B&W 805D

I think for some reason since the b&w audio group sells Classe that they mandate to the dealer that they are supposed to have the Classe hooked up to the b&w's...Why this is I do not understand...I would much rather hear the Mac amps that the dealer also sells, or perhaps the Krell and even some of the rotels than the Classe all of the time...but I do like classe gear a lot...just not paired with the b&w's all of the time...I still however, do not believe that b&w's are the most natural sounding speakers available.

I'd be surprised if the dealer wouldn't allow you to swap the Classe out. When I bought my first pair of N804 in NYC, I was swapping in everything including my dealer's used gear (from lines they didn't sell new) and when I bought my 804S I brought with me and used my CX-7e and AX-7e (my front end at the time) and my local dealer has nothing to do with Ayre. To my knowledge there is nothing from B&W that says a dealer can under no circumstances allow a demo with other than Classe/Rotel gear. They may be required to use them as the default demo gear but if you ask, most (all?) dealers are smart enough to want to make a sale and will do anything within reason to make it happen, particularly on speakers from US$ 8,000 on up.

Ok I talked with the B&W rep at RMAF and he did verify that the signature diamond and the 805D were different speakers. We will not hear the 805D untill spring middle of next year.

I am not a lover of B&W speakers, so I will say In a word 'bad'.

I didn't like the new B&W's at the Denver show although I did give them a listen, to be fair there was a lot of people In the room, about 2 (only kidding), talking etc so my quick listen was quick, I still can't get on with B&W.

I'm wondering if the 805D will still be a monitor or
will they follow the trickle down technology of the
Signature Diamond and make it a small floor stander?

I guess we will find out soon enough. Keep the rumors
coming.