B&W 'New' 800 Series


I've reviewed the TAS Factory Tour and the 802 D3 details and am impressed with all improvements; and the common sense used.
I also find the new styling very intelligent related to dispersion. Comments?
ptss
Dear Dave, in over 5 years of time I did many shootouts with Audioquest cables against MIT cables. Audioquest did win all shootouts.

All these MIT owners doesn't use it anymore. MIT is dead in the Netherlands. The distributer had to stop because they could not earn money with it anymore.

The differences between the interconnects and loudspeakercables of Audioquest and MIT is huge these days.

MIT has done not enough research and innovation to compete anymore. And this is the hard truth. Welcome in the world of audio. Where the best and most convincing sound always will win!!
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Bo1972 - I had a look at those pl-500's. Ok lets talk gear. Some observations and a couple questions for you.  You can get more info on the Monitor Audio Platinum II's here.

http://canadahifi.com/monitor-audio-new-platinum-ii-loudspeaker-range/


Not sure about the finish on those speakers.  I think you need to discuss this with Monitor Audio. The finish reminds me of this.  


http://www.shat.it/images/800_matrix_copia.jpg

and this.

http://www.hifimusic.co.il/download/file.php?id=12528
 

Does this prove that with styling what goes around comes around ?  

I like the fact that the bass drivers are top and bottom on those 500's. This shows an understanding of bass wave cancellation, allowing for purer bass notes and easy room placement.   Get the bass right, everything else falls into place.  I have not heard better for two channel audio and room integration.  Now companies including B&W jam the woofers on top of one another on the main cabinet though separated. Same principle, but not the same effect. Bass is all simple physics and money.  Put woofers high and woofers low in separate cabinets costs a lot more money to do, and you start losing the WAF appeal quickly.  This cuts into sales.

PL 500 II
MSRP: $34,995 /pair
Flagship 3-way / 4 driver tower system using four 8″ RDT II long-throw bass drivers and dual 4″ RDT II TLE-loaded midrange drivers in an M-T-M configuration with the MPD high frequency transducer.

For this kind of money I expect an all out assault speaker.  No subs needed for full scale classical, rock, jazz, etc...   Without hearing them I believe due to the box size, and room size,  you may still need sub/s with those pl-500 speakers for realistic presentations ? What do you think ?  

You told us in an earlier post that silver wiring is used and WBT's. These are silver plated and I can't see the backs. from the website

IMPROVED CROSSOVER DESIGNCrossovers have been completely re-developed using air core inductors in midrange / tweeter sections and laminated steel cores for bass sections. Custom made audiophile grade metallised polypropylene capacitors are selected to operate within a 1% tolerance for the best possible sound quality. Platinum II speakers are internally wired using Monitor Audio’s ‘Pureflow’ silver-plated OFC copper cable, selected for its audio purity and high conductivity.

Bo1972. How has your experience been with reliability and build quality as these Monitor Audio speakers are Made in China.  Any problems, growing pains ? And I guess I am curious also  - why all the attention on the 800 series D3's.  Are they the ones taking most of your customers away ?  Its like you are saying that is my reference point ?   Well, everyone whether in pro audio or not, needs one and has a personal reference point.

Cheers
In 1999 I was visiting a distributer to listen to the Revel Studio at that time. I was looking for a new speaker, which became the 802N at the end.

When I went to the toilet overthere I saw a black pair of B&W 800 matrix when I was taking a piss. This was the first time I saw them. Mann those were my dream speakers in the 90’s.

Monitor Audio is superior in timing and response. I can garantee for 100% that the timing of the new Platinum Series II is superior to the D3 series. With the old Platinum vs 800D series it was the same.

Their new ribbon tweeter what is 8 times as big as a dome tweeter is so much more open, transparent and realistic in the high freq, that it will outperform the D3 diamond tweeter with ease. When I compared the 805D with the Platinum 100 it became clear how much opener the Pl-100 was. The stage was so much wider and deeper as well. The individual focus of instruments and voices was a lot sharper than the 805. I remember the face of the 805 owner. He was not amused. 

I also did a comparison between the Pl-100 and the Dynaudio C1 ( first series) and here was the same outcome as with the 805D. Dome tweeters are not of this time anymore. They are outdated and inferior compared to the best ribbon tweeters. This person bought the C1 a few weeks before we did this shootout. His face said it all.

I even think this speaker can outperform the Dynaudio Evidence and Temptation. This is based on the superior timing and the superior new ribbon tweeter compared to the old fashion Esotar tweeter. Monitor Audio is also superior in crossovers. In all tests the Platinum had a much wider and deeper stage. And again the individual focus of instruments and voices is much sharper.

What I said many times our Statement Audio Pro measurment can become the new level in sound quality in every home.

In the past I hated subwoofers for stero use. But stealth low freqency made me think totally different. These days I can reach a higher level for stereo by using a fast subwoofer measured with our own developed S.A.P. measurement. That is why I bought the new Platinum subwoofer as well. This is a subwoofer with two times15 inch low freq. units and 2 separate amps.

The material Monitor Audio uses is lighter than the material B&W uses. But the biggest difference is how it is connected inside. The connection is more from the centre. This makes the unit much faster in response. This technique is the best I ever auditioned in audio based on timing and response.

I sold many Platinum Speakers in over 8 years of time. I never got one back. The only thing I had was with my own Platinum subwoofer. I blew it up, to be honest it was my own mistake.

The only reason why they build a new factory in China is based on the lower costs. When they still would produce the speakers in the U.K. prices would be about 40% higer. The stock of all their speakers is still in the U.K. 

B&W spends a lot of money on advertising. They pay for trips to England for the shops who sell it. This week I got feedback of a person who visits many audio shops every week. He said: the people of shops discribe the speaker as technical with the lack of emotion. The people who sell it, have the same remarks. 

So I understand Dave his reason why he keeps the 802D2. I want to listen them a few times more. I think they made a mistake with the looks and also with the properties. You can pay as many audio magazines as you want,  but the best product will be the winner.

Listening to a wider and deeper stage with a more fysical stage of instruments and voices. And with much more resolution and decay will be prefered by almost all people. They way we create sound, I can garantee that we can outperform B&W with ease. And I will proof it. 

I will let you know!!




Bo1972 - When I went to the toilet over there I saw a black pair of B&W 800 matrix when I was taking a piss.

:^)
When I go downstairs and I make a left to my older Room A and I see them inside there; They make me want to piss too....before I start listening.

Bo1972 - Monitor Audio is superior in timing and response.
Bo - for a minute put yourself in an audiophile's shoes with his own system, instead of installing systems for customers. Think about this.
These B&W speakers are easily modified for timing and response. They came from the B&W factory with silver wire and WBT connectors. Highest quality crossovers - four on each speakers for each driver, built from materials that will last longer than me. They can be Quad amplified. For the crazy person the crossovers are an open design easily accessible behind each drivers back panel. This allows the person to, if not satisfied with timing or response; to easily bypass factory crossovers, and bring in a component like the Krell or Pass Lab crossovers;

https://passlabs.com/products/preamplifiers/speciality/xvr-1

tailor the crossover points for your own room nodes. You can put a SS amp/s on the bottom for the woofers and tubes on the midrange/tweeters if you want . Open access speaker design under John Bowers - RIP.

Look forward to your shootout. Consider starting a Monitor Audio thread too. Cheers