Focal Kantana 3 vs B&W 804 d4 - which would be less bright/fatiguing?

[dman777]

For anyone that has heard both, which would be less bright (but not boring) which would not induce listening fatigue... The Focal Kantana 3 or B&W 804 d4? Assuming it is the same amp, if possible.

 

[JSmith]

https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/focal-kanta-no3 (yes there are measurements... using the Australian Hi-Fi Newport Test Labs magazine data)

Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Series 804 D4 loudspeaker Measurements

Sidebar 3: Measurements I used DRA Labs' MLSSA system, a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone, and an Earthworks microphone preamplifier to measure the Bowers & Wilkins 804 D4's frequency response in the farfield. My primary axis for the measurements was level with the tweeter, but I also performed a...

www.stereophile.com

I think the Focal is the better choice...


JSmith

 

[Deleted member 48726]

Focal Kanta 3-->

B&W 804 D4-->

The Focal would be my choice, based on measurements, due to the more neutral response.

 

[fpitas]

Focal Kanta 3-->

View attachment 304734

B&W 804 D4-->

View attachment 304735

The Focal would be my choice, based on measurements, due to the more neutral response.

Agreed. The B&W measures like a child designed it.

 

[BrokenEnglishGuy]

only because the 804d4 is good looking i would down the HF using EQ.. XD

 

[youra6]

Agreed. The B&W measures like a child designed it.

I take offense to that.




My kid could do way better.

 

[Dougey_Jones]

Agreed. The B&W measures like a child designed it.

They have for a while.

 

[Deleted member 48726]

They have for a while.

Bad&Wiggling

 

[Bach]

Agreed. The B&W measures like a child designed it.

Doubtful. Even a child prodigy can not design that speaker just by himself.

 

[fpitas]

Doubtful. Even a child prodigy can not design that speaker just by himself.

Maybe the owner of B&W has more than one kid?

 

[BrokenEnglishGuy]

Lets be honest
The bw800 is top tier technnical performance

Just the FR is a mess up, u can fix that using a parametrix EQ

 

[fpitas]

Lets be honest
The bw800 is top tier technnical performance

Just the FR is a mess up, u can fix that using a parametrix EQ

Well, maybe. Depends what the off-axis is up to.

And you have an odd definition of top-tier, vs maybe top-dollar.

 

[BrokenEnglishGuy]

Well, maybe. Depends what the off-axis is up to.

And you have an odd definition of top-tier, vs maybe top-dollar.

If you EQ down the 7khz mess up, off axis the directivity will looks great

The problem is the port has a huge peak, technically is not a bad thing because is really sharp, but im pretty sure there will be a some songs that will make a bit obvious the problem

 

[fpitas]

If you EQ down the 7khz mess up, off axis the directivity will looks great

The problem is the port has a huge peak, technically is not a bad thing because is really sharp, but im pretty sure there will be a some songs that will make a bit obvious the problem

Well, I'm glad somebody thinks they're worth salvaging.

 

[BrokenEnglishGuy]

Well, I'm glad somebody thinks they're worth salvaging.

i would not salvaging the 804, in fact i feel a bit of a shame but i thinked we are talking about the 803 d4.. to me the 804 is kind of ok looking xD





I don't know if the 803 doesn't have that port noise, if the 803 doen't have that problem i think the're worh salvaging.
I also think the kanta 3 needs EQ, the woofers are kind or 1dB or 2dB below the mid range

 

[Deleted member 48726]

For me, personally, I think they could've done better in the tuning. Probably wouldn't be much change in the crossover to align that FR better. And then it seems to me the priority is wrong on B&W's end. And would I like a speaker where the priority wasn't to get the best sound possible?

 

[NYfan2]

Having heard both (different times, different places) I choose the Focal Kanta 3 anytime over the B&W.
If just focussing on the highs and listening fatigue I can understand that somebody prefers the B&W although for me it's definitely not the best sounding speaker.

 

[YSC]

If you EQ down the 7khz mess up, off axis the directivity will looks great

The problem is the port has a huge peak, technically is not a bad thing because is really sharp, but im pretty sure there will be a some songs that will make a bit obvious the problem

Chewed up response with a shelf from 80-500hz, then a valley from 500-1000hz, and some really chewed up top end... the wiggling looks like the driver are having some resonances or breakup also, by that alone I won't call it top tier (except price) in any sense. if directivity is all that matters you can get a lot cheaper and still get a better off the shelf FR without the port noise