B&W Owner's Thread - Page 195

The htm62 is a good match for your 685's and is an underrated center speaker. No one here ever talks about it, but if you're limited on space(it's 6.7" tall,12.2" deep with the grille on), it's a very nice speaker. It'll suprise you.

That's my fall back speaker. I can make it work, but it may suffer from its position. Plus, no one near me has it available to audition beforehand. Even then I would need to take it home and have a listen. That aside, I'm mainly listening to 2 channel music and do not place a lot of value in the overall 5.1 experience, so I wondered if it's just useless to get something (say a Definitive Mythos or B&W FPM) and some tiny wireless rears. Has to be an improvement over phantom. Or would this situation be so unmatched that it's not worth it?

What you experienced is sometimes a tactic to get rid of the demo's and refurbs of a soon-to-be obsolescent product (ie, "we can't get new ones, will you take these demos"). Which tactics the dealers use depends on a lot of things, including the integrity and/or financial situation of the dealer. Not saying your dealer is doing this, but it *might* not be entirely B&W's fault. At any rate, I hope you got a really good price.

-Reid

Thanks for the info. I have a few more questions please bare with me

I got a quote for the ASW610 sub for $959AUD which is 20% off the list price of $1,199 AUD. I saw on a Australian website which sells the SVS PB10-NSD for $1,009AUD (inc shipping $110AUD). Without the price consideration, is the SVS PB10-NSD a lot better than the ASW610?

Which Velodyne series should I be looking into? The website list the Impact, Optimum, SPL, DD series. I think the DD series is out of the question

Since the 685 and 685 require stands, the B&W stands costs a whopping $499AUD a pair!! I am probably be looking at generics.. anything I should look out for in build quality?

It cost a lot to buy audio gear here in Australia

Thanks

Hey guys, just picked up a pair of 804S's on ebay to replace my aging P5's. The price was to good to pass up, but I'm not sure I can really afford the matching center and surrounds. I was thinking of either getting an older HTM1, or the newer but smaller HTM4. Anyone use either of these speakers with 804S mains?

I would also really like to get dipole surrounds. My current surrounds are 601's, and they are way to easy to localize, and I don't really get an enveloping surround experience. However the price of the DS8's is pretty high. Anyone use DS7's with 800 series mains?

Also, is anyone selling Sound Anchor stands for the 804S. I plan on getting a pair, mainly for stability reasons, as I have 6 month old twins who will be crawling soon, and I don't want them trying to climb up on and knocking over daddy's new speakers.

My 804S's came with a metal one already installed. I did not have a plastic or metal choice.

I use 804S's in an HT environment and feel they are great. I can drop the crossover level down and it allows it to integrate better with my sub.

I use the CWMDS8S inwall dipoles, so I cannot really comment on the DS7. All I know is I recently picked up the 2L:The Nordic Sound BD Audio disc and all 5 speakers sound fantastic together.

Quick question,

I currently am running 685s for my fronts with an ASW610 sub. I am thinking about upgrading to the 683s or make a jump to the 803S or 804. I realize the price difference going to the 800 series, but will the price difference be worth 3 to 5 thousand dollars compared to the 683s?

I know, completely opinion...

I will be driving the speakers with an Emotiva XPA-2, USP-1 preamp, and Oppo 83SE. I also will be using and Onkyo AVR for multichannel, with an XPA-5 driving the additional speakers. They are B&W 686s and HTD62 center, with older phasetech rears.

Thanks!

Yes that is because 804s has a single piece grill that covers the mid unit as well while the 800Ds have 3 separate grills due to the marlan head. I also have 803Ds and these came with metal as well.

Has anyone seen or heard a review for the new 800 speakers that are being unveiled at CES? I'm thinking about buying either new or used 804S speakers for my new media room (50/50 music and theater), but I'm concerned about buying a line that is being retired, i.e., should I just wait 60 days for the new speakers to come out... With that said, I'm sure the new series will be more expensive, so perhaps "settling" with the 804s isn't that bad?

I have been a very satisfied B&W owner since around 2002. I'm sure there are better speakers out there, but I am very happy with mine. They sound great whatever the source material. I currently own the following:
LCR600S3 Center Channel
DM603S2 Front L&R
DM602S2 Surround L&R
ASW500 Sub
DM601S2 currently unused
I was lucky enough to take advantage of a sale as the 600 Series 2 were being phased out, but they had already sold out of the center channel speakers, hence the Series 3 center channel in my system. I never expected any timber matching problems mixing the two series, and have never experienced any. Then again, I'm no expert. I do know what I like, and I am very happy with these speakers.

