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In Reply to: Why such negative vibes on B&W's posted by bmullin on July 23, 2002 at 10:07:38:
I've posted quite often here over a year or so as I have tried to get my N801's set up. Its been a real challenge but they are going very well (to my ears) now. I listen in the nearfield - about 8 feet, with the speakers slightly wide of equilateral. In this way I minimise room reflections and largely overcome the effects of an assymetrical room. I have elevated them about 6 inches - this was absolutely the answer to overcoming excess bass, yet preserving the ability to provide tight bass and slam. I biamp them (300W amps) though this is a secondary gain - I eq out a couple of minor room modes in the bass only.As now setup, with thanks to all who have helped, they do very well. I recently had the opportunity to listen to five 100K plus systems in a hifi shop in North America - none achieved anything close to the bass extension I get routinely at home. In some, mids and highs were better but they were much more expensive set ups and speakers.
I have never heard my 801's overemphasise a single mid or high note - other hi end speakers I have heard do this and it is diabolical to me as once heard the speaker is history in my opinion - you latch on to that note and it bugs you forever.
The 801's sound very live and life like further back in the room and in the adjacent kitchen they are beautiful to listen to. They have power and authority and reproduce low stage noises that most systems don't know exist which greatly adds to the feeling of a live event.
Well that doesn't stop me listening to other systems and expoerimenting to get better - but they are much better speakers than some who are perhaps less experienced at working with them to make them sing would have you believe. The 801's are certainly hard to get right in a room though - especially without prior experience.
Just my 2c. Am off to listen to some RM40's tomorrow (kindly demoed by Brian C) just in case they are heaps better so I'm not closed in my outlook at all.
Follow Ups:
All I can say is I'm envious of you. B&W takes a beating but I too have heard breathtakingly expensive systems from Cabasse and JM labs and Legacy etc and none of them really beat the 801s if the set-up is bang on. And I also notice that the store that brings in the B&W competition a year later still only carries the B&W line as all the others get thrashed. Now they simply carry Monitor Audio and one other for the lower end models.To me the B&Ws are the best boxed speaker I've heard...though the Reference 3a MM De Capo I like a lot better than the 805...but the 805 is no 801. Still I'd be interested to hear the La Suprema one day.
The REAL competition for B&W comes from esoteric Horn companies or Electrostats that offer a different sound entirely...different however doesn't mean better.
Interesting - I agree - the speakers that I listened to last week that really stood out were Acapella Campaniles - horns at around 3 - 4x the cost of 801's. The mids and treble in those seemed to be a rather different league - or maybe I'm just hooked on them and thats what I want to think.My work takes me on rather strange set of towns over two weeks permitting listening to Acapella's in Canada, VMPS in SF and hopefully Soundlabs in SLC - couldn't have asked for better and I didn't arrange it!!!
Even more jealous now??
Thankfully, I try to listen to only the stuff that I can afford or costs no more than a Honda Civic. It's frustrating to have Rolls Royce taste when you take the bus. LOLAnd now that I've quit my Accounting career to go back to school live on student loans to become a teacher, I make it a point to listen to lesser gear and strive for something like the MM De Capo. It helps keep me sane...and for the money it is a wonderful speaker.
Horns, my speakers use horns...Wharfedale. LOL I know. I use them for rock and dance and shift to my HD 600s for everything else.
You're probably right about the horns you listened to, not saying the 801 is the best speaker available but it's not outclassed by speakers for the same money. I might go an elecrostat route...and those Avante Garde Horns are quite a delight as well.
Have not heard Acapella, VMPS or soundlabs. Maybe that's a good thing.
yep - think you are right - its a balance and I shouldn't have listened to the Campaniles when my budget doesn't go there - but its fun and if you and the dealer are clear on this then it sort of sets the ground rules.Brian kindly let me have a listen at his house today - it was a bit brief due to flights etc, but the RM40 speakers performed, I thought, well beyond their price range. Unfortunatley his choice of layout across the short end of the room doesn't suit my normal (long end)listening (results in a lot of room sound mixed in), but the speakers played some very difficult music very well, and orchestral extremely well.
If I didn't already own the 801's I'd be keen. Being already an 801 owner, the change would have some positives and some negatives I feel so couldn't be justified in my case I'm afraid. One thing I learnt is that when speakers are well set up to suit YOU, hearing someone elses set up places those speakers at a disadvantage.
Good luck with your studies and career change!
Murray
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