New 802Di or 800D?

[Pio]

Say you were getting an itch... and you had around $13k to plop down on a new (or used) pair of B&W's. Would you get the new 802Di? Or the previous generation 800D?

Listening to both in the same room is going to be nearly impossible. I remember what the 800D sound like - and they sound pretty damn good! Early reviews of the 802Di have lots of praise, but I'm still skeptical.

[Freddie40]

When the 802DIs were introduced B&W said that they were as good or better than the 800Ds. I believe them. That being said I would get the 802DIs. In other words, I did. Excellent speakers.

Dave

[HedgeHog]

Wouldn't your space be a criteria for consideration? Those 800D are huge! But unless you have an auditorium size room, I'd go with the 802Di as well. You can always add a sub later since the mids and highs should be identical.

-H

[beden1]

You may also have to up your game in the power department to drive the 800Ds.

Maybe you should be happy with what you have, and save the $13,000 for a rainy day!

[Kal Rubinson]

Wouldn't your space be a criteria for consideration? Those 800D are huge! But unless you have an auditorium size room, I'd go with the 802Di as well. You can always add a sub later since the mids and highs should be identical.

I guess one would expect that. However, we installed a pair of the 800DIs (piano black) in place of 802Ds (rosenut) and, while it is indisputably larger, it does not seem huge. Since they are the same height, the 800DIs seem to a more generously proportioned version.

[Skyblue]

I guess one would expect that. However, we installed a pair of the 800DIs (piano black) in place of 802Ds (rosenut) and, while it is indisputably larger, it does not seem huge. Since they are the same height, the 800DIs seem to a more generously proportioned version.

Whats your room size Kal?

[Kal Rubinson]

15x26 and open on one end.

[Skyblue]

15x26 and open on one end.

Thats actually pretty big. I've ordered the 802's but still kinda trying to convince myself that a pair of 800s would fit easily here

[Antonkk]

One of the reasons I'm afraid of picking up 800's is that I can hardly give them more than 240 cm between the centers of the speakers. 235 cm works well for 802s but if they are put closer the sound suffers a lot. Maybe 235-240 is not enough for 800s.