Best HIGH END Speakers Compared!!! B&W 805 D4 Review
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- čas přidán 4. 08. 2024
- ✅ B&W 805 D4: bit.ly/3aZ3Ebz • 705 D3: bit.ly/3Cx8pDq
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805 D4: bit.ly/3aZ3Ebz
► TESTING THE BOWERS & WILKINS 805 D4
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Pro-Ject Carbon Evo: bit.ly/3wr4GVB
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MOVIES - GAMING - MUSIC
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DIAGNOSTICS
Room EQ Wizard
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► COMPARABLE SPEAKERS
Focal Kanta No 1: bit.ly/3Dk0B8z
B&W 705 S3: bit.ly/3Cx8pDq, bit.ly/3dWn56E
Perlisten S4B: bit.ly/3Dhgb4B
Wharfedale Elysian 1: bit.ly/39rcQoE
Mission 770: bit.ly/3JsSQ2O
Klipsch Cornwall IV: bit.ly/3HVYiuh
► SPEAKER COMPARISONS Y’ALL ARE GONNA ASK ABOUT
Focal Utopia: dealer only
Klipsch La Scala: bit.ly/36bPQVb
Bang & Olufsen 28: dealer only
Formation Duos: bit.ly/3OsHHAd
► HIGH END SPEAKER REVIEW: B&W 805D4
00:00 BOWERS AND WILKINS 800 DIAMOND SERIES (INTRO)
01:00 BOWERS AND WILKINS 805 D4 SPECS
02:46 B&W SPEAKER SETUP
03:13 BEST AMPS FOR BOWERS & WILKINS
03:44 805D4 MEASUREMENTS
04:22 BOWERS AND WILKINS SOUND
07:59 BW VS FOCAL (KANTA 1)
08:26 BW VS PERLISTEN
08:57 BOWERS & WILKINS VS WHARFEDALE VS MISSION VS KLIPSCH
09:49 BW 805 VS 705
11:15 CONCLUSION
11:49 KRISTI'S THOUGHTS ON THE 805 D4
13:44 BW 800 VS FOCAL UTOPIA
15:25 B&W VS KLIPSCH LA SCALA
17:20 BOWERS AND WILKINS VS BANG AND OLUFSEN
19:36 BEST HIFI SPEAKER (ANDREW’S FAVORITE)
20:31 B&W VS Q ACOUSTICS
21:36 SIGN OFF
▶ Best HIGH END Speakers Compared - B&W 805 D4 Review
The 800 Series Speaker review you’ve been waiting on! Looking for high end speakers for home? The B&W 805 D4 bookshelf speakers should be at the top of your list. I’ve owned a lot of good hifi speakers over the years and the 805 reminds me why I love the Bowers and Wilkins sound so much. Are the 800 Series speakers the best B&W speakers of all time?
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#BOWERSANDWILKINS #HIFI #HOMEAUDIO - Věda a technologie
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Should check out the Paradigm Founder 40B. They are crazy good.
@@Haurath Paradigm does not respond to our or viewer requests to get us gear for review. Actually they pretend they don't know who we are so we'll just have to take your word on it. LOL.
@@KristiWright Ouch. Seems some of us Canadians can be rude afterall. Who would have guessed.
@@Haurath No idea why they wouldn't send stuff as Andrew has owned P/ML/A over the years and has typically been a fan.
Nice review but is the credit card smoking? And do you have a new set of speakers? And thanks for the idea of a matte finish, I’m building a set of bookshelf speakers but was waffleling on finish. 👍
I really appreciate Kristi pushing the comparisons! It’s hard to get a feel for the “levels” of products. Andrew comment of “how do you compare a car to a rocketship” makes total sense, but that context comes out with these questions, and it’s super valuable!! Thank you both!!
Yeah I think it's very important to compare a Camry to a Lexus. One is nicer, one affords you other things and still a very good experience, specially old Lexus to new Camry.
Agreed - this was awesome!
I've owned my 805 D4 for two weeks, and they are just starting to impress and come on to a sound I'm enjoying immensely. At first, I found the bass too much and boomy, now they are sounding just right in the bass. The diamond tweeter is just so natural.
