(Buying Used) 705 vs N804 vs 804S vs N803

[atchudy]

All these speakers same to be between $2,099 and $2,400 used. can someone give me a rundown? espeically with comparing the new 804s and older 803.

why are 705 more expensive used than 804

I will worry about powering them with better stuff later.

[miner]

N804 vs 804S = better Xover in 804S (N804 is still an exceptioanl speaker)

No way should the 705 be close to the same price as a N804.

N803 has larger woofers than N804/804S

I am currently an owner of N804 - will upgrade to 803D in the future.

[atchudy]

do you get 2 .5" larger drivers in the 803?

What does the designation improve?

Why are some wood smooth, and others have a grain texture.

Whats a good price for N803? $3000?

[atchudy]

My budget is now $2,400 MAX.

Which speaker is better suited for rock music (Zeppelin, Dylan, Doors, Grateful Dead, Springsteen)?

[beden1]

My budget is now $2,400 MAX.

Which speaker is better suited for rock music (Zeppelin, Dylan, Doors, Grateful Dead, Springsteen)?

The 703s are very good for rock n' roll IMO.

[atchudy]

do they ever get tiring to listen to?

[beden1]

do they ever get tiring to listen to?

Not for me, but I guess it depends on what you have driving them.

[style]

The 703 is a good speaker. sure but personaly I have changed my 703 (used for the rear too) with 805s. :T

805s is much, much better vs. the 703.
I dont like rock with the 703 as mains.

@beden1: I have the 803D as front like you (with htm2D) and with the 703 as rear I dont like so much.. I have changed the 703 with a pair of 805.
for the movie is better.

This is my choice.

Omar

[wgriel]

Not for me, but I guess it depends on what you have driving them.

It's probably also room dependent. The 703 is a bit more "forward" than many other B&W offerings and might be too much in a really bright room. I do think they are an excellent speaker though.

[beden1]

I just think the 703s have tight bass with strong punch, which you want with rock n' roll. The mid range is also strong and the highs are exciting, which work well with the agressive bands the OP likes to listen to. The 703s can also handle cranking up the volume when you want to get into the music.

[beden1]

The 703 is a good speaker. sure but personaly I have changed my 703 (used for the rear too) with 805s. :T

805s is much, much better vs. the 703.
I dont like rock with the 703 as mains.

@beden1: I have the 803D as front like you (with htm2D) and with the 703 as rear I dont like so much.. I have changed the 703 with a pair of 805.
for the movie is better.

This is my choice.

Omar

Omar,

I have not tried the 805S as surround speakers, as I am currently using my 703s as surrounds. I am interested that you find the 805S serve better as surround speakers over the 703s, although I'm not sure why?

I am doing some auditioning of systems over the next month, and will try to listen to the 805S as surrounds. I am contemplating either staying with my current speaker setup; or moving the 803Ds to surrounds and getting either the 800Ds or 802Ds; or keeping the 803Ds as the fronts, and waiting for B&W to come out with like an 805D. This is what I am most interested in, as I really like my 803Ds.

But, the OP is looking for main speakers, and I personally feel the 703s are better as mains than are the 805S (especially as standalone speakers without a sub woofer to fill in the bass).

[style]

At first setup in the past I have the 703, htm7 and a pair of cdm7nt rear.

Later I have buyed the 803S, htm4s and the 703 going as rear speakers.

next 803D (for me a very BEST: I can see a 802D but not a 800/1D in my room), htm2d and 805S for rear.

I have tried with 805S as mains and in my room (9,5mx5,7x2,8ca). I was very impressed for what can delivery this "little" speaker (I utilise 6m.from the room for my system the resr I have table for eath..)
The 703 is not so faster vs. the 805s: the 805S same without sub. have a more armonic sound. in stereo I dont like much have a subwoofer (well is the sub is REALLY fine,fine setting with the midrange from from the 805 Ok, but is not easy to do.

I have decide for a 805 as rear speaker vs. the 703 becouse the 805 macht better in HF with the 803D and the htm2D. Beden personaly if do you have the possibility tried to listen the 805 as rear in biamp too!!(with your Classe cav150 ->correct?)
a Setup wht 802D, htm2D and 803D as rear wow :T if do you go with the 800 the htm2D will be changed and, and, and,...no thank. the 802D for ME is the top.

and than the 703 with a Rotel ampli sound very different vs. MC or Classe!!
the 805 is more stybile in your performance, Ok, the bass sector is not what have the 703 but the 2 piece from the 703 dont work good like they see...

give a feed back

greetings Omar

[beden1]

Omar,

Looks like you've been able to get your system very well worked out! :T

I am very happy with the 803Ds. I am going to be auditioning the new Classe SSP-800 with the 803Ds this week, and while there, I wanted to also listen to the 802Ds and 800Ds to hear the differences. I have done these auditions before, but I now have much more experience with the 803Ds . . . and I wanted to get a fresh comparison between the other speakers.

The 703s became very good speakers once I powered them with my Classe CAV-150. The Classe power makes a big difference with this speaker. I'm sure it would also do well for the 805S. But, the 703s are fine for me right now, and until I decide my future speaker direction.

I really would like the option of the 805 with a diamond tweeter for the surrounds, as I think this is the only area where I hear the differences when playing multi-channel music.

One dealer told me something interesting regarding the center channel speaker that I never considered before, and it is pretty obvious. He said to adjust the speaker volume up for the center channel within the processor, to make up for any differences you might hear from your main L/R speakers (either from a smaller center speaker, or a less powerful amp than the ones driving the main speakers). He was saying this after I made a comment that I probably would not consider the 800Ds because I really did not want to have to deal with the size of the HTM1D. He said this would help the HTM2D blend better by just turning up the volume to that speaker.

I have not had the opportunity of trying this yet, but I want to as I have the CAM-350s for the L/R mains, and the CAV-150 for the center = 350 watt monos versus 300 watts bi-amped.

I wonder now if this would also help if the L/R speakers were connected to amps with balanced connections, versus the center channel speaker connected via RCA? (as the gain is different between the two connections)

[style]

Hi beden1,
if the new 805d come out will be very amazing...be I dont believe in this miracle....

with the CA5200 the 200w. pro each 803D is enough? yes... NO, with the time and listen music an see movie I think that this speaker need a little more power!!! I have a 350w. and I'm sure you have a very great sound!
all the system with a 802D htm2D and 803D all Diamond and good powered is sure amazing. (5.1-2 is the best, Ok now with blueray a system with 7 can be a good solution BUT a system with a 803D as rear for is better vs. a 7channel with a 4 x SMC or so like that...)

Sure you L/R are with XLR or? so you have +6db. vs. your center with RCA... if you set with the processor a +xxbd for the center can make a diference...
but wih movie with 80% only dialog and the L/R make sometime a bit i'm hungry :evil: .....

Give me a feed back from the audition with ssp800...please..
(My ssp800 WILL BE at my home next week...)

of course with the 703 your room dont go make changing if you dont have a BIG change to make in your setup...

greetinngs Omar

[beden1]

Omar,

I will be happy to let you know how the SSP-800 sounds to me.

The 803Ds do sound great now for stereo with the CAM-350's driving them. They love the added power, and they now have great clarity and depth. But, your CA-5200 is also a very good amp.

I also have two Velodyne 15" sub woofers that fill in nicely for HT. The SSP-800 would also let me use the subs while listening to stereo, so what I'm thinking, is I really don't need more than the 803Ds with the twin subs?

I will concentrate of any differences I hear in the mid ranges due to the marlan heads on the other 800 Series speakers.

Maybe a great setup would be 803Ds for fronts and surrounds, with the HTM2D in the center? I'm hoping to figure that out during my audition this week. The only problem is that the dealer's room is very flat sounding, which may make the larger speakers sound better?

I'll see what happens.

Brooks

[atchudy]

I just think the 703s have tight bass with strong punch, which you want with rock n' roll. The mid range is also strong and the highs are exciting, which work well with the agressive bands the OP likes to listen to. The 703s can also handle cranking up the volume when you want to get into the music.

since the older nautilus 804 are in the same price range, would i be better with the 703? what about an older pair of 803 if i blow my budget to 2900

[beden1]

since the older nautilus 804 are in the same price range, would i be better with the 703? what about an older pair of 803 if i blow my budget to 2900

I have not heard the Nautilus 804 or 803.

I just looked at your system profile and saw you have the 805s.

I have another idea for you, that may have been mentioned to you in another posting? Why not just keep you 805s, and add a sub(s). Right now, you're mostly into listening to music, but that may change later, more into a combo of music and HT. The subs may just give you the best bang for the buck you're looking for now.

I have the Velodyne SC (sub contractor) Series subs in two of my main systems. They are excellent, and the best value bar none for subs. Here is a link:

http://www.velodyne.com/products/default.aspx?sid=303t578r

I used to have Velodyne DD 12" subs in my systems, but after about a month, I found them to be too over the top, and not very musical. I went with these and they are great with music, and also for HT.

To give you an idea of pricing, last year, you could get their SC-1250 amp plus two 15" subs for around the price of one DD-12. They also make the subs in 10" and 12" to go with the same amp. The amp and two subs will work within your budget.

Call Velodyne directly and ask them about these subs. I did, and they were right on with how great these subs are, especially for the money.

[atchudy]

I have not heard the Nautilus 804 or 803.

I just looked at your system profile and saw you have the 805s.

I have another idea for you, that may have been mentioned to you in another posting? Why not just keep you 805s, and add a sub(s). Right now, you're mostly into listening to music, but that may change later, more into a combo of music and HT. The subs may just give you the best bang for the buck you're looking for now.

I have the Velodyne SC (sub contractor) Series subs in two of my main systems. They are excellent, and the best value bar none for subs. Here is a link:

http://www.velodyne.com/products/default.aspx?sid=303t578r

I used to have Velodyne DD 12" subs in my systems, but after about a month, I found them to be too over the top, and not very musical. I went with these and they are great with music, and also for HT.

To give you an idea of pricing, last year, you could get their SC-1250 amp plus two 15" subs for around the price of one DD-12. They also make the subs in 10" and 12" to go with the same amp. The amp and two subs will work within your budget.

Call Velodyne directly and ask them about these subs. I did, and they were right on with how great these subs are, especially for the money.

The whole reason for upgrading was thhe fact I sold my 805's for the shocking amount of $1,950. so I have some money to play with.

[beden1]

The whole reason for upgrading was thhe fact I sold my 805's for the shocking amount of $1,950. so I have some money to play with.

Sorry, I didn't see in this thread where you had sold your speakers.

[atchudy]

Its tough trying to buy used, especially when stores do not carry 703 or 804 any more to listen to.

[beden1]

Its tough trying to buy used, especially when stores do not carry 703 or 804 any more to listen to.

It's also tough to buy the larger speakers used when they need to be shipped.

I'm surprised your dealer does not carry the 804s or 703s, as the three dealers I visited the past several weeks in FL all had these speakers on display.

As the B&W speakers all seem to require decent electronics, and since you're working on a tight budget right now, you may also want to take this opportunity to start listening to other brands of speakers . . . ones that are not so revealing and demanding?

[style]

@atchudy,

if you can buy the 804S is another world vs. the 703 for my experience...


personaly I prefer the 805 vs. the 703.... but is MY IDEA!!!!


Omar

[beden1]

Or, start thinking vintage. I found these on Audiogon from Spirit Sound at about $1,100 plus packing and shipping. I've dealt with Spirit before and had a very good experience. I'm sure they will make sure you get them in good shape, plus they offer some warranty. You can also use your credit card for a safe transaction.

Call them to ask how they sound compared to the current speakers. They were very helpful with my questions.

I would also call B&W directly to see if they have replacement parts if ever needed.

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrfull&1229609304&/B-W-Series-80-802's-in-walnut-

[atchudy]

I originally had 602 S3, then 805. I want to stay strictly stereo with NO SUB, and the 805 did not have enough bass. I am thinking the 703 might be the logical choice since they have more bass and are around $2400 used.

[chin kwan]

N803 vs. N804

Was considering both a few years back.. the rationale for N804 is that the tweeter/mid are the same and only the woofers are 1/2" bigger..

But the reality is that the N803 sounds a lot fuller then the N804.. Mind you, not to say that N804 is not good but N803 just has the bigger cabinet, bigger woofer.. u just hear more of a guitar's body presence, male's voice has more throat/lungs and everything.. It jsut gives a sense of scale to everything.

Of course, even more so with the N802/Sig800 that I have heard..

Muscially speaking, I think this is more important as most associate it with bass slam..

[Alex999]

I'm sorry but I don't get it. I auditioned 705, 703, 804 and 805S. IMHO 805S were so much better than anything 700 series. I also liked them better than 804s. I simply love 805s but it's my ears vs. yours I guess. Bass coming out of 805S is tight, it's great IMHO for their size.

805S plus a good sub would be a perfect combo :T .