Pushing the envelope on B&W 802 series3


Category: Speakers

Bought a pair of B&W matrix 802 series 3 a few months ago thru Audiogon. Upgraded from Polk monitor 10B. Using B&K EX 442 amp 200w/pc dual mono. Audio research LS-7 all tube Preamp. EAD transportT7000. I love them wanted this speaker for years. Any one else out there with 802 or 801 that has a good set up tell me about your experiences. I dont have the funds now for big upgrades. There isnt much more I can do except cables. I'm working on it. Thanks.
128x128poloman
Negotiating now with a friend for a pair of B&K M200 monoblocks, Im sure those will help. Also funds permitting would like to send out to Musical Concepts for modifications. Either the Signature or the Platinum mod if I could afford it. That should do wonders for sound staging. Stay tuned.
Okay, Sold my B&K EX442, right here on Audiogon and upgraded to an older Classe DR-25,250/wpc, much more transparent and greater imaging and impact.
Have a Sumiko-trained technician properly place the speakers in your room. This'll give you more improvement than any equipment change you can make.

Dave
unfortunately, your speakers, especially the kevlar midranges, are still considered to be one of the fastest, most accurate drivers on the planet (unless you have the ears of a martian).
this means the sky is the limit on what amp and preamp you could use, and that goes for your source as well. i had 801's and i upgraded endlessly to get more, always much more music out of them. the last time i heard them my friend, who bought my pair, was driving them with pass aleph equipment (the 1.2 monoblocks were $14k a pair) and once again they were completely transformed into "something else". listening to small jazz groups on them at that point was something you do NOT want to hear until you are ready to clean out your bank account.
I just had the crossovers upgraded. they are ready to be picked up. when I get them home and broken in I will update this thread with a list of parts. And my listening impressions. All the caps were replaced and the boards re glued and fastened better to the cabinet. Stay tuned.