B&W 800 Diamond reviewed at German site audio.de

[ShadowZA]

It is interesting to note that the 800 Diamond was awarded 104 points. It's predecessor, the 800D, was awarded 101 points when it was reviewed at this same site in May 2005.

This is how their point system of grading is applied:

REFERENCE CATEGORY 101 points and above (superior)
HIGH-END CATEGORY 91-100 points (superior)
EXCELLENCE 76-90 (very good)
SUPER CLASS 61-75 (good)
MEDIUM CLASS 31-60 (satisfactory)
STANDARD CLASS 00-30 (sufficient)

The review in German:

http://www.audio.de/testbericht/lautsprecher-b-w-800-diamond-956373,210.html

[JesperA]

I am having a hard time navigate on a german site so does anyone know if they made a review of the Maestro Utopia? The 800-series seems great but would be nice to be able to compare the points to something

[ShadowZA]

Don't know about the Maestro Utopia but if you take a squizz here:

http://www.audio.de/bestenlisten-1702,210.html?catId=10101&magazine=audio

you can compare reviewed speakers by ticking the little square boxes headed "Produkte Vergleichen" and then left-mouse click said heading.

Hope that this helps a tad

[stuofsci02]

Am I reading this wrong? It appears they rated the 683 higher then the 801D..

[wettou]

REVIEWSpeaker B & W 800 Diamond




Test result104.0 points
22000 EUR
Test Procedure: 1.0




28thJuly 2010

Bowers & Wilkins equip its new 800 Series complete with the exquisite diamond tweeter. For the top model in the series, which was B & W 800 Diamond (22 000 € the pair) is the highest development objective: the best B & W of all time.



Bass must be 25-Two double shielded woofer with magnets and Rohacell membranes provide a low frequency below 30 Hertz, and even 15-inch model superfluous.

At the new high-profile flagship of the British tradition forged there are so few surprises like the banquet of the Queen. Everything follows clear rules and pays homage grown English speaker architecture. Sun reflects the new edition of 1979 with the 801 series success justified the heritage of their brand - and especially its direct predecessor, which seemed to subscribe to the AUDIO-reader contest "The Golden Ear" at the super boxes on top places. Actually built B & W no speakers, but creates icons of hi-technology. Virtually no other manufacturer has made it so convincing, not just use any fancy technology, but also to stylize these trademarks, which are widely known about the chosen circle inveterate audio enthusiasts.
Shall set the course in professional recording studios British domiciled in their top models for ages in separate chambers for low-, mid-range and treble to the time alignment for improved omnidirectional and perfect isolation of the individual driver. When the Nautilus technology with back, gently tapered tubes to absorb the imported back from the membrane radiated sound energy, they are not bashful about hiding in a box. No, B & W to use today celebrated this innovation through the loudspeaker sculpture par excellence - the legendary Ur-Nautilus, which made a "snail" in Germany headlines.
Thus the British succeeded even what remains most hardware producers denied ordinary: A B & W box adorned with no supporting actor on the cover of a top band of world renown: the avant-Popper Art Of Noise perpetuated the artfully curved eye-catcher on the cover of her 1989er album "Below The Waste".



Center with cream for neutral as possible Facial B & W relies on Kevlar and waives a rubber surround. A Dämmring to suppress resonances in their place.

Yellow Pages
Obvious, but history. Currently hiding a key evolutionary innovation of the enhanced 800 Diamond deep within the powerful bass chamber. It is the newly developed, with a rod from the outside looking drive two very powerful magnets. This design will allow more energy to drive more homogeneous force distribution and increase in the wake of the impulse response and reduce distortion. The improved drive can replace B & W with two 25-inch chassis, the previous top driver with 38mm diameter.
The welcome from an aesthetic point of view operation succeeded apparently on a technical level: With a by AUDIO Laboratory reported lower frequency limit of 24 respectively 21 Hz at -3 and -6 dB which exceeded 100 kilo Dick ship is not just your work information, but also the Most of the competitors on the market. For the powerful, dual connect by huge magnets driven membranes low weight and high rigidity, B & W put on Rohacell. The material comes as a solution to a similar trade-offs in motor racing and in aircraft construction, and is used for its magical properties, even by the French manufacturer Cabasse speakers in a big way as a membrane material.
This not shake the foundation of the two basses of artfully shaped curved Plywood Tieftonkammer comes within the established framework matrix is used, which resembles a cross between Zeppelin and ice applications. Despite the huge membrane area of the double bass principle helps B & W even after opening with a bass-reflex, which aims to bottom. This represented the con-strukteure - certainly to the delight of the designers - the whole box on three pillars which support the bottom beveled casing at the front against the solid base. This causes the loudspeaker called for his weight class lightly. Furthermore, there is no parallel for this shape housing walls, and thus a breeding ground for standing waves, the root of all Dröhnübels.