Surprisingly, I hear no difference in the sound of my 805 D4’s I bought new in April 2023 compared to right now. They were magnificent right out of the box and equally magnificent now. Conversely, the Martin-Logan CLS electrostatic speakers (Andrew has a video on these) took a freaking year to break in and were still improving when I sold them. BTW, the CLS were shrill and without bass for weeks & weeks when they were new.
I really wish Andrew spoke a little bit about the vs formation duo, given how glowing he was about them in his review. I feel comparison is valid for the fans of the channel who listen attentively to his recommendation and overall thoughts no matter how odd ball the comparisons.
I just got the McIntosh MAC7200
Stereo receiver & the B&W 805D4 gloss black speakers....I took me a life time to get them////over $20,000.00 & I am still spending...sales tax & the B&W stands.
I think the sound great
The Holly Grail of Bookshelf speakers reviews. Haven’t clicked faster in my life.
You're going to want to watch every second of this one. It's start to finish packed with goodies!
I discovered your and Kristi's channel while trying to build out my living room and computer setups. Both setups have been completed for a few weeks now, so I really don't have a "need" to keep coming back and watching your content...at least, I shouldn't if I have any respect for my wallet. Jokes aside, your production value, charisma, honesty, knowledge, and, most importantly, realistic perspective on HiFi audio and home theater keep bringing me back. I will likely never buy the B & W 805 D4s, but I sat through your entire review for whatever reason. You and Kristi need to buckle up...I have a feeling this 295k subscriber number is going to be shooting up very quickly. I understand subscriber count is no indication of content quality, but it's obvious you both are on another level. I cannot wait to watch the continued growth of your channel.
I have had my Cerwin Vegas since 1976. Had them re-coned a few years ago. They still sound great. "Loud is beautiful, if its clean".
That was GREAT! Love the fact that Andrew didn't know there was going to be a test, lol. And yeah the gloss black works better on curving speaker enclosures because the reflections wrap around, preventing the shiny box look. Another well done video you two.
Kristi - thank you for asking those comparison questions. Super helpful
This was one of my favorite episodes! Andrew you can tell these Bowers struck a chord with you. You had an undeniable grin almost the entire time! It was fun watching & all of the comparisons were informative. As an owner of 802D3s I admit I’m fond of the brand. Certainly iconic but at the end of the day they have to sound great. And they do. Fantastic episode! ❤
Thank you so much, Timobi_1! We appreciate you watching.
Thanks to the both of you! I love the B&W 800 line and have seen two A/V setups with three behind the screen with surround, back and ceiling but it took serious horse power and engineering design to pull off. Not my pocket book! End of the year wish is to go to my favorite hot spring and enjoy a few days of soaking. lol
What I'm looking forward to for the end of the year - other than your Best Of the Year video, of course, is my Marantz Cinema 50 showing up today so I can get it hooked up and finish off my downstairs listening / viewing room. Thanks for the link for that purchase and for all the great reviews and work you two do. Talk about a dream job.... If only everyone could have a job that they are passionate about and enjoy, like this. ;-) You two make a pretty great team!!!
This is a speaker on my shortlist and I appreciate your review. I thought the format was fun and the way that you went back-and-forth asking one other questions. I am curious about the different finishes available and I would love to see some crazy colors like bright orange.
Glad you enjoyed it!
One of your best review and interaction. I appreciated this. Thank you.
Wonderful review, as always!
Without sounding pessimistic, I'm not looking forward to anything as the year closes, but embracing the habit of cherishing whatever positives life throws my way, big or small. Thanks for the great content!
I've found that low (no) expectations often leads to less disappointment 😂
Someday my budget may allow. Until then my 2007 B&W 604 series 3 (last year made in England) will remain my main speakers in my two channel set up…. Great review!! 🎉🎉😊😊
Andrew, new subscriber here on your channel, love your reviews. I purchased the QA Concept 500's, not primarily from your review as Ive had the 3030i bookshelfs and the Concept 40's, but your review solidified my purchase of the Concept 500's. My question to you would be, could you do a review of your Top Ten all time favorite speakers (no cost associated). Obviously, the more expensive speakers are going to make the list, but it would be interesting to get your thoughts on the no-cost option (within reason of course) on what you think are the best speakers out there, 1 through 10.
As a B&W lover, I absolutely loved this review/video. And once again I'm re-invigorated to make it my goal to get my hands on a set of 805s. I may not end up with the D4s, but a D3 will do.
