802 d3

[Paul]

[Paul]

[Paul]

[Paul]

[Paul]

[Paul]

Geez.... no love for B&W here !

[Glareskin]

Geez.... no love for B&W here !

Yes a lot of love. Nice unpacking pics but I was hoping for a sound check

I still think my D2's are better looking but I have to admit that they are growing on me after seeing your photos.

[MDP]

Yes a lot of love. Nice unpacking pics but I was hoping for a sound check

I still think my D2's are better looking but I have to admit that they are growing on me after seeing your photos.

Hans, that looks like your next speaker

[fxe02]

This is foreplay!
Enjoy those gorgeous speakers !

[Etunes]

Outstanding pictures and great looking speakers. Enjoy!

[bayou985]

I'll never understand the appeal of B/W speakers !! oops we forgot a couple of drivers, no problem just mount em on top of cabinet....

[jaxwired]

Gorgeous! In my mind, B&W finally got the design right! Absolutely love the new look. So glad they abandoned those god awful yellow drivers. The aluminum on the back is sexy as hell. First time in my audiophile life that I'm lusting after the 800s. The 803s are the ones I'd like. Sleeker than the 802s and still dig way deep.

[CDLehner]

I want to know...where I can get a pair of those gloves! Oh; and the speakers are nice too

[PureVinyl]

Geez.... no love for B&W here !

Heard them last week(fully broken in) , they look much better in person then online pictures.


Honestly not my cup of tea, (very forward sounding speakers ) Focal Sopra 2 a Much better value(with correct amp)


Dealer tried 3 different Pre and Amp combo, finally he admitted these speakers on the bright side (good dynamics) Best played at lower levels


#1 Mac C50 Pre and MAC 452 SS --- low levels ok-but mid to hi levels a very forward sounding

#2 Bryston Pre and Bryston 4b ---- good dynamics but top end was forward sounding

# 3 Ayre Pre and Ayre V-5xe ----- warm smooth light on grip (bass) top end still a hair forward

[baddog]

Paul - Beautiful speakers and great shots! I am sure they sound wonderful. Nothing like new speaker day, those days are very very rare and very far between, but oh what a feeling eh?

Let us know how you like them, I suspect they are sublime.

[Paul]

Paul - Beautiful speakers and great shots! I am sure they sound wonderful. Nothing like new speaker day, those days are very very rare and very far between, but oh what a feeling eh?

Let us know how you like them, I suspect they are sublime.

Thanks but it's not mine. I heard this new series sounds quite better than former generation. Love to hear them myself.

[Paul]

I want to know...where I can get a pair of those gloves! Oh; and the speakers are nice too

Here u go

[SoundRebels]

We've got 802's too :-D

[joeinid]

Beautiful, I bet that these sound amazing. I would LOVE to hear them.

[the professor]

Nice

[SoundRebels]

THnX. Even with Audio Tekne 300B Monos (TM-8801) sound is much better than good ;-)

[dfwmediagroup]

THnX. Even with Audio Tekne 300B Monos (TM-8801) sound is much better than good ;-)

I will be auditioning a pair of 802D3's tommorow, shall post my impressions soon.

[dfwmediagroup]

Today, I auditioned a pair of the all-new B&W 802d3 speakers. First of all, these speakers are gorgeous in person. The finish, build quality and aesthetics are unparalleled. The pair I listened to were black lacquer and that's what I would want if I ordered a pair. The first electronics we listened to were Classe C-2300 and the CP-800 preamp. The source was a Meridian 800 cd player. The first impression was of a limited soundstage and mediocre imaging. A bit bland and flat overall with laid back dynamics. Then the Bryston electronics went in and it made a huge change for the better. Better soundstage, separation and extension in the bass and treble. Bryston made the speakers more dynamic and snappy.The top end of these is smooth and the midrange has a warm tonality that is slightly forward, so soundstage depth seems a bit limited. The bass is very damped, almost to the point of being overdamped, without any real bloom. If these speakers extend down to 14hz, I couldn't hear it, so don't expect subwoofer style room shaking bass. The choice of electronics is extremely important with these speakers. They are chameleons and their character and performance change dramatically with a change of electronics. I would steer clear of tubes and look at high powered, clean solid state gear. Also, stay away from electronics that are too smooth and laid back. Pass, Bryston, Accuphase, Soulution and the like might be good choices. These speakers can play very loud and clear, similar to B&W models in the past. I personally prefer a lively, not as damped presentation with some sparkle in the treble and a full, punchy bass response. That is why I ended up with Focal. Please respond with any questions and I will do my best to answer them honestly.

[joeinid]

Thank you so much for your thoughts.

[highEndguy]

I think is a matter of personal taste.
For me, I prefer this style than the old model.




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[Mike]

Good write up! So will we be seeing a pair in your future?


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[BruceLet]

Thanks for the writeup. As much as I will try to resist, I am pretty sure I will own a pair at some point in the next year or two.

