Well respected speakers that you don't like

dlb2 said:
Although I haven't heard every speaker in their lineup, B&W just doesn't do it for me. They have great engineering, R&D, marketing, etc... but I just don't care for their overall sound.

Maybe I need to hear the Diamond series.
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I too have heard many speakers in the B&W line that "don't do it for me", but the exception are the Diamonds. You do need to hear those, they are nice speakers.
 
Glareskin said:
LOL:D That is funny Mike!

The Diamonds only Doug. you can recognize by the chrome rings.
802D_1.jpg
802D

802-Diamond_Piano-Black-Gloss_OFF.jpg
802 Diamonds

Most components are different. Sound not comparable. Forget the D, go for the Diamond!

Hans
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On the opposite note of this thread, I used to lust after those! To this day I like them. I like how they look (like something off the deck of a fresh tall sailing ship) and they sound good too. Very nice!
 
Glareskin said:
It is easy to say that you forget the looks if your speakers look as fabulous as yours ;):

AmatiFutura-Opener.jpg
AmatiFutura-Rear.jpg
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Just going on looks: See the bottoms there? Something like that is what Paradigm should have done instead of the grey thing. I just try to not focus on the bottom looks of my Studio 100s. The rest of the cabinets are nice looking really, but for me sound is paramount no matter what a speaker looks like.
 
Sorry Debs, but I have to admit that I have not heard a Wilson speaker I liked and I've heard about 3 models. I do kind of like the looks of them though. They look like they were made by Cylons from Battlestar Galactica. Good thing they aren't chrome though...."excuse me while I go polish my Cylons" is a sentence I never want to have to say. I think though that perhaps I have not heard Wilsons in the proper environments or what have you (I've heard them in hotel rooms and loose environments) so Debs will probably someday have to take me in hand (after she slaps my hand for not liking her speakers), plop me down in a better listening environment and shows me what they really sound like.:)
 
MusicDirector said:
Sorry Debs, but I have to admit that I have not heard a Wilson speaker I liked and I've heard about 3 models. I do kind of like the looks of them though. They look like they were made by Cylons from Battlestar Galactica. Good thing they aren't chrome though...."excuse me while I go polish my Cylons" is a sentence I never want to have to say. I think though that perhaps I have not heard Wilsons in the proper environments or what have you (I've heard them in hotel rooms and loose environments) so Debs will probably someday have to take me in hand (after she slaps my hand for not liking her speakers), plop me down in a better listening environment and shows me what they really sound like.:)
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I shared this opinion until I visited the Brooks Berdan room at last year's Newport show (or maybe it was the year before). Fabulous. I went to listen at their showroom as well; even better. I think set-up, with all the micro adjustments, is tricky for optimal sound. All I know is the large Siegfrieds made them sound sweet!
 
mdkim said:
I shared this opinion until I visited the Brooks Berdan room at last year's Newport show (or maybe it was the year before). Fabulous. I went to listen at their showroom as well; even better. I think set-up, with all the micro adjustments, is tricky for optimal sound. All I know is the large Siegfrieds made them sound sweet!
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I heard Wilsons at the Newport show too, but they did not sound right at all. Almost like there was something wrong with them. I don't recall what room I heard them in though, but I do recall they were the Alexas. I heard another model at the show I believe as well, but don't recall the name. I don't know where their showroom is, probably too far away from me and that's probably the place to hear them. As I said, my judgment on them is not solidified at all because I don't think I have heard them in a fair environment.
 
Glareskin said:
It is easy to say that you forget the looks if your speakers look as fabulous as yours ;):

AmatiFutura-Opener.jpg
AmatiFutura-Rear.jpg
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those are frickin gorgeous. I'd be scared to walk by them if they were in my
house. Real beauties Angel!!!!!'
 
Ok yes Futura's are beautiful, my point is that once you get into the music you close your eyes and you are not thinking about the system or speakers, you are thinking about the music. And yes if you have nice looking system you are going to look at and say wow! what a beautiful craftsmanship. My guess is that one thing goes with the other, but ultimately we strive for the best possible sound.
 
Yes I like to turn the lights off and look at the nice warm glow of tubes.
Plus it sounds better in the dark.
Hell I just bought the "ugly duckling " turntable . Lol!!!!!
 
Ok, I'm giving in and I know this is opposite of the thread theme, but just for scope and because I own them and they were mentioned, I am posting a pic or two of my Paradigm Studios just to say I don't think they are ugly and the sound and abilities to my ears are amazing since it took tons of saving and 6 months of research and long auditions of many speakers almost daily to get them. (I don't want to do it again). Side of Studio 100s.jpgStudio 100 grill off.jpgStudio 100 grill on.jpg

~Eric
 
Now back in keeping with the theme: Here's what I used for 23 years!!Kenwood JL690.jpgKenwoods 1.jpg

These things were awful! Rung like gongs when you rapped on the sides, terrible standing waves. I don't know how I put up with them for that long? Long gone now.
 
