B&W Owner's Thread - Page 430

I recently switched my home theater speakers around and I think I could use something bigger than my CC6 center. I have the larger bookshelf 600 S2 series up front. Question: Is the LCR600 S3 still a good match or should I try to find an S2? If I remember right, the difference between the two was a better vent. Also, how much should a person be expected to pay for a used one? Any thoughts or help would be appreciated.

I managed to find a dealer clearing out their demo pair of 803s' with the HTM3S center. I've checked around on ebay and audiogon, but it's tough to determine price given the conditions of the ones online are all over the map. What do you think would be fair prices for these?

If 803D then $8K would be good, not sure on center.

They are the 803S, not 803D. But based on your value of 8k on the 803D, sounds like anything less than 80% of retail is fair?

Keep in mind the " S" series is the older one already and the lower end compared to the "D". that as at the same time.

used... half retail is usually fair for a good set of any b&w. Granted buying from a dealer gets you the warentee... you have to decide what that is worth to you.

Usually.... the 800 series is in great condition used as they are in the higher price range, and people tend to take care of more expensive things.

people have mixed reviews for the first gen diamond.... some like it some like the older metal dome tweeter.... the new diamond tweeter seems to be the big jump... again only you can tell if any of that matters... if you go with the "s" series with the center you will be in that series till you switch it all out to the diamond... so you can't really upgrade the center then the sides or what have you... again to your ears that may not be a problem.

I have the same center(htm3S) and love it... i run the 804S in the front. i mostly watch movies and my gear is crossed over at 80... depending on what you are doing with your system going to the 803 may not yield the cost vs. benefit.

i could go on and on... but i will save you that. don't get taken by a dealer... email me if you would like to get into a conversation.

billbaranowski@yahoo.com

Question for those who have B&W 643 or other B&W speakers... how are you terminating the speaker wire, bare wire, plugs, etc? I was planning on using these...

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10401&cs_id=1040115&p_id=5975&seq=1&format=1#largeimage


What your thoughts?

TIA

I am not sure it will work. I suggest bare wire or banana plugs.

I would consider demo almost equal used. 8K is asking price for pair of 802D on used market.

Tried banana plug but did not fit (insert) unless screw cap was removed. Is it ok to not have screw cap?

Bought my 803D's on Audiogon last year and paid about $8K for the pair plus shipping from Texas.

Was this the older 803D, or the current 803 Diamond?

You need to remove the small plastic plug in the screw cap to allow it to accept a banana plug.

Mine have diamond tweeters and black rings around woofers. Newest version same tweeters with silver rings around woofers. Have not seen specific details of differences in performance of black rings v silver rings.

Thanks! That was helpful!

I would say about 3.5k-4k for 803S+HTM3S depending on condition.

These are fantastic speakers for above money. Also they are 'riskfree' investment. you can use them for 2 years and sell them for about the same price you will pay today as B&W will keep increasing price of 800 series making the older ones worth more and they are already priced to account for almost all of the depreciation.

Think of them as a used gold rolex

Dear experts!

I want to upgrade my sound system on my HTPC.

Currently I use:
Logitech Z-5450 5.1 Wireless Speakers
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,1904833,00.asp



I want to start replacing parts of the system with better speakers and amplifier. I cannot buy all at once due to budget.

Do you think I'm crazy If I buy 2 front towers as a first step B&W CM8 and attach them to Logitech amplifier instead of current small Logitech L&R satellites.


Logitech amplifier is:
Total RMS power: 315 watts RMS
Tech Specs Satellites: 199 watts RMS (2 x 38W front, 2 x 40.5W rear, 42W center)
Tech Specs Subwoofer: 116 watts RMS
Tech Specs Total peak power: 630 watts
Tech Specs Maximum SPL: 103 dB
Tech Specs Frequency response: 35 Hz - 20 kHz
Tech Specs Input impedance: 9,500 ohms
Tech Specs Amplifier: Ultra-linear high-capacity analog
Tech Specs Drivers: Satellites: 2 1/2” aluminum phase plug driver
Tech Specs Band-pass subwoofer: 6 1/2” high-excursion driver
Tech Specs Surround sound effects: Hardware decoding for Dolby Digital, DTS and DTS 96/24 soundtracks
Tech Specs Dolby Pro Logic II (Movie and Music modes)
Tech Specs 6-channel direct
Tech Specs Supported digital formats: Dolby Digital, DTS and DTS 96/24
Tech Specs PCM (uncompressed stereo): 44.1 kHz/16 bit through 96 kHz/24 bit
Tech Specs Source inputs: (2) Digital optical for DVD or CD players, PlayStation2, Xbox, or PC sound cards (requires optical cable, sold separately)
Tech Specs (1) Digital coaxial for DVD or CD players or PC sound cards (requires coaxial cable, sold separately)
Tech Specs (1) 6-channel direct (3 stereo-mini connectors) for 2, 4 or 6-channel PC sound cards OR
Tech Specs (3) stereo-mini connectors for 3 stereo analog audio sources, such as CD and DVD players, PlayStation2, Xbox, or 2 channel PC sound cards (some devices may require stereo mini to dual RCA adapter, sold separately)
Tech Specs (1) Analog stereo-mini (on side panel of control center) for portable CD, MP3, or MiniDisc® players

