B&W matrix 801 s2 still a relavant speaker.

I drove my pair with a levinson 23.5 amp (200w/ch) with wonderful sound.
the midrange driver (kevlar) is still very relevant, and the bass extension, esp.
with an alignment filter, is still difficult to top, although the bass driver lags a bit behind the other drivers (which are very fast reacting). Of course you can further modify them with better crossovers, and good stands are absolutely essential- i had sound anchors with tip-toes that worked VERY well.
Of course, when i upgraded to Eggleston Andra speakers, the superior integration of the drivers was instantly noticeable from the 1st note, but comparing $5K speakers to $14K speakers isn't fair. OTOH if you give up size for quality, you can get great sound for $4K-$5K, just without deep bass.
the 802's are also a great choice- quicker bass with the same level of quality, and less money.

I started out running a 250w Bryston in stereo eventually I purchased another 250w Bryston and then they were happy. Over the years I added Bass Alignment and Sound Anchor stands. I agree with Jeff the Kevlar mids are very nice and the bass drivers do have a hard time keeping up but the extra horsepower helps with that. Eventually it was the tweeter I could no longer live with.
I am currently building a system around a pair of Joseph Audio monitors. Incredible mids and tweeter and not so power hungry but not as dynamic as the 801's.

Perhaps they're the only dynamic speakers that should be plugged into a wall outlet! (Just kidding)

Yes – that is how my S3 are set up - not kidding.

The OTL’s are a constant waiting power source. Speakers can be connected and unconnected at any time. Unfazed by impedance changes 1 – to the 40-80 ohms which are required for good ESL Bass.

After 19 years ownership of my S3’s I found this statement from Stereophile to be right on the mark.

Stereophile

"Higher in frequency, the response trend (averaged across a 30 degrees lateral window on the tweeter axis) is basically flat, but with a slight excess of energy in the presence region and a corresponding lack of energy in the top octave. All things being equal, this will make the speaker both a little too revealing of recorded detail and somewhat fussy when it comes to the quality of source and amplification components, just as LL noted in his auditioning comments."

801 S2 versus S3.

S3 has no protection circuit - also.
There is another difference between the S3 and S2 that is not well known. Interaction between the large inductor in the midrange section interacting with the large inductor in the bass section. The fix is simple, move one of the inductors to eliminate the magnetic interaction. B&W used this technique in the S3. It is discussed here

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=96020.0

I have also owned 801f and 802, 803 and 805 all matrix version the last I still have stored. 802 and 801 are two different beasts.

What do you make of the anniversary edition? Same as the 2's? Or 3's? Or better than both?

Dave72
What do you make of the anniversary edition? Same as the 2's? Or 3's? Or better than both?

Hi Dave
My own understanding is it was a special model (B&W marketing) – Pre S3 - to celebrate the 25 years. The only one I saw was all white in the tradition of the B&W Electrostatic Speaker DM70 Continental – remember Clockwork Orange.

It included some or all ? of the updates that ended up in the s3 version. B&W parts show only s2 – s3 so there are no unique Anniversary parts. B&W support can confirm this for you.

Some 801 S3 versus S2 changes.

S3 used a different crossover than s2 - less component count.
Better isolated mid and hf boards.
Bass inductors with an iron dust core .
Rotating midrange – tweeter head assembly was permanently connected. (from 3 to 4 pin delivering separate ground signals to midrange and tweeter)
Magnetic fluid cooling of the tweeter (like the 800 matrix) - the reason the apoc protection eliminated (circuits needed for this were also removed)

B&W marketing discusses the sound from these changes as cleaner, detailed and warmer.

All this information is available in the manuals

here for each version.

The guys at b&w support are really nice. They can explain the differences better. They are the ones that sent me the impedance and frequency response graphs in my virtual page that i show.
They are also the ones that talked me out of changing the crossover on my s3's when I was thinking about it; explaining how the engineers refined the S3 over the S2. At $5500 back then the s3 was known to be well under priced based on the market. How much is $5500 in todays dollars ?

Also as this is a business like all businesses - imo - we need to remember that up to Matrix is all John Bowers’ vision. What followed after his passing was a new B&W direction and vision with Morten Warren

The price doubled with the next version.

Cheers