Diamond Drive
A stronger drive with four magnets for more drive and less distortion received the revised diamond tweeter, which gives this model its name. The membrane is both stiff as a British aristocrat from the 19th Century, the other extremely lightweight making it quick as star players like David Beckham in his prime. With a hardness of 10 represents a diamond not only the best friend of more mature women. In the production and processing, he is also regarded as tough and unyielding as the former ex-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. But the engineers at B & W cracked the hard nut and found a way, the material of which should now exist and men dreams, forms in large quantities to be affordable at Dome (AUDIO reported in detail in issue 4 / 2010).
Vapor deposition thank the British breed under the name Chemical Vapor Deposition, CVD short, from methane gas at high temperatures more of the 2.5 inch large domes in a metal mold. This chemical coating makes true Akustikerträume: While even aluminum dome usually start at 40 kilohertz, that is prone to violent partials, retains the diamond dome tweeter on B & W its form in up to 70 kilohertz. The sonic result was reflected in numerous hearing tests and cemented the reputation of this as well as high-resolution high-profile British treasure. The surface of the assembled laser dome is replaced by a platinum coating a silvery sheen.



The terminals sit easily accessible in the floor plate.

The tweeter sits together with its Natilus tube to the elegantly curved Mitteltonkammer from Marlan, a mineral resin with polished Siebenschichtlack. This incredibly complex, and for days the way, only to be performed by hand polish makes a good measure of the price. The fact that the predecessor to the 800 D (Test in Audio 5 / 2005) swelled by only € 2000 can be considered as imputed feat. To mechanical vibration transmission from the bass B & W uses a floating storage, transport is blocked with a fuse on the back of the case.
Kevlar midrange is known for a long time Bowers & Wilkins, but this form remains the Upper Class reserved. comes instead of an ordinary rubber in the flagship of his majesty sickenlose a 15-centimeter-thin membrane with a FST-damping ring of rubber used. So that the developers plan to address the reflections of partial oscillations at the membrane edge and bring about the midrange with even less distortion and discoloration.
Listen like a pro
Because B & W draws in mechanical ingredients from solid enough on the electronic side slightest effort to assign the chassis work areas. The simple, but with selected components equipped switch cuts off the bass at 350 Hz and can run up the midrange and 4000 Hertz. The latter is quite unusual, because usually the developer, the middle-converter crop already at 3000 Hertz. The B & W solution has the advantage of removing the delicate transition to more of the voices in which the human ear reacts particularly sensitive to phase shifts and interference. The bears, however, also major threats to the omnidirectional, for a # 15 taper tends to pool in these registers. The fact that the lateral deviation is impressive nonetheless, provides developers with a good testimony.




