So I heard some B&W Signature 805s today...


...at a local dealer, and to be honest, I wasn't that impressed. I listened with a goldmund amp to VTL pre from a Rega P9 with a high-level grado cart.

I'm trying to find a no-compromise stand-mounted monitor speaker that I can live with for a very, very long time. I don't think the B&Ws are it.

They did do some things right - imaging was superb, they do have a very big-spacious sound which I enjoy, bass was pretty good... but! there was something not right in the midrange, that I couldn't quite pinpoint. It was as though the sound got mushed in the middle, and didn't resolve right. It just wasn't a clean, clear good sound. When pushed to moderately-loud volume, the speakers were fatiguing. I just wanted to turn it down. The tweeter was a little metallic sounding and excessive for my tastes as well.

So that you understand my tastes a bit better... I think the Wilson Sophia (~$12k) sounds absolutely fantastic. Detailed yet smooth, excellent soundstaging, wonderful tonality. The B&W sound that I heard was much heavier in the middle, in a not good way.

Has anyone else had a similar/different experience with these speakers?

Do you have any other recommendations for a no-compromise (other than low bass) monitor for me to audition? I would LOVE to find one that sounds (to me) as good as the wilson Sophia, just without the low bass. I'll add a REL. I have a small room (14.5 x 13 ft).

Right on,

Todd
goatwuss
Try JMlsb micro utopia Be or Dynaudio S25. The micro may just be what you want. The sig 805s are good speakers and comparable to the above. It sounds very different just changing interconnects. Try in your own sys..
I swapped my N805 (non-signature version, though) with SF Cremona Auditors. I felt it was a significant improvement. A similar speaker (cabinet/drivers) is the System Audio SA2k. Both models are worth a demo.
Maybe they need some more break-in time. I find one of the best attributes of the Nat. 805's to be their midrange. I do agree with the "metallic" sound of their tweeters...I hear in in all their models. I guess it is the "B&W" sound. My friend has Nat. 805's mated with a Rel and I find the sound very enjoyable indeed. Not the best I have ever heard...but damned good for the overall price point even with a Rel.
thanks for the responses,

I'm going to try and arrange for an in-home audition for this weekend. I'm headed out to hear the JM Labs micro Utopias in a couple days. Dynaudio 1.3SEs I've heard, and I certainly did enjoy their sound very much - though I do understand that the Dynaudios need some space out from the back wall, which I really can't do.

I have heard the SF Cremona Auditors... I loved them for jazz/light classical, but in all honesty (from my audition), they sucked at rock.
Wilson Benesch Arc. Absolutely one of the least boxy sounding dynamic speaker other than other WB speakers. Tonally very accurate with a very natural midrange. The speakers is very flexible on placement and can be played very load (110 db) without being fatigueing. Medium efficiency at 88db but the load is easy at 6 ohms nominal. They come bolted to stands right from the box. They are some of the best speakers available small or large. Lastly, they look very nice.