Seeking advice on how to build a 5.1 system around an old pair of B&W 802 series 2's ??

I have an old (20 years) pair of 802 series 2's and am interested to hear advice about what speakers would work well with them for center and surround. Also I am interested to hear advice about what amplification would work.

(Background: currently I have two separate set-ups: i) a surround set consisting of KEF 3005 5.1 kit and a Yamaha RX-A820 receiver, and ii) a stereo set consisting of B&W 802 series 2's and a Musical Fidelity P270-2 amp. And basically I want to end up with a single set-up for everything...)

EDIT: Amazingly the Yamaha has nine channels of amplification rated at 100W into 8 ohm, so I tried the following set-up on it: FL/FR = 802's bi-amped, Center/SL/SR = KEF eggs, KEF Active Sub (crossover 80Hz). So the 802s are getting served by 4x100W bi-amped from the Yamaha versus the 2x135W bi-wired they got from the Musical Fidelity. The 802s on FL/FR do not sound too bad. And the Kef SL/SR are strong enough too. But the Kef Center is definitely the weak link.
Edited by AndrewFG - 2/25/13 at 8:44am

Oh, dear god, no.

The word "Logitech" should not appear anywhere on the same book as the word "CM8."

You will need at least a mid price AVR with at least 100WPC of real power just to be safe.

For example, an Open Box Harman Kardon AVR 3650 from Amazon Direct for $561.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B005EVGS2E/sr=8-38/qid=1361799992/ref=olp_prime_used?ie=UTF8&colid=&coliid=&condition=used&me=&qid=1361799992&seller=&shipPromoFilter=1&sort=sip&sr=8-38

Or a new Onkyo TX-NR809 for $609.

http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-NR809-Certified-7-2-Channel-Receiver/dp/B00505F01E/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1361800254&sr=8-5&keywords=av+receiver+Onkyo
Edited by AcuDefTechGuy - 2/25/13 at 5:52am

Oh, 38 Watts will deferentially be not enough? Sorry for insulting with such strange proposal Just hoped to start building stuff around already available equipment.

Any more ideas for location of 802 and or 800 speakers?

pm me if you would like,
Thank you,
Bill

 Do you have pictures of your set-up!

There is a pair of 802Di's on Audiogon right now

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/full-range-b-w-802-diamond-full-range-speakers-2013-02-07-speakers-93923

B&W 802N Cherry in NYC for $4500/pr.

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/full-range-b-w-802n-cherry-2013-02-05-speakers-10602-white-plains-ny

my avatar is my front sound stage... i know it is a dark. picture... i do not have alot of pictures besides that... let me see.

The pictures i have are too dark to see..... not only that but o do not know how to upload on this site.

i have a dedicated home theater room. 12' by 25'. with 8' ceilings. also a billiard table in there

two fullsized leather couches and a chair and a half set up stadium style.

Sony vplvw black pearl projector.

stewarts film screen ...Grey... 110" letterbox

b&w 804S at the four corners and a htm3S center.

ps3 for bluray

pioneer elite 92thx. for a processor....waiting on marantz av8801

anthem statement P5 amp

paradigm signature servo 15 sub

that's the most of it.
sorry for the lack of pictures.

Also thank you for the replies... the older nautilus in new York is more in my price range... also i am looking for the older nautilus speakers not the D or the Diamond... they are just too expensive.

Thank you,
Bill

Man just listened to a pair of 802s hooked to a McIntosh dedicated 2ch, these are the best speakers I have ever heard. Although for the price it should be, also listened to the 803s these are very close to be honest. I ended up buying CM9s and a CMC2.
Edited by dstr212 - 2/26/13 at 10:30am

Hi all,

How much does a pair of 802 and 803 cost in the US?

kind regards

Marco

The 802D2 are $15K/pr, 803D2 are $10K/pr.

But many of us can get 10-20% discount.

Wow for that price they MUST sound incredibly better than the CM9 which I own.
Kind regards
Marco