Eggleston Works Andra II versus B&W 800

I have auditioned both speakers and, for once, have to agree with Jayctoy. The Andra is a much better, thoroughly enjoyable loudspeaker. Tobias suggests that "your wife might not like the way the Andra looks." Considering that the speaker has more than a passing resemblance to the male organ, I feel sorry for that particular husband.

Sincerely,

Holton Corsey

OK, I made a contentious comment on the speaker's looks. I did not wish to insult anybody's taste, or anybody's wife's taste, and I apologize.

My own personal taste is very catholic (I don't mean in the religious sense), in that what matters to me is music, not appearance. I have a lady companion who does not keep her opinions a secret and I can imagine her comment on the Andra II's looks. So I should have said "my wife might not like the way they look", and not "your wife, etc ". I do beg everyone's pardon. The Andra IIs are IMHO superb speakers, and at the price, they should be.

Mr. Corsey, thank you for your sympathy, it is much appreciated.

I've lived with the Andra II's for about a year (converted foom Andra I's), and am very familiar with the B & W 800's, both at dealers and one of my friends' houses. I very much prefer the A II's, and find something a bit (comparatively hard) and bright about the 800's with most solid state amps (exception might be the big Lamm hybrids, which are very good at putting a bit of space around big speakers, or the new Rowlands. You use Krells, and I wouldn't think that was a particularly good combination with the 800's, but I've never heard them together). One factor you might consider is that the A II's, like the originals, are designed to go pretty close to a back wall, while the 800's, like most speakers their size (e.g Eidolons, Revel Salons, Kharmas), are not. To use my previous B & W's in my (22 X 13.5 X 9') living room, I had to put tube traps behind and to the side of the speakers, while the A II's sound better without them.

Mgottlieb, may I ask how you positioned your Andra IIs in your living room--short wall, long wall, across a corner or... ?

Mgottleib; Have you any experience with comparing the AIIs and the AII's conversion? If they are very close in performance, it seems like to me that buying a used pair and having it converted would be a good deal. I think this could be done for less than $10,000.