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New Speakers under consideration - but I’m afraid

I really like my speakers but I am considering an upgrade. I have B&W 801 S2 MkIII that I bought new in 1999 (re-coned with modded x-over). I’m afraid that what I get will not equal them and new may  just be different.

They are bi-amped with McIntosh up top and Krell on the bottom. Analog is Revox B77 and dig is Oppo 105D with Bryston DAC3.

I will also likely upgrade the DAC but this thread is about speakers.

I need a dynamic loudspeaker that is as good with chamber music as it is with acoustic jazz, rock and electronic music (everything but Country and Rap).

I haven’t heard anything yet but am considering Borrersen X3, Wilson Sasha and B&W 803 D4.

Should I be afraid or will these speakers all best a 25 yr old design?

ritter06
mbmi's avatar
mbmi
541 posts
 

I own the X-3's in White....Beautiful, musical and NEVER fatiguing....but very detailed and life like...If yo like the Live experience, they're hard to beat...I want to sell mine (mint) and move up the Borresen line. These people have Sound Down to an art!

stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,445 posts
 

listen to Vandersteen speakers

mdalton's avatar
mdalton
455 posts
 

imho, resale value is a terrible reason to buy anything.  buy it, love it, use it up.  

oddiofyl's avatar
oddiofyl
3,741 posts
 

Absolutely.... your kids will sell it for peanuts when you die anyway!    Enjoy now.   It's like having a classic car you don't drive.   Why save it for the next guy?

yoyoyaya's avatar
yoyoyaya
718 posts
 

@OP There are a lot of used Wilson speakers around because people upgrade to newer Wilsons.

On B&W's - there's no guarantee you will like the latest generation better - they are certainly not a speaker I would choose for chamber music.

Magico A5s are worth listening to - more evenly balanced that D4 B&Ws but somewhat similar in character.

Personally, I would prefer the Sasha DAW but, while the thread is not about digital, I would not compromise the budget for a digital front end upgrade because, especially with more modern speakers, you are really going to need it.

In fact, I would suggest looking at that before changing speakers at all.

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