B&W 'New' 800 Series

CT, I wrote a little about this in another thread where I reported on my own listening test with the 802D3.   It was at my local Magnolia in Scottsdale, in a beautiful listening room with wall treatments (but no bass traps if memory serves), not cramped, with the speakers out into the room by maybe 3 feet from the back wall.   Given the demographics of Scottsdale, it's not a surprise that this particular store is decked out and well done - it carries Sonus Faber, B&W, McIntosh, Arcam, and some others.  I mention this only to provide context - many Magnolias are cramped and poorly arranged with no real space for the equipment to be properly spaced, but the one in Scottsdale is nicely upscale.

Anyway, we listened to the 802D3, and in that room they didn't get anywhere near that low.   We listened to the first track of the "Titanic" soundtrack which has some really cool low-frequency rumble effects that come in somewhere in the 25-30hz range and those effects just weren't there.   That's about as unscientific as it gets, of course, but I've heard those effects on other speakers so I knew what to listen for and it just wasn't there.   On another day, in another room, maybe someone else would experience them differently.

Anybody find out any information on the crossovers?  Seems strange that there is no mention, unlike the D2 series which hilighted the Mundorf Caps etc...  Also, the website just took a decided turn toward a Home Theatre vibe!

I had seen measurements done by Stereo in Germany on the 802D3 in terms of frequency response and they had the -3db point at 20hz on their own test. It was also a decently flat response from the bass all the way through to the treble on axis. At 30 degrees off axis, the mid-range does have a slight narrowing of dispersion as compared to the treble, but nothing significant and relatively mild and smooth.

The impedance stays  at 4 ohm through much of the bass and mid-range, so don't give it any amp that is unhappy at 4 ohms, but is reasonably smooth impedance curve and decent levels of efficiency doesn't make it very power hungry. Distortion is also quite low all around.

While I'm not really enamored by looks so much, this speakers measured performance and positive press are impressive. While certainly not inexpensive, their performance levels seem to be in line to their market competition so I would certainly have a listen to them.

I'm going to look around to see if other measured performance concur with this one, but it appears to be full range design with good balance.

Bcgator - Thanks for the observations in your post. When u say. 

Bcgator - That's about as unscientific as it gets, of course, but I've heard those effects on other speakers so I knew what to listen for and it just wasn't there.

Unscientific? Not so sure about that. This hobby is based on our ears and our own real rooms. To myself, what better way to know than with music you are familiar with if something is there or it isn't in a setup, especially if that room is close to yours in dimensions.  

I mentioned the 3 aspects in the last post. They are equally important in my experience. A copy and paste
 

Full range bass even with a speaker capable by design, and tested by the manufacturer, assumes a Listener room has the acoustic properties that allow those speakers to play those notes; and reproduced music is played back that actually contains those frequencies.

So based on your post of listening to familiar music, and assuming the speakers are full range and driven appropriately. That leaves (2) the Room. Curious how big this Magnolia room is in Arizona?

Did it look like this ?

https://www.magnoliaav.com/showcases/listening-room

For fun - looks like too much toe in to me in the pic, to meet the 9 ft. 10 " 802 minimum distance requirement for drivers to align?  Maybe just an illusion the way the picture was taken. In the video they are pointing straight. What can't be seen in the video within the link is how high the ceiling is and if it is closed at the back ? Really cool btw. No Magnolia's here in Ontario. Just your average Best Buy in one large industrial sized room.

Bcgator - On another day, in another room, maybe someone else would experience them differently.

Very true. You can't defy physics. Its a delicate balancing act sometimes amps/speaker/room. Too much room and the speaker can't pressurize it properly to hear the low bass. This can put a strain on the amplification. And all 800 series speakers will let you know if the amps are stressed. They get grainy in the HF. if using SS, I always try to shoot for over sized SS amps that stay in cruise mode on music peaks with 800 series. If the SS amp high frequencies can compete with my tube gear I am doing ok. 

Cheers

dave_b
Anybody find out any information on the crossovers?  Seems strange that there is no mention, unlike the D2 series which hilighted the Mundorf Caps etc...

Here is some info Dave.  

from absolute sound  

The crossover location was also changed. It used to be housed in the plinth but has now been moved against the heavy aluminum back panel, which acts as a heatsink. This update has permitted a new solid-aluminum plinth design which is not only more stable but less resonant.

Our good friend Bobby is all over the Absolute Sound article comments section   :^)  :^)   Where is Bo anyways ?

Here is one Crossover pic.  

http://www.recordere.dk/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/crossover.jpg