Loved Kristi's comparisons this time. You Know she IS right with her somewhat outrageous comparisons. All those speakers are in the back of our minds, wondering which would come up on top. Good to know 805's did every time.
Here is one setup to think about. This would be my no-cost-an-object setup.
The 805s ($8500) + McIntosh MA1200 ($15000) + MCD 1200 ($12000) [$375000 + Tax] ...
Yes, it's a downpayment for a house in most parts of the US, even in this root canal of an economy. But I think it would fit in the category of an "End-Game" system.
Your Thoughts...if you care.
Anyways...LOVE the channel!
Cheers
I do have 805 D3’s with a Luxman L-590 AxII Class A integrated amplifier. Wonderful combination. Save a few bucks and divert it to a PAIR of sealed subs. That makes the biggest difference.
Great review. Huge B&W fan and have the 802 D4s. Just got Fyne F1-8 speakers for another room. You MUST review these - they are unreal in all the ways.
Hi both. I love your review and enthusiasm for this speaker. Kristi the unrealistic comparison is actually a fabulous idea, because that's what people will think about so please feel free to repeat with any other review, you have my support. I also agree with you both about integrating and living with the B&W speaker in a domestic environment is far easier and would keep all family members happy, especially in the UK and Europe where houses/rooms are smaller. Finally I have a pair of 702 S2 speakers which give some 80% of the equivalent 800 series at a fraction of the cost, however, having recently auditioned the 800 D4 as well as the KEF Blade Meta and new PS Audio speakers, I seriously want the 800 D4s. Best speaker that I've heard that will fit in my listening space, no question. Please keep up the great work.
@Andrew, I decided against the 800‘er series and went for the Dutch & Dutch 8c- active stand speakers with cardiod design and built in DSP. Would be great if you tested these, they‘re excellent.
Great video Andrew! I recently heard the 805D4 & the Formation Duos & to be honest my listening experience was a little different on the low end. I found the 805 to be bass heavy & boomier, while the Formation Duos lacked the extra low end boom, but had really accurate & tight bass which I was really impressed by. I connected the formation sub as well & that surely helped. I wanted to know your thoughts on what you feel about both these & how would you compare these speakers in detail, given that they share some of the same components, but have a huge price difference.
What are your thoughts on pairing the Mcintosh MA252 with the 805D4?
Can I connect an external subwoofer (not the Formation Bass) wired to the Formation Audio device? (To pair with formation duos)
Got me to peruse the B&W website. Love the matchups Kristi asked about. Looking forward to just enjoying music with my present system. Haven't caught the change bug yet. Interested in open baffle speakers though.
I'll be looking forward for an end of the year video showing you both with the perfect set up (from this year reviews) for a whole day activity (including explenation for the sound treck): waking up, , showring, some mid-day preparations, making cocktails, having dinner with wine, dancing (!!), late night drink and if you're drunk enough some...
I was laughing so hard when andrew had his internal struggle with the 805d4 vs b&O 28s, I am baised as B&O 28s owner, the greatest asspect of those speakers for me is that I have let go of my desire for new components, I have very little self control so it kinda nice to see that even though its my "settle down" hifi setup its still in the same category as the best of the best.
I’d hope so for the price.
I have some B&W 703’s. You know…listening to reviews on subjective things like speakers is amusing to me. Don’t get me wrong…I love listening to this stuff, but it seems self-indulgent. Please keep it up. Love your reviews.
Yea I totally agree. It’s entertainment, no more nor less. Especially if you think about the influence of the room. Crazy. Take care
As always love your reviews! I'd love to see what you think of the March Audio Sointuva Bookshelf speaker. They are made here in Australia and I've been hearing very good things about them.
Great review. Thank you! Would love you guys to do a review on Gershman Acousitics Studio II speakers. Small outfit from Toronto, handmade, incredible quality and sound!
Watch the whole video before posting y’all! Literally answered ALL my comparisons! I would recommend anyone buying these to pair them with a Rel Sub over high level
Novilicious out here doing the lord's work. LOL.
Do you have any opinions on Spendors? A1 / A4s?
Thanks for your work! Would really be interested in what you think of the Audiovector R1 Arreté.
Another great review. I bought the 805 D4's and didn't like their sound in my room. I replaced them with La Scala AL5's, in part based on your prior comments about them. The La Scala's were much better. By the way, they throw a larger soundstage than did the 805's. But they do, as you say, not tolerate poor recordings. Of course, the 801 D4's are a whole different thing! But there is also the $38,000 part!
