B&W 802 D3 for 8500$ -> Is it worth it?

[christoffeldg]

Hey everyone,

When I just got into hifi, I made the really stupid decision to just buy a set of 802 D3s without doing any prior research and not really understanding what I bought. I coupled them in the living room to my Lyngdorf TDAI 2170 and did love them.

Today, about 8 years later, I am setting myself up for selling them, and it seems the price I'm able to get for them is about 8500$ for the pair.

However, I have tried my old 580 JBL thinking I would notice much difference. But damn, do the 802 D3 still sound good. But are they still worth it at 8500$?

As the speakers aren't being measured here and I'm never really seeing any comparison to any other speakers. I wonder if they're somewhat comparable to other speakers within that 8-10k price range.

Can I sell them and get a similar quality speakers at 2k? Or should I keep it because I will never get comparable performance until at least 10k+.

 

[BrokenEnglishGuy]

i guess the question is, do you like how that speaker sounds like?
you say, you love the speaker... so it's the end of the history, bw has his own coup of tea with his own characteristics. I'd say the highs must sounds interesting in that speaker

 

[EdW]

Hey everyone,

When I just got into hifi, I made the really stupid decision to just buy a set of 802 D3s without doing any prior research and not really understanding what I bought. I coupled them in the living room to my Lyngdorf TDAI 2170 and did love them.

Today, about 8 years later, I am setting myself up for selling them, and it seems the price I'm able to get for them is about 8500$ for the pair.

However, I have tried my old 580 JBL thinking I would notice much difference. But damn, do the 802 D3 still sound good. But are they still worth it at 8500$?

As the speakers aren't being measured here and I'm never really seeing any comparison to any other speakers. I wonder if they're somewhat comparable to other speakers within that 8-10k price range.

Can I sell them and get a similar quality speakers at 2k? Or should I keep it because I will never get comparable performance until at least 10k+.

Stereophile did a review of the 802D3 in May 2016

Bowers & Wilkins 802 D3 Diamond loudspeaker

"This is getting to be a habit." That's how I ended the first paragraph of my review of Bowers & Wilkins' 800 Diamond speaker, in the May 2011 issue; apparently, Stereophile's habit of reviewing models from B&W's 800 series remains unbroken.

www.stereophile.com

To do significantly better you’d need to consider something like the KEF blade 2 or some of the high end speakers from Revel.

 

[christoffeldg]

i guess the question is, do you like how that speaker sounds like?
you say, you love the speaker... so it's the end of the history, bw has his own coup of tea with his own characteristics. I'd say the highs must sounds interesting in that speaker

But from a pure objective quality level, the used materials, the weight and size of the cabinet, the potential resonances, etc. Are there similar speakers in a much lower price range that would perform as well objectively?

For instance, what I hear in the JBL is that the high tones are great, but it loses definition when going deeper. Becoming quite muddy in the lower tones.

 

[staticV3]

Hi @christoffeldg! Welcome to ASR.

The 802 D3 has uneven frequency response both on- and off-axis:

Bowers & Wilkins 802 D3 Diamond loudspeaker Measurements

Sidebar 3: Measurements

www.stereophile.com

For reference, a well-designed loudspeaker:

Dutch & Dutch 8c active loudspeaker system Measurements

Sidebar 3: Measurements

www.stereophile.com

At that price, if you value signal fidelity (signal in=signal out), I'd say not worth it.

For some high-fidelity floorstanders, see here:

A collection of loudspeakers measurements

www.spinorama.org

It's mostly KEF, Ascend, Perlisten, and Revel.

 

[BrokenEnglishGuy]

But from a pure objective quality level, the used materials, the weight and size of the cabinet, the potential resonances, etc. Are there similar speakers in a much lower price range that would perform as well objectively?

For instance, what I hear in the JBL is that the high tones are great, but it loses definition when going deeper. Becoming quite muddy in the lower tones.

material, weight and everything is very fine in that speaker, and if you are happy in how it sounds like you're done for the next 20 years or somethin', lmao. This speaker has it's own character, and if you like that... you're done with HiFi, just be happy.

Someone are going to point speaker like blades or revel, they aren't textbook perfect either. Blades doesn't have a wide soundstage, neither is constant, and the force cancelling is good for reduce cabinet weight and that stuff, they did... the blades are '' lightweight '' vs the hiend speakers, for example ur speaker is 93 Kg, the blades are 35 and 57 KG.


Enjoy your speakers, if you like how your speaker sounds like a revel or kef aren't going to sound great to you.

 

[BrokenEnglishGuy]

For reference, a well-designed loudspeaker:

Dutch & Dutch 8c active loudspeaker system Measurements

Sidebar 3: Measurements

www.stereophile.com

I bet the BW cabinet is way better

 

[Purité Audio]

You would have to hear some ‘possibles’ in your own room, only you can decide whether you prefer a more transparent design.
Keith

 

[staticV3]

I bet the BW cabinet is way better

Even if it was, which I'm not so sure of, that would in no way negate the flaws in frequency response.

It's like "Yeah sure, there's a nasty treble peak on-axis and off-axis is a mess too, but have you tried putting your hand on the cabinet while playing? Ain't that amazing??"

 

[BrokenEnglishGuy]

Even if it was, which I'm not so sure of, that would in no way negate the flaws in frequency response.

