HELP B&W 802D or Revel Ultima Salon2

Hey Jeff, if you interested in the 802d's email me. And we can talk "offline" Email is nbeadles@charter.net. Couldn't figure out a way to contact you directly in Audiogon.

P59teitel: thanks for the link - I will read up on it. I still won't have confidence in my opinions even though it is a good starting point. The Revels do have less coloration (in my opinion) and a wide sound stage. The highs are clear and cohesive without being too forward. I would say they were ruthlessly accurate. They are like a woman with very little makeup. If the original recording is good it will sound good,if not then not. The speakers "reveal" that fact; they do not "mask" the sound.

Any opinions on 800 N vs. Salon2?

The thing about the 802d's is they polarize. I heard them when a guy I know who has measuring equipment had them and asked me down for a listen. I walked in and immediately thought - yuck - dead grungy midrange and out of balance - boomy and bass heavy. Then he showed me the measurements - a dirty great big about 10db hump in the bass. And it wasn't just room acoustics or something like that - sterophile measured them and it was exactly the same.

Yet there are people like you that go ga ga over them so one can't really say anything in general except they polarise.

If you are spending that sort of money you owe it to yourself to hear other speakers. I do not know the Revel but the speaker I would listen to is the Rockport Mira 2 - easily in a different league IMHO - but like I said the 802D's polarize and I am one of those that simply don't get that speaker.

Thanks
Bill

Bhobba. Get your facts straight. The upper bass hump is approx. 6db, not 10db. The 4db difference you describe is very large in measurement terms. If your friend measured a 10db hump then the room and/or placement is the problem. I'm not saying the B&W 802D is a purists speaker. It even has a "house" sound but then that can just about be said of any speaker line. My views of the measurements come directly from the Stereophile mag dated Dec. 2005 of which I have in front of me right now. You wonder why so many people go ga ga over them. well maybe they are fine speakers in other people's eye or ears for that matter. Stereophile gave the speakers a Class A rating. The OP wasn't/isn't interested in your preference of speakers. He wanted to find out what the comparison between the 802D and Revel Salon 2 would be. Something you did not address.

The differences between the two speakers will have to he through your ears only. If you can listen to both pairs in the same room with the same appropriate amplification. Both sound great. as a speaker should at that price point.

The constant debate over B&W speakers is nuts. the facts of B&W speakers are this...

1 B&W make their own drivers (alot of the other companies use drivers they buy from other companies)

2 The internal bracing of the cabinets is copied now by alot of the other companies. this is the b&w matrix bracing.

3 b&w's curved back of their speakers is copied by other speaker companies.

4 B&w is known for their accuracy of music reproduction, some may have heard a poor recording on the speakers and think it is the speakers fault. ever seen an older tv show say MASH, on a 1080P tv? it looks like ass, but it is not the tv's fault.

5 b&w is a larger company... everyone would have to agree that if they were a smaller company, their speakers would cost considerably more. So, if anything that should be a positive not a negative.

6 B&W have one of the highest resale prices. that should tell you a lot about the company and the quality of their products.

I believe everyone can agree on these statements, or read them in the numorus reviews. so like them or not, it is what it is.