Xt8

[WI Rotel]

Anyone heard them yet? Inquiring minds want to know!

[style]

Hallo,

I dont thinkwill be so faast available....(well in europa!)

But i'm surprised from the price/performance over the paper between XT4 and the XT8.

The XT4 are discoutinued or?

You have the XT4 right? with the XT8 will be a very nice combo. I will buy the XT8 in a closed box too!.

style

[WI Rotel]

Hallo,

I dont thinkwill be so faast available....(well in europa!)

But i'm surprised from the price/performance over the paper between XT4 and the XT8.

The XT4 are discoutinued or?

You have the XT4 right? with the XT8 will be a very nice combo. I will buy the XT8 in a closed box too!.

style

On paper they are essentially identical. The difference is the FST. The only slight sonic imperfection of the XT4 is a soft midrange (which specifications can't differentiate) I would like to see if the XT8 moves it up a notch in that respect. They are significantly more expensive, I'd like to know if its worth the upgrade :T

[Nolan B]

On paper they are essentially identical. The difference is the FST. The only slight sonic imperfection of the XT4 is a soft midrange (which specifications can't differentiate) I would like to see if the XT8 moves it up a notch in that respect. They are significantly more expensive, I'd like to know if its worth the upgrade :T

Just buy 2 more PV1s and line them up in a straight row.

[Ethan06]

Anyone listen to the XT8's yet?
I'm gonna see if I can sometime this week.

On a slightly more girly note, I can't seem to decide on the finish to go with and I'd like to have that sorted before I go in.
Here's a quick shot at my current, intern set up.
What do you guys think, black or silver?

cheers

[Briz vegas]

No question..........Its got to be pink girlfriend !!

Black I think.

[Ethan06]

lol cheers Briz.

I had a quick listen to the XT8s and XT2s tonight and let me tell you, I was impressed.
Huge sound stage and very smooth mid range thanks to the new FST but having not herd the XT4s, I really can't compare the two.
My dealer only had the black in store and thought that the silver was no longer available but after I steered him to a quick Google search, he changed his tune. I'm going to drop by when I get more time for a proper audition with my own material.

The new base looks better in person and really helps stabilize the design. I couldn't even budge them with a "controlled" bump. This is important since the XT8 is about an inch taller than the XT4.

Overall, a damn sexy design that just so happens to sound as good as it looks.

FYI to my Canadian forum friends, the owner told me that B&W are talking seriously about a 20% price jump on many of the ranges with the exception of the XT8s and recently introduced CM models since their prices debuted with the change in currency in mind.

[KyaDawn]

FYI to my Canadian forum friends, the owner told me that B&W are talking seriously about a 20% price jump on many of the ranges with the exception of the XT8s and recently introduced CM models since their prices debuted with the change in currency in mind.

If that's the case, it sounds like market suicide in light of the current economy. If they were to do that, perhaps the should LOWER the prices in the US to reflect the recent strength of the dollar vs. the pound. :B

[WI Rotel]

Anyone listen to the XT8's yet?
I'm gonna see if I can sometime this week.

On a slightly more girly note, I can't seem to decide on the finish to go with and I'd like to have that sorted before I go in.
Here's a quick shot at my current, intern set up.
What do you guys think, black or silver?

cheers

Got to be black :W Though pink would be "fabulous" :B

[WI Rotel]

lol cheers Briz.

I had a quick listen to the XT8s and XT2s tonight and let me tell you, I was impressed.
Huge sound stage and very smooth mid range thanks to the new FST but having not herd the XT4s, I really can't compare the two.
My dealer only had the black in store and thought that the silver was no longer available but after I steered him to a quick Google search, he changed his tune. I'm going to drop by when I get more time for a proper audition with my own material.

The new base looks better in person and really helps stabilize the design. I couldn't even budge them with a "controlled" bump. This is important since the XT8 is about an inch taller than the XT4.

Overall, a damn sexy design that just so happens to sound as good as it looks.

FYI to my Canadian forum friends, the owner told me that B&W are talking seriously about a 20% price jump on many of the ranges with the exception of the XT8s and recently introduced CM models since their prices debuted with the change in currency in mind.