805s vs a three piece jazz band that lives in the pool house?
I’d go speakers. People are so needy.
For me it would depend on the band - say, the Gene Harris Trio plus one?
You made my night! Still laughing!
@@jerryhahn7206 I aim to please
…but 805s can’t clean the bathroom either
I’ve been waiting for this one for a while. I really want to switch back to bookshelves because of space constraints, and since I am a B&W *itch this is the one for me. Totally different finish, rosewood would be the one. So this is perfect. Thank you! Once I sell enough extended warranties, I’ll definitely get a pair! lol
But awesome video guys again! Especially the bush moment. I do want you guys to get the Beolab 90s. You have no idea.
Wishing you all a great day!
I would love to test the 90s. Ever since we watched a video of Alicia Keys new house tour with them, I've wanted them. I think they would look crazy cool in our house.
They state 8200 watts per speaker. How many outlets do you need? Even 20A at 2,400, you need 4 dedicated outlets per speaker, right? How do you protect against a surge?
@@techsamurai11 I’m lost on this one. What are we talking about? If you’re referring to the BeoLab 90, then you get a dedicated 40/50amp circuit like your electric stove has. One is plenty enough.
Good morning! So many Easter eggs. These last 2 months of the year should have some great stuff. Can’t wait. Have a great week.
Great review! I posted on your Marantz Cinema 40 review and moved on to speakers. Again I appreciate your reviews they are helping me make an educated decision. Speakers are especially difficult to choose since stores don't always carry the same brands. I really enjoy Kristi's input, the point-counterpoint is really helpful. Not only that, I am able to tell my wife that hey Kristi also agrees with that (how cool is it to have a wife who has the same interests in music components). Thanks for the reviews.
Love this review!! Christy had the best gut punching comparisons. The Bush was hilarious 😆😂
Thank you!! 😁
Great review. Thanks.
Thanks for the great review Andrew. If I have a room with a large bookcase and the setup is such that I am limited to have my bookshelf speakers on the bookshelf (and therefore very close to the wall) do you think either these or even the B&W 705s will still be able to shine? Is there another bookshelf speaker you would recommend that may work well when placed on the shelf near the wall or do I need to seriously think about using another room for my proper listening setup?
Awesome review as always Andrew!! As far as home theater set up would you take these bowers and willing bookshelves and two subs or the floorstanders tower speakers and one sub?
Dynaudio Confidence is my choice over B&W ( and any other speaker I have had / listent to). Had the C1 mk 2 for years and are currently saving up to the confidence 20
Just bought a well priced pair of Ex Demo pair of C20, did listen to the B&W. The B&W sound is not for me; blown away by the C20, not cheap but still feel good value.
Kristi: Bang & Olufsen 28
Andrew: cut cut cut. CUT!!!
HAHAH.
I’ve been a fan of B&W since I got serious about the time I spend listening to music. I’ve set up a few 2-channel systems. B&W 805 bookshelf (that I really like), another with some 801’s. I’ve done the Focal signatures (currently on one of my 2-ch setups) and several others in 2K TO 3K a pair range. I don’t have a fancy CZcams Channel to test out 100K speakers ☺. I took your advice and got a Naim Unity Atom, and I LOVE IT. Thanks for the reviews, it’s nice to hear details on things I’ll likely never have in my own system (s) . Why do we never see Christy?
Great video! I especially liked and appreciated the comparison of the Focal and B&W 705 from your perspective. Thank you!
The comparison that REALLY needs to be made here is between the 805 D4 and the KEF Reference 1 Meta. They are the exact same price and both can be bought from the same retailer.
@Andrew Robinson any chance of this review ahead? I would love to hear your take on these two since they directly compete against each other (basically the KEF are made to order by hand) but they cost the same, and are both supposed to be spectacular.
*We're almost to 300,000 subs! Please help us get there by subscribing if you haven't already. Thank you!*
@@michal03966 TBH, CZcams can be a toxic cesspool and so I just feel more comfortable being off camera. Thank you so much for watching!
Hi Kristi i´m Ulf from Sweden watching great and fun watching your reviews😊😊
@@ulfthereaper71 Hello Ulf from Sweden! We appreciate that so much.
