Do you know the what company manufacturers the accoustic treatment disperspersion panels behind those speakers? I'm wondering if dispersion panels would be a worthwhile tweak for my vintage B&W CDM-1NT bookshelf speakers. I don't believe they cost that much. I have no need for bass traps. The low frequency output is fast, tight & very musical sounding...well articulated. TX
I spent an entire day listening to various music on these, and then the next day with the JBL 4367. I'm a believer. We're talking about comparing a small bookshelf at $8000 versus a huge speaker at $15000 and I couldn't tell you which one I liked more. I think in the end I liked the larger sound stage of the JBL But that diamond tweeter is the REAL DEAL.
4:53 I made some speakers from scratch using my 706s as a reference guide. And the made speakers have an 8" coaxial and a 10" woofer. A 3-way monster. It also just gets better the more you crank it. Doesn't get louder, just gets bigger.
Back in 2018 I listened to the 805 d3’s + sub. Sounded good however I missed something. Then I listened to the 803’s without sub. I couldn’t believe the difference. I went for the 803’s + center. Powered by a Parasound a51. Still loving it.
There is a saying that the second happiest day of a boat owner's life is the day he brings the boat home and the happiest day is the day he sells it. My father in-law can confirm that. I had a pair of 804N's, and feel exactly the same way. And I bought them just as my kids were starting to get expensive, so I was stuck with the speakers for more years than I care to admit. I managed to get them to sound really good on the best recordings, but many old favorites were rendered unlistenable. Two pieces of advice for anybody considering B&W's. First, make sure your room matches B&W' s requirements. In my case, I didn't have the specified 10 foot listening distance. It would have been nice if the dealer had asked about my listening room. If you think the small size and 6" woofer would be good for a small room, think again. Second, yes, you need McIntosh/Luxman level of electronics. Tubes or tubey sounding transistor electronics are highly recommended. Forget about 'detailed' (i.e. bright and zippy) class D amps. In my case, silver cables made my last few years of ownership a bit more tolerable.
Listening to Blue Elephant right now. Here Come the Warm Jets was the first Eno album I purchased back in the day if you don’t count For Your Pleasure...
I usually stick around for these reviews that are prohibitively expensive because i am curious as to what Steve's listening to. He's hipped me to some truly incredible stuff.
Yesterday i did a 3 hour session with the 803 d4,with 4 diferent amps and response of the speaker was amazing to the diferent amps. The first thing you noticed compared to the d3 series,is that the new s4 play very well with great tonal balance at low volumes.
@@streettails8045 ok,ive been at the factory in Brighton England two times and the 800 series are made there in house.the nautilus are custom painted in the brighton factory too.
they do use Mundorf high end cap on the tweeter , worth 200usd each ... most 8k speakers use really generic poly caps ..... that cap makes that diamond tweeter shine
@@toneswinger but more expensive don't always equal better. I have compared my Audiovector r1 arrete speakers to Focal Sopra 1, and Kef Referance 1, both much more expensive than the Audiovector, but the Audiovector held it's own, i actually prefer the Audiovector speakers
I purchased the 805-S (last gen pre diamond) in 2005. Fantastic speaker at $2500USD at the time. ($3500 in today's $) I have followed the line to the D3 and made a jump to the 804 d3 to provide more low end and higher volume threshold. Big fan of the line but we are CLEARLY advancing well up the arch of diminishing returns. The line now lacks a gateway speaker in terms of price. I wonder if they could have kept the existing designs as a step (805/4) into the 800 line without breaking the bank. Maybe replace the diamond with the carbon tweeter and charge 60% the cost of the flagship models?
When it comes to vertical product differentiation, 700 series was upgraded with these two "signature" models 705 and 702 which may attract the ones unable to afford the 80x D4. I think they will closely evaluate their sales figures after the latest price increase. It's finally a matter of business administration (financial controlling and marketing) what to do best. Never underestimate sales which are made in areas beyond North America, Europe, the UK and Australia. On TH-cam you may be tempted to think it's only North America, Europe, the UK and Australia which exist and where the "music plays" - as virtually no comments are coming in from other areas. But there are plenty of wealthy buyers located in the Near Eastern Gulf states, P. R. China (in particular), Japan, Russia, and more, too.
@@pickyaudiophile my point was not that they can't sell the new 800s. It was that there could be an opportunity to bridge the gap between the 700 and 800 series. There is a $4k difference (2x). I'm sure they did their homework and concluded otherwise. I don't care where people live.
@@reynolds8532 I see your point. Speaker companies will always tell us about "increasing costs" leading us to believe their business purpose is to recover costs only. So B&W did. But c'mon, you know the thing™, an alternative tweeter within a range? That's quite uncommon...
Glad to see some good quality parts in the crossover, which is also very simple. An indication of the quality of the drivers and the installation I think, as they’re clearly not fighting any nasty resonances. I’d love to hear them.
I'm sure they're nice speakers Steve; Bowers and Wilkins have made some good speakers through the years, but eight grand seems a little steep. There are a lot of choices out there for those willing to spend that amount.
Holy crud, Eight Thousand dollars !!! I LOVE B&W... have owned 3 pairs over the years. I had a pair of 805s back in 2000... which cost me $1200. The 606s2 are great at 900 pair. I have considered saving my pennies to buy pair of 705s2 at 3K pair. But i feel a little betrayed... new 805s are 7 times more expensive than they were in 20 years ago.
$8000! They've gotten too expensive. I remember hearing the B&W Matrix 805 back in 1995 at a store. They cost $1600. That's around $3000 in todays money.
That is a lot of money for the book shelf speakers. Even if with the stands, $8K is way to much. Please tell me that price includes the stands. Does it?
The folks that care : The Brits that actually make the Speaker, The folks that distribute, The folks that will need service over the horizon The folks that are concerned about Re-Sale residual Values. Please, don't say "for those that care" in a Sarcastic Manner. To Care is a good thing. Tony in Venice Florida ps. I'm glad D.Wasserman has em, he's a great guy!
