. Those claims do have some basis but not proven and is controversial at best. If you ask Audyssey they will probably tell you a different story; anyway and those guys spent many years researching room acoustic related topics most likely participated by a few PhDs. Not that I don't have respect for the other two gentlemen and I do, but I happen to have a pretty good understanding of sound (in terms of physics) and Fouier transforms etc., so I have reasons to have more faith in those engineers from Audyssey and others in that field. I think off axis performance is a major factor but the designers probably have to make some tough choices, if given the budget (time and money), tough choices have to be made.

By the way if I remember correctly he did audition the 80X speakers and did not like them, but we all know the power of Placebo.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

You know how when a little boy who likes a girl, but doesnt want others to know that he likes her, so he ignores her & will even make fun of her?

Doh.

You are probably right.

I never thought of it that way.

But looking back, it kind of makes sense.

OKay, I give up.

I really love those B&W 800Ds.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I agree with him on most thing except this one, that the off axis thing is all that critical. Seems to me he has been fixated on that issue due to the numerous posts by AJIFLA (something like that) and a couple by Dr. Olive. Those claims do have some basis but not proven and is controversial at best. If you ask Audyssey they will probably tell you a different story; anyway and those guys spent many years researching room acoustic related topics most likely participated by a few PhDs. Not that I don't have respect for the other two gentlemen and I do, but I happen to have a pretty good understanding of sound (in terms of physics) and Fouier transforms etc., so I have reasons to have more faith in those engineers from Audyssey and others in that field. I think off axis performance is a major factor but the designers probably have to make some tough choices, if given the budget (time and money), tough choices have to be made.

By the way if I remember correctly he did audition the 80X speakers and did not like them, but we all know the power of Placebo.

I was so used to listening to the BP7000SCs and all that BASS.

I think it was 100% because the B&W dealer didn't have any subwoofers!

I think if they had subwoofers, I would have loved the 800/802Ds.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

The Sony's aren't even CLOSE to being as SEXY as the 800/802Ds.

 

[FirstReflection]

Well heck,

tons of famous recordings that came out of Abbey Road Studios? Mixed on B&W 800Ds. Tons of famous movie scores that come out of Skywalker Sound? Mixed on B&W 800Ds.

There's something to be said for having the very same speakers as the ones that were used to MAKE the recordings. I'm not sure what is to be said, but it's something...I'm sure...

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

So what's the difference between the 802D & 803D besides the 10" woofers vs. the 8" woofers?

Is it like the difference between the Salon2 vs. Studio2 and the KEF 207/2 vs 205/2?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

How come the bottom of the B&W 805D looks kind of like the bottom of the KEF 201/2?

805 Diamond:

201/2: