New B&W serie 800 !!!

[aquaanox]

Man...You mean my B&W's are outdated? I am going to try to convince myself I will never replace my B&W's.

I like the new B&W's and I bet they sound crazy good but, I think they look a little plain. I like how the "old" 800 series had the black around the driver and port.

could'nt agree more. i didnt really like the silver/chromish trim on my now traded in Cm-9's, i like how the current 804s sort of dissapear in a dimly lit room, no shiny stuff..

[RebelMan]

well well well.

Nice to see you post again, and a happy new year to you!

Happy New Year to you (and yes I still intend to make good a few promisses. )

[KyaDawn]

it sounded like the heavens opens up and the angels sang their choir to me as I drifted effortlessly on the clouds as I find nirvanna.

Sounds like death to me! :B

[RebelMan]

Man...You mean my B&W's are outdated? I am going to try to convince myself I will never replace my B&W's.

I like the new B&W's and I bet they sound crazy good but, I think they look a little plain. I like how the "old" 800 series had the black around the driver and port.

Technically yes but the further up the line one goes the degree of improvement lessens between series. Regarding the asthetic changes some I would call improvements others perhaps not. The reflective silver rings on each driver are a bit distracting but the smooth surface magnetic grill mounts are welcome.

[KyaDawn]

Im just curious.

Why with such a high quality brand and successful company would they cheap out on hi res photography of this new series. Its very amateur and disappointing IMO. I want to SEE what the heck these things look like. I mean with a major press release about their flagship line only to fall short on the actual presentation of the product itself is...well cheap.

There are photos, but strangely not available on their main site:

http://bwgroup.keycast.com/default.aspx?websiteid=9&infid=4604

[joetama]

Looks like some fancy new chrome... I mean drivers.

[jamesdaman]

I'm thinking the biggest jump will be the 805 in the line compared to the rest but I'm just guessing???

[aarsoe]

Wonder why they chose to make their own speaker connectors instead of the WBT ones they where using? Anybody have any pictures of them?

In my humble opinion I think the chrome rings does not work well with especially cherry - but it remains to be seen if they are better/worse once I see them live.

The crossover upgrade is probably where they got most of the improvement. Makes my fingers want to mod my own pair of 802D. Would be interesting if someone could get their hands on the schematics for 802D, 800D and the similar new ones..

[d52232dole]

Anyone gotten new 800s yet? Love to see the real photos.

[style]

Hallo,

I have a question that will be posed direct to B&W.....
(new Product, never see,...)

the stand from the new 805D are the same from thr 805S?

I hope! this B&W stand are very expensive (and they are not so good with price/performance) in Switzerland and if I think to upgrage my 805S with the 805D and extra the stand (only stand are ca. €. 450)

with the setup 803D, htm2D and 805S andd stand I think that the new 804D
give more vs. the 805D plus the new stand !!

other opinion?


Style

[d52232dole]

Oh, I just went to B&W site and saw new 800 photos, not much diff to look & feel, don't know yet about the sound.

[aarsoe]

Really surprised about them killing off the 801...

[1oldguy]

Really surprised about them killing off the 801...

I'm not overly surprised given the market.It comes down to sales at the end of the day.The weakest links got cut.Just like the massive HTM1D.I'm sure it sounded great but they need to sell enough to make it feasible.Had it sold better I doubt it would be taken from the line.The new lineup of the 800 series represents was and what wasn't working from a sales perspective.Nothing more,nothing less.

[sc2]

There are photos, but strangely not available on their main site:

http://bwgroup.keycast.com/default.a...d=9&infid=4604

After looking at the photo's, it appears the quality of the wood is not as good... the cherry wood surface looked fine, but...

I was looking at the 802D and the rosenut was very grainy, not sanded smooth. This is a new look, but definantly not as good as quality IMO.

The piano black speaker grill face surface was not perfectly smooth, it looked like MDF painted over a few times.