Good review as always. 8k vs 12k. For the price point vs sound, the 804 d4 sounds like a better value for a more deep bass response and probable better lower-mid to mid range. I would venture to say it's probably a fuller sound as most towers are in comparison to book shelves. Just my opinion.
Excellent. I think Steve is by far the best reviewer on TH-cam. I enjoy very much the background with the paintings on the wall and the books. Old school NY intellectual. Are these B&W standmounts good for big orchestra and chorus symphonic music? I am not sure
Hey Steve! Thanks for the first real-listening review on the 805 D4’s and it was a good one, too! I couldn’t resist noticing the Luxman Class A integrated amplifier on the bottom shelf of the rack. Looking at the color of the meters and the top cover my best guess is that it was the Luxman L-550 AxII. With 20 WPC class A (70+ in class AB) it might have been a nice match for the 88dB sensitive 805 D4’s. Did you get a chance to listen to that combination? You had the right CD player…. Best of luck and thanks for all you do!
@@GlaciaDay Luxman: So many choices in amplifier topology all made with artisanal quality! I would love to hear the combination of the 509 and the D3’s. My dealer had the 590 to audition with the D3’s, not the 509, but it worked for me. Congratulations on your purchase!
It’s a good question, I think they’re comparable speakers. But I reviewed the heritage in February, and I’m not one of those reviewers that can compare things seven months apart! I have no idea how those guys can do that.
Intl' pricing without stands: UK ~USD 8,400 // EU ~USD 9,280 (!) with somewhat around 20% local VAT included. Price increase over the 805 D3: 33%....Wheh! But still there is not so much of competition. The only considerably less expensive speakers in the EU (which may marginally outperform these) coming into my mind are the made in France "VoceGrande" by J.M. Reynaud. Which cost a ~USD 1,600 per pair less, but only available in the EU for that price (they're close to 10 grand in the US).
For $8k I'd get the KEF LS50 meta speakers, a used McIntosh integrated amp, and good used CD player that's been serviced. Seriously, the B&W costing more than 4 times what the LS50 metas cost is too large of a price gap for most people. The Paradigm founder series bookshelves likely compare toe to toe with the B&W for 1/3 the price. B&W is a sound United company now.... RIP real B&W.
@@streettails8045 not the 800 series, they are made in UK. And I doubt they don't care... That's woundnt be good for the health of the business mate. I know the 6 and 7s are overpriced so I agree sort of.
Beat me to it... I was going to post the same question since they're similarly priced. Know you didn't compare them side by side but thought you'd still have a feeling for how they differ in character. Great review and TIA!
I had the opportunity to compare the Dynaudio Heritage Specials with the 805 D3 late this past winter. At the store I heard both pairs, side by side, on a new top-of-the-line do-it-all integrated amplifier from NAD whose model number now escapes me. The difference at that demo was obvious. I found the bass on the Dynaudio to be bloated and indistinct while the D3 was balanced and clear. The D3 tweeter, too, totally outclassed the one on the Dyna. No brightness, just clarity. I did not at all expect the vastly different presentations. The salesperson insisted the speakers were set up with care, as indicated with the tape on the floor.
Couple minor points, BTW I subscribed around 20k. Congrats on achievements! 1st, early when talking about tweeters, ya said "you think" they're the same . @8k a pair would like to know for sure. 2nd, Ya liked the system including the Mac. In the past when talking about Mac, your impression always seemed luke warm at best. What makes this one different?
This was another excellent post Steve, thank you. I've seen a few breakdowns of this new model, but yours was the best and I feel you gave more information than most. Also love your choice of test music, some truly excellent choices. I was fascinated to see the room where you demo'ed the units was packed with other speakers! Are you not bothered by the resulting colouration this introduces? Whilst I know there are limitations on what can be done - speakers at this price point should surely be used in a room where other speakers are not moving with the sound pressure and colouring the sound? Be interested to hear your views. Really enjoyed todays video - thank you for sharing your enthusiasm!
Thanks for your kind words. Well yes, I heard the 805‘s in a store. With all of its limitations, true. But as I said I could not get the speakers at home due to supply chain shortages. Thing is, I have urged viewers to whenever possible to listen before they buy any audio products, in stores. Yes, in-home auditions are the best, but not always possible, especially with high-end, expensive, products.
That's a good point. There are plenty of reviewers or presenters on YT who perform speaker reviews or presentations with other speakers in the room, sometimes even large (even though powered off) subwoofers in the background. E/g 'Sound Sommelier' or 'Pursuit Perfect System' just to name two out of many. There is no doubt all these driver membranes and cabinets are activated by external sound pressure - and do colorize the sound perceived.
Cool video Steve. Sending my respect from the UK 🇬🇧. Anyways, I'd rather have a pair of Dali Epicon 2s, you should give them a try Steve, because they're absolutely beautiful speakers. Anyways, take care Steve. 🙂
Hey Steve, great stuff, thank you for your quality content, i cannot find the full review of BOWERS and WILKINS Formation duo you promised on few occasions, is it lost somewhere on your channel?
Steve, I love listening to your reviews. Keep up the great work. I have an opportunity to purchase a pair of 805 D3's in rose wood. I've always liked the look of rose wood (real wood) vs black speakers. The pair that I'm considering were manufactured in 2015. They are in perfect condition and the sound checks out etc. Should I have any concerns about the age of the speakers - 8 years? Should I just continue my quest for a pair of 805's that are not so old? I would like to keep these for 10+ years. How long will 805's last if cared for correctly? Your feedback will be greatly appreciated.
Hi. The premium speakers if used with good amplifier, would have no issues, if not played at extreme volume etc. The drivers would be perfect and cross over of this quality at its best, they can last you many years if taken care of.👍
Hey Steve, Great review as always, but in watching it prompted a question. A while back you reviewed the Dynaudio Contour 20i, and well before that the Dynaudio Contour 20. These two Dynaudio models have been compared to the B&W805D3. How do they compare to the new B&W805D4, particularly the Contour 20i? Thanks!
@@theomindschrddr7983 it's more open and free sounding, with deep and big soundstage. Also more detail. But the Contour 20i has more bass output, it goes deeper too. 20i has more (not better) bass. It depends on synergy with amplifier of course, I use a gryphon diablo 120 amplifier, it's a perfect match for the Audiovector.
