New Speakers under consideration - but I’m afraid


I really like my speakers but I am considering an upgrade. I have B&W 801 S2 MkIII that I bought new in 1999 (re-coned with modded x-over). I’m afraid that what I get will not equal them and new may  just be different.

They are bi-amped with McIntosh up top and Krell on the bottom. Analog is Revox B77 and dig is Oppo 105D with Bryston DAC3.

I will also likely upgrade the DAC but this thread is about speakers.

I need a dynamic loudspeaker that is as good with chamber music as it is with acoustic jazz, rock and electronic music (everything but Country and Rap).

I haven’t heard anything yet but am considering Borrersen X3, Wilson Sasha and B&W 803 D4.

Should I be afraid or will these speakers all best a 25 yr old design?

ritter06

Out of those three the Boressen x 3 is the best one you should also consider the monitor audio platinum series which I believe is even better than the Boressen.

The problem with beryllium is is very bright and hard sounding I've listened to the paradigm and I couldn't sit there for more than 2 minutes The voice and symbols were very bright and edgy sounding The monitor audio platinum are much better.

Fear...surprise...and an almost fanatical devotion to B&W.

No surprise, actually. There’s a reason (or many reasons) that B&W have been the standard monitors for DGG and a host of other premiere recording labels for decades. The 801s are going to be hard to beat. But then, as has been said already, taste in speakers is highly personal.

FWIW (which won’t be much), I have never found a speaker I prefer to my Scientific Fidelity Teslas, built in 1992 and restored twice since by Millersound. I’ve had B&Ws in my listening room for a week; own Von Schweikert VR4 Jrs, PSB Synchrony Ones, Revel F208s, a pair of Maggies.... I’ve also auditioned various others, again in my own space. A friend writes reviews for Stereophile, and I’ve heard some amazing things at his place (Vivid Giyas; MBL Radialstrahlers). But I always come back to the Teslas.

Your rig must sound superb. Maybe its time to return to the music; that’s what the tools are for.

I’d keep your current speakers and get another pair that are really different but can be driven by your current amps. If you listen to a lot of acoustic music and jazz, Maggie’s might be interesting. Then you can swap ever once in a while to scratch the itch for something different.

I haven't heard an american-made speaker yet that I like not legacy not Wilson not any the European speakers are much better like monitor audio proac audio vector and Boressen.