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Considering moving on from B&W...

Hi all, I have ben a B&W speaker owner ever since I bought a par of ny first "real" speakers while i college back in 2001, the CDM7SE and a Marantz SR14 to power it. Over the years, I moved up the Nautilus line by cashing my scholarship checks each year (which my parens didn't find out until years later thankfully lol) and went from 804 to 803 to 802. During that time I also got ito McIntosh amps. Anyway, when I finished with my Masters, I had those 802's and an MC352 powering them. I kept those 802's until 2018 when I traded them in for the new 802 D3's and HTM1D3. 

I have found myself losing interest in the B&W house sound. I am looking to move away from the super forward and highly analytical sound they bring to something much more musical. I  have a dealer close to me that is willing to do a straight trade...my 802 D3's for a pair of Magico A3's. Wanted to see what the board thought of that deal and their thoughts on the A3. I have not had a chance to hear them yet,

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ddafoe
259 posts
 

I would add the Spendor D series to the list of speakers to audition to as well.   I owned Magico S series speakers for around 3 years and switched to D9s and have been very happy with them.   Personally, I think they are a great comprise between the ultra resolving and dynamic camp (what some Harbeth owners call the  'modern' sound) and the midrange centric, nice natural tone, etc. (i.e. musical) camp.

I got a chance to hear the Fleetwood DeVille horn speakers recently and they were also a nice mix of dynamics and jump but with a relaxed natural tone and presentation.  

Good Luck!

henry201
144 posts
 

@ddafoe I used to own a Ferrari, but my made in China Yuan SUV is so much more comfortable 🙄  

ghdprentice
7,388 posts
 

I completely understand your interest. I highly recommend a trip. Plan a weekend in Atlanta or a city with some good high end audio stores. Make it a fun weekend. Make appointments with one or more audio stores. Ones with Sonus Faber speakers, Wilson, and Magico as a minimum.

This is a worthwhile investment. You want to fall in love with the sound. For me after decades chasing planar speakers it was Sonus Faber. You should also listen to The others I mentioned… although I am pretty sure this is absolutely not the direction you want to go.

 

For me Sonus Faber and Audio Research offered great detail and incredible musicality… I get captured buy the musicality of my system every day… I have to drag myself away from my system each day… even though I listen three and a half hours a day.

 

 

music_is_life's avatar
music_is_life
188 posts
 

Go see OCD Mikey he is in Atlanta. That’s a joke.

As a former Sonus faber owner, I would go listen to QLN, Sonner, and Rosso Fiorentino.

I am very smitten with Sonner.

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
5,443 posts
 

If you like B&Ws and you have the 802s you will likely not like the Magico A3. 
I was in a process of moving on from the Martin Logan Montis that I had for several years and went to audition Magico A3 and they did nothing for me. Dark, overemphasized bass, slow and not engaging. There was a sense of having a thick blanket over the speakers. Build quality is top notch but I thought I heard some of the artifacts of the aluminum cabinet. A5s are supposed to be better but at a much higher price. 
 

I owned B&W N803 years ago and would take them over the Magico A3 any day. I would consider Focal, Sonus Faber and Wilson Audio. 
Just my opinion. Definitely audition prior to buying anything if you can. 

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