I do not care for the metal rings on the colored wood, the black, they just look ok. I also don't care for the domed tweeter grill. I do like how they spelled out the name though, looks classier.

Steve

[mjb]

Hallo,

I have a question that will be posed direct to B&W.....
(new Product, never see,...)

the stand from the new 805D are the same from thr 805S?

I hope! this B&W stand are very expensive (and they are not so good with price/performance) in Switzerland and if I think to upgrage my 805S with the 805D and extra the stand (only stand are ca. €. 450)

with the setup 803D, htm2D and 805S andd stand I think that the new 804D
give more vs. the 805D plus the new stand !!

other opinion?


Style

Good point Style! I went with the SCMS's for the rear, and they're gone now - using the 805D plus stands is going to be expensive for rear and/or surround.

[jamesdaman]

Alot if people here are complaining about the looks of the speakers, I actualy really like them think they look rather sexy

[1oldguy]

After looking at the photo's, it appears the quality of the wood is not as good... the cherry wood surface looked fine, but...

I was looking at the 802D and the rosenut was very grainy, not sanded smooth. This is a new look, but definitely not as good as quality IMO.

The piano black speaker grill face surface was not perfectly smooth, it looked like MDF painted over a few times.

I do not care for the metal rings on the colored wood, the black, they just look OK. I also don't care for the domed tweeter grill. I do like how they spelled out the name though, looks classier.

Steve

Had a close look myself and your right.The quality on the front isn't the same as the rest of the speaker cabinet.I guess your fine if one decides to leave the grill on,I assume most do.But Your right it does look like MDF painted over.
Call me a stickler but the Denmark cabinets looked much better probably because they are better.Denmark didn't get their reputation for quality wood working for nothing.

[JargonGR]

What I really care right now is how the 800 Diamonds sound compared to my 800Ds and if it is possible to upgrade the drivers and the crossover. That said I wonder how improved the top 800 is compared to its predecessor.

[sikoniko]

There is lot to share but too difficult to type everything out on the iPhone and I am not paying $13 a day for Internet. New magnets on bass drivers. New design on diamond tweeter with more magnets. All models share the same crossover for diamond. 802 and 800 have same crossover now. 805 and 804 are identical in size to old model. All models have metal phase plug - 805 is no longer fixed as a result. Only models here are piano gloss but do not look cheap. Silver rings distracting. Look for preferred dealers to receive models as soon as February and all dealers to have around April or may. Started building in November and going through growing pains with new factory. 800 and 802 wood still done in Denmark while others are in England. System that was played in room was classe electronics - cp700, cdp 202, ctm600's 802 diamond and db1 sub.

[aarsoe]

Please - someone take a picture of the new crossovers if possible. Would like to see how they fit the same crossover in the 800D in the 802D base..

[sikoniko]

Please - someone take a picture of the new crossovers if possible. Would like to see how they fit the same crossover in the 800D in the 802D base..

There is no way to do that.

[Nolan B]

There are photos, but strangely not available on their main site:

http://bwgroup.keycast.com/default.a...d=9&infid=4604

yea, but low rez and very few. Sort of a lack luster launch IMO.

[ShadowZA]

yea, but low rez and very few. Sort of a lack luster launch IMO.

If you download and open the zip files there are some high rez photos.

[1oldguy]

yea, but low rez and very few. Sort of a lack luster launch IMO.

If it were Hi REZ we would be even less pleased with the new look of the cabinets.Even if they are made in Denmark something is clearly different with the quality of the cabinets,and not for the better.

[aarsoe]

There are no pictures of the crossovers. I was referring to people attending CES - in the hope that they had them on display there..

[KyaDawn]

yea, but low rez and very few. Sort of a lack luster launch IMO.

4080x5440 seems pretty "hi rez" to me! :B

[timjclark]

I took a look at the hi-res photo's and prefer the looks of mine with one exception...I really like the new spelled-out logo. And to be honest, I'm going to swing by my dealer in a month or so and see them in the flesh to see what I really think about their looks. In person, they may be very fetching.