Dang, I have to do a side by side. I'm getting upgraditis, though the fact is the XT4's do sound fabulous and your description would also apply to the 4's! :T

[Ethan06]

Dang, I have to do a side by side. I'm getting upgraditis, though the fact is the XT4's do sound fabulous and your description would also apply to the 4's! :T

So I went back to my dealer just for a quick, second listen and I walked out an hour later with a smile on my face and a few more Visa reward points

Last time in, I listened to mainly acoustic music (Elliot Smith, Van Morrison, and Aimee Mann to name a few so this time around I wanted to hear that impressive wide sound stage handle a bit more rock'in material. Played some Finley Quaye, Massive attack, U2 and Audioslave for a bit of bass and I was astonished with what these speakers could do, just by themselves, without any sub in the mix. They were running on the new 15 series Rotels, not sure of the model.
I went with brushed aluminum since I'm moving to a more minimal space in a month and thought the silver would pop more in the new space.

Go have a listen WIRotel, I'd love to hear what an expert such as yourself thinks about the XT8.

Can't wait for them to arrive next week.
cheers,

[WI Rotel]

So I went back to my dealer just for a quick, second listen and I walked out an hour later with a smile on my face and a few more Visa reward points

Last time in, I listened to mainly acoustic music (Elliot Smith, Van Morrison, and Aimee Mann to name a few so this time around I wanted to hear that impressive wide sound stage handle a bit more rock'in material. Played some Finley Quaye, Massive attack, U2 and Audioslave for a bit of bass and I was astonished with what these speakers could do, just by themselves, without any sub in the mix. They were running on the new 15 series Rotels, not sure of the model.
I went with brushed aluminum since I'm moving to a more minimal space in a month and thought the silver would pop more in the new space.

Go have a listen WIRotel, I'd love to hear what an expert such as yourself thinks about the XT8.

Can't wait for them to arrive next week.
cheers,

Congratulations I've been a satisfied XT owner!!!!
If you are setting up an HT system the PV1, XTC and XT2 match the system perfectly :T

[Ethan06]

Thought you guys would like to see some pics of the new setup (and the XT8's) post move. Sorry for the delay, I've been knee deep in boxes and packing paper all week.

I think the color gamble paid off what do you guys think?
Eventually this will grow into a full XT HT with quality separates but have to pay the bills first. It really is surprising just how great these babies sound with the Denon (pure direct mode) and I really don't miss a sub at all for music and most movies.
Cheers

[ray5]

Ethan06,
Great pictures. Clean and aesthetically pleasing. Enjoy!
Ray

[1oldguy]

20% hey......That would be quite a jump.Because of the other brands of speakers at my dealers place have jumped up in price I decided that B&W may just do the same thing...Which is why I decided to buy my B&W's just before this Christmas.Though apparently they haven't raised the prices yet I won't really be surprised when and if they do.I know if they were 20% more I would not have bought them.

[dknightd]

Very hansom looking speakers

[bigburner]

Thought you guys would like to see some pics of the new setup (and the XT8's) post move.



[

Hi Ethan,

Your setup looks great but I have one small suggestion. Move your right hand speaker over to the left where your cabinet is so that your screen is dead centre between your speakers. Dialogue on movies will improve a lot (i.e. come straight out of the actors' mouths), and the soundstage on music DVDs will be much more realistic.

If you do try this out don't forget to post a new photo and tell us if the sound has improved.

Nigel.

[Ethan06]

Hi Ethan,

Your setup looks great but I have one small suggestion. Move your right hand speaker over to the left where your cabinet is so that your screen is dead centre between your speakers. Dialogue on movies will improve a lot (i.e. come straight out of the actors' mouths), and the soundstage on music DVDs will be much more realistic.

If you do try this out don't forget to post a new photo and tell us if the sound has improved.

Nigel.

Very true burner, that was my intention but the installed HDMI cable from the TV to the amp isn't long enough to accommodate moving the cabinet Since I don't want to open the wall to run a longer one I'm afraid its stuck where it is for now.
Just a thought, anyone have experience with HDMI extension cables? I imagine their might be some potential issues with hand shaking if I did use one. As it stands, the Denon Audyssey calibration is doing its best with the off center speaker placement.

[WI Rotel]

Don't fret about HDMI, remember, the signal is digital, there are only 2 possibilities it goes or doesn't go through. Feel free to use an extension. As aothers have posted, for the best HT expirience the speakers must be equidistant form the TV. Also, an XTC is in order! No muddling from tv speakers :W