I've just purchased a new 7.2 capable Onkyo AVR, and am trying to decide whether to use my 601s for the front height channel. Unfortunately, the room is not configured well for side surround speaker placement. There's no wall on which to place a side surround speaker on one side of the space, and that speaker would end up pretty much in a walkway. Eventually we plan to enclose an actual home theater room within this open space. At that time we'll set up 7.2. In the meantime we'll get by without the side speakers

Another option would be to continue to use 5.1 in the family room system and move either the 602s or the 601s to the living room (wife's) system, where we're currently using four Yamaha satellite-type speakers with an older Klipsch SW-8 subwoofer. I've been keeping my eye on Craigslist and eBay for good deals on B&W 600 series center channel speakers, but haven't found anything local yet, and many eBay sellers won't ship to Alaska. Decisions, decisions

I'd be interested in your opinions on the above options, and also on center channel speakers from other brands that might not have too much of a timber matching problem with the 600 series.
Thanks in advance for any information you care to provide!
Kevin

The Velodyne DEQ series offer a lot of bang for the buck.The DEQ series is called CHT outside the U.S. Like most of the better Velodynes,they have auto room eq and a remote with presets for different source material. They are only available in black(not real wood,but looks ok) .To find which Velodyne would be right for you,look at http://www.velodyne.com/wproduct/whp...x?sid=676f565k
I use a Velodyne sub with my B&W's,very satisfied!

I too am limited on space for my center(bought the stand to fit the tv). I was able to try several center speakers in my home(Def Tec,Boston,Klipsch and others) and the HTM62 blew 'em all away.

Good luck finding 804S speakers. Unless your dealer already has them in their own warehouse, you won't get new ones easily. Used ones will probably start hitting the classified sites around April, IMO.

Although I'd love some Diamonds, I'll hold off and enjoy my S's for a while longer. Unless, of course, you are interested in my Rosenut 804S's for the right price.

Hammie,

I assume that is an HTM3S you are running as your center? That is a gorgeous setup by the way.

I also notice an Emotiva amp in the cabinet. Is that what is driving the B&W's? I ask because I also just ordered an Emotiva XPA-3 to power my front 3 speakers. The rears will either be powered by the Onkyo receiver or my old Parasound HCA1000 (which is currently driving my P5's)

Anyone running original Nautilus center with new S series mains?

So does anyone mount their large B&W center above their screen? My rack won't allow it to go under, and the floor stand is not an option with the kids. If I end up with one it will need to be on a shelf above my RPTV. One problem with that config for me is my TV is not right up against the wall, the screen is about 32" from it as a matter of fact. Any shelf I built would tend to put the speaker much closer to the wall. Since it is a sealed speaker, booming shouldn't be a problem, but other things might be. Reflections off the top and rear of the TV, and time alignment with the L/R which will be on the same plane as the screen. I guess I could take the time to build some large brackets that would allow me to bring the speaker out flush with the front of the TV. Not as easy as some braced L Brackets from Lowes, but I guess it's worth it for a speaker like this.

Thanks for the compliment.

Yes, it is the HTM3S. And yes, I am running an Emotiva XPA-5. I'm currently tossing around the idea of either getting XPA-1's for each, XPA-2's and bi-amp each, or upgrade my Pre/Pro. My 2010 upgraditis is really eating at me.

I guess a picture is worth a thousand words, but is there anyway to build a cubby around the TV? This would allow the center to be further forward and more inline with the fronts. I'm not sure what center you have, but my HTM3S is over 60lbs. You will need some heavy duty shelving. I would recommend 1" solid wood at a minimum. MDF would probably be ideal, but then you would need to put some sort of veneer for looks since MDF is ugly.

Thanks for the recommendation I found an Australian distributor that list the price of the Velodyne CHT-Q10 for $1,199AUD so I will give them a call to see what prices they can do. The sub seem to offer more, in terms of features and power, than the B&W ASW610 for the same price.

If you look a few pages back, you'll see that the newer 2010 Diamond speakers are $1000-1200 more than the last 800-series speakers. So if you're looking to buy 2 or 3 speakers, that's about $2-3K more.
I'm sure the new ones sound slightly better, but I'd say jump on the older ones while you can and save the extra cash.

I agree. I've only had by 804S/HTM3S since summer '08 and plan to keep them for several years (had the 603 for 12). I'm sure by the time I'm ready to upgrade my speakers (maybe 5-6 years), B&W will have these new ones replaced with something else.