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac What the hell kind of salesman are you? Newer is always better. People like you are killing the economy. Of course it's better. Why else would they come out with a new "improved" model? Buy the new ones. I'll give you ten dollars for the old ones. They were good in their day.
I very much doubt it though. I own a pair of D3 as well and I am now hesitating on if I should upgrade it to D4. I don't think the difference in sound quality is gonna justify the huge price gap. 25% more is harsh.
11-17-70 is one of my all time favorite Elton John records. It is so cool that you were there. So what did everybody think of this Elton guy and whether he was going to make it or not?
There was no doubt Elton was going to be a big deal. I saw him a few times in those early days. I think he was best for the first three or four records.
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac I agree great through Madman and I do like Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and some of Honky Chateau. Not so much after that, but what a great pairing with Elton and Bernie. Love watching your reviews and have bought several pieces of equipment based off of them.
I hope this is B&W China reforming their abrasive sound in the direction of more natural whilst keeping the resolution. Sounds like the guff they took about the S2s had an impact.
It's sad that the original 805 is no longer made, especially since it cost about £1600 when new. I've less and less desire for any of these outrageously expensive B&W speakers
Owned a few B&W speakers never really enjoyed my time with them. But one cant like it all and I go a very different way. Still review is interesting as always keep em coming they go great with a cup of joe.
Same, bought the 607 signature because of his review. I used them for about 20 days and they just felt wrong. They sounded muffled to my 19000hz capable young ears. I then proceeded to testing the 707 and they sounded better but still felt wrong. Ended up getting the Kef ls50 Meta when I was blown away by the clarity and soundstage at another store.
I’ve heard the 800/3 a few times in different rooms. They had a strange behavior, that the sound sometimes seems to come from the ceiling. I don’t think the artists were jumping up and down when recording..
I really doubt a private person has the financial ability to develop the track. BMW has a base just outside Kakamas on the Poffadder Rd as well as at the Augrabies National Park main camp. Upington Airport has the longest runway in the Southern hemisphere. It was an alternate for the Space Shuttle to land on. If you want to see the new cars, wait at the petrol station in Kakamas in January. They often refuel there.
Just curious - 'heavily compressed, etc ' - what would you say about the later Beatles recordings, the Revolver etc mid 1960's discs with layers and layers of playing with tape ? 'new' editions, better. or worse. ?
well i'm using 1100 what mono blocks and have good bass from my 805 D4's.....they are power hungry...don't let their small size fool you!!! They need Lots of power!!!
Hi Steve, could you do a bluetooth portable speaker review in the future? I know that might cause nervous ticks in some but just interested in your opinion. Thanks!
Slightly off topic but relevant to one of your review recordings - Matt Berry. If you want to check out his strange talent, go on Netflix or Prime or wherever the Brit TV series “lT Crowd” (series 2) is playing. He is the wacky boss. Hilarious.
I see everybody is hung up on the price but I mean the work involved is a lot. Does it sound best no, but I heard the 700 series in best buy way up on a high shelf and it was easily the best thing there and it sounded very good. Not better than my kef ls50s but hey bowers and wilkins is making fancy speaker cabinets with curves and diamond tweeters that are isolated and they give it a nice piano finish... all that is going to cost.
Hi Steve, I see you got a chance to use the EAT Csharp! I recently purchased one and am in love, but I would love to hear what your thoughts on it are? Always respect your thoughts on audio gear
I'm not a fan of the current 600 and 700 series. They have too big of a suckout in the midrange, and the tweeter is too hot, making the whole thing sound to me like a bad boombox with the graphic EQ set to a smiley face. However, the 805 has never suffered from that. The have a very full midrange and the tweeter is still hot, but not to the point of shrillness. The 805D3 sounds glorious in TH-cam videos, when paired with the right amp (I've never heard it in person), and the Nautilus 805S is one of the best 2 way speakers I've ever actually heard in person. It made me buy the 601S3, which I then ended up selling, because it too had that midrange suckout, although not as bad as newer 600 series ones. The 602S3 was much better, but was just too big and bassy for my small room. B&Ws also like to play very loud, and don't really wake up until they're louder than my ears, and room, can tolerate
At least 90% of what Steve reviews I can't afford. But I enjoy watching his videos. I've learned alot from his videos also discovered some really good music.
I have 703 S2s as my primary speakers with matching HTM71 S2s as matching center. Other speakers in my 9.2.6 systems are a bit of a mismash...however they are all BMWs. CDM 9NTS as front wides. DM 602s and 603s as side and back surrounds with SVS prime elevation rounding out my 6 atmos speakers. My 2 subs are SVS PB 4000s I run a Marantz AV10 with multiple amps. Primary Amps for my Fronts L/Rs 2 Emotive XPA HC1s, then a Monolith 3 channels to power my center and front wides. OSD 5 channel and olders Adcom amp powers my atmos and surround channels. Honestly during movies I don't hear any distracting difference in tones. Of course music I just listen in two channels...and this is my dilema. I want to move up the the B&W 8 series...however at this time the 805s are the only thing in my budget. I can either go with the new 702 S3s for $7k or pay $8500 for the 805 D4s. Move my 703s to front wides and CDM NTs to one of the surrounds. So the question is do the 805s, being a two way book shelf, sound better then the 702s. Bass isn't a concern as I'll cross the speakers over at 60hz and my subs will handle the rest.
I was shopping for high quality 2 ways earlier this year (2021) and heard all 3 plus Magico and Harbeth. Se my earlier comments on the Dynaudio Heritage Specials above. I heard the SF Electa Amator too, on a big, Big Mac integrated in a largish room. Loved it!! They also were drop-dead gorgeous, the Sophia Loren of speakers. They were very-well balanced, a little laid back, clean on top, tho the big-ass port made itself known on occasion. The 805 D3 was more composed with more of a see-through or see-into quality (that tweeter ☺️!). I could live with (and love) either but the the D3 won by 2 hairs in sound quality and was $4000 cheaper (you absolutely need the matching stands for the Electa’s) at the time.
