Don C

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 6.00 votes

Price Paid:  $7000.00

Summary:
After more than 5 years I still feel these are the best all around speaker I have ever heard. They are very revealing of both the recording and the electronics. They do need power, lots of power. Don't purchase these speakers if you can't afford the amplification to drive them.
I still feel the Bryston 14B SST was made for these speakers, but there are lots of amps that will drive them, but they won't be cheap. I was recently made aware of a simple tweek that can be done to the crossover for those that feel the top end is too bright. I myself have a very acoustically bright listening room with hardwood floors, lots of glass windows and leather furniture..... not a great listening environment. My wife only allowed so much room treatment, so I tried the tweek and it sounds awesome. It involves very carefully laying the speaker down on it's side (not an easy feat) and removing the two rear castors and the wooden cover plate of the crossover using metric allan wrenches. You then locate the high frequency crossover board which is clearly identified. On it are two Vishay RCH50 3 Ohm 1% resistors wired in parallel for a total resistance(1/R1 + 1/R2= 1/R total) of 1.51 ohms. If you unsolder or cut the wire from the farthest resistor from the input and output wire, you will put all the current thru the one resistor that is left and you will end up with 3 ohms of resistance. This will accomplish two things, it will drop the output of the tweeter by approximately 2.5 dB and allow the tweeter to safely handle slightly more power.
I was told of this mod by a tech who used to service B&W speakers.
We don't live in anechoic chambers, and if you have a brighter sounding room this works wonders. It takes the edge off without losing detail or air.

Strengths:
Life like sound pressure levels.
Amazing imaging and detail.
Very dynamic and revealing.
Best vocals I've heard

Weaknesses:
Very revealing of poor recordings and electronics.
Power hungry can easily use up to 500 watts/ch.

Similar Products Used:
B&W 801 matrix III
Martin Logan Summit
PSB Stratus Gold I
Magnepan MGIII's
Acoustat Model 3's

Price Paid:  $15000.00 from Dealer PAris France

Summary:
I red a lot of pros and cons regarding these speakers. To my opinion they are one of the best sounding speakers I've heard BUT they are demanding indeed. Demanding in terms of amplification, demanding in terms of source, demanding in terms of cables and demanding in terms of placement. Once you have achieved solving the above equation you'll be ready for hours of pure listening pleasure.
Amplification is key. the 802 require big amps ie lots of current and power reserve. Don't go for the 802s if your amp does not deliver a minimum of 400W/Chanel and at least 180.000 microF of capacitance. I linked my 802 to a McIntosh MC402 and a 2200 tube preamp and believe me it sounds good. Whatever I listen I have a great soundstage, very defined musical image, lots of dynamics, great midrange, precise and powerful bass and exquisite quality in the upper range of the spectrum. Everything is harmonious.
The 802 are uncompromising speakers and will reveal immediately a weakness in your system: mass market am and preamp? forget it. A so so CD player? don't even think of it. Average cables (speaker - interconnect - power)? buy something else. A poor recording? well you'll end up will a beautifullyrestituted poor recording.
We are dealing with high end here and this sport is budget demanding. It's not about saving money it's about an hedonistic feeling called pleasure.
Placement is also key and so is room size. These speakers deliver much better in large rooms which according to Paris' appartments standards is above 40 sqm.
Placement should be at least 3 feet from the back and side walls. I spent one month finding the right position. Toe in angle is also subtile to determine and requires patience. These babes are heavy and you'll need a forgiving friend to help you move them (forget about your wife or GF).
My last advice would be to use horizontal bi-amplification for the 802s. My Mc 402 delivers great but my next step will be to have one amp per speaker (McIntosh MC 1202 - Cello - Krell?)... I told you it's all about pleasure not money.

Strengths:
Sound qualities are too long to list - beautiful look - uncompromising build - will last a lifetime

Weaknesses:
Won't cope with mass market elements - extremely demanding in terms of amplification - Difficult to place in the room - heavy

Similar Products Used:
JMlab utopia - Krell evolution 505 / 402 / 202 - BW 802 - Mcintosh 402 / 2200 / Audio Research CD7 - Musical Fidelity KW 550 - KW 25 DAC & Transport - Ecosse cables - Esprit cables

Price Paid:  $5500.00 from Audiogon

Summary:
I have owned the early (1982) b&w 802 Series One and most recently I have lived with a used pair of the B&W 801 of the same vintage. Over the years I have refined all aspects of the electronics and wiring of my system. Each time the vintage 801s registered the changes with improved sound. I was really happy.

