Colin L
High-tech low-life
The bigger 800s will need free space & lots of power, difficult to fit in the average British lounge. I’ve always quite fancied a pair but never had the funds or the room.
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The bigger 800s will need free space & lots of power, difficult to fit in the average British lounge. I’ve always quite fancied a pair but never had the funds or the room.
What I think is there's too many choices out there and there will be many which will sound great in your room and to your ears. Just go with your heart if you're set on the B&Ws but it may be worthwhile to listen to other alternatives in the similar price range.Hi,
I have noticed in a number of forums that there can be a negativity towards b&w speakers. Is this justified? Are they now overlooked and underrated?
My experience is of the lower range, 685 s2 which I think are very good value providing you have the correct electronics. Originally I drove them with a 90 watt marantz amp but it did not pair well, the amp specifically stated to be used only with 8 to 16 ohm speakers and so I am assuming did not have good current delivery.
I upgraded to a rega brio and it made a huge difference. I then decided to upgrade my speakers to neat motive sx3 which were better but definitely not night and day. However they are more than twice the price.
Since then I have moved and have a larger listening environment and also have an Elex-r, in the new room the Neats sound small and now the b&ws sound fantastic, particularly for the cost of them.
I am again looking to upgrade speakers and have been reading several positive reviews, particularly on the 800 series and 705 s2, the latter I am hoping to listen to when the shops reopen. However I feel in the forums the brand is now some what overlooked.
What do others think?
Thanks
FWIW I have been a long time B&W user with the budget CDM 1SE. It only costs £600 retail when I bought it back in 1997. These days they cost a lot more especially the 800 series.
They’re great aren’t they.Love my CM8's, had them a couple of years now as a second hand bargain, paired with my Rotel amplifier they sound wonderful. The amp will be changed next before the speakers as they really suit my room.
They’re great aren’t they.
Great price. I listened to the second version but no obvious difference in sound. Once placed well they really sing.Fantastic speakers, had a chance to hear the modern equivalent, the 704 S2 that cost £2000 and I still preferred the CM8. Got mine in mint condition for £540.
Just reading about the 702 s2 (too much time on my hands I know), b&w specify a amp which produces between 30 - 300 Watts into 8 ohm but they drop to 3.1 ohm and from what I have read are effectively a 4 ohm speaker.
Question - would a rega elex-r be capable of driving these? The Elex-r is rated at 72.5 Watts into 8 ohm and 113 Watts into 4 ohms. Not concerned about the number of Watts as these speakers are very sensitive rated at 90 dB but more concerned around current required, although my understanding is that the Elex-r is capable of driving 4 ohm speakers and this is why rega publish the 4 ohm figure?
For anyone interested there seems to be good discounts available on b&w speakers just now - 700 off these and 350 off the 705s.
from a review
Out of perverse curiousity I started listening to the 702 with a Rega Brio amplifier connected with Naim NACA5 cable, a speedy but potentially savage tonal combination that presented lots of detail and impressively low bass rumble but was a little too fierce through the midband. Switching to my regular Townshend Fractal F1 speaker cable brought significant rewards in all areas including timing and detail, these speakers are nothing if not revealing of partnering equipment. Likewise they let you know what’s going on in the music with a fair degree of precision, unveiling the various instruments on the Cowboy Junkies debut album to engaging effect.
Moving up to a rather more weighty amplifier in the ATC P2 with Allegri preamplifier brought an ease and subtlety to the sound that you only get with more power, now things were starting to get very interesting, especially when it came to voice. I had a brief demonstration of Kevlar versus Continuum in 600 series models last month and the difference was not small, the new cone makes everything clearer, cleaner and more controlled. It makes what came before sound surprisingly noisy which is not something I have associated with B&Ws in the past and suggests that the (secret) new material is considerably better suited to this application.
http://www.the-ear.net/review-hardware/bowers-wilkins-702-s2-floor-standing-loudspeaker
Very nice! What model is that?These were stupendous but I had a cavernous listening room.
Very nice! What model is that?
What were you driving them with?