I've read and heard rumors from my dealer that B&W will be releasing a new 800 series speaker. Prices will almost double and will only be Diamond tweeters with aluminum cabinets. No more wood. I don't know if there is any truth to this but sure is alot of talk going around. So much for upgrading to a pair of 800D @ $28,000.00 but perhaps I can sell my 802D's for the same price I paid. Since the retail on those will be around $20,000.00. At those prices the Wilson Sasha switch sure is looking promising. Although I would like to Hear the new 800 series. Im sure there is more to the design change to justify those high prices.
C'mon Ya'll, what's the gossip?

Yep, I was speaking to a local dealer who indicated that the new line will be released at CES. All Diamond tweeters in the 800 series and probable revamp of the crossovers and some work on the mid-range.

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AMP's: D'Agostino Momentum's
Pre Amp: Mcintosh C-1000 & C-1000P
Sources: McIntosh MCD-1100 & MS-300, Olive 4HD, SonoS, Pro-Ject 6 PerspeX
Speakers: MBL 111F
Cables: Transparent Ultra MM2 & Reference MM2 & Powerlink MM2x

Wow, first its diamond tweeters that were the rave where some major speakers jumped onto the bandwagon, now ALUMINUM cabinets ... a la Krell, Magico & the famous ... "most accurate speakers in the world".

Come to think about it, Celestion should lay claim to being the first speaker maker to use Aluminum, aircraft grade (aerolam, if I am not mistaken).

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Turntable
Dr. Feickert Twin-DFA
TriPlanar Mk VII UII
Miyajima Shilabe Cartridge
Lehmann Black Cube SE Decade

Meridian
504 FM Tuner
Sooloos C15
Twinstore [3TBx2]
808i.3 CD/DAC/Preamp
800v4 CD/DVD AV Computer (DAX)
DSP8k SL Speakers

Multi Player
Oppo BDP83se NuForce Edition

Power Dist & Cables
Shunyata Hydra Talos
Shunyata Venom 3

Interconnects
Cardas Clear

Extra Gears
AKG K701 Headphones

I did not hear that hey were going go aluminum cabinets but it is a possibility. Much easier to machine.

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AMP's: D'Agostino Momentum's
Pre Amp: Mcintosh C-1000 & C-1000P
Sources: McIntosh MCD-1100 & MS-300, Olive 4HD, SonoS, Pro-Ject 6 PerspeX
Speakers: MBL 111F
Cables: Transparent Ultra MM2 & Reference MM2 & Powerlink MM2x

It won't be aluminum cabinets...they just moved production back to England. Also pricing is not increasing that much...800Ds will be $24k US. the 800, 802($15k) & 803($10k) get changes to the internals only, cabinets will look similar...new colors. The big increase is the to the 804 ($7500)& 805 ($5k), which never had the diamonds previously. 801, HTM1 are discontinued.

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5.1 Theatre: B&W 800Ds, HTM1D, 803Ds, 2 JL Audio F113s, Sound Anchor stands, McIntosh MC501s, MC303, Classe SSP800, Oppo BD93, Mach Mini Music Server, JVC RS2, 119" DaLite, PS Audio Powerplant x2, Symposium fat padz, RB Jrs, Wireworld cabling
2.1 System: B&W 805Ds, Rel R305, McIntosh C500T(Gold Lions), MC501s, Olive 4HD, Wyred 4 Sound DAC 2, Pioneer Exclusive P10/Koetsu Urushi Vermillion, Avid Pulsare Phono, PS Audio PPP, Wireworld Silver Eclipse ICs, Silver Electra PCs

That is exactly what I heard today.

__________________
AMP's: D'Agostino Momentum's
Pre Amp: Mcintosh C-1000 & C-1000P
Sources: McIntosh MCD-1100 & MS-300, Olive 4HD, SonoS, Pro-Ject 6 PerspeX
Speakers: MBL 111F
Cables: Transparent Ultra MM2 & Reference MM2 & Powerlink MM2x

Are they staying with the same design and look? with wood and bowling ball top? or will they offer gloss piano black finish, etc. As said, I heard the rumor. Wasn't sure I believed the aluminum part. Be the salesperson did state they would not be wood. hmmmm
and they would be made in China. NO, NO, NO. I won't buy them if made in China.
Are you hearing this B&W? NO CHINA! Maybe that's where the pricing info. came from.

The CM series is made in China. The 800 series has moved the cabinet production back from Denmark (?) to the UK. The 800 series will continue to be built there.

Don't knock the product built in China, it is competitive.

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AMP's: D'Agostino Momentum's
Pre Amp: Mcintosh C-1000 & C-1000P
Sources: McIntosh MCD-1100 & MS-300, Olive 4HD, SonoS, Pro-Ject 6 PerspeX
Speakers: MBL 111F
Cables: Transparent Ultra MM2 & Reference MM2 & Powerlink MM2x

The 800 series is not a bad speaker per say, some of them do need to be redesigned when it comes to bass, re-work the crossovers and drivers for less demand on the amps and if they are made in China, they should not charge that much for them. Did someone mention Wilson Sasha? Dave Wilson runs a shop in Provo, Utah, employs local, provides a decent salary, benefits and 401K for his employees besides the point that his latest creations are virtually flawless and are a real bang for the buck all things considered. As many times as I've heard the 800 series, the Sasha is a much more balanced speaker overall and causes less problems in typical rooms but we'll see what the new 800 series brings to the table.

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System 7.1:
Wilson Sasha/Mezzo/Watch surrounds
D'Agostino Momentum x3 amps
Bryston 4B SST2 x2 amps
Krell S1200U pre/pro
Oppo Blu
Sony Blu changer
McIntosh MS300 music server
EAR/Yoshino Acute III tubed CDP
Transparent Ultra cabling
JL Audio F212 Sub
Lumagen video processor
JVC RS-35U projector
Stewart Screen

If B&W moves production to China, My current Speakers will be my last. Competitive or not. I will buy some Wilson's Made in the U.S.A. just like my McIntosh Amps. Support out jobs and our country. Yes I know, the internal parts are made in china and wherever but there built in the U.S. If they are built in china, the prices should be lowered by $5,000.00 since there employee's are paid less.