Then I went to the San Francisco Symphony once again recently and heard an orchestra that has at last arrived at a place I call world-class, IMHO. I sat in a sweet-spot in the hall second balcony front row center. So for the hell of it I compared a good recording of the Mahler 7th with my auditory memory of the way it sounded that recent night in Davies Hall. The comparison found my speakers with the tubby bass I'd always hated hearing reviews comment on and generally just a very good approximation of the real thing. So I went to my local B&W purveyor and listened to the Nautilus 803, the Nautilus 803D (better) and the Nautilus 802D. After having experienced the rich,full 801s, the 803 sounded thin and speaker-ish. Then we listened to the N802D. They had it all. I could hear the brassy brass and the pulse of the tympani. The bass amzaed me with its articulation. The top to bottom coherence defied my previous understanding of the limitations of the physical world of acoustics.

But they cost $12,000.

For $5,500 I found the preceding model the Nautilus 802 lightly used on the internet and bought them. These speakers use the advantages of a first-rate front end and delivery music in my living room that reveals musical detail beyond any expectation I could have imagined. Certainly having these babies in my listening room, which I have cultivated in terms of equipment and room acoustics to maximize the sound of the 802s grandfather, the old 801s, made them bloom in a way they cannot in a retailer's showroom. The 802 satisfiy my ears and my need for the pleasure of feeling the music pass over and around me. They have accurate slam, unfailing pacing and immodest detail across the audio spectrum. My test CD provides a track with a tone that slides from 20Hz to 20KhZ. The result: a laser-like central image of a sliding tone moving seamlessly across the entire audible bandwith.

I love music and the joyous reproduction my speakers bring, and write this review to inspire others like me to check out the B&W line.

Finally know I listen to punk rock, Brit Pop, all classical music down from Wagner to solo recorder. Across the range of musical material, these speakers place me in audiophile hog-heaven!

Strengths:
You name it. And at this price they are in a class with speakers costing up to $60,000 dollars. Not that they are better tan those more expensive model, just in the same class.

They are VERY hot looking. Like something an advanced alien society left behind as a house gift.

Weaknesses:
None

Similar Products Used:
B&W 802 and 801 series 80. Sony SCD1, Audible Illusions M3A, McCormack DNA 100 revision A gold, Acoustic Zens top power cord, interconnects and speaker wire.

Price Paid:  $5000.00 from jb audio

Summary:
This is the best speaker that I have listen to. I use THETA CASABLANCA III and DREADNAUGHT II and Transparent reference balance cabling. The sound of the N802 is phenomenon. The sound stage is wide, crisp, and the bass is tight. The speaker is state of the art in construction, and very exotic looking. If you mate the N802 with the HTM1 center and DS8S surround, you got your self a killer system period. I highly recommand the N802 to anybody.

Strengths:
The best looking and the best sound speaker

Weaknesses:
Expensive, VERY HEAVY

Similar Products Used:
wharfedale opus 3

lwhitefl

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.91 of 5, 11.00 votes

Price Paid:  $6000.00 from Sound Advice

Summary:
My N802's produce the most palpable mid-range of any speaker I've had in my own listening room. Driven by quality class A system components and good source material the N802's are capable of delivering the dynamic range required by large symphonic orchestras, imaging that places instruments in their proper place in the soundstage, and the resolution to hear every nuance of the performance. In my listening room the N802's produce a wide, deep, holographic soundstage.

My listening room is a typical south Florida style family room (open floor plan with high ceilings and lots of glass) that presents challenges for any speaker system. IMO the listening room is the most important audio system component. Since I don't have the luxury of a dedicated listening room I've treated the early reflection points and placed bass traps on the front wall corners. Based on the room dimensions I've paid very strict attention to system setup by placing the speakers an optimal distance out from the front and side walls and ensuring system symmetry.

The N802's are indeed an excellent speaker at their price point.

Strengths:
Dynamic range, imaging, resolution in a wide and deep soundstage. High WAF.

Weaknesses:
Deep bass in my listening room although I suspect deep bass would be adequate in a dedicated listening room.

Similar Products Used:
Infinity Beta's, Mirage M1si