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B&W Speakers Bowers & Wilkins Greatest |
View Poll Results: 800d or 802 diamond | |||
800d (previous generation, d1) | 19 | 29.23% | |
802 diamond (current generation, d2) | 46 | 70.77% | |
Voters: 65. You may not vote on this poll |
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Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#11
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I have the current 802 Diamonds. I paired them up with two JL Audio F113 subs--bass is not a problem. Probably should have gone with the 800D considering the money spent on the two subs. The C2300 has two additional outputs for the subs. I'm driving the 802s with McIntosh MC601s and it sounds great.
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Main system: B&W 802 Diamond, McIntosh MC 601 x2 , J L Audio F113 x2 w/Sound Anchor stands, McIntosh C2300 w/Gold Lion 12AX7s , OPPO BDP95, Wireworld Silver Eclipse 6 Balanced ICs,PCs, bi-wired speaker cables. Sennheiser HD600, Rega P5 TT w/PSU, Running Springs "Dimitri" power conditioner, ASC 13" traps, and Dynavector 20xl MC cart.Manley Chinook phonostage. |
#12
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This is a tough one. I voted 800D. I actually own both the 800D2's and 802D2's but have never heard the 800D1's. I find that the 800D2 is not an insignificant step up from the 802D2 so I would lean towards the 800D's. However I have read different reports from people on-line that the 802D2s are a better speaker then the 800D's so it's obviously not a situation where one is clearly the superior to the other, which unfortunately makes for a really hard decision.
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#13
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It's an exciting and rewardable path to step in and I'm sure I am in the right path. Wilson Audio Sasha, Alexia, Focal Stella Utopia, and Grand Utopia are my dream speakers. At this moment, a pair of 800d or 802 diamond are definitely satisfied all my needs and I would be happy for a very long time.
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804 diamond speakers, Mc452 amp & C2300 pre, Oppo BDP-105, Clearaudio Concept MC |
#14
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Quote:
However, I have to drive 6 hours each way to bring the speakers back home. I also need to rent a cargo van and hire movers to move these bad boys at two locations. Like you said, it is a challenge for sure. Besides, no warranty on the used 800D. Did anyone experience any manufacturing defect on the 800 Diamond series speakers? My 804 diamonds are over a year old new and they are in perfect cosmetic and working condition so for.
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804 diamond speakers, Mc452 amp & C2300 pre, Oppo BDP-105, Clearaudio Concept MC |
#15
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Quote:
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804 diamond speakers, Mc452 amp & C2300 pre, Oppo BDP-105, Clearaudio Concept MC |
#16
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Thank you very much for all your valuable opinions and votes.
Like Rod#S said, it's obviously not a situation where one is clearly the superior to the other. Either one is a good choice. Which one looks better then? 800D1 and 802D2 both have the same Marlan head in the same dimension. Correct me if I'm wrong. For me, the head and the cabinet does not look proportional on the 800D1. Small head with Big body.
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804 diamond speakers, Mc452 amp & C2300 pre, Oppo BDP-105, Clearaudio Concept MC Last edited by Black Tang; 09-08-2013 at 11:42 PM. |
#17
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As for esthetics the 800D is, to me, considerably more pleasing. I'm a perfectionist with anal retentive tendencies to the point of being crazy stupid over symmetry. For instance, the slope of the cabinet top and bottom are more graceful and similar in pitch than with the 802D2 which is angled very sharply on top and nearly horizontal on bottom. The 800D woofers are perfectly centered across the vertical baffle, the 802D2 are not. The speaker grommets on the 800D are evenly separated, the 802D are not but the 802D2 need not worry about that. The shinny black and grooved trim rings (vinyl anyone?) makes the 802D2 look a bit flamboyant compared to the 800D's powder coated satin black and smooth flange which offers a tough looking disposition. I also do not like the points formed between the curves and straight edges on the 802D2 woofer trim. On the 800D the curves transition smoothly and uniformly with the straight edges. I am not a fan of the decorative silver trim either. Why? It's inconsistent across the drivers and flow ports. Some are more varied in thickness than others but more importantly some are polished while others are machined. B&W's biggest mistake with the new series. I do like the aluminum polished phase plug which complements the new series quite nicely adding a touch of elegance to the midrange driver. I only wish B&W took a cue from it and ran with this finish for the trim pieces across the board. One thing I like much better on the new series is the use of piano black gloss lacquer for the Marlan heads. The previous series included metal-flake which gave the color a very dark charcoal appearance instead of pure black. I also like the black powder coated, cabinet tracing, contour of the plinth on the 802D2 more so than the two toned rectangular slab found on the 800D. On the flip side, the 800D plinth is significantly more stable. It isn't gonna tip, the 802D2 could and quite easily. As for the size of the Marlan head it's a toss-up. I kind of agree that it suits the 802D2 a little better in proportion, however, the larger mushroom voice coil covers on the 800D snaps back some balance. In addition, I do not like the tail that protrudes out the back end of the 802D2 cabinet. On the 800D it sits inside the cabinet making for a much cleaner look. Last edited by RebelMan; 09-09-2013 at 04:01 AM. |
#18
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hallo Black Tang,
I had almost all B&W 800serie. 805s / 805d, 804s, 803s, 803d / 803di, 802di / 800d...... the new di actuall serie is IMHO better from the 800d. no way. the more B&W sell are: 804di, 805di, 802di, 800di and 803di. with a combo Mcintosh like Mc2300&Mc452 a pair of 802di is the perfect match. the new 802di is not only a design update vs the 802d (same from 800di vs 800d) the tweeter, the mid & xover like too the woofer sound very different from the 80xd. try a 803d vs. a 803di is like a day and night. the LF in the last serie sound very fine, controlled, great! the 802d and 800d are good speaker but not liek the di serie. |
#19
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Or some 800's That's 800D2's
Last edited by Rod#S; 09-09-2013 at 08:56 PM. |
#20
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On the topic of going from the 804Di to the 802Di...I am wondering how different are their power requirements? They have the same listed sensitivity, but the minimum impedance of the 802Di is 3.5 ohm and the 804Di is 3.1 Ohm. So is the 802Di really not harder to drive than the 804Di?
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