15-Feb-2017, 04:49
I changed from B&W N802 to 804d3 speakers.
I loved my 802 but speakers have improved a lot since '99 and I wanted the added clarity the improvement have made possible.
I listened to many, many options (B&W, Focal, KEF, Magico, Monitor Audio, Paradigm, Revel, Wilson, etc.). I even brought home some Magico S5 (great speakers but not for my room). While I would really love the B&W 802d3 (okay, really I'd love the Magico Q7MkII) the 802d3 have grown very tall in stature and price since my N802. The height is a problem for my projection purposes as well as room aesthetics. The 803d3 were a compromised middle ground. The 804d3 sounded by far the best of the speakers not much taller than my N802, so I got those. The 804d3 are far more precise, clear, detailed, and accurate than my N802, but I do miss the scale of sound, and the enveloping presence of the 802 sound.
I loved my 802 but speakers have improved a lot since '99 and I wanted the added clarity the improvement have made possible.
I listened to many, many options (B&W, Focal, KEF, Magico, Monitor Audio, Paradigm, Revel, Wilson, etc.). I even brought home some Magico S5 (great speakers but not for my room). While I would really love the B&W 802d3 (okay, really I'd love the Magico Q7MkII) the 802d3 have grown very tall in stature and price since my N802. The height is a problem for my projection purposes as well as room aesthetics. The 803d3 were a compromised middle ground. The 804d3 sounded by far the best of the speakers not much taller than my N802, so I got those. The 804d3 are far more precise, clear, detailed, and accurate than my N802, but I do miss the scale of sound, and the enveloping presence of the 802 sound.