Steve, so I was getting ready to order these until this review. I do a lot of streaming and you said these aren't a good fit if you are streaming a lot of music. If you were to be in this budget and want a great new bookshelf speaker for streaming music, what would you recommend?!
That is just not true. I own the 805 D3s and all I do is stream (Amazon HD). High quality streaming sounds fantastic. I would imagine the experience would be the same/very close with the 805 D4s.
@@mtkreger Thanks for the reply. I do some vinyl but mostly streaming with a Lumin T2. I want to upgrade my Sonus Faber Sonetto II's to some amazing bookshelf speakers. It's either the Dynaudio Heritage Specials or the new B&W 805 D4's.
Have a system of seven hundred and 600 series including two 610 subs. Runs a bit more than eight grand, but the music lover would love to have these, too bad they raised the price two grand.
I see the good old Klipsch RP-600M speakers are back in the room. These are my favourite bookshelf speakers !
Do you know the what company manufacturers the accoustic treatment
disperspersion panels behind those speakers?
I'm wondering if dispersion panels would be a worthwhile tweak for my vintage B&W CDM-1NT bookshelf speakers.
I don't believe they cost that much.
I have no need for bass traps. The low frequency output is fast, tight & very musical sounding...well articulated.
TX
Since they’re from the UK, surely the tweeter tube would be Alu-mini-um
Blimey!
The US had a letter shortage once. They've never recovered.
Is that kind of material available in the UK at this time?
🙄
Yes quite. Us British don't use Aloooominum. 👍😁🇬🇧
Great review. Took note of all music recommendations. Thanks.
I spent an entire day listening to various music on these, and then the next day with the JBL 4367. I'm a believer. We're talking about comparing a small bookshelf at $8000 versus a huge speaker at $15000 and I couldn't tell you which one I liked more. I think in the end I liked the larger sound stage of the JBL But that diamond tweeter is the REAL DEAL.
4:53 I made some speakers from scratch using my 706s as a reference guide. And the made speakers have an 8" coaxial and a 10" woofer. A 3-way monster. It also just gets better the more you crank it. Doesn't get louder, just gets bigger.
Back in 2018 I listened to the 805 d3’s + sub. Sounded good however I missed something. Then I listened to the 803’s without sub. I couldn’t believe the difference. I went for the 803’s + center. Powered by a Parasound a51. Still loving it.
There is a saying that the second happiest day of a boat owner's life is the day he brings the boat home and the happiest day is the day he sells it. My father in-law can confirm that. I had a pair of 804N's, and feel exactly the same way. And I bought them just as my kids were starting to get expensive, so I was stuck with the speakers for more years than I care to admit. I managed to get them to sound really good on the best recordings, but many old favorites were rendered unlistenable.
Two pieces of advice for anybody considering B&W's. First, make sure your room matches B&W' s requirements. In my case, I didn't have the specified 10 foot listening distance. It would have been nice if the dealer had asked about my listening room. If you think the small size and 6" woofer would be good for a small room, think again.
Second, yes, you need McIntosh/Luxman level of electronics. Tubes or tubey sounding transistor electronics are highly recommended. Forget about 'detailed' (i.e. bright and zippy) class D amps. In my case, silver cables made my last few years of ownership a bit more tolerable.
I like hearing about the music you choose. Major influence.
Listening to Blue Elephant right now. Here Come the Warm Jets was the first Eno album I purchased back in the day if you don’t count For Your Pleasure...
I almost choked on the sweet roll I was eating when he said the price.
Sound United speakers now...
@@streettails8045 The 800 series are made in England . All the other speakers made in china
Living vicariously through Steve
Eno and Philip Glass is a great segue for a playlist
A lot like window shopping for me but I always love your walk through the vast forest of audio choices.
$8000 a pair at 3:37 - OK, thank you; now I’m just watching for fun.
I usually stick around for these reviews that are prohibitively expensive because i am curious as to what Steve's listening to. He's hipped me to some truly incredible stuff.
Lol, I stick around to hear what tracks Steve
Uses to review….then I look it up on Apple Music and add it to my Steve G playlist to listen 😉
Yesterday i did a 3 hour session with the 803 d4,with 4 diferent amps and response of the speaker was amazing to the diferent amps.
The first thing you noticed compared to the d3 series,is that the new s4 play very well with great tonal balance at low volumes.
@@streettails8045 have you been atthe factory?in china?
@@streettails8045 ok,ive been at the factory in Brighton England two times and the 800 series are made there in house.the nautilus are custom painted in the brighton factory too.
Hello from Madrid-Spain, Steve. Here's a great recording for testing speakers... The Moody Blues "Question of Balance." Saludos. Love your channel!!
I would love a test using Supertramp's Live in Paris cd. That is some spectacular sound. Saludos desde el otro lado del charco!
they do use Mundorf high end cap on the tweeter , worth 200usd each ... most 8k speakers use really generic poly caps ..... that cap makes that diamond tweeter shine
As the one or the other crossover "refiner" on YT may say: "Not too much of cheesy parts in it."😊
@@pickyaudiophile This could be the best grade Cap on the tweeter in a speaker under 20000usd....
Is it the silver in oil or silver & gold in oil
This speaker is too rich for my blood, but I just listened to "Baby's on Fire" over my Tektons and had a moment of musical bliss. Thanks Steve!
Just ordered some Tektons and can’t wait to find some movie and musical bliss as well!
...i have Tektons too. They never seem to do comparisons against the Tektons
Which Tektons do you guys have, I really like the idea of them but have never heard them in person?
@@markucla I have the lore reference and the Electron se...
@@markucla they are awesome
I love high end standmount speakers. The Audiovector r1 arrete is another great speaker.
What about Wilson Benesch p1 or Borresen z1 for a little more moneybthan these
@@toneswinger yes they are good speakers too
@@toneswinger but more expensive don't always equal better.
