803D with HTM3 and 805S

[WelshOne]

Hi All,

You guys seem to have great experience with higher end B&W's.

Im not so savvy in this series, and currently have B&W605S2, CDMCNT and 601S2 rears.

I have the Rotel 1570/1575, Denon 3800bd player and cyrus cd player.

On of my 601's has started making a vibrating noise, I think ive pushed them too hard over the weekend. Not sure whats happened or if its economical to repair, any thoughts?

Either way, the title of the thread is an ex dem package my dealer has available, and wants to sell for £6000 pounds.

Do you think its good value, and will they integrate well with each other?

Im not 100% on the package as they are light cherry, and I really wanted black ash, but never seem to see then 2nd hand? If you think its money well spent i'll look into my finances further? The room is 16x11 ft.

Thanks

[garak]

I'd be concerned with the HTM3 center channel with the 803Ds. It will be pretty obvious that the timbre doesn't match, and it will probably drive you crazy.

[htsteve]

WelshOne,

You have nice electronics. The speaker package offered by the dealer would be a VERY nice upgrade. The 803D's will be substantially better in every way. I do agree with garak that the HTM3S will be a bit mismatched with the 803D's, primarily since the tweeter is metal and not diamond.

However, having said that, the HTM3S is an excellent center channel. I also had the CDMCNT center channel and I went to the HTM1, the predecessor to the HTM3S. What an upgrade that was. Again, in all areas, the performace improved, but especially in bass.

And having 805S's as rears would be outstanding.

The 803D, HTM2S and 805S will integrate well as they are all current generation 800 series speakers. I've learned first hand that getting all 5 speakers at the same level is very good for system synergy. They should fit into your room very nicely (I have 802D's, HTM2D and 804S's in the same size room).

The price of the kit is good. You will have to decide if you can live with the cherry finish or not. As you said, it's hard to find full sets in black ash.



Hope this helps.

[1oldguy]

Yes Black is where it's at LOL.But seriously after a while you do tend to get used to the color.

[MikeFL52]

I'd be concerned with the HTM3 center channel with the 803Ds. It will be pretty obvious that the timbre doesn't match, and it will probably drive you crazy.

I have that combination (couldn't afford to upgrade the center at the time) and to be honest it is a much better match than you might think. Most people do not have "D" speakers as surrounds even if they do for fronts and it doesn't drive them crazy.

Since your dealer has them as a demo package go and listen to them, see what you think, or better still see if he will demo them at your house.

[WelshOne]

Thanks guys!

Just the small matter of funding, and ive just spent the equivalent on new electronics since feb?

I am sorely tempted, and a D centre would be nice but I think I have to be realistic, even this package is dream territory for me :E

Its not going down too well with the wife, any tips on overcoming this :lol:

[kmcheng]

Another option is to skip the center channel for now and just get the 803D and the 805S. If your listening room is narrow, you may be able to get by with a phantom center.

Its not going down too well with the wife, any tips on overcoming this :lol:

1) Never disclose the prices/model number etc. of your equipments, even when pressed. If cornered, you can just say the depreciation % is lower than what you would have lost in the stock market.

2) Speaker sizes may vary, but they all occupy a similar footprint. The 600 speakers may look smaller, but they in fact require approximately the same amount of real estate. Given that, it makes most sense to have the best sounding and baddest speakers to fully optimize performance. :W

[1oldguy]

Thanks guys!

Just the small matter of funding, and ive just spent the equivalent on new electronics since feb?

I am sorely tempted, and a D centre would be nice but I think I have to be realistic, even this package is dream territory for me :E

Its not going down too well with the wife, any tips on overcoming this :lol:

LOL ...I'm buying all my gear before I get hitched. :B Safer that way. :W

[WelshOne]

Hi All,

Thanks for comments so far...........

Im still considering giving this package serious thought, any more comments or advice appreciated! Ive never even demo'd them, obviously I will but have no idea what to expect? h:

Also, will my components (listed in first post) do this package justice and perform well?

I really dont want to be sitting there in 6 months time being told or experiencing disappointment because I should have classe etc on my rack to make the 'speakers sing?'

I really have to draw a line somewhere and focus my funds on less selfless indulgences!

If the speakers are too much for the kit i'll bow out gracefully and just enjoy my 600 series.

Cheers!

[htsteve]

WelshOne,

You have very nice electronics. The speakers are the place to sink the most funds into as they have the most bang for the buck. IMO, your electronics might be a bit 'ahead' of your current speakers. The 800 series speakers will do very nicely in your system.

