Are Bowers and Wilkins speakers overpriced?

Before one year ago when I bought my Spendor D7’s, my most recent previous speaker purchase (20 yrs ago) was B&W. Thru 90s had lusted after B&W sound and told myself when I get out of school and can afford B&W, that’s what I’m doing and that’s what I did.

Last year going into what turned into a many hundred hours of research and demoing over 20 speakers (heck probably over 30 come to think of it), I figured I’d probably still like BW best at the outset.

But I didn’t any longer. Maybe in 20 yrs I changed, maybe BW did, maybe both. As to their cost, I do think they cost somewhat more than comparable quality speakers but that is sooo much a personal opinion and others will differ of course. One BW dealer even confided he thought they are “little” overpriced for what you get vs competition.

But everyone should always buy what they like and can afford no matter what others think. (But since you asked for opinions, there’s mine on the topic along with my relative experience with the brand ...)

for the record, my previous speakers were front stage of CDM1NT’s and center channel. Those i listened to extensively one year ago were 702s2, 804d3, 805d3, and too lesser extent 802d3. Electronics ranged fro Arcam S30 to Anthem separates to Elektoacoustic (forget exact name of that brand) up to hi$ Mc separates probably across 3 dealer settings/rooms. So at least 4 sets of electronics. Source usually some LUMIN streamer/ dac or cd from what I can recall.

@erik_squires

How is this article from 2013 relevant to latest iteration of B&W’s?

I expect better from you than peddling an article that has absolutely no relevance to 4th generation of B&W Diamond line or have no personal experience with the brand.

@OP  PaulGardner

Are Bowers and Wilkins speakers overpriced?

IMO.... You need to go back to the early 70's Paul - to find B&W speakers that cost more to make, than they sold for. Now under John Bowers term, as the years progressed the speakers matured they were still priced well compared, to how they performed. Look at the Matrix line as an example.  
It was not until John Bowers passing that the new management, brought in Nautilus, a different design (build and sounding), much more Eye Candy and the prices DOUBLED.

Eye Candy became such a big piece of the Audiophile selling package, and all gear and prices changed, not just B&W.

B&W speakers "are" popular, "are" marketed well and, "do" sell well.   Their customer service has always been excellent.

This B&W support database leads others .

http://bwgroupsupport.com/

*******************************************
@erik_squires 
Erik
Seriously enough with the theory.
Everyone knows that when you have a company like B&W that uses their own anechoic chamber to tune speakers.....

.....once those same speakers make it into the AVERAGE shared listening space, tuning of upstream components and the ROOM is needed. 
 
Please tell us what B&W speakers you have set up in your own space/s and the associated gear that was used.

Cheers

Do you judge and compare every speaker, component that has made improvements over 15 plus years old design? I expect better from you than peddling an article that has absolutely no relevance to 4th generation of Diamond line or have no personal experience with the brand.

@lalitk

You sound triggered, as I kind of expected. OK, so the 802 D3 from 2015:

https://www.stereophile.com/content/bowers-wilkins-802-d3-diamond-loudspeaker

Or the OP’s speaker reviewed in 2017:

https://www.stereophile.com/content/bowers-wilkins-805-d3-loudspeaker-measurements

And I make no claim to spend my life listening to all speakers, do you? I’ve listened to a few of them, over time, have you? Are you saying that I can’t state my opinions here unless I have researched every B&W speaker?

Did you miss the part where I say you should buy what you like?


Do you feel that B&W had problems in the past, but now are fixed??

Please tell us what B&W speakers you have set up in your own space/s and the associated gear that was used.

Why would I bring a speaker home I did not like?

Seriously enough with the theory.

NO. No, no. In this case because the theory perfectly matches what I've heard. I don't like how they sound. I don't find them neutral or speakers I can listen to for a long time. If you want to know why, there it is in the charts.

Again, I don’t care what you like. You can love B&W, but if you ask me why it’s different, there you go.