I have compared my Audiovector r1 arrete speakers to Focal Sopra 1, and Kef Referance 1, both much more expensive than the Audiovector, but the Audiovector held it's own, i actually prefer the Audiovector speakers
I purchased the 805-S (last gen pre diamond) in 2005. Fantastic speaker at $2500USD at the time. ($3500 in today's $) I have followed the line to the D3 and made a jump to the 804 d3 to provide more low end and higher volume threshold. Big fan of the line but we are CLEARLY advancing well up the arch of diminishing returns. The line now lacks a gateway speaker in terms of price. I wonder if they could have kept the existing designs as a step (805/4) into the 800 line without breaking the bank. Maybe replace the diamond with the carbon tweeter and charge 60% the cost of the flagship models?
When it comes to vertical product differentiation, 700 series was upgraded with these two "signature" models 705 and 702 which may attract the ones unable to afford the 80x D4. I think they will closely evaluate their sales figures after the latest price increase. It's finally a matter of business administration (financial controlling and marketing) what to do best.
Never underestimate sales which are made in areas beyond North America, Europe, the UK and Australia. On TH-cam you may be tempted to think it's only North America, Europe, the UK and Australia which exist and where the "music plays" - as virtually no comments are coming in from other areas. But there are plenty of wealthy buyers located in the Near Eastern Gulf states, P. R. China (in particular), Japan, Russia, and more, too.
@@pickyaudiophile my point was not that they can't sell the new 800s. It was that there could be an opportunity to bridge the gap between the 700 and 800 series. There is a $4k difference (2x). I'm sure they did their homework and concluded otherwise. I don't care where people live.
@@reynolds8532 I see your point. Speaker companies will always tell us about "increasing costs" leading us to believe their business purpose is to recover costs only. So B&W did. But c'mon, you know the thing™, an alternative tweeter within a range? That's quite uncommon...
Glad to see some good quality parts in the crossover, which is also very simple. An indication of the quality of the drivers and the installation I think, as they’re clearly not fighting any nasty resonances. I’d love to hear them.
I'm sure they're nice speakers Steve; Bowers and Wilkins have made some good speakers through the years, but eight grand seems a little steep. There are a lot of choices out there for those willing to spend that amount.
Different sound but for around the same price I prefer Harbeth HL5 xd
Holy crud, Eight Thousand dollars !!! I LOVE B&W... have owned 3 pairs over the years. I had a pair of 805s back in 2000... which cost me $1200. The 606s2 are great at 900 pair. I have considered saving my pennies to buy pair of 705s2 at 3K pair. But i feel a little betrayed... new 805s are 7 times more expensive than they were in 20 years ago.
There's a sub in the pic of the system too.
@Philly B Yes they virtually think outside the box and avoid costly to manufacture cabinets like we see in here. Agreed!
Audiovector R1 arrete 👍
$8000! They've gotten too expensive. I remember hearing the B&W Matrix 805 back in 1995 at a store. They cost $1600. That's around $3000 in todays money.
Well, Sound United needs to recoup the acquisition cost when they acquired what remained of B&W.
Yes.... Ridiculous high price for a small box 2 way ..... Elac at $600 is just as good
That is a lot of money for the book shelf speakers. Even if with the stands, $8K is way to much. Please tell me that price includes the stands. Does it?
$1600 in 1995 is now at least $5000 with inflation.
@@LiuMav True, F@….ing COVID crisis
Very beautiful speaker. Also you don't really see often specs for distortion and cable requirements. Very nice indeed
Thanks for the review, Steve.
How does this compare to the Dynaudio Contour 20i just asking
.. side note last weekend I found the Sennheiser HD 414 having a good time with them so far quite different sound in compared to my HD 420 ..
What I ended up purchasing in 1972 after listening to a pair of B & W speakers. The ‘phones cost me $AU23.50 IIRC!
I have the HD424, the deluxe version of the 414. I've had them since the mid 70s
The folks that care :
The Brits that actually make the Speaker,
The folks that distribute,
The folks that will need service over the horizon
The folks that are concerned about Re-Sale residual Values.
Please, don't say "for those that care" in a Sarcastic Manner. To Care is a good thing.
Tony in Venice Florida
ps. I'm glad D.Wasserman has em, he's a great guy!
Good review as always. 8k vs 12k. For the price point vs sound, the 804 d4 sounds like a better value for a more deep bass response and probable better lower-mid to mid range. I would venture to say it's probably a fuller sound as most towers are in comparison to book shelves. Just my opinion.
Excellent. I think Steve is by far the best reviewer on TH-cam. I enjoy very much the background with the paintings on the wall and the books. Old school NY intellectual. Are these B&W standmounts good for big orchestra and chorus symphonic music? I am not sure
Thanks for the tip for the Jazz album, just purchase it.
How do they compare with TAD ME1 which were well appreciated by Steve?
Did they get the screech out of the screamer yet?
I did. But the divorce was EXPENSIVE 😆
@@daniannaci3258 So I hear the louse who was your spouse no longer lives inside your house.
@@markfischer3626 My laugh for the day. Thanks!
@@daniannaci3258 There's two sides to every divorce, yours and
$hi+head's
Reminds me of the Triangle Signature Theta in terms of design (which i ll soon be reviewing)
Hey Steve! Thanks for the first real-listening review on the 805 D4’s and it was a good one, too! I couldn’t resist noticing the Luxman Class A integrated amplifier on the bottom shelf of the rack. Looking at the color of the meters and the top cover my best guess is that it was the Luxman L-550 AxII. With 20 WPC class A (70+ in class AB) it might have been a nice match for the 88dB sensitive 805 D4’s. Did you get a chance to listen to that combination? You had the right CD player…. Best of luck and thanks for all you do!
Thanks, didn’t try the Luxman, I guess I should have
Personally I enjoyed Luxman AB amps more paring with my 805D3, I am using a L-509AXII right now. And the combination sounds fantastic!
@@GlaciaDay Luxman: So many choices in amplifier topology all made with artisanal quality! I would love to hear the combination of the 509 and the D3’s. My dealer had the 590 to audition with the D3’s, not the 509, but it worked for me. Congratulations on your purchase!
Hi Steve, how would you say they compare to the Dynaudio Heritage Specials?
It’s a good question, I think they’re comparable speakers. But I reviewed the heritage in February, and I’m not one of those reviewers that can compare things seven months apart! I have no idea how those guys can do that.