@@KristiWright The new B&W 805 D4 would been a dream well well i for live quite happy with my M Audio Silver 300 6 G some more years i have the center C 350 all in white And Marantz sr 7012 for the 2 fronts i have the Xtz edge A 2 300 really happy with theXtz☺☺😎😎
Great review. I have 802D floor standing models, the model after the original 802 Diamond, and before the D2 that you mentioned owning, so I'm not surprised that you really like these. I think they're more neutral than my second generation "D" series. What I'm really impressed by is that the Denon amp/DAC combination unit that emerged as your favorite was so good driving speakers of this caliber (and presumably the Focal as well). $4,000 for an amp that good, plus a comparably excellent DAC, while not cheap, is really giving us some astonishing performance for the money. (My B&W's are driven by a McIntosh MC450, so probably a subtly different flavor to the sound).
Good work (as always). What I'd be interested in is how you'd say these stack against the Concept 300's that were the reference for so long. Given the price differential, I bet its closer than you'd expect.
I am down to the KEF Reference 1 and the B&W 805 D4. That comparison would be amazing. Make it happen!!
I agree. Similar size, similar price, similar companies - subtly different design philosophy. One or other of those two may well be my end game speakers. But which one? I have heard them both - but in very differing circumstances. I would love to see someone (Andrew!) audition them side by side.
Andrew is my "go to" reviewer now! I trust him and that's not something you can say about many reviewers!!
I appreciate that.
Hi Andrew. Great video. I am actually very interested in hearing your opinion about the denon integrated compared to the McIntosh you reviewed a few months ago would you be able to share your thoughts?
I love B&W Speakers. I run a NAIM set up with B&W's and a lot of people question my setup. Being a Sax player, I do have an image that I enjoy and B&W 8 series are perfect, "for me"
Hope you get your chance to review the NEW 805 D4 signature series that just got announced.
I second that!
How would you compare this to the B&W formation Duos?
Questions only get answered if you spend money on super chats during their live videos.
You're awesome Andrew, love the detailed reviews as always!
Hi Andrew another amazing review from you, by any chance are you planning to review kef reference 1 meta, can you compare it with 805 d4 and utopia if you ever review it?
May be next year if not this one.
Happy to see the B&W Trilogy has come to a satisfying conclusion. WAY better than Rise of Skywalker 🤪
One thing I’m very sure of, and if money were no object, and based on all your speaker reviews, and with all the choices possible at the high-end level of audio, I still wouldn’t know where to start 😂
Hi. Thanks for this complete as well as entertaining review. Have you considered doing a review of the Sonus Faber Sonetto iii speakers? ...Just something for your consideration.
Great review. My B&W Matrix 805s probably need replacement (not need, want LOL). I knew I'd probably go for the 805D4 and you just sealed it!!
Incidentally, showing my age, but I looked for years for a great pair of speakers when I was in my late teens and early to mid 20s. I listened to Spendor, Wharfedale, Quadral, Pro-Ac and a LOT of KEF. I was almost sold on the KEF Reference 104/2s around early 1992 but there was something missing.
Then I went to a B&W dealer and listened to the Concept 90, an innovative loudspeaker that was made of a bass column and a top that was a pair of bookshelf speakers which you could buy first, then add the column with the bass drivers later. I listened to the full version (the bookshelf speakers were called the CM1 and when mated to the matching rear-firing 4 bass driver (6.5 inch I think) column, the whole thing became the CM2.
It blew me away........... I had never heard anything so clear, with so much depth, so much neutrality and so much precision. A pretty average CD of the Brandenburg Concerti went from basically noise to a 3D musical picture. It lead me to buy my M805s - I also bought the matching (then) Matrix HTM (Vertical M805) centre speaker and I sorely regret not buying the Matrix 800 ASW Sub as well. Anyway, I've been nuts for anything B&W since - I have a Panorama 1 Sound-bar in my lounge-room which along with my TV is recessed into the wall, Matrix 805s paired to rears (Boston Accoustics VRS-Pro) and a Boston Acoustics PV1 Sub (the Boston Acoustic Sub is very well made but a bit of disappointment.
So Andrew and Kristi, WHEN I buy my 805D4s and the matching Centre Speaker, what Sub should I pair them with for a Home Theatre (the 805s will also be used to listen to Vinyl, CD, 24bit streaming, etc. via Apple Music. AND, if I replace the rears, what should I go for, 705s??