It's like "Yeah sure, there's a nasty treble peak on-axis and off-axis is a mess too, but have you tried putting your hand on the cabinet while playing? Ain't that amazing??"

on axis fr and off axis fr in the end only indicates preference with the metric, in this case the speaker owner loves the coloration, so the bw 802d3 match his own taste so well in on-axis and off-axis....

 

[FrantzM]

Stereophile did a review of the 802D3 in May 2016

Bowers & Wilkins 802 D3 Diamond loudspeaker

"This is getting to be a habit." That's how I ended the first paragraph of my review of Bowers & Wilkins' 800 Diamond speaker, in the May 2011 issue; apparently, Stereophile's habit of reviewing models from B&W's 800 series remains unbroken.

www.stereophile.com

To do significantly better you’d need to consider something like the KEF blade 2 or some of the high end speakers from Revel.

...

We can't discuss taste. People like what they like. there is no right or wrong.. but... We are here at ASR, objective, at least trying to be. We tend to go for what is measurable, repeatable, trying to put aside our biases. Emphasis is on "trying"...
This said , you can do better than that at $8500.. The list is long. Already the OP seemed to like his/her JBL Studio 580 ... these were about $1200/pair ... So...
I would suggest the OP to think Revel 208 or if he wants active and is willing to spend that kinf of cash (8500), Either the Neumann KH 310 or the Gnelec 8351 or to look for a deal on either, gently used or demo Genelec 8361 or Neuman KH 420 at $8500/pairs. These 2 remain among the best measured speakers here on ASR and on objective metrics are superior to that BW... With Lyngdorf RoomPerfect and a pair of these in a medium sized room? One is almost guaranteed of glorious high SPL, linear, low distortion Full range sound...


Peace.

 

[christoffeldg]

...

We can't discuss taste. People like what they like. there is no right or wrong.. but... We are here at ASR, objective, at least trying to be. We tend to go for what is measurable, repeatable, trying to put aside our biases. Emphasis is on "trying"...
This said , you can do better than that at $8500.. The list is long. Already the OP seemed to like his/her JBL Studio 580 ... these were about $1200/pair ... So...
I would suggest the OP to think Revel 208 or if he wants active and is willing to spend that kinf of cash (8500), Either the Neumann KH 310 or the Gnelec 8351 or to look for a deal on either, gently used or demo Genelec 8361 or Neuman KH 420 at $8500/pairs. These 2 remain among the best measured speakers here on ASR and on objective metrics are superior to that BW... With Lyngdorf RoomPerfect and a pair of these in a medium sized room? One is almost guaranteed of glorious high SPL, linear, low distortion Full range sound...


Peace.

I like the JBL 580, but there's a massive audible quality difference between them. Which I assume is due to the cabinet design as the lower end of the JBLs are bloomy and messy, while the B&W sounds tight and stable across the entire range. I'm just wondering at what price range I can have that wide open soundstage with stable sound top to bottom.

 

[Koeitje]

I like the JBL 580, but there's a massive audible quality difference between them. Which I assume is due to the cabinet design as the lower end of the JBLs are bloomy and messy, while the B&W sounds tight and stable across the entire range. I'm just wondering at what price range I can have that wide open soundstage with stable sound top to bottom.

Revel Performa3 or Be series with 8" woofers is where I'd start. Revel generally has a wide and smooth dispersion. KEF is also smooth, but a bit more narrow. Depends on your preference which you like beter, I'd start with Revel.

 

[staticV3]

I'm just wondering at what price range I can have that wide open soundstage with stable sound top to bottom.

I'd start with the F35/F36 or F206/F208.

 

[Roland68]

I like the JBL 580, but there's a massive audible quality difference between them. Which I assume is due to the cabinet design as the lower end of the JBLs are bloomy and messy, while the B&W sounds tight and stable across the entire range. I'm just wondering at what price range I can have that wide open soundstage with stable sound top to bottom.

You shouldn't underestimate your B&W.
I would advise you to invest some time and listen to different speakers at a dealer with similar electronics. You might also find private listening appointments in local forums.
It is important that you take your own music with you.

 

[Golftee99]

ECM Records and MIT Acoustical department ALSO own these speakers but you should trust your ears ultimately.

 

[test1223]

They are good speakers the tonality is a matter of debate but they can most likely be equalized to a flat target curve without any issues, if the are similar to the 803 D3. They were measurements and the di is pretty flat. Better than a lot of praised speakers here.

Measurements for speaker Bowers & Wilkins 803 D3

www.spinorama.org

They should sound "cleaner" than lot of other speakers which where mentioned here, since the drivers and cabinet are very good.

I would give them a try with eq. I guess they aren't that hard to sell if you don't like them with eq.

 

[Purité Audio]

If you equate clean with bright then yes.
Very clean.
Keith

 

[Roland68]

They are good speakers the tonality is a matter of debate but they can most likely be equalized to a flat target curve without any issues, if the are similar to the 803 D3. They were measurements and the di is pretty flat. Better than a lot of praised speakers here.

Measurements for speaker Bowers & Wilkins 803 D3

www.spinorama.org

They should sound "cleaner" than lot of other speakers which where mentioned here, since the drivers and cabinet are very good.

I would give them a try with eq. I guess they aren't that hard to sell if you don't like them with eq.

The problem when trying out such speakers is that they weigh about 95 kg each.

 

[christoffeldg]

I'm already using an equalizer -> RoomPerfect with Lyngdorf TDAI 2170