Hopefully you will be able to demo soon. Every aspect of these speakers will be better than what you have now. I started at 600 level speakers. I'm now at 800 level. The 600 are very good performer for the price. The 800 series are simply awesome speakers, when driven well. And you have nice electronics.


Hope this helps.


PS I have the Denon 3800 BR player. Love it. I does so many things so very well.

[kmcheng]

I really dont want to be sitting there in 6 months time being told or experiencing disappointment because I should have classe etc on my rack to make the 'speakers sing?'

Even if you keep your 600 series speakers, in six monthsn you will still be asking yourself what if you have upgraded to 800, or what if you have classe on the 600. So just take the plunge with the 800 and enjoy them for six months before you get itchy again.

I really have to draw a line somewhere and focus my funds on less selfless indulgences!

Easier said than done. I cut back on food and lost 20 pounds to conserve my funds. :B

[xyobgyn]

Different take

Yeah, I always take the road less travelled.

I'd strongly consider repairing the main speaker that is found lacking.

(see my post in the sticky labelled B&W parts or whatever)

Use some $$ to buy a center channel that is absolutely as close to identical, if not identical to the L&R. In fact, arguably, perhaps buy a second pair of same, and keep the damaged one in the back room for spares for the future since you'll have 3 of them you'd be using. You could take your time repairing the bad one, and once repaired, possibly even sell it to defray the cost of the pair.... Also, you could sell current center channel to defray the cost somewhat. Would be cheap, and even possibly sound better than pairing Nautilus sides with inferior and vastly different center.

If you can swing 3 identical fronts, I think the difference is just huge for HT.

I have had a pair of M 802 S3 speakers for L&R for a while. I tried a M 805 for a center, I tried a M 804 for a center, and I did for a short while try an older pre-matrix 802 for center as well.

As nice as several of those options were, the system really came alive and seamless with the purchase of a solitary M 802 S2. Not quite identical, but darn close, and the opportunity presented itself in a way I could not refuse.

All variations were paired with a Bryston 5B ST THX amplifier (3 channel), with a Lexicon DC-1 with all the frills. IMHO there really is a significant difference in any situation with pans of dialogue, motor vehicles, ie any action from side to side that passes through the middle....well... you could hear it was seamless. Particularly in the movies I screened often back then, Matrix, Abyss, 5th Element, Aliens, T2.

So much of the movie comes through the center in terms of dialogue that I feel its really worth it to try for 3 identicals.

I even once tried the 804's L&R with 805 center, and (believe it or not) found it more pleasing than 802's L&R with others in the middle, just because it was closer in match across the front. But, I'm picky, and perhaps beating a dead horse if you've made up your mind. Good luck!

Alex.

edit, I think I misunderstood the OP, and thought one of the 605's, ie the front L or R was buzzing. I still stand by my principle though, and having re-read it, I would not buy a whole new system as offered...but repair the rear speaker, sell the center, and buy a third 605. For a very short time, you could live with one rear speaker, or, even (oddly) depending on space, move your center to replace the damaged rear while its being repaired, then sell the center when the repair is done. Cheapest slow upgrade pathway.

[WelshOne]

Thank you for the replies guys!

Its still a head scratch for me then, maybe a demo is on the cards, if my dealer is able to get a brand new/demo centre peaker for me?

Although this is exactly the reason why I posted here, your experience!

And im reading between the lines that ideally such speakers should be suited carefully?

All points duly noted and respected, I will have a think on this and research further, but my main concern is the price going out of my reach, unless I go down to something like 803S, 804S, 805S across the front x3, although then I am looking at brand new, which takes the cost even higher than this ex dem package.

Damn.

[cdika17]

We need pics!

[WelshOne]

Pics of my current set up???

[cdika17]

yes please

[WelshOne]

Ok chaps, I can resist everything exempt temptation!

Went into the store again today, damn they look so good I started the negotiations!!

I now have the 805S on home demo, and wow are they better than my 605's.

Granted, the 605's have way way more slam, but as just one example, when listening to the Star Wars score I have on CD, at high volume, the 605's screech, badly. The 805's just sing the beautiful chorus and I can make out the subtle nuances in the orchestra, people shuffling, taking a breath etc etc.

I am having a home demo of the 803D saturday, still havent heard them yet but based on the 805's performance I cannot wait!!!!

I still havent committed myself to the store, still at the negotiation stage, and the HTM3 may take a month to come in from point of order, so still cannot compare with the rest of package for integration etc etc

But do you know what, from looks alone im sold. They are gorgeous!!