Press Release with more info and prices:

http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/med/Li...mond_UK_PR.pdf

800 Diamond £18,500 per pair (US $29,000)
802 Diamond £11,500 per pair (US $18,400)
803 Diamond £7,500 per pair (US $12,000)
804 Diamond £5,750 per pair (US $9,100)
805 Diamond £3,750 per pair (US $6,000)
HTM2 Diamond £3,950 each (US $6,300)
HTM4 Diamond £1,950 each (US $3,100)

That's a bit more than was posted earlier:

800: $24,000.00/pair USD
802: $15,000.00/pair USD
803: $10,000.00/pair USD
804: $7,500.00/pair USD
805: $5,000.00/pair USD
HTM2: $5,000.00ea USD
HTM4: $2,750.00ea USD

I would bet that UK Press Release includes VAT, which is something over 10% I think. so those prices are actually similar to the ones rumored earlier.

Either way that makes for a hefty price tag to get into the 800 series. I feel really good about grabbing those 804S's now

They seriously need something to go in between the CM-series and the new 800-series. Unless they do I can imagine people going somewhere else with thir money since there are a quite a few alternatives in that range, especially for a full surround setup. With the entry point at $6000 its a seriously expensive setup.

wow those new 805's are pricey. They better sound damn good for that kind of money... I have been hearing great things about the saulk sound tower I may have to find a set to listen to if B&W's are going to start costing that kind of money...

That's flipping insane! Oh well that really preserves the prices on the original Nautilis / and S 800 series

Sanus
Revel
Wilson
Come immediately to mind.
And the list goes on and on and on.

They really need to make these 900 series and leave the 800 alone. Or rename the old 800s as the new 700 series. They are pricing themselves out.

I did a little math, and the price of the 800 series is rising at a rate triple of inflation. They must think they are Rolex.

I have a pair of 683's and a HTM61 and really have enjoyed the 683s. I had really considered going to the 685s when I got my system, but got a great deal on the 683s I could not pass up.

In my opinion there is not much gained by going from 685 to 683 if you have a good sub. Marginal if any at best. As for the 804s and 803s, that is a different ball game. I have heard both and there is a rather large difference between the 683 and 804s. A much fuller sound and greater detail. There is also a incremental increase between the 804s and 803s (bigger than going from 685 to 683).

As for the question, is it worth the money. I can't say, but I can tell you this. I am actively looking for a great deal on a pair of 803s to replace my 683. I liked them that much.

I'm interested in getting a pair of 685s and a matching center. Could any one recommend a good B&W seller in NY or NJ areas?

Thanks in advance.

Hammie, I'll try and take a pic tonight, but building a cubby around the TV isn't really an option. I hate furniture, so the less stuff there the better to me, and I also don't really have the skills to build an actual cabinet. My TV is a 65" Mitsu DLP, sitting on a stand like this;

http://images.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US...832492cv2a.jpg only a little larger, in that it will fit 3 pieces of gear next to each other. So the TV sits on top and all the gear fits on the 2 shelves underneath it, which currently includes my LCR600 S2 center, but it just barely fits in the 8" gap between the shelves. Obviously an HTM1 or HTM3s (or even the HTM2 or 4) won't fit there.

So my thought is to get some heavy duty shelving brackets and build a shelf above the the TV, and extend it out so that it comes flush with the front of the TV. It will be a little complicated, but easier than building a cabinet around the whole TV.

Regardless of the VAT for GB, the prices are going up too much I feel, regardless of the speaker improvements.

Back in 2008 the MSRP was about $4500 for the 804S and $2500 for the HTM3S. That's $7000, but I was able to get both for about $6300 from my dealer (before tax).
Now the new price of the 804D would be $7500 (or up to $9000) and the HTM2D is $5000 (up to $6000). So even using the low-end numbers, that's $12500 (or up to $15000) for MSRP. Then take 10-12% off from most dealers, would be about $11,000...or $5000 more than what I paid.

If I didn't buy the 804S/HTM3S when I did, there's no way I'd spend $5000 more for the 804D/HTM2D. With those prices, I'd have to go with the smaller 805D/HTM4D.

In 2002 I bought the original 802N's for $7200. ($8000 MSRP)

That's 11.3% inflation per year! Reasonable? I think not. Especially since the high end market has bottomed out so hard.

Like I said, B&W should have made an 800 line and a 900 line and kept them seperate. They are leaving a lot of us out in the cold.

I would tell everyone to write B&W and let them know your thoughts on the new pricing structure. But something tells me they would laugh in our face.