Intl' pricing without stands: UK ~USD 8,400 // EU ~USD 9,280 (!) with somewhat around 20% local VAT included. Price increase over the 805 D3: 33%....Wheh! But still there is not so much of competition. The only considerably less expensive speakers in the EU (which may marginally outperform these) coming into my mind are the made in France "VoceGrande" by J.M. Reynaud. Which cost a ~USD 1,600 per pair less, but only available in the EU for that price (they're close to 10 grand in the US).
Maybe the small ones plus a sub could be cheaper and you have the option of different placements of the sub for better bass acoustics.
How about speaker?
The delta between the step down model, 705 s3 and this model, 8005 d4 is enormous. $3400 vs $9000.
For $8k I'd get the KEF LS50 meta speakers, a used McIntosh integrated amp, and good used CD player that's been serviced. Seriously, the B&W costing more than 4 times what the LS50 metas cost is too large of a price gap for most people. The Paradigm founder series bookshelves likely compare toe to toe with the B&W for 1/3 the price. B&W is a sound United company now.... RIP real B&W.
the 805 eat by ease the kef ls50 meta and paradigm founder by 1000000 times... its like comparing apple vs gold
@@simonspeaker for +$6,500 more...they better
I'm a big fan of the 8 series, I followed them from the beginning of when the nautilus 800 were released.
@@streettails8045 not the 800 series, they are made in UK. And I doubt they don't care... That's woundnt be good for the health of the business mate.
I know the 6 and 7s are overpriced so I agree sort of.
@@streettails8045 well that's an eye opener.
@@streettails8045 you are talking BS and not bit but a lot !
I think that 805 D4 doesn't use that new spider type. Only models that have FST midrange, so floorstanders.
Correct. The mid base driver of the 805 probably has too much displacement for that.
Steve, I hope you will do a short vid about Hans Beekhuyzen.
Why is that?
@@Feliciano12v th-cam.com/video/boAkTRHcZ8I/w-d-xo.html
Ah i see. I also follow Hans. Seen that already. Mad respect for him.
Great system of the day…. 😎
How would you compare these with dynaudio heritage specials?
Beat me to it... I was going to post the same question since they're similarly priced. Know you didn't compare them side by side but thought you'd still have a feeling for how they differ in character. Great review and TIA!
I had the opportunity to compare the Dynaudio Heritage Specials with the 805 D3 late this past winter. At the store I heard both pairs, side by side, on a new top-of-the-line do-it-all integrated amplifier from NAD whose model number now escapes me. The difference at that demo was obvious. I found the bass on the Dynaudio to be bloated and indistinct while the D3 was balanced and clear. The D3 tweeter, too, totally outclassed the one on the Dyna. No brightness, just clarity. I did not at all expect the vastly different presentations. The salesperson insisted the speakers were set up with care, as indicated with the tape on the floor.
@@daniannaci3258 Thanks for sharing your experience! I believe the NAD model you're referring to would be their M33 Masters Series.
Couple minor points, BTW I subscribed around 20k. Congrats on achievements! 1st, early when talking about tweeters, ya said "you think" they're the same . @8k a pair would like to know for sure. 2nd, Ya liked the system including the Mac. In the past when talking about Mac, your impression always seemed luke warm at best. What makes this one different?
I doubt anybody buying $8000 speakers is going to use this video based on one listening session as their sole research.
This was another excellent post Steve, thank you. I've seen a few breakdowns of this new model, but yours was the best and I feel you gave more information than most.
Also love your choice of test music, some truly excellent choices.
I was fascinated to see the room where you demo'ed the units was packed with other speakers! Are you not bothered by the resulting colouration this introduces? Whilst I know there are limitations on what can be done - speakers at this price point should surely be used in a room where other speakers are not moving with the sound pressure and colouring the sound? Be interested to hear your views.
Really enjoyed todays video - thank you for sharing your enthusiasm!
Thanks for your kind words. Well yes, I heard the 805‘s in a store. With all of its limitations, true. But as I said I could not get the speakers at home due to supply chain shortages. Thing is, I have urged viewers to whenever possible to listen before they buy any audio products, in stores. Yes, in-home auditions are the best, but not always possible, especially with high-end, expensive, products.
That's a good point. There are plenty of reviewers or presenters on YT who perform speaker reviews or presentations with other speakers in the room, sometimes even large (even though powered off) subwoofers in the background. E/g 'Sound Sommelier' or 'Pursuit Perfect System' just to name two out of many. There is no doubt all these driver membranes and cabinets are activated by external sound pressure - and do colorize the sound perceived.
Egads!!!!The price has just gone nuts with 800 series.Is this worth a Vandersteen Trio?I doubt it.
When will you be reviewing the new Zu Audio Soul?
Cool video Steve. Sending my respect from the UK 🇬🇧. Anyways, I'd rather have a pair of Dali Epicon 2s, you should give them a try Steve, because they're absolutely beautiful speakers. Anyways, take care Steve. 🙂
Afternoon Steve👍
Hey Steve, great stuff, thank you for your quality content, i cannot find the full review of BOWERS and WILKINS Formation duo you promised on few occasions, is it lost somewhere on your channel?
Steve, I love listening to your reviews. Keep up the great work. I have an opportunity to purchase a pair of 805 D3's in rose wood. I've always liked the look of rose wood (real wood) vs black speakers. The pair that I'm considering were manufactured in 2015. They are in perfect condition and the sound checks out etc. Should I have any concerns about the age of the speakers - 8 years? Should I just continue my quest for a pair of 805's that are not so old? I would like to keep these for 10+ years. How long will 805's last if cared for correctly? Your feedback will be greatly appreciated.
Hi. The premium speakers if used with good amplifier, would have no issues, if not played at extreme volume etc. The drivers would be perfect and cross over of this quality at its best, they can last you many years if taken care of.👍
I can afford the music! 🙂Thanks Steve,
KMD Orchestalls 500RT Floorstanding speakers or KMD 600R
Great content :)
Hey Steve,
Great review as always, but in watching it prompted a question. A while back you reviewed the Dynaudio Contour 20i, and well before that the Dynaudio Contour 20. These two Dynaudio models have been compared to the B&W805D3. How do they compare to the new B&W805D4, particularly the Contour 20i? Thanks!
