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Any input on B&W 800 series speakers repairs

I heard that B&W does not do repairs nor carry the replacement drivers for the older Matrix 800 series speakers. Has anyone had anything repaired recently that needed new drivers or crossovers? Any input from fellow Audiogoners would help, as I am thinking of buying a pair of ASW800 matrix subs made in early 90s. B&W dealers please repsond.
mark7767
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
Although B&W may not offer replacement drivers it is easy to find substitutes with similar characteristics and equal or better performance. Call it an "upgrade" instead of a "repair".

I just replaced 6.5 inch drivers on a pair of B&W 550, and the vifa driver that I selected is clearly superior to the B&W original, and inexpensive.

Make a big issue of the unavailability of B&W drivers, and you might get the boxes for a song!
pragmatist
336 posts
 
I don't know,but I know who would know.http://www.northcreekmusic.com
Link through to their B&W crossover upgrade page. They can recommend repalcement drivers.
kevziek
323 posts
 
B&W's web site says they can supply drivers for 10 years from production. I think the 801 & 802 series 3 was in production until 1998, so that gives you at least 4 more years.
aaabelha
6 posts
 
It's funny this came up.

I just contacted Equity International, the US distributor to get a replacement 12 inch cobex driver for my ASW800 sub. They emailed me back with a message that the drivers and recone kits are no longer available. I emailed them back stating how disapointed I was and thought it was unjust to not be able to get a part for a sub I bought in 1995.

I received an email later in the day. The tech told me he had talked with his supervisor and discovered that they were "getting one more round of these drivers". "They are a few weeks out".

Seemed kind of odd to me how suddenly they were getting one more round. Maybe he made an error when he originally responded that they were unavailable and simply was uncomfotable telling me so.

Either way, the driver is now available, but I think I am going to choose to decline as the price was 519 dollars. Way to high to me.

I have considered replacing the driver with a Peerless sub, a Titanic from Parts Express or something similar. It will require some cabinet modification, as the cutout for the B&W driver is squared on two sides. All of the replacement drivers I can see have round mounting edges.

By the way, when it worked, it was an incredibly musical sub. Awesome for HT, but not as extreme as some newer designs.
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