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How long do B&W 800 series speakers last

Hi,

I am curious to know the average life of these high end speakers particularly B&W800 series. Does the surround/ cone material give up with time due to material fatigue, dust and air corrosion etc
Does the SQ degrade.

I assume they last for like 20-30 yrs given the resale prices. I see prices dip to only 50% in 15yrs. Even less for N805's

I am sure 6-7 yrs use is very normal But what about 10-14 yr old nautilus ?
Or how about an matrix 805 treated like a baby for 20 yrs.
amitchandna06
zd542
5,339 posts
 
Fortunately for my ears, my 802's only lasted a few months until they started blowing drivers. If you are looking for a new pair of speakers, you can do far better for less money.
telescope_trade
555 posts
 
B&W's are fantastic speakers provided you give them good clean power like anything else. I had very old 801's (several pair) and had no problems at all. Also had 802D's and had no problems, now own new CM 10's and it's another fantastic speaker I expect I will own for years.
ct0517's avatar
ct0517
2,041 posts
 
I brought my 801 Matrix s3 home in 1994. They were bought used.
The drivers today look almost the same as they did the day I brought them home.
the difference ?
A little dusty because my vinyl/system tuning is at a point now where I have no noticeable woofer pumping - nothing to shake the dust off.

I have owned maybe 30 speakers? incl from b&w

dm2000 bought new at bay bloor radio in toronto and a family member now uses them
All 800 series matrix models (bought used) except for the
\800
anyone selling a pair I am looking ?
shameless plug sorry

various cm, dm models.
original 801f.
no issues with any of these

b&w dm70 electrostatic speaker.
Both the paper cone b&w woofer and Janszen supplied esl panel on the dm70 needed rebuilding.
I place this speaker in the same category as my Quad 57 - meaning buy already rebuilt models
cheers

hey ZD -

08-21-13: Zd542
Fortunately for my ears, my 802's only lasted a few months until they started blowing drivers. If you are looking for a new pair of speakers, you can do far better for less money.
Zd542 (Threads | Answers | This Thread)


http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?gmusi&1369188682&openusid&zzZd542&4&5#Zd542

I wonder why .....
zd542
5,339 posts
 
Ct0517,

Nice try. Those speakers were blown out long before that album even came out.
stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,548 posts
 
"I wonder why ....."

What does the type of music have to do with blown speakers? I listen to heavy metal and techno as part of my choices and I have NEVER blown a speaker. And, I do not listen to chamber music with 75db peaks either.

I think that response was uncalled for.
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