You should also consider the Audiovector r1 arrete. I have compared the contour 20i and the Audiovector.
The Audiovector's is a much better speaker.
@@henriksrensen3220 in which part is the audiovector beter?
@@theomindschrddr7983 it's more open and free sounding, with deep and big soundstage. Also more detail. But the Contour 20i has more bass output, it goes deeper too. 20i has more (not better) bass.
It depends on synergy with amplifier of course, I use a gryphon diablo 120 amplifier, it's a perfect match for the Audiovector.
@@henriksrensen3220 oke thank you
@@theomindschrddr7983 👍🙂
Hi, how does that compare to the 805 messerati
Seeing as I already own a pair of 805 D3’s, are they that much better that I need to upgrade or do the D3’s still complete well against them?
Well, since I didn’t actually compare one against the other I can’t say for sure. But if you like what you have stick with it!
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac What the hell kind of salesman are you? Newer is always better. People like you are killing the economy. Of course it's better. Why else would they come out with a new "improved" model? Buy the new ones. I'll give you ten dollars for the old ones. They were good in their day.
I very much doubt it though. I own a pair of D3 as well and I am now hesitating on if I should upgrade it to D4. I don't think the difference in sound quality is gonna justify the huge price gap. 25% more is harsh.
11-17-70 is one of my all time favorite Elton John records. It is so cool that you were there. So what did everybody think of this Elton guy and whether he was going to make it or not?
There was no doubt Elton was going to be a big deal. I saw him a few times in those early days. I think he was best for the first three or four records.
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac I agree great through Madman and I do like Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and some of Honky Chateau. Not so much after that, but what a great pairing with Elton and Bernie. Love watching your reviews and have bought several pieces of equipment based off of them.
@@neumeisteranimalhospital2627 Thanks for watching.
pricey but man they are works of art.
I'm curious to find out who makes those acoustic room treatment
dispersion panels behind Steve?
Have you ever reviewed the gr research xls encore book shelf diy speaker kit. Just wondering what you thought of it.
I hope this is B&W China reforming their abrasive sound in the direction of more natural whilst keeping the resolution. Sounds like the guff they took about the S2s had an impact.
Seems a lot of people enjoy abasive sound judging by B&W market share.
The 800 series has never had the sucked out mids and screechy highs that plague the 600 series
It's sad that the original 805 is no longer made, especially since it cost about £1600 when new. I've less and less desire for any of these outrageously expensive B&W speakers
805 d4 or focal towers? Im shopping for speakers..... opinions needed!!
Steve you should use tangerine dream tracks! Love the music selections
Owned a few B&W speakers never really enjoyed my time with them. But one cant like it all and I go a very different way. Still review is interesting as always keep em coming they go great with a cup of joe.
Same, bought the 607 signature because of his review. I used them for about 20 days and they just felt wrong. They sounded muffled to my 19000hz capable young ears. I then proceeded to testing the 707 and they sounded better but still felt wrong. Ended up getting the Kef ls50 Meta when I was blown away by the clarity and soundstage at another store.
I’ve heard the 800/3 a few times in different rooms. They had a strange behavior, that the sound sometimes seems to come from the ceiling. I don’t think the artists were jumping up and down when recording..
@@hopje01 I have concluded that bowers and Wilkins are fun speakers but that does not necessarily mean good speakers.
I really doubt a private person has the financial ability to develop the track.
BMW has a base just outside Kakamas on the Poffadder Rd as well as at the Augrabies National Park main camp.
Upington Airport has the longest runway in the Southern hemisphere. It was an alternate for the Space Shuttle to land on.
If you want to see the new cars, wait at the petrol station in Kakamas in January. They often refuel there.
Just curious - 'heavily compressed, etc ' - what would you say about the later Beatles recordings, the Revolver etc mid 1960's discs with layers and layers of playing with tape ? 'new' editions, better. or worse. ?
Two setups with the Ortofon 2M Bronze cartridge makes me happy this morning. I'm a fan of the Bronze.
He has two turntables, but no microphone? 👀
Beck reference !
Maby you can try to test the Marten Parkers duo speakers also Steve
I cant find that album on Spotify. Do you have a link?
Sorry no, I think it’s on TH-cam
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac ok thanks Steve! I will check it out
I demoed the D4 bookshelf at stereo exhange only to find a severe lackage of bass and lows.
well i'm using 1100 what mono blocks and have good bass from my 805 D4's.....they are power hungry...don't let their small size fool you!!! They need Lots of power!!!
But how would it sound in your room. The room is 30% of the equation as most agree. We may never know.
Excellent point, however, we can fully trust Steve when he tells us what he hears, regardless of the room 👍 😉
Links to buy the music mentioned would be nice.
You talk more about your favourite music than how the speaker performs.
Hi Steve, could you do a bluetooth portable speaker review in the future? I know that might cause nervous ticks in some but just interested in your opinion. Thanks!
Sorry, no BT speakers on the horizon!
Brilliant video Steve. Food for thought but personally won’t go over £5k for a pair of speakers. Take care Steve
What’s the name of that Jazz album with Brent and Ron? Could not find anything on Apple Music Steve.
Slightly off topic but relevant to one of your review recordings - Matt Berry. If you want to check out his strange talent, go on Netflix or Prime or wherever the Brit TV series “lT Crowd” (series 2) is playing. He is the wacky boss. Hilarious.
And 'Toast of London' and 'Year of the Rabbit'. He's definitely one of my favourite comedians.
What we Do in the Shadows also. Such a great actor, I also really enjoy his music. Toast of London is probably my favourite.
Question is 805d4 or a nice second hand 804d3
Depends. 804 is larger sound.
I see everybody is hung up on the price but I mean the work involved is a lot. Does it sound best no, but I heard the 700 series in best buy way up on a high shelf and it was easily the best thing there and it sounded very good. Not better than my kef ls50s but hey bowers and wilkins is making fancy speaker cabinets with curves and diamond tweeters that are isolated and they give it a nice piano finish... all that is going to cost.
