Persona 3f vs B&W 802D2s

We are displaying dealers for the Paradigms and have a fairly good idea between the two brands.

Obvioulsy we are Paradigm biased but here goes:

1: The Personas have a much greater degree of coherency as the Persona uses the same exact material for the tweeter and the midrange, the 7 inch Pure Beryillium midrange driver is just extraordinary, it is fast, and uncolored and because the midrange and tweeter diapharams are made out of the same material you will never know that you are listening to two different drivers.

vs

B&W Diamond/alloy tweeter and graphite based/kevlar varient, ie two completely different materials, that do sound differently


2 Technology the PPA or Phase aligned lens on the midrange and tweeter help to refocus stray reflected sound waves off of the drivers, this technology is partly resonsible for the speakers holographic sound qualities

vs

B&W conventional driver technology, ie they don't offer such a holographic image

3:  Resolution, Beryilium drivers are incredibly stiff and very light so the response time in terms of snap and dynamics are incredible.

Here is how I would set them up

One make sure you have plenty of good clean power, tube preamp/solid state amp or a hybrid amp

Two: A warm dac or table

Three: Isoacoustics footers we have tested them and they are amazing, with  most speakers waiting on correct size for Paragidm so future tweek

Four: Wamer cable

Five: Add a JL Audio subwoofer to help round out the deep bass which the 3F has but not enough.this will make a huge improvement in warmth and slam. 

Hope that helps.

Dave and Troy
 
Audio Doctor NJ

@real_music777

+1

Here is the 802 D3

https://www.stereophile.com/content/bowers-wilkins-802-d3-diamond-loudspeaker-measurements

Still has a hole in the midrange off axis but overall a much more balanced speaker than the D2. The bass response looks good and the waterfall is superb.

@audiotroy 

I am leaning toward the Paradigm mostly because my wife loves the look and absolutely hates the B&W.

Unfortunately the shop selling the Paradigm did not give me much confidence that he really new how to pair the equipment.  His recommendations for Amps:
Anthem STR
Bryston 4B cubed
McIntosh MC302
and the Anthem AVM60 processor
The primary purpose is music but it is in a room with a television and one day I may expand and add a center and surround.  But I told him I wanted a 2 channel dedicated processor/preamp that has pass through for when I add the additional channels.  So he did not really follow my request.

What preamp and amp would suggest?

Thanks for your help!
~Mobius

Please contact us for the most indepth info but here is what I would say

Anthem STR a nice integrated good sound, good punch the speakers deserve even better

Bryton way too dry, unless matched with a good tube preamp

Mcintosh warm lacks detail and resolution in my opinion way over priced for the level of sound quality

Anthem AVM 60 great pre/pro for the money not as good sounding as the Audio Control/Arcam stuff, 

If music is your passion then the best option would be to get a good 2 channel setup, take the optical digital out of the TV set the TV to output PCM digital and run that output into the digital input of a dac or an integrated

One of our favorites Naim Uniti Nova $7,000.00 or the new Micromega M150 or depending on volume the less expensive M100 at $4500

The Micromega is very tube like. with a wonderful rich midrange, Naim similar runs out of steam a bit earlier.

If you love rock add a good sub as indicated. 

Stay away from brighter cables AQ, Nordost, Wireworlds are very well balanced. 

Again hope that helps.

Best electronics we have ever used T+A audio from Germany, absolutely amazing sound, build quality and technology, a bit expensive but destination gear. 

Your wife is right on the looks the Personas are sexy without too much bling and now you can also get magnetic grills. 

If you set them up correctly they are astonishing.

If you are in our neck of the woods New Jersey?NY Metro we have them on display in our shop.

Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