[joeinid]

Thanks for the writeup. As much as I will try to resist, I am pretty sure I will own a pair at some point in the next year or two.

[BruceLet]

Then I'm done…...

[joeinid]

Then I'm done…...

Me too with a group buy.

[Zero]

They look stunning. I'm sure they sound... like B&W's. ..

[dfwmediagroup]

They look stunning. I'm sure they sound... like B&W's. ..

You would be accurate on that one. We didn't have a pair of 802d2's on hand for an A-B comparison but the basic character of B&W speakers has not been discarded for the new model. I would consider this an evolution rather than a revolution. Personally, I liked the older models, such as the 801's with the big woofer and the metal dome tweeter. I've never been able to get excited about the diamond tweeter, it sounds kind of dead to me.

[MDP]

Then I'm done…...

[BruceLet]

Joe and I tell each other that we are done….all the time. Sometimes, we even believe it.

[wisnon]

Geez.... no love for B&W here !

Someone posted on AGon that these are the best B&W speakers he ever heard. They look great, THAT I can say for sure.

[SoundRebels]

Someone posted on AGon that these are the best B&W speakers he ever heard. They look great, THAT I can say for sure.

I have to agree with Him. ;-)

[Mike]

I can't wait to hear these. The looks are growing on me - fast. And I still remember my 801F's very fondly.


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[dfwmediagroup]

I can't wait to hear these. The looks are growing on me - fast. And I still remember my 801F's very fondly.


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I really like the looks too. It's just that the sound didn't blow me away. I would wait for the Sopra 3. : )

[hiro100]

I got to see and hear them last week. The bookshelf and the 803 floor standing speaker. Both were great with a very open mid range. The top end had a vibrancy and energy to it that was very impressive. My only criticism was that I found female vocals slightly sibilant. It was hooked up to Classe electronics.

[joeinid]

I got to see and hear them last week. The bookshelf and the 803 floor standing speaker. Both were great with a very open mid range. The top end had a vibrancy and energy to it that was very impressive. My only criticism was that I found female vocals slightly sibilant. It was hooked up to Classe electronics.

I am very sensitive to sibilance. Any hint and I'd be out. Thank you for your thoughts.

[Anatta]

[SoundRebels]

On Monday we've replaced Audio Tekne separates by Pass INT-250 :-D

[the professor]

Better? / Worse? / Just Different?

Inquiring minds want to know.

[SoundRebels]

Better? / Worse? / Just Different?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Extremely different ;-) With Audio Tekne TFA-9501 pre + 2xTM-8801 power amps (300B in Push-pull mode) sound was very esoteric and crispy, with a little uncontrolled bas.It's nothing wrong if You're remember that Audio Tekne amps are only 17W. Pass INT-250 changed the scale, impact and micro/macro dynamics and woke up the beasts inside of Bowers. Maybe this replacement loose some finesse of trebles, but for me combination with Pass is more universal.

[SoundRebels]

For now only Polish version of B&W802D3 review

[dfwmediagroup]

[QUOTE=SoundRebels;148133]For now only Polish version of B&W802D3 review

And if you can take away any impressions from the English translation of that, let me know.

[Rod#S]

Great pics in the thread.

Been a fan of the B&W 800 series for a number of years and own 5 of the previous series, 800D2's (L/R), 802D2's (SL/SR) and HTM2D2. I haven't heard or seen the new D3 series in the flesh yet but from all the pics I have seen and even videos I definitely do not like the new look and what is up with the funny looking little grilles The new asethitics are a big turn off unfortunately, well particularly the 803's, 802's and 800's as rumor is they'll look just like the 802/803 with the 10" drivers, no longer anything to differentiate them like the big plinth of the older series. I think I could easliy live with the 805D3, 804D3 and HTM2D3 as the overall asethetic design is very similar to the outgoing D2 series. I don't get the HTM1D3, same size cabinet as the HTM2D2 but with larger 8" drivers crammed in there to get up to 500 watts to match the 802. Seems to me it would have been better with a larger cabinet but hey I'm no engineer and the new cabinet designs are much more rigid so I guess that allows it. I'm not sure I like the curved front and flat back (prefer the HTM2D2 style of flat front, curved back) but could probably live with it.

[db33]

Hello Marcin,

the Pass XA100.8 are enuogh for the 802/803d3 ? for me yes but maybe you have tested this combo!


thank you

[SoundRebels]

Hello Marcin,

the Pass XA100.8 are enuogh for the 802/803d3 ? for me yes but maybe you have tested this combo!


thank you

For XA100.8 all B&W800D3 series are piece of cake, so don't worry.

[Glareskin]

Hans, that looks like your next speaker

I wasn't looking for new speakers Mark. But now I have heard them and they sound awesome! The price has almost doubled by the way :-(

The Belgian high-end audio dealer Alpha in Brasschaat (Antwerpen) is organizing a shootout between my D2's and the new D3's. I am afraid to go there.....