I would then plan to put the Matrix 805s, Matrix HTM Centre and VRS-Pros into my bedroom for an awesome second system.
Look forward to your response if you have time!!
The bush was epic 😂
We try and have fun.
I like that it looks like you pulled your shirt out of the laundry basket and didn't even care to iron or hang it. You're every man's audiophile. Keep it up.
I’d love for you guys to get a hold of the MA Platinum 100s for comparison. Great review!
There's something inherently advantageous to a small book shelf speaker that has most of the full frequency range of the recorded music. It seems to project the sound better in a 3 dimensional holographic image that lends to a more realistic sound stage and musical presentation. It has less cabinet reflection of sound as well. That's why I walked away with the 805's over the larger full range B&W speakers. I had also purchased the B&W bass woofers but never hooked them up because I felt I didn't need the extra bottom end and was satisfied with what I heard. That all said, I totally agreed with your honest and analytical review. Kristi's input is invaluable as well.
I just look forward to a better year I lost my wife to Covid in January so just want to continue to move on. I still miss her so much 😢
I am so sorry for your loss. I truly wish the best for you. Hang in there!
I’m so sorry for your loss.
Jeff, my heart goes out to you. I hope you have family and friends to lean on during this difficult time.
Wishing you all the best. ❤
So sorry for your loss. I hope for continued healing.
Best hifi reviews on CZcams. 👍
Aww thanks!
Great video I prefer Focal so I can’t wait to see your Kanta no 1 review hopefully you can get the center channel as well and maybe some sopra no 1 and center channel
Great video (again)!
Interestingly you didn’t mention for comparison the Beolabs 28, what do you think? Oops.. I just saw the end of the clip…. hahahaha great!
I would just buy the Polk audio R 700's , and have amazing sound and have a ton of extra cash ! Have a great day !
This is a VERY good strategy!
I want to do the same but I'm concerned with the center being a two way
I bought a pair of R 700's and am happy I did!
Thank you for introducing me to Lady Blackbird. So damn good.
She has to do a Bond cover someday.
@@techsamurai11 cover? She should be doing the next movie!
@@davidembrey4248Sorry, that's what I meant! 🙂
Another brilliant review, appreciate it. Are you going to be reviewing any of the floor stander variants?
We'd love to however, that decision is up to B&W.
I’ve had my B&W 604 Series III for 20 years now and they’re still great. Would love to upgrade when in a bigger space one day
Looks : If you compare with Focal Kanta for looks, yes then the B&W might be better looking, but if you compare with a Focal Sopra, the Sopra wins hands down.
(I don't like that external tweeter of the B&W series and I've seen it breaks off very easiliy).
Sound : The B&W diamond tweeter is too shouty for me, the Beryllium tweeters of Focal (Kanta, Sopra and Utopia) sound more smooth.
Price : The Focal Kanta is cheaper here in Europe then the B&W 805D4, the Sopra 1 is slightly more expensive.
So I think a comparison with the Sopra would have been more fair.
I heard the 805D4, I heard the Sopra, and went home with Sopra and never regretted it.
I very much agree with your remarks about the shoutiness. Ultimately it came down between Dynaudio Heritage Special and Sopra no1 for me. Both are very impressive but in different areas. I pulled the trigger on the Dynaudios, as their top end was more to my taste and their tonality couldn't be matched.
Sopra's airiness was really impressive, Sopra no2 especially more so.
I would love to know how the Monitor Audio Gold 100 compares? Thanks for a great channel!!!
Hey Andrew, found you channel a couple days ago and now binging every video :). I got the 606 S1 as Stereo Speaker combined with 3x M1 and an ASW608 Sub for Home Cinema. We will have a ne home in march and i thinking of upgrade the 606. I got about 2-3k and want to stay with Bowers due to the other stuff. What would be your advice for me. Greetings and happy new year 2024!
Oooo I liked the new 365 day return policy for the headphones. I'm going to look into that.
Be sure to use our link so they know we sent you bit.ly/3CmKLL - thanks!
speaker grills are just for protecting the driver when not in use
I just picked up some BW683’s. I just started listening to them today but believe I will have them for a while.
To answers Kristi’s question; I am looking forward to a better economy in the coming year as well as hopefully less crime and a victory in Ukraine.