With all of the talk here about the looks of the new 800 Diamonds, this brings up an interesting question for y'all:

Out of 100%, how important are the looks of the speakers VS the sound of the speakers?

My score would be 40% looks/60% sound. I don't care how amazing something might sound, if I don't like the way it looks, I would not purchase it.

[scanido]

My ratios to looks/sound would probably be the same. I value the looks almost as much as the sound as these things are a piece of Art in the room. I like the new line with exception of the the silver FST plugs.

[Nolan B]

I for one welcome the new look of the series. I think the lack of color and finish selection is still lacking, but I feel the past 800 series was in series need of a design update.

[KyaDawn]

Out of 100%, how important are the looks of the speakers VS the sound of the speakers?

Looks are definitely very important. It's probably the biggest reason why I chose the 802Ds over the 803Ds, which I thought sounded amazing as well. If a speaker looked awful to me, it would be difficult to convince myself to buy it even if they sounded superb. At the same time, I wouldn't buy a speaker that I thought sounded like crap just because they looked beautiful either! :P

[sikoniko]

There are no pictures of the crossovers. I was referring to people attending CES - in the hope that they had them on display there..

that would be me and they don't have crossovers in any display for one to see.

I think you guys are being hypercritical. The speakers do not look cheapened. I do not care for the silver rings though.

[JesperA]

As usual there is virtually impossible to get some real life pictures of B&W highend series, i have search every corner on the net to try to find someone that have taken any pictures of the new speakers at CES but without any luck!

Is there a camera ban in the B&W booth?

[KyaDawn]

As usual there is virtually impossible to get some real life pictures of B&W highend series, i have search every corner on the net to try to find someone that have taken any pictures of the new speakers at CES but without any luck!

Is there a camera ban in the B&W booth?

Ask and you shall receive! :B

[JesperA]

Ask and you shall receive! :B

Cant tell you how much i appreciate that, thank you

[bwsound]

The 805d looks very good, as well as the 800d, except for the silver rings...

But I quess it wouldn't be a hard job to take out the driver and give a quick black lacker finish to the metal ring.

[RebelMan]

I'm thinking the biggest jump will be the 805 in the line compared to the rest but I'm just guessing???

It is which is why I was most disappointed not getting to hear it.

[jamesdaman]

Yeh i'd love to know how much better they are compared to the out going 805s. £1750 more then the 805s I'd expect quite a bit. I only payed £1200 for my 805s with the stands

[timjclark]

Ask and you shall receive! :B

Thank you very much!

I think they look pretty darn good actually. I can't wait to HEAR them in person! I'm not crazy about the chrome around the flowport...

[ShadowZA]

Ask and you shall receive! :B

Thank you for the pics. Great to be able to see them "in person". :T

[Nolan B]

Ask and you shall receive! :B

Nice pictures.

I think the 805Ds look beautiful. I think I found the speaker i have been waiting for. Cant wait to hear it!

[1oldguy]

Upon further inspection the official photos of the 800 series look like they are photo shopped.Could this be possible?

[RebelMan]

They are slowly ramping production up and they stated their reasons for this hence some information and pictures have been limited. We can take some pictures with our phones but they are a little crude and difficult to upload.

[beden1]

They are slowly ramping production up and they stated their reasons for this hence some information and pictures have been limited. We can take some pictures with our phones but they are a little crude and difficult to upload.

Do you know if they will still be offering the satin black ash as before, as well as the piano black?

[RebelMan]

I for one welcome the new look of the series. I think the lack of color and finish selection is still lacking, but I feel the past 800 series was in series need of a design update.

I have mixed feelings between the two series but I am sold on the new 805.

[ChrisssB]

I have mixed feelings between the two series but I am sold on the new 805.

It's Great to see you here :T

Best wishes for a great 2010