They are not mint condition :cry: , quite a few indentations on the cabinets, very minor and only noticeable close up. I wonder if these can be professionally removed at a reasonable price??

So, bottom line is I could have my new speaker package all up and running within a month.

I would like to thank you all again for your input, the only place where people have responded to my queries! :T

Will post back again after demo of 803D's on the weekend.

Cheers.

David

[htsteve]

WelshOne,

I'm glad you are able to do in home demo's. That's the best way to do it. I'm not surprised at your reaction t the 805S's. They are very impressive. If you have a good sub, 805S's are really a very good price performance option.

I look forward to your assessment of the 803D's. They are outstanding in every phase. Enjoy your time with them.

[kmcheng]

WelshOne,

I see no reason for you to get the HTM3. The 803D are very good speakers and create a very satisfying phantom center. I would just get the 803D and 805S for now. Then I will either save up for the HTM2D or wait for it to appear as a used/demo unit.

[WelshOne]

Thanks guys.

I have the feeling that the 'deal' is being done due to the profit which is being made on the centre speaker, so taking this out of the deal may muddy the water so to speak.

I have managed to lower the overall price further, so its kind of us both meeting in the middle.

Im going to be enjoying this passion for the rest of my life, Im sure a HTM2D will pop its head up some time in the future.

I just hope it doesnt stand out tonally TOO much!

Any thoughts on if its possible to reduce dings and minor marks from the cabinets?

Do you guys have any of these marks, is the wood that soft?

Many thanks

[htsteve]

WelshOne,

Good news on reducing the price. Is this still the whole package? 803D's, HTM3S and 805S's. It was already a good price, so good work.

As to the dings, you might call B&W and ask them directly. They might want to see a picture of the dings, so see if you can yake some pictures. Do you notice them when sitting in the listening position? I don't tend to see much of the side cabinets on my 802D's and my room is fairly dark, so I really don't see much of them at all.


The HTM3S is a very good center channel. And you are correct, there most likely be deals later for an HTM2D when the upgrade bug strikes.

Hope this helps.

[WelshOne]

Hi Steve,

Yes its still the whole package, quite a significant price reduction might I add!!!

Its this reason im going for it, too good to turn down!

The marks are more like compression marks, similar if you were to run your finger nail lightly into plasterboard, and one or two dings where its appears a tiny sharp object has tapped the cabinet. One or two superficial scratches which you cant really even feel with your fingers.

I have a french polisher coming saturday to inspect and quote, so I wait with baited breath.

You cannot even notice these marks, and have to look hard to find them.

Im a stickler for things looking 100%, and these speakers deserve to look 100%!!

Marks and dings happen though, ive been through too many teary days with new cars to take things too seriously now, life's too short.

[kmcheng]

Don't worry too much about the dings and dangs. Even if they are brand new and 100% flawless, in one or two year's time you will inadvertently scratch them somewhere. When you are really bothered by them, just dim the lights.

I am extremely careful with my equipments, but that does not prevent them from getting bumped into. Wife, cleaners, and friends' kids are not always within my control.

[WelshOne]

Thanks guys.

803D's coming saturday afternoon. The last time I remember being this excited was christmas eve and 8yrs old waiting for my first proper BMX. The HTM3S has supposedly a 1 month approx waiting time

Im a grown man for god's sake. If I look at the 800 series brochure one more time im going to go blind 8O

[ray5]

Thanks guys.

803D's coming saturday afternoon. The last time I remember being this excited was christmas eve and 8yrs old waiting for my first proper BMX. The HTM3S has supposedly a 1 month approx waiting time

Im a grown man for god's sake. If I look at the 800 series brochure one more time im going to go blind 8O

I just went through the same! Have been researching for over 6 months and finally made the plunge. It was sweet return for the patience. Enjoy.
Ray

[ShadowZA]

Thanks guys.

803D's coming saturday afternoon. The last time I remember being this excited was christmas eve and 8yrs old waiting for my first proper BMX. The HTM3S has supposedly a 1 month approx waiting time

Im a grown man for god's sake. If I look at the 800 series brochure one more time im going to go blind 8O

Congratulations on your acquisition! :T

Wishing you much pleasure & enjoyment. Get ready to take in the wonderful sound of the diamond tweeters. You're not going to want to leave your room.

[WelshOne]

Thanks!

I dont want to leave the room just listening or even looking at the 805's!!!!

I cannot believe how smooth and detailed they are, even at way low volumes the detail and clarity is astonishing. :E

Its such a tragedy that good sound costs so much money, its almost unfair.

Here is my modest set up for those who have asked.

Thanks