I wish you both well and keep doing what you do.
Morgan
Good Day to you both. I have heard these speakers and I am surprised at how remarkable they sound. Nice review.
I don't know why people spend so much money on B&W when they could easily get a pair of Genelec 8361, which are calibrated to be neutral, and are $10k a pair, and you don't need an amplifier. (That is the 10 inch woofer). To compete against the 805 you would get the Genelec 8351, which is 8" woofer, and is about $8k a pair. You run the calibration software on those units, and flatten it against your room, and now you have what a recording engineer has; 99% accuracy. If you want punch, the B&W 801's are incredible, esp. with 1000 watts behind them. That chest thump is a special feeling. But most home stereo equipment is highly colored, and frankly silly. Flat speakers give you what was made in the studio.
Stop making sense!
Vandersteens blow away genelec.
@@raymaksimavicius4902 If a speaker is within +- 3 DB (or better) from low to high frequencies, it is flat, which is the objective with a studio monitor. It thus reproduces almost exactly what the mixing engineers intended. Home stereo equipment is notorious for coloration.
No speaker can "blow away" a highly accurate studio monitor. The only difference between the members of the Genelec family is how low you want to be able to reproduce. You pay a great deal more, and require a much larger cabinet volume and piston diameter if you want to get fidelity below 50 hz. The latest Genelecs have a microphone and software that allows you to compensate for your room quirks, and this is commonly used to further flatten the curve to the mixing engineer.
Unless you have a specially designed and equipped room, you will have odd resonances that will throw things off. Very few home units bother to fix this issue.
The B&W 801's have 16" woofers, and with 1000 watts driving, has that chest thump that is so satisfying.
The whole consumer hi-fi business is mostly nonsense, with crazy fetishes like fancy cabling, and other immeasurable, expensive niceties that allow the retailers to make a lot of money from gullible people.
The fact remains that the music is mixed on studio monitors from Neumann, Genelec, Focal, and others with modest piston diameters, because close-range monitors are much tighter coupled to the ear, and many times the engineers only need occasional verification with large diameter stuff for certain kinds of music.
If you go to B&H or Thomann, and look up studio monitors you will find that most of the products are close range. Every engineer i've seen interviewed has a similar configuration.
Maybe Vandersteen should pursue the studio monitor market. They may indeed have a wonderful product. But the monitors that exist today are awfully good, and so much better than the lousy speakers that people listen on (which are often their phones, or crappy bluetooth speakers, or car stereos).
Accuracy can be measured, and many consumer products are wildly inaccurate. If the bias happens to be to your taste, fine.
Please allow me my personal opinion as an aging engineer. The eternal problem when nearfield studio monitors are compared to hi-fi or high-end speakers. Nearfield studio monitors are monitoring speakers and have no real relevance in the living room. The Genelec are excellent speakers, but actually nothing for the living room. I know the Genelec 8351 from several trade fairs. This is my own personal opinion. Therefore, there are at least two categories of loudspeakers in a proper studio. Near-field studio monitors and a pair of good hi-fi speakers.
Whether these must necessarily cost several thousand dollars or even more, each studio must decide for itself. Of course, quality usually has its price. I own a pair of B&W in my living room. I grew up with Bowers & Wilkins. My very first time and experiences as a young little boy in a professional studio. There were Bowers & Wilkins speakers, what else? I also own a pair of Neumann Studio monitors next to inexpensive hi-fi speakers in a small hobby studio.
@@btsr2553 You are correct regarding near-field monitors and "a pair of good hi-fi speakers" as studio mainstays, but there are also mid-field and far-field monitors whose use is dependent upon the distance to the mixing board. I've heard many many great speakers during my 64 years as a hobbyist and enthusiast, and to me, the sound of a good pair of active studio monitors beats the sound of 95% of home speakers, including B&W. I've also compared passive speakers to their active counterparts and you can tell the difference in about 5 seconds...even when level matched. Just my opinion, of course.
Morning guys!
Morning Luis, thanks for joining us.
Slam dunk review guys! Even the sponsor part was great 🤘❤️
Your reviews are so fun. I'm surprised the Polk R700s didn't come up, given that the Beolab 28s did.
