Saw the Stereophile review of the B&W 800 Diamond

I've followed B&W for quite a few years ( about 15 ), since I had a pair of the Silver Signature's.

While I never gave the 802D's a serious listen, I did give the 803D's a number of auditions while I was looking to replace the Silver Signature's. It wasn't a contest to me and I didn't buy the 803D's to replace the Silver Signature's.

A few months ago I walked in to that same dealer's showroom hoping to hear the Magico line he just began carrying. I didn't get to hear the Magico's because he was breaking in a pair of 800 Diamond's in preparation for an upcoming B&W seminar he was having at the end of that week.

Those 800 Diamond's were easily the best sounding B&W speakers I've ever heard.

Chuck

"Those 800 Diamond's were easily the best sounding B&W speakers I've ever heard."

Krell man, while you thought they were the best B&W speakers yet how do they stack up to other speakers you have heard?

Goatwuss,

I did not hear the 800D but I have demoed the 802D at length a number of times (also owned 803s) and I demoed the 802diamond for a few hours.

I heard the 802D and 802Diamond in different rooms with different pre-amps (audio research, classe') but both demos used Classe' amps (and I used the same music). I felt the 802diamond had better impact on bass drums and a little less overhang. The initial hit of the bass drum seemed more dynamic. The mids had a little more detail (again different preamp...) but stayed true to the older 802D in the mids. The highs were better. They had more detail and better decay. This all added up to the 802Diamond being a little more transparent and dynamic than the older model.

I have read a number of places the midrange on the 800 diamond is clearer than the 802diamond. I read in a forum somewhere that the 800diamond uses higher quality crossover parts but I don't know if it is true or not. Keep in mind that the 802diamond has a very clear midrange already.

When I bought my 800d's, the older version, I was told the crossover was better than the 802d's. I really liked the 802d's and naturally no stores had the 800d's on the floor. My impression of the difference seem inline with the reviewers comparison. The 800s are cleaner, have a more even bandwidth, and more air between notes/performers. I realize this is the older version vs. older but have heard the newer 802 diamonds and think its more of the same, maybe they are better, but won't be selling mine for a newer version. As far as the improvements, I'm no expert by far, but my gut tells me its more about compatibility with lesser power.

James63,

I think that the 800 Diamond's were right up there with the Quad 2905's in naturalness. The 800 Diamond's also disappeared like the 2905's, and then played as loudly as you wanted with slam and realism as good as I've ever heard. I was sitting in the large dealer's showroom and they had them cranked.

Chuck

Many years ago I heard the diamonds - I believe 801D. (but could be wrong) The tweeter was oh so nice, airy and resolving, but nothing else in the spectrum gelled with it. Has that improved? Anyone else notice that artifact from the early diamond addition?

Off topic but has anyone ever heard a speaker with the Accuton or other diamond midrange? I was supposed to hear a speaker that claimed to use it, but the DesignKner never allowed me to. But even that didn't use a diamond tweeter. Any system use both? That I'd like to hear.