15-Oct-2020, 13:53
(This post was last modified: 15-Oct-2020, 13:56 by deviousalet.)
I recommend listening to the speakers in a room like yours, but if that's not possible here's my experience.
I listened to both the 802d3, 803d3, and 804d3 in the same room with the same equipment. Then I listened to the 803d3 in another situation. In both cases I liked the 804 but thought the 803 was a bit harsh and less balanced than either the 804 or 802d3 (which I love most but has grown too tall over the generations). I know that others love the 803, but I haven't heard it sound better than the 804. I wanted to like the 803 because it is the shape I want, but I never enjoyed the sound as much as the other models.
As for power, I've had Devialet 200, 400, 440, 250, and 1000 powering 802n and 804d3. Both my B&W speakers like power, but really don't need more than 200W. The dual mono sound better, and there's some improvement when giving the B&W more power, but I'd say the other benefits of dual mono and the upgrade from 440 to 1000 outweigh the increase in power. For example, upgrading my speaker cables or interlink cable made more of an improvement than the increase in power.
In my experience of B&W speakers in many rooms, the large speakers don't sound bad in small rooms. However, even the 805 greatly benefits from being over a meter away from walls. If you can't keep them away from walls the 804 or 805 (front ported) sound better than the 802 or 800 (bottom ported) when close to walls. The baffles of my 804d3 sound best about where my 802n were, it is just that the 802 were far deeper. The 804 look much better in a small room even though the 802 sound better there.
This is all just one person's opinion, but I hope it helps.
I listened to both the 802d3, 803d3, and 804d3 in the same room with the same equipment. Then I listened to the 803d3 in another situation. In both cases I liked the 804 but thought the 803 was a bit harsh and less balanced than either the 804 or 802d3 (which I love most but has grown too tall over the generations). I know that others love the 803, but I haven't heard it sound better than the 804. I wanted to like the 803 because it is the shape I want, but I never enjoyed the sound as much as the other models.
As for power, I've had Devialet 200, 400, 440, 250, and 1000 powering 802n and 804d3. Both my B&W speakers like power, but really don't need more than 200W. The dual mono sound better, and there's some improvement when giving the B&W more power, but I'd say the other benefits of dual mono and the upgrade from 440 to 1000 outweigh the increase in power. For example, upgrading my speaker cables or interlink cable made more of an improvement than the increase in power.
In my experience of B&W speakers in many rooms, the large speakers don't sound bad in small rooms. However, even the 805 greatly benefits from being over a meter away from walls. If you can't keep them away from walls the 804 or 805 (front ported) sound better than the 802 or 800 (bottom ported) when close to walls. The baffles of my 804d3 sound best about where my 802n were, it is just that the 802 were far deeper. The 804 look much better in a small room even though the 802 sound better there.
This is all just one person's opinion, but I hope it helps.