Bravo
I have demo'd some B&W's at a high end store and could not have been less impressed. Their build quality was exquisite, but the sound was completely sterile and lifeless, and they were extremely inefficient. In the end, I found them to be all show, no go.
Sound is very subjective so its completly understandable the sound is not for everyone
@@andreasmoller9798 For sure. Anything that isn't an anechoic measurement of a speaker, or detailing data points about a speaker is subjective. I don't begrudge anyone who likes this speaker, and to be fair I have not heard THIS speaker, just other B&W's of this and higher price range and have always been extremely underwhelmed for the price you pay. Aesthetically they are near works of craftsmanship, if not art.
@@dlloyd6300 i use 702 s2 and love them and they have good amount of detail, but they are not neutral, but i will buy different brand next time, i will absolutly look into perlisten r7t they seem promising, if they sound good it will be win, becouse those speakers have serious spl output
@@andreasmoller9798 I hear nothing but praise for Perlisten, both measurements and subjective. Also a beautiful speaker. Certainly not cheap but I think fair for what you get. You're lucky to be able to dabble in such equipment 👍. Arendal and Paradigm also have some lovely offerings.
@@andreasmoller9798 My personal speakers are Klipsch RF7 III's. Certainly Klipsch is devisive in the community, and they may not be the best measuring speaker but oh the output levels without breaking a sweat, and the things that true compression driver tweeter can do. I find them to have the perfect level of detail without being too bright.
Great review, thanks. How would you compare the new floor standing like 703 S3 with 805D4?
Love to hear a review and a comparison of the Fyne Audio F700 and the B&W 805 D4. By the way been following you and Kristi since the beginning, a big Klipsch fan myself but diversifying a second system. Darren, Texarkana Texas.
Focal Kanta are not the same price as B&W 805D4 you’re thinking of Sopra and their build quality rivals 805
They are roughly the same price - bit.ly/3Dk0B8z
Not in U.K. (both £7k)
The focal evos are 21K btw.
Holy Smokes!! We did NOT know that. Last December when we reviewed them they were around 16K. At this new price, hell no. Gonna live that B&W life and fly somewhere nice with the leftover cash. First class both ways. :)
@@andrewrobinsonreviews That's "installing a front door" money! Wow.
Yeah some of these speaker price increases are insane and more are coming
Great review Guys. I love the speaker comparisons!
Great review and an awesome final question from Kristi. I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving for the friends, chow, and football; plus the day off afterwards to recover that I don't normally get.
Question:What’s your favorite speaker?
Answer: That’s easy to answer..THE NEXT ONE.
That's not even remotely accurate Carmine, don't be like that.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Andrew..much like the video on the audiophile ladder of climbing the of ever more expensive gear ( I was at the Toronto Audiofest last weekend..listening to gear that cost more than the house I grew up in) there’s always next level or another improved model…BUT if these are your End Games speakers ..then congrats 🍾
Can of worms alert ... Last speakers you'll ever own? Gird your loins for all of the outraged audiophiles who are about to tell you how vastly superior their "insert speaker brand here" speakers are ... It's just the nature of the audiophile beast.
You called it. 😂
Big fan of your videos. What’s your favourite amp for B&W 800 series (I’ve a 804 D4) and what’s the cable that you’re using with 805 in this video? ;)
All those comments are so relatable. I love movies and music and spend a lot of my free time in my living room. And I often fight over do I want to upgrade. What I have works fine. But do I want to reward myself. And how much money is that worth to me.
Question of the day: I look forward to find a partner to share my hobbies and life with, some day soon 😅😇😂
Companionship is so important. May you find someone who makes you smile soon!
To continue in remaining both cancer & Covid free in order to enjoy some live music.
Wishing you a healthy rest of the year and the same for the next!
Great video as always. Would love a comparison between the 805 D4 and Triangle's 40th Anniversary Magellan Duetto during a review of the Duetto if you can get your hands on them. One of the most beautiful speakers I've seen in recent times, in Golden Oak finish.
QOTD answer: Elder's new album, out towards the end of Nov. Can't wait!
I always enjoy your reviews from South Africa. Any chance of reviewing the Marten Parker Duo Loudspeakers? I would like to know how they compare to B&W 805 D4 and maybe the Marten Parker Duo Diamond Edition Loudspeakers vs Focal Diablo Utopia, but I'm more interested in the former comparison. Thanks to you and Kristi for great reviews.