What are your general thoughts of B&W speakers

In all honesty The last ten pair of speakers I have owned all blew the doors off the 802's including both the nautilaus and the diamond series.

I think the issue is most people who are just getting into the high end market like to hear the speakers they chhoose before they buy them and most of the time that is just not a viable option. Most of the high end speakers are very hard to find in stores. About 7 years ago I wanted to buy some 802's for the 2nd time and found a dealer about 75 miles from my home who had B&W and Wilson. That was the first time I have ever heard of Wilson. That day I bought a used pair of wat puppy 6's and a new pair of 7's.

Since that time I have owned Merlin, Dali, Eggleston, MBL, Vandersteen, and Sonus etc just to name a few. In my opinion all of those were vastly superior to the B&W. The 802;s were great looking speakers but they always sounded like they had a blanket over them when compared to the others I have owned.

That is what is so great about Audiogon. It gives you a great way to try speakers that in all likely hood you will never hear unless you buy them. If you don't like them you can turn around and sell them without losing an arm and a leg.

Mpit

I like the blanket analogy, the speaker never opens up, the music does not fly out...

we have beaten this horse to death...

:^)

Mpit,

What did you drive your B&Ws with? I know the 801/801d/802ds pretty well. They do need some driving. Bi amping helps depending on the amp.

B&W has a "sound" but as to any of the speakers you mention blowing them away, including the phasey or defuse MBL I find hard to believe. Different yes.

To truly have such a strong opinion of B&W would mean you went to great efforts to maximise on each speakers performance. They are reference speakers and will show up equipment in the chain.

From your post I see no information which leads me to feel you seeked help from the right people set them up. To squeeze the last 10% out of any speaker takes effort and you mention none.

I am not saying they are the greatest speaker ever built, but they are not as you describe either.

Wow. What a topic to pick when you ask what people think of B&W speakers! This has to be the most "infamous" topic in the speaker forum. Yes, I like B&W. No, they are not the greatest speakers on the planet. They deffently have a "house" sound. But that can just about be said of any speaker system. Going out buying and selling speakers on A-gon at will is not as easy as one of the posters said.

I have listened to alot of different and expensive speakers and yes some sound better than B&W. But the one thing that impresses me is B&W has great value. Alot for the money. This is important to most of us that is unless you already have to much money. Some of you say the speaker sounds like it has a blanket over it. Ok, you like brite sounding speakers. Others say "blows the doors off of B&W" or "blows it away." I'm really leary of people's discriptions when they use terms like this.

There is a reason why B&W sells many thousands of speaker systems and I will tell you right now it is more than just their marketing strategy. Once again. Great speaker, and great value. IMO.

If you are living somwhere near Pontiac, MI then I would recommend you to give Salksound soundscape 8 an audition - one of the best in $10,000 price range. If not, just call them or email them to find out where you can get an audition near where you leave.