I think they are nice!!! Never heard them. But looks wise they are sweet!
 
MusicDirector said:
The lower models of Paradigm also sound cheap in my opinion. The upper line (Studios on up) do sort of have a slight cheap look aspect to them except for the wood part and the drivers. However, I can attest that they are anything but cheap in price and sound. Never judge a speaker by it's looks. Judge it by it's build design and most important, it's sound.
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Eric, I owned Studio 100's and thought they were very good, the S8's tweeter is not very good though,a little bright imo.
 
MusicDirector said:
Ok, I'm giving in and I know this is opposite of the thread theme, but just for scope and because I own them and they were mentioned, I am posting a pic or two of my Paradigm Studios just to say I don't think they are ugly and the sound and abilities to my ears are amazing since it took tons of saving and 6 months of research and long auditions of many speakers almost daily to get them. (I don't want to do it again). View attachment 3394View attachment 3395View attachment 3396

~Eric
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I like them very much with the cover on
Now I'm 65% with you
:)


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MusicDirector said:
Ok, I'm giving in and I know this is opposite of the thread theme, but just for scope and because I own them and they were mentioned, I am posting a pic or two of my Paradigm Studios just to say I don't think they are ugly and the sound and abilities to my ears are amazing since it took tons of saving and 6 months of research and long auditions of many speakers almost daily to get them. (I don't want to do it again).
~Eric
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Hi Eric,
Without the grills it is still a bit too wild for my eyes. But he, I think the optics are maybe even more about personal taste than anything else. But with the grill on I think the looks ar quite ok. Size and shape are in a good balance and with grill the materials and finish seems to match well.Thanks for posting the pics. Contrary to you I like being busy with auditioning and reading stuff about audio equipment. Surely the claim it puts on your savings is not so nice...
Hans
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iamhifi said:
Ok yes Futura's are beautiful, my point is that once you get into the music you close your eyes and you are not thinking about the system or speakers, you are thinking about the music. And yes if you have nice looking system you are going to look at and say wow! what a beautiful craftsmanship. My guess is that one thing goes with the other, but ultimately we strive for the best possible sound.
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That is all true however for all the time you are not actively (with closed eyes) are listening to the music the speaker is a rather prominent part of your interior. And since I don't live in the house alone the choice for speakers is something I include my wife in. Of course she is just going by the looks...
:peace:
 
Glareskin said:
stereoplay_bw.jpg
801N & 801D AKA the washing machine
I used to dream about the 801N when it came to the market about 10 years ago. Of course I was younger and more hungry for big woofers. Now I even think the dimensions are out of proportions. By the way my dream ended roughly when I heard the 801D 5 or 6 years ago: very nice and clean high section, bass not fast enough and overall not creating excitement.


The same happened to me. Like the 801 story I didn't like all of the 800 series. The diamond tweeters of the D-series sounded sweet but the whole package not enough emotions. So actually my interest in B&W generally was at a very low until I started reading reviews about the complete new sound of the Diamond series. So I started to build some interest in the 800 Diamond (because in my mind the 802 Diamond would not be capable of producing enough bass anyway).
And then I was at a dealer and was asking if he had a set-up with the Focal Scala Utopia and he ask me if I didn't want to listen to the new Diamonds. I told him about my previous experience and he said why don't you give it a try: these are different.
And I can tell you: no more Mr. nice guy! This speaker was bringing emotions in the room. Still the sweet high, but now with an emotional and spatial stage, a deep and even loud bass. I was sold! I know it is probably not the very best speaker on the market, and for one I haven't auditioned a lot of speakers (like Raidho, Revel) but I am still very happy with the sound. I know I have created this thread about the things we don't like but allow me to spend part of your screen telling what I like about the 802 Diamonds . This is the review conclusion of German magazine Stereo. FOr what it's worth: I think this is spot-on:
802_Di_conclusion_Stereo.jpg

It says:
The high-mid section in the Marlan head is really quite a bit smoother and finer than in the previous version, and thank to it's top notch mid range speaker even more convincing than the 805 Diamonds that is highly ranking speaker in the book-shelve class. The bass section is for adults! It is not playing too present but is there to rely on. It comes full bodied but brings it to the listening spot; without getting overblown filling rooms with 25 square meters easily. But also with smaller bands the 'new guy' proves sensibility, creating a live atmosphere that with good recordings definitely gives you gooze bumps. The sound coluors, the sound staging and the precise timing are famous already, leaving it's predecessor, and not only that one, far behind.
A speaker in the super league, if possible the speaker for life- and with that for critical audiophiles worth every cent.
I didn't like both of them. First when the Diamonds came I was on board. But between the two: it is amazing how good the 802's are.
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What amp did you hear the 801D with? Maybe the damping factor of the amp was not high enough. Or maybe the amp wasn't powerful enough. Just a thought.
 
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