The listening test showed fast parallels between the 800 Diamond and other studio monitors: Who such recourse to a professional to do housework, is astonished at first about those noble composure and restraint with which the music is being implemented on a large scale. The Briton saved at any time the label and gave up countless crude demonstrations of their talents. Despite or perhaps because of its two basses excessive show of force when it abstained cited "Below The Waste" (China Records). Almost inconspicuously after they drew on jazz albums like "We Get Requests" by Oscar Peterson Trio (Verve) is happening in the lower octaves to plunge casually even lower than most other speakers. It had the B & W never slow, even if they nonchalantly kick bass in some cases fly weights would let go first.
But posing is just not their thing, not even in the hills where it unveiled new high-caliber subtle details, but do not dive in a glaring bright light. The 800 is the motto of the music nothing to add, so stoically as the royal guard. So, when she could read the score, she put Beethoven's 7th Symphony (Barenboim, Warner) around. Unlike many of their predecessors, the 800 also had a Diamond in the middle of neutral and extremely slim.
With the new 800 is any type of music can enjoy for hours without any stress. Of the basses tiefgründelnden the church organ at Saint-Saens' third symphony of pizzicato bass on "We Get Requests" to the bone-E-Bass by Terri Jackson to Thomas Dolby's "Budapest By Blimp" she dominated every shade. In the higher registers anyway: lonely peak, working out what the diamond tweeter triangles, hi-hats or violins, without ever sounding harsh or superficial. The longer you listened, the more he nevertheless drew the whole attention. Basically, he is not only the probably best dome tweeter on the market, but also the secret superstar, this all-star ensemble. Once you have the difference to his, in a direct comparison either overcast and / or experienced harsh-looking counterparts from silk, metal or plastic, one digs out a shot after another, to observe them in a new light. It was almost like a rum-tasting, if one finds that apart from Bacardi & Co. for years in the cask matured as a precious Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva is from Venezuela. It certainly takes up with high-quality cognacs from about Hines.



The case of bass decoupled Mitteltonkammer is secured with a transport lock on the back.

But who could take up with the 800 Diamond? We also rolled the mighty KEF Reference 207 / 2 (9 / 07) in the ring. How would the play inspired hi-cracks in addition to the studio pros? At first glance, the 207 / 2, the B & W's took almost a defensive position, because the play had a total of more kick. Even so, the KEF's ever act nervous while always put the B & W's British coolness of the day, and even fewer good shots never harsh impacts. In the bass, they offered more substance, and in the heights they got even more details to the surface and gave the rooms a depicted breath more air. Only in the midst of a total of just superior to the impulsive 207 800 lacked a bit of life.
The bottom line is worth the extra € 2000 compared to the predecessor - the extra Euros are still of benefit not only the exorbitant rewarded with 104 points sound, but also the equipment. The spikes set is also included in it as the previous surcharge piano option. Something can be saved on the amp, because with an AK 58 is the new 800 D is anything but a diva. Mission accomplished. It came on - the best B & W of all time.
Conclusion
Made me the sound of the B & W 801, 30 years ago to a high-Ender, after I had with her on the then still located in Duesseldorf High End Show from the vinyl "anti Phone Blues" with organ and saxophone is apparently real. The German hi-fi press, however, whether the restrained whined high frequencies.How times change: Thanks to the high-level tweeter Jewels of the 800 D Hochtonkrone is now finally over in English possession. Congratulations to B & W.

Specifications and Test Results

GENERAL DATADimensions (W x H x D)45.0 x 118.0 x 64.5 cmWeight102.0SurfacesVeneer, VinylColorPiano Black, Cherry, RosenutTechnical FeaturesBass principleWay bass reflexNumber of ways3Principle of full activeEquipmentClamp connectionsBi-wiringXLR connectorsRoom settingsSurround Suppl.[img]/img/icon_plus.png[/img]CinchLABORATORY FEATURESMaximum volume upper value109 dBlower limiting frequency (-3dB)24 HzLower limit frequency (-6 dB)21 HzNominal Impedance (audio)3 OhmAssessment[img]/img/icon_plus.png[/img]Excellent box with screen character, extremely high resolution of detail and precision[img]/img/icon_minus.png[/img]Could play a little more present in PopBass Quality105Bass depth (bass)105Detail (precision)110Feindynamik105Classification104Maximum level (vitality)100Neutrality100Detectability95Spatiality (airiness)105Test result104Processingoutstandingtested in date:7 / 10

[ShadowZA]

Thanks for the translation, Wettou :T

Stuofsci02, you're correct. Something seems to be awry with their review. Just look at the comparison. I don't understand how they arrived at a "review score" of 71 for the 801D:

[stuofsci02]

Thanks for the translation, Wettou :T

Stuofsci02, you're correct. Something seems to be awry with their review. Just look at the comparison. I don't understand how they arrived at a "review score" of 71 for the 801D:

There must be a mistake of some sort.. The lowest mark was a 71... My German is not good so I don't know what the 71 was for...

[Pedro]

The 801D and 800D were scored 101 points by Audio.DE :T