New Speakers ... Can't Stop "Listening"

dweller,

Indeed.

This "can't stop listening" evaluation is obviously subjective.

I have a problem when people move from their own subjective reaction to a speaker/system to declarations of some objective form "this speaker plays music, others don't!" or "this speaker is one you can't stop listening to!"

Like any other audiophile, I've sat in front of systems that turn the crank of others, but which have left me cold and bored.  So I have no reason to ever say "B&W speakers are boring or don't play music in a captivating manner"  as if it were some objective truth.

Fantastic 
enjoy !!!!!!

Yeah congrats rlb61.  Years ago I got to compare JA RM25 directly to B&W Nautilus 804 and 803 -- all original versions of speakers.  There was nothing, and I mean NOTHING, either of the B&Ws did as well as the JAs (this was at a B&W dealer with their setup BTW).  Not that the B&Ws sounded bad on their own, but directly compared to the JAs they sounded just flat and uninvolving.  Very similar to what you described with your 804s, which is what reminded me of this.  Anyway, congrats again and enjoy!!!

This goes to show how important is the way speakers and crossovers are designed since the drivers appear to be commercially available SEAS components, albeit all top quality. He doesn't mention which models he uses but similar (or maybe the same) SEAS woofers and tweeters sell for around $300 each at Madisound. Assuming a similar quality part selection for the crossovers and adding it all up, that's a lot more than what most other high end speaker makers put into just raw components. More like 4X vs. a norm of 10X. Aside from the design elements, quality parts combined with a moderately high impedance load curve explains why they sound so good. They also look great which is the icing on the cake.

kalali,

Good post!

I agree about how speaker drivers behave in the hands of different speaker designers.

The first time I ever liked a speaker with metal drivers was encountering Paul Hales "Transcendence" speaker designs.  Paul was (is?) a wizard with crossover design and he brought the best out of those drivers.  I still own some Transcendence speakers, which use Seas drivers like the JA speakers.  The Hales have a purity of tone and lack of hash similar to the JA speakers.  So at least my first inclination is to attribute some of that signature to the drivers, but clearly both designers knew how to get the best out of them.

The Perspectives are near the top of my list of most attractive looking speakers.  It's a smart, contemporary look with a killer level of finish and craftsmanship.