New 800's coming, end if year

[joey_v]

We shall see... I enjoy my current 802 diamonds and welcome any more awesomeness from BW

[Kal Rubinson]

Originally Posted by bart

True Jim.
I also have my doubts about this price increase.
I don't see B&W, that has always been a very sensible company, suddenly leave this market segment to other brands.

Of course, that would leave a provocative gap in their range which is not likely to go unfilled.

[ariess]

Originally Posted by Still-One

"If" the new series comes with a 30% increase in price then B&W's top speakers, in my opinion, would no longer hold the title as the best value in high end audio.

I don't understand this view. 30% in 6 years is 4.5% per year which is not much when exotic materials like Diamonds are in use and luxury goods. It's also about the same increase as the last update. It would still leave the 802's below pretty much the whole Wilson line up!

Sent from my iPhone using A.Aficionado

[jlbrach]

30% increase would limit the sales of a great product that is spoken of as a high end bargain...i can tell you as an owner of 802's which cost me 15K that i wouldnt pay 20k for a new 802 series

[Still-One]

Originally Posted by ariess

I don't understand this view. 30% in 6 years is 4.5% per year which is not much when exotic materials like Diamonds are in use and luxury goods. It's also about the same increase as the last update. It would still leave the 802's below pretty much the whole Wilson line up!

Sent from my iPhone using A.Aficionado

The MSRP of my 802D's was $12k.

The 802 Series Diamond were about $15k.

With a 30% increase that would put the new 802 around ~$20k and the 800 at ~$30k.

[drabbish]

The problem is the high end world in every aspect is selling alot of product in today's market. Almost all high things have increased 30% over the last few years. 802's at lets say 19K will still sell as much as the last version did bc people will pay. look at porsche the turbo went from around 150K to 190K and they still have a 15-20% increase in sales.

[ariess]

Agreed. 30% in 6 years will have them keeping pace with the field, not moving ahead or behind price/value wise. If when shopping for comparable speakers you thought they were good value, my guess is you still will. If going from $15k to $19k crosses some financial threshold then there will be plenty of speakers you could get instead (including probably the next iteration of the 803D and 804D) though few as good. My own opinion is that the 802 Diamonds (and I suspect the next iteration) compete well with most speakers at twice their price. I don't see that equation changing anytime soon.

[jlbrach]

My Iphone doesnt go up in cost,my ipad,my big screen TV doesnt go up in cost etc...why should a speaker go up 30% in 5 or 6 years?....

[tractng]

Excellent post. I heard the current 802 a few months ago and told myself I will own the new generation. The look is gorgeous along with the sound.

[Kal Rubinson]

Technology gets cheaper.
Luxury gets more expensive.