Persona 3f vs B&W 802D2s

@lalitk

Here is the Stereophile measurements. See if you can spot the giant gaping mid range cavernous hole in the off axis response from 1 to 4KHz? Notice the peak at 4 KHz where the tweeter kicks in? Notice the 7dB resonant one note boosted bass response (looks like Mt St Helens before the eruption). The mid range is far to big to be driven up to 4KHz - the driver is already beaming at 1KHz. This is awful speaker design or brilliant speaker design. Brilliant perhaps because it sells in a demo as this speaker permanently plays as though the bass and treble tone control were boosted on the preamp - so it wins in a shop floor demo as it always sounds more "hi-fi ish" to unwitting listeners looking to compare before buying speakers.

https://www.stereophile.com/content/bw-802d-loudspeaker-measurements

There is BBC dip and there is mid range scoop and then there is B&W that take things to whole other level.

If Abbey Road uses these speakers then they must be endorsed or else they just like permanently big bass, recessed mids and boosted treble (although you can achieve that with neutral speakers with your tone controls).

@shadorne 

Please share measurements on 802D2.  The article you’re referencing is for 802D which is an older model. 

Thanks!

@lalitk 

I havent seen measurements but by all accounts the changes were mostly cosmetic (silver trim and magnets for the grill).

Of course if a new version of the same speaker model sounded completely different then that would mean that B&W cant even design consistent products.

@shadorne

You’re clearly not a fan of B&W and that’s quite alright. But I expect you to conduct a thorough research before you diss a fine product.

In addition to minor cosmetics changes, the D2 version made significant improvements starting with the Rohacell woofers redesigned with smaller dustcaps, but their smaller size is a function of a B&W’s new "mushroom" diaphragm construction, which bonds the cone, dustcap, and voice-coil bobbin into a single unit rigid as a girder. A more potent electromagnetic engine drives the new woofers, powered by a motor system with two neodymium magnets to provide a more symmetrical magnetic field over long excursions, thereby reducing distortion and increasing dynamic response.

D2 diamond tweeter was reengineered as well. It has a new suspension, and four high-permeability magnets are used to reduce dynamic compression at high volumes.

And lastly, the use of gold-silver-oil Mundorf capacitors in the HF crossover filter.

Hmmm...I see how all of the above adds up to very colored sound :-)

In some circles, continues improvements over a existing design is a sign of forward progress and not a sign of inconsistency.

PS: I believe Benchmark didn’t start with DAC3, it was culmination of design improvements over DAC1 and DAC2.  

We are displaying dealers for the Paradigms and have a fairly good idea between the two brands.

Obvioulsy we are Paradigm biased but here goes:

1: The Personas have a much greater degree of coherency as the Persona uses the same exact material for the tweeter and the midrange, the 7 inch Pure Beryillium midrange driver is just extraordinary, it is fast, and uncolored and because the midrange and tweeter diapharams are made out of the same material you will never know that you are listening to two different drivers.

vs

B&W Diamond/alloy tweeter and graphite based/kevlar varient, ie two completely different materials, that do sound differently


2 Technology the PPA or Phase aligned lens on the midrange and tweeter help to refocus stray reflected sound waves off of the drivers, this technology is partly resonsible for the speakers holographic sound qualities

vs

B&W conventional driver technology, ie they don't offer such a holographic image

3:  Resolution, Beryilium drivers are incredibly stiff and very light so the response time in terms of snap and dynamics are incredible.

Here is how I would set them up

One make sure you have plenty of good clean power, tube preamp/solid state amp or a hybrid amp

Two: A warm dac or table

Three: Isoacoustics footers we have tested them and they are amazing, with  most speakers waiting on correct size for Paragidm so future tweek

Four: Wamer cable

Five: Add a JL Audio subwoofer to help round out the deep bass which the 3F has but not enough.this will make a huge improvement in warmth and slam. 

Hope that helps.

Dave and Troy
 
Audio Doctor NJ