We have blessings from Ptss. Lets have some fun.
Ptss - I've reviewed the TAS Factory Tour and the 802 D3 details and am impressed with all improvements; and the common sense used.
Let's discuss Common Sense first.
Fact - All B&W 800 series speakers including the latest D3's are voiced in an Anechoic Chamber. Click on the link.
http://blog.bowers-wilkins.com/sound-lab/tools-of-the-trade-the-anechoic-chamber/ An anechoic chamber ("an-echoic" meaning non-reflective, non-echoing or echo-free) is a room designed to completely absorb reflections of either sound or electromagnetic waves. They are also insulated from exterior sources of noise.
What does this B&W speaker voicing strategy mean for the average Music Lover or Audiophile. Well I have been at this audio hobby consciously since I was about 13. I have yet to come across any Audiophile or Music Lover, not associated with the business in some way, that has a room that looks anything like that. Now I did reach out to B&W a few weeks ago because, well I always look to learn and I was curious about how they managed to get such low frequency numbers out of such small boxes on the new D3's. That's another discussion....if you like........
This was their response.
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Bowers & Wilkins
The trouble with measuring in real rooms, especially where bass response is concerned, is that they are all different. If you try to measure any speaker in a real room, you get all sorts of measurement deviations due to reflections and room modes. Not only that, but you get a different result if you change rooms or if you merely change the position in the same room. Anechoic conditions are chosen for measurement, as they at least define a consistent and repeatable environment. It is the job of the speaker designer to choose an anechoic curve alignment (roll-off-shape) that sounds right when the speaker is listened to in a real room and this tends to be different for each model.
Kind regards,
Bowers & Wilkins
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So no new news here. We all knew this already, right ?
Now Common Sense ? The speakers are designed and voiced in an Anechoic room. This is by far IMO, the biggest reason B&W 800 series are hit and miss with many audiophiles. I have owned a set of B&W speakers in my collection since the 70's. IMO - those with a stubborn British type (attitude) personality, who also have flexibility in the room in regards to speaker positioning, and damping have a chance with them long term. The other personality type - Audiophile frequent flyer - that prefers plug and play; drop them into a room maybe play with some electronics tuning and call it a day. You will never get to what they can actually do. So do they make sense for the average audiophile putting them into his shared living room with the big TV and imported glass coffee table ?
Now how about studios. Definitely - they know what to do with them. They use them like a tool. They are very popular with studios since the 801 set the standard years ago. Now here is a real problem.
Audiophile Nigel reads that his latest album which he absolutely loves was mastered at Sterling Sound in New York.
http://sterling-sound.com/ He finds out that they use 800 series. He says to himself "Man, I got to get me a pair of those". But Nigel lives in a house with his wife and two kids and his stereo in his living room. And it looks like it is going to be that way for a long time. I ask you - does it not make more sense to get speakers that were voiced under real world conditions. IMO, IME .......
Bo1972 - It doens't make sense to compare B&W with B&W, you need to compare the 800D3 series with competitors in the same price range.
In order to do proper comparisons with other competitors, one needs to learn first how to properly set up a specific brand of speaker. You need to know the history. You don't toss them into a room with a bunch of other speakers and start manipulating electronics for imaging. Your piss and vinegar attitude shows a lot of passion - fine; but it is also a little misguided imo. Your bias can be forgiven because you are in the business. You can't help yourself. But for those of us that are not connected to the business in any way (manufacturers, dealers, distributors, special relationships) your's and others biases on these forums is very evident in the posts. The fact is all these forums represent a tip of the iceberg scenario anyway. And there is no such thing as bad publicity. B&W is laughing all the way to the bank .
Show us one of your rooms with "ANY" speaker setup. or are you going to ignore this again and keep playing politician. .
coffee time up guys .....later...
