If you were to own another pair of speakers (not B&W) which would it be?

[ribd1]

If you were to own another pair of speakers (not B&W) which would it be?

I have to agree with emig5!! I owned N802's and N803's...I then tried a different brand/speaker...Legacy Audio Focus 20/20..Nothing in it's price range or even thousands more can touch this speaker.

[SoCalCM]

My dealer is a big time Wilson Audio dealer so I've listened to them all, from the X2s to the Duette. I prefer my 802Ds. Bought them in 7/05 and still haven't heard a speaker I like as well.

[wettou]

It may be a toss up between the Kharma's and these.....MBL 101 X-treme

Sure at 10 time the price at least?

[peter clarke]

I would love to a hear wilson X-2, von schweikert VR-11, B&W nautilus but 800D considering price is great for me now!!!!

[wettou]

I would love to a hear wilson X-2, von schweikert VR-11, B&W nautilus but 800D considering price is great for me now!!!!

800D are outstanding why more? I guess we all want more seen the market lately :B

[DM3000 Owner]

I can honestly say that I do not have any desire to make a change from my S800's. Its still fun to listen though.

[wettou]

I agree I love going to listen to new things :T That is why it is a hobby, an expensive one mind you:B

[angelface]

I've listened to some Wilson Benesch Square Ones and they sounded better than 805s to me.

Not loads of bass but very clear and natural midrange.

[peter clarke]

wettou, You're right, 800D's are great, these other speakers cost heaps more and maybe at best a fraction more in sound

[Ataim]

Of all the speakers that I've listened too I'd say that the Magnepan 20.1 are tops on my list for two channel. I had a pair of 2.6R prior to getting my n802. I love the speed, depth and sound stage of a planar speaker. I sold the 2.6R because they just could not play loud enough for me.

[James63]

I was (still am!) a big B&W fan but my next speakers will be Thiel 3.7. They are just a great speaker. Very balanced and very transparent. I did not buy into the whole time/phase issues but now I am a believer.

I was so impressed with the 3.7 that sadly I am probably done with B&W . I have auditioned many speakers in the last few months (B&W 802D, Wilson Sophia / Duette (same room same gear as the 3.7), Focal 1037, Paradigm 8S, Martin Logan Summits) and the 3.7 in at the top of my list followed closely buy the Sophia.

In comparison they are more tonally balanced than the 802D (notably in the bass) with more clarity in the lower midrange. The upper midrange is very detailed (as is the 802D) but the dispersion is must wider on the 3.7s. The sound stage seemed much more natural to my ears than the 802D. I still like the highs on the 802D the best (of any speaker) but the 3.7s are stunning too. They made the Duettes (same room/same system) seem un-detailed in the upper midrange/highs!

Anyway I will not ramble on.... they retail for 13,000 and are worth a listen if you are looking. I am done and soon to be much poorer.

PS the amp used was a Musical Fidelity A5 (250 watt integrated amp retail $3,000, with matching CD player retail ?

Here is a December 2008 review in Stereophile

http://thielaudio.com/THIEL_Site05/PDF_files/PDF_reviews/CS37/Stereophile37Review_eprint112608.pdf

Here is a November 2008 review in The Absolute Sound.

http://thielaudio.com/THIEL_Site05/PDF_files/PDF_reviews/CS37/TAS_nov08.pdf

[wettou]

I was (still am!) a big B&W fan but my next speakers will be Thiel 3.7.

I went to listen to Thiel and no thanks I really though they sounded metallic.

[misterdoggy]

I went to listen to Thiel and no thanks I really though they sounded metallic.

"To Each his Own "...........

Happily :T :T

[Gremal]

I would consider the Kharmas but more likely would go with horns of some type...I guess I might if I ever have have house big enough to support a separate music only system.

[wettou]

"To Each his Own "........... Happily :T :T

True otherwise the world will be boring:T

[george_k]

A pair of powered PMC AML1's would be nice (http://www.pmc-speakers.com/41.html)

[Andrew M Ward]

Meridian DSP 8000's (because I have meridian processor and can run dsp speakers)

but they Cost $$$$$$$$$$$

http://www.meridian-audio.com/p_d8k.htm

Here's the latest (newest) DSP8000 page for Meridian folks
The new Meridian Site is very well done

http://www.meridian-audio.com/product-model/loudspeaker-systems/dsp8000-digital-active-loudspeaker.aspx

[Orb]

Well I wish B&W made a 2-way or 2.5-way reference speakers in competition to the likef of Sonus Faber Auditor M/etc and one up to say 5k pounds instead of the leap up to the Signature Diamonds.

Cheers
Orb

[KyaDawn]

I would have to say the MBL 101Es, or better yet, the 101Xs!

Heard the 101Es yesterday at a dealer, absolutely fantastic. These omnidirectional speakers have to be heard to be believed. From acoustic Beck to Miles Davis to Pink Floyd to the dealer's own demo discs, the sound stage was unbelievably wide and the sounds "engulfed" me, on some tracks they sounded almost multichannel. I just regret not hearing "Subterranean Homesick Alien" from the "OK Computer" CD which I brought, but forgot to ask them to play. Overall, just a very different experience from listening to conventional cone driver speakers.

A couple of days ago I would have said the Wilson Audio Alexandria X-2s. I heard them a few months ago and they blew me away. Incredible soundstage, the most "3D" imaging I had experienced. But funny enough, the same dealer here in Hong Kong carries both MBL and Wilson Audio, and I heard the X-2s yesterday again after the MBLs. Suddenly, they seemed too forward, and using the same listening material, I noticed I could hear pinpoint the placement of the speakers much more than the MBLs. The MBLs absolutely disappeared from the wall of sound emanating from them. Plus, I really love the way they look, though I know they are not for everybody.

The upside of this experience is that the MBL/Wilson Audio dealer is in the same building as the B&W dealer, just four floors up, and I was actually in the building to purchase my 802Ds fronts and 805Ss surrounds. After doing a final audition of the 802Ds, I can happily say I don't think they are too upstaged by the Wilsons, and at 1/13th the cost! :B