Hi Steve,
I see you got a chance to use the EAT Csharp! I recently purchased one and am in love, but I would love to hear what your thoughts on it are? Always respect your thoughts on audio gear
I think they use the big version in Abbey road
They do.
Since the advent of the earliest B&W 801 in the late 80s.
I'm not a fan of the current 600 and 700 series. They have too big of a suckout in the midrange, and the tweeter is too hot, making the whole thing sound to me like a bad boombox with the graphic EQ set to a smiley face. However, the 805 has never suffered from that. The have a very full midrange and the tweeter is still hot, but not to the point of shrillness. The 805D3 sounds glorious in TH-cam videos, when paired with the right amp (I've never heard it in person), and the Nautilus 805S is one of the best 2 way speakers I've ever actually heard in person. It made me buy the 601S3, which I then ended up selling, because it too had that midrange suckout, although not as bad as newer 600 series ones. The 602S3 was much better, but was just too big and bassy for my small room. B&Ws also like to play very loud, and don't really wake up until they're louder than my ears, and room, can tolerate
At least 90% of what Steve reviews I can't afford. But I enjoy watching his videos. I've learned alot from his videos also discovered some really good music.
Thanks Michael, I appreciate that!
I have 703 S2s as my primary speakers with matching HTM71 S2s as matching center. Other speakers in my 9.2.6 systems are a bit of a mismash...however they are all BMWs. CDM 9NTS as front wides. DM 602s and 603s as side and back surrounds with SVS prime elevation rounding out my 6 atmos speakers. My 2 subs are SVS PB 4000s I run a Marantz AV10 with multiple amps. Primary Amps for my Fronts L/Rs 2 Emotive XPA HC1s, then a Monolith 3 channels to power my center and front wides. OSD 5 channel and olders Adcom amp powers my atmos and surround channels. Honestly during movies I don't hear any distracting difference in tones. Of course music I just listen in two channels...and this is my dilema. I want to move up the the B&W 8 series...however at this time the 805s are the only thing in my budget. I can either go with the new 702 S3s for $7k or pay $8500 for the 805 D4s. Move my 703s to front wides and CDM NTs to one of the surrounds. So the question is do the 805s, being a two way book shelf, sound better then the 702s. Bass isn't a concern as I'll cross the speakers over at 60hz and my subs will handle the rest.
in this price range, would you buy this speaker or Dynaudio Heritage Special or Sonus Faber Electa Amator III?
I was shopping for high quality 2 ways earlier this year (2021) and heard all 3 plus Magico and Harbeth. Se my earlier comments on the Dynaudio Heritage Specials above. I heard the SF Electa Amator too, on a big, Big Mac integrated in a largish room. Loved it!! They also were drop-dead gorgeous, the Sophia Loren of speakers. They were very-well balanced, a little laid back, clean on top, tho the big-ass port made itself known on occasion. The 805 D3 was more composed with more of a see-through or see-into quality (that tweeter ☺️!). I could live with (and love) either but the the D3 won by 2 hairs in sound quality and was $4000 cheaper (you absolutely need the matching stands for the Electa’s) at the time.
@@daniannaci3258 Where do i find your Heritage Special comments? So, for you, it came down to SF vs BW? Have a Mac 5300 and SF Minima Amator II's.
@@jearley22 Hi! The Dyna comments I made were in a reply I made to Konea Konea. Thanks for asking.
9:11 it is either R2D2 or a very fancy trash can.
Best sounding trash can on the planet!! LOL 😂
Daleks, actually, both come from England
@@craigtomlinson2075 I like it better in the all black vs. that picture makes it look less trash canny.
I used to be a regular customer at SE until they started treating me like a thief by following me around. BOOOOOOOO!!
9:09 Paint it yellow and you have a Minions Edition
8K a pair for book shelve, explains their computer/robotic manufacturing.
Steve, so I was getting ready to order these until this review. I do a lot of streaming and you said these aren't a good fit if you are streaming a lot of music. If you were to be in this budget and want a great new bookshelf speaker for streaming music, what would you recommend?!
That is just not true. I own the 805 D3s and all I do is stream (Amazon HD). High quality streaming sounds fantastic. I would imagine the experience would be the same/very close with the 805 D4s.
@@mtkreger Thanks for the reply. I do some vinyl but mostly streaming with a Lumin T2. I want to upgrade my Sonus Faber Sonetto II's to some amazing bookshelf speakers. It's either the Dynaudio Heritage Specials or the new B&W 805 D4's.
I own a pair they are great with streaming
Great review. I noticed there's a sub in the system---do you know the brand name?
Jl audio, it wasn’t turned on during the listening session
Steve Guttenberg Audiophiliac awesome subs. Simply awesome.
Steve, the album you mentioned, Matt Berris?..thanks
Matt Berry. He is an accomplished comedic actor too...
@@optimalforager thank you...when Steve compared him to Robyn Hitchcock I knew I had to explore
For 8 grand (plus a little more) you could get a set of Klipsch La Scala. No comparison.
Current price is $13K a pair.
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac I guess my little more was a little more. Still going La Scala’s. Someday.
La Scala and the mighty K'Horns are my favorite speakers of all time
Yeah and you can have two gigantic garbage cans in your home that sound like someone dumping a dump truck full of broken glass into your ears
Have a system of seven hundred and 600 series including two 610 subs. Runs a bit more than eight grand, but the music lover would love to have these, too bad they raised the price two grand.
For $8,000 I'd rather party with some Klipsch Cornwall IV's with the volume on "11" ;-)
I prefer the La Scalas, but neither would work well in my tiny one room 300 sq. ft. apartment
Not everyone wants to party while the music is on.......or have it cranked to the moon........!!!!! Different strokes for different folks.
I agree, but then again I am kinda strange. ;-)
@@laurencerothman931 No worries......everyone is strange !!!
@@DougMen1 two gigantic garbage cans that sound like someone dumping a dump truck full of broken glass into your ears
Hi Steve, thanks for the review, money aside, would you say they are better than the predecessor?