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Narrowed to 3: 802D3, Sopra 3, Reference 3

Hi all,
Here's the situation:
Room is 14x17 with vaulted ceilings from 9" to 14", and the room is mostly open to a foyer with high ceiling and is about 10x10.

I'm currently running a setup scavenged from my home theater:
Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ > Rotel RC-1590 Preamp > Rotel RB-1582 mk2 amp > B&W 805 D3

The sound overall is excellent, but it's a little bright and lacks bass presence (as you'd expect for a 2 way bookshelf). Here are my top speakers I've auditioned:

B&W 802D3 ( Auditioned with: Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ > McIntosh C52 > McIntosh 601) at Magnolia

KEF Reference 5 (Auditioned with Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ > McIntosh C47 > McIntosh MC452) at Magnolia at the same time as the 802.

Focal Sopra 3 (Auditioned with NAIM DAC > NAIM NAP 500 DR Amp - 140W per channel) at difference location

I also heard the KEF Reference 3 and Blade but ruled them out, the Ref 3 for sound, and the Blade for price and it being kind of ugly.

Here's the thing, I feel like I'm not sure what to get. I love the general sound of the 802, but I'm afraid even with the MC452 it'd be a bit bright. It also really lacked the presence in the bass like the Reference 5.

The Reference 5 sounds wonderful, and the bass is prolific, but I'm a little concerned about it being too warm. I heard the Ref 5 and 802s in the same room with virtually the same equipment, back to back, and they were so very different. The Ref 5 was warm, with rich full mids, that maybe were even too lush, with bass so good I honestly thought the subwoofer was on.

The 802 had good bass, but nothing to write home about (and it even had the more powerful 601 monoblocks), but the clarity was astounding, I just fear it'll be a little too bright for my room, which seems to lean bright already. That said, there is just something so exciting about the sound of this speaker playing orchestral. The problem was I much preferred the KEF for rock/r&b.

Then, to add to the mix, I liked the Focal Sopra 3 a lot, but I also felt it lacked bass presence, though it was on the weakest amp by a wide margin. The Focal seemed to be the middle ground between the B&W and KEF, but the bass concerned me. I'm not a bass nut, but I do want my bass to be powerful and don't want to have to add a sub. (Even for orchestral, I felt the Focal lacked a bit in the low cello and bass parts)

My plan was to keep the Mytek, and probably get a McIntosh C47 and MC452 or MC462, as I think the Rotels are probably too bright and underpowered for any of these setups. I was definitely hitting 300+W on the 802s during my audition while listening to orchestral music.

Thoughts? Is the KEF really that pudgy in the middle, is the B&W really that bright, and does the Sopra 3 really lack bass presence?

p.s. I thought the Blade was better balanced, but also still pretty warm.


Ag insider logo xs@2xmayoradamwest
namar57
1 posts
 
Hi,

I just thought I would post my 10P's worth to your query, even though I live in the UK. Not sure if Gato Audio are distributed in the US but if they are try and get to listen to a pair of Gato Audio FM-50 floorstanders. Marvelous speakers with all the frequencies you could possibly wish for, including excellent bass response. They are bi-wirable/bi-amp(able?) also have a set of pins at the back which can be set to give greater or less, frequency response to suit your ears. I prefer them to B&W 800 series anyday although to be fair I have not compared them to the Diamond range. Even so, they are a truly superb sounding pair of speakers, which in the UK at least, are retailing for around the £7K mark.

Best of luck in your pursuit of great sound and best regards to you.

Namar57
joey_v
668 posts
 
Namar57

The previous 800 series non Diamond or even the D2 series are not like the D3.  Moot point. 
dave_b's avatar
dave_b
3,159 posts
 
I have owned many, many, many cables from both ends of the spectrum ($400 looms to $30k looms).  What I have found, is that MIT cables have consistently allowed my system(s) to sound their best.  They deliver everything they claim, but most of all, my music just sounds so unbelievably organic, dynamic and tonaly correct.  MIT cables also allow you to feel as though you are in the space of the musicians like no other I have heard.  I’ve wasted a lot of time and money attempting to improve and or deny how good they are...they are simply wonderful cables!  By the way, there are diminishing returns to some degree, so you can have 90% of the best performance within MIT for an affordable price.  If interested, I have a supplier who can get you anything by MIT at an extremely good price.  I am a long time customer of his, but have no affiliation or monetary connection with his business.  He is simply a veteran of the audio industry with tons of experience and knowledge.
aolmrd1241
1,042 posts
 
mayoradamwest...Don’t mean to throw a wrench into your speaker choice column ..but..the Acoustic Zen Crescendo II is truly a music making machine of the highest order that has to be heard to be believed...a true contender in the sub $25,000.00 price range. Good luck with your search.
Ag insider logo xs@2x
mayoradamwest OP
430 posts
 
Appreciate all the feedback, everyone. For those following along and perhaps missed my message on the previous page, I did order the 802D3 and McIntosh gear. I'm still pondering power cords and speaker cable though. Haven't seen much on Audiogon, as I need 4m (12') for the speaker cable.
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