I just found this forum and I am so glad to see a place that you can get brand specific with your questions. I am excited to be getting my first pair of these speakers even if they are a little long in the woofer. I am going to see them on saturday so I was wondering could I get a few tips as to what to look for? I know they have a few cosmetic things with them but the pics showed nothing serious. They are the 80 series and they are being used in a sound studio that makes discs, both audio and video, and the owner said they were used gently and never abused. Any help would be appreciated. :T
New Owner B+W 801
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What series 801 are they?Main System:
B&W 801D
Emotiva USP-1 Pre-Amp
Chord SPM-650 Stereo Amp
Oppo BDP-105
Squeezebox Touch
Second System:
B&W CM7
Emotiva UMC-1
Emotiva UPA-2
Oppo BDP-83SE
Grant Fidelity DAC-09
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Sorry, missed that in your post..
Of course you will want to make sure that cosmetically they are what you want, but also you will want to check for woofer rot. On speakers more then 15 years old this can be a problem.. The rubber around the drivers becomes hard and brittle and simply rots away. Of course drivers can always be replaced, but consider that in your cost..
And of course.... Listen to them..Main System:
B&W 801D
Emotiva USP-1 Pre-Amp
Chord SPM-650 Stereo Amp
Oppo BDP-105
Squeezebox Touch
Second System:
B&W CM7
Emotiva UMC-1
Emotiva UPA-2
Oppo BDP-83SE
Grant Fidelity DAC-09
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I am going to have to ask you to post PICS!Main System:
B&W 801D
Emotiva USP-1 Pre-Amp
Chord SPM-650 Stereo Amp
Oppo BDP-105
Squeezebox Touch
Second System:
B&W CM7
Emotiva UMC-1
Emotiva UPA-2
Oppo BDP-83SE
Grant Fidelity DAC-09
- Bottom
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If you know how, then get the protection circuit out of the way. Does not do anything well for the sound and was subsequently dropped on later models.
The woofers normally don't rot on B&W, as they do not use foam edges on those models so unless someone had them stored under very harsh conditions you should be fine for a long time.
I would however suggest you to take a look at the crossover. A lot have happened since then and you can replace with equal value/higher voltage/better quality and get a quite well worth lift in sound quality.
If you can live with the 1980 look then there is really not much out there that can match it - provided you do as previously mentioned and have a room that works well with them..- Bottom
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Originally posted by aarsoeIf you know how, then get the protection circuit out of the way. Does not do anything well for the sound and was subsequently dropped on later models.
The woofers normally don't rot on B&W, as they do not use foam edges on those models so unless someone had them stored under very harsh conditions you should be fine for a long time.
I would however suggest you to take a look at the crossover. A lot have happened since then and you can replace with equal value/higher voltage/better quality and get a quite well worth lift in sound quality.
If you can live with the 1980 look then there is really not much out there that can match it - provided you do as previously mentioned and have a room that works well with them..- Bottom
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Originally posted by Ken49rCongrats Top Cat,
Those look pretty good in your room. I have been wanting to hear a pair of the older 800 models just to hear the comparison. Bet they sound good.- Bottom
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Originally posted by Top Catif something were to go wrong I can't get replacement drivers unless someone is parting out some of their 801's and that seems unlikely.
Have you tried? http://www.bwgroup-support.com/default.htm- Bottom
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Great Looking Speakers Top Cat!
I have never heard about rotating the drivers.. Who told you that?
It should be pretty easy to do....
Enjoy and thanks again for the PICS...Main System:
B&W 801D
Emotiva USP-1 Pre-Amp
Chord SPM-650 Stereo Amp
Oppo BDP-105
Squeezebox Touch
Second System:
B&W CM7
Emotiva UMC-1
Emotiva UPA-2
Oppo BDP-83SE
Grant Fidelity DAC-09
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I talked to a guy at a local hi end shop and he was the one who mentioned it. I don't know alot about the internals of a speaker but he said after years it is a good idea. I don't see how. I really like them and I really don't want to mess with them if it isn't going to make a difference.- Bottom
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looks like you have an earilier version of Matrix 801. although b&w no longer carry the exact parts for your speaker, they surely have Matrix 801 parts available. The new driver and crossover are quite a large leap comparing to the earilier model. Should anything break, don't hasitate to buy newer driver, the sound can only be better.- Bottom
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In general I would say that a crossover change is likely not necessary.. Since a crossover is a simple filter, you just need to ask yourself if the new driver can handle the same frequency range and if the power is similar. In general if you are replacing with a drive of the same size and configuration then you shouldn't need to change.
I have upgraded the drivers in many speakers where the woofers foam surround had deteriorated. I used better more powerful drivers and kept the old crossover and never had a problem.
That does not mean that you wouldn't notice a performance increase with new crossovers as I believe you could and would...
One question though.. If you a happy with the sound, then why change anything?
StuartMain System:
B&W 801D
Emotiva USP-1 Pre-Amp
Chord SPM-650 Stereo Amp
Oppo BDP-105
Squeezebox Touch
Second System:
B&W CM7
Emotiva UMC-1
Emotiva UPA-2
Oppo BDP-83SE
Grant Fidelity DAC-09
- Bottom
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Well I do like the sound and I asked the question not because I want to change things but if I need to if a driver goes bad. If original drivers are not available, and as far as I know they are not, It would be nice to just be able to use one that is close to the original. Thanks for answering my questions, I appreciate it. :T- Bottom
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Originally posted by Top CatWell I do like the sound and I asked the question not because I want to change things but if I need to if a driver goes bad. If original drivers are not available, and as far as I know they are not, It would be nice to just be able to use one that is close to the original. Thanks for answering my questions, I appreciate it. :T- Bottom
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Top Cat, at $750.00 you did very well. They will give you years of great listening. Like beden1 says, just take a close look at the rubber surrounds, if at all they are flakey (dry crumbly looking), you should inquire for replacements. If not, they are ok. It is also not hard to get inside and just check the connections and wiring etc. Easily accessible and you just never know. My older series 3 matrix had a few connections that were not broke but after a few years of moving around etc. come loose and just need a little tlc to stay connected. You have some great speakers there and I hope you enjoy them. :T- Bottom
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