802 Diamond spike question

[akhter]

So I am about to get the 802 Diamonds shortly (maybe even this week) and am preparing my tiny apartment for it...

One question that that has come up with whether to spike it or not.

At the showroom they speaker were on some casters which made them swapping around much easier I suppose. Is it really terrible if I just keep them for the time being? My floors are hardwood and I frequently like to play with positioning. Also I will need to get to the back of my AV cabinet frequently to swap out some gear which will require me to move the 802Diamonds which per the dealer, even if I install the rubber feet, it is basically impossible for one person...

If they are really needed to tighten up the bass, then I guess I will invest in some sound care spikes with integrated bases:

http://www.soundcare.no/picturegallery-inng.htm

Anyone know the thread size of the 802 Diamonds so I can order them and get them installed by the B&W delivery team?

[windshear]

Firstly are you getting the D's or the Diamonds aka D2's? If its the Diamonds then they come with the spike kit included in the box. The spikes are reversable with a hard rubber on the other side. As you have mentioned it will be almost impossible to move and adjust alone once this fitted. The problem with keeping it on castors, is that you will most likely damage the wood floors due to the combined weight and pressure applied by the ball in the castor. A catch 22 situation, i would rather protect the floors and use the included rubber feet or you can put the spike's on the following http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=...oor+protectors

[akhter]

Anyone know the spike size of the 802D2 (Diamond not the older D)? I want to get soundcare spikes with integrated base plates and not use the supplied rubber spikes. Ofcourse I will use the supplied spike adapter plates.

[leo2498]

Anyone know the spike size of the 802D2 (Diamond not the older D)? I want to get soundcare spikes with integrated base plates and not use the supplied rubber spikes. Ofcourse I will use the supplied spike adapter plates.

Akhter I not know the spike size but maybe this drawing could help.

http://www.bwgroupsupport.com/manuals/bw

http://www.bwgroupsupport.com/downloads/drawings/bw/pdf/802D2.pdf

[aarsoe]

Can tell you from my own experience that the casters will make dents in your floor unless it is something very exotic and very, very hard.
However you can place a plate underneath and in that way move the speaker around until you find the best position for it and then remove the plate.

[Kal Rubinson]

Can tell you from my own experience that the casters will make dents in your floor unless it is something very exotic and very, very hard.
However you can place a plate underneath and in that way move the speaker around until you find the best position for it and then remove the plate.

I bought a pair of carpet squares (about 2'x4') at a flea market to allow me to move my 800D2s without marring the hardwood.

[Skyblue]

I bought a pair of carpet squares (about 2'x4') at a flea market to allow me to move my 800D2s without marring the hardwood.

I bought a plastic bottom to have under office chairs for mine.

[akhter]

Wrote to b&w and got a prompt response. the thread size is M24 not M8. Needless to say I dont think anyone makes such massive spikes!

All The carpet squares I saw had some rubberized material thank would prevent sliding. I am now thinking of getting some isolation casters like linn skeet with spike but very very apprehensive about spikes and wooden floor.

Other option is to use the rubber feet and get some coaster under them.

[PewterTA]

Here this should help...

[akhter]

PewterTA are you using the castors?

Thanks for the pics.

[Kal Rubinson]

All The carpet squares I saw had some rubberized material thank would prevent sliding. I am now thinking of getting some isolation casters like linn skeet with spike but very very apprehensive about spikes and wooden floor.

Correct. My 800s are on carpet but I have to move them off to the side when I am reviewing another system. To do so, I put the carpet squares of to the side and roll the 800s on to them. When the visitors leave, I roll the 800s back and toss the carpet squares into the closet.

[akhter]

Correct. My 800s are on carpet but I have to move them off to the side when I am reviewing another system. To do so, I put the carpet squares of to the side and roll the 800s on to them. When the visitors leave, I roll the 800s back and toss the carpet squares into the closet.

So you have the factory castors on and only use the carpet squares under the speaker to slide them around when not being used?

And you have carpeting in you mail listening area?

The spikes really scare me so the option is to use rubber feet or castors over coasters.

[Kal Rubinson]

So you have the factory castors on and only use the carpet squares under the speaker to slide them around when not being used?

And you have carpeting in you mail listening area?

Yes and yes.

The spikes really scare me so the option is to use rubber feet or castors over coasters.

They are pretty intimidating but I would use them if I didn't have to move the speakers so often.

[akhter]

I am tempted to to with the castor+square carpet solution as opposed to the rubber spike on wood floor as since the speaker will already be close to the back way, the carpet on the bottom should only help tame the bass I think.

The I have some glide disks to slide under the rubber spikes to move them but sonically which would be preferable?

[Kal Rubinson]

the carpet on the bottom should only help tame the bass I think.

Highly unlikely to have any effect.

[PewterTA]

I still have the castors on as I'm tweaking the positioning of them. I want to get the spikes on. I think I'm going to have my buddy cut out granite bases to put the speakers on and then put the spikes in and put the speakers on that. If I don't do the granite then I'll use some good wood and something like quarters or something else metal to keep the speakers from going into the wood.

But I think the granite pedistal is probably the way I'll end up since he'll get me the really top quality granit at almost nothing since he can make it out of the sink cutouts! that they don't tend to use anyways.

Only thing I have to figure out is if I want a rectangular piece like that or have it mirror the base shape and maybe just add an inch or two out around it... Still deciding what to do.

I know when I had my 604s, I never put the spikes on them when I moved to my new place (just didn't bother with all the tweaking I did)...then I put them on about almost 2 years afterwards and was slapped in the face how good they sounded. Then I put them up on 1" wooden board and was amazed again how much tighter the bass was, imaging seemed to be better and the highs clearer. Not sure why it all happened, but I didn't complain. So I want to do the same thing with the 802Dis.

[aarsoe]

A tip for whenever you find the right position for your speakers. Use ice hokey pucks under your spikes. Real cheap and works very well. You an even get them in "junior" size so they don't take up to much space.

[Marco Lisi]

Hi Akhter

Finite Elemente has special spikes for 802's/800's. They are a real upgrade in comparison to the B&W spikes. Bass gets faster and even more responsive and ads more depth. In general the midrange opens up more and sounds more 'at ease'. They are not cheap, but worth every eurocent in my opinion.



This is how they work and on which B&W speakers you can use them:



Good luck!

[Pio]

Careful with the hardwood floors and the rollers - the rollers of my previous 802D's dented my cherry wood floors. Make sure with either spikes or rollers you have something between them and the real wood floors...

I know a lot of people hear better bass, etc with the spikes in place. I think they're great to pierce through carpet to keep them in place and you can adjust the angle of the speaker which is a pretty big benefit.

[akhter]

Hi Akhter

Finite Elemente has special spikes for 802's/800's. They are a real upgrade in comparison to the B&W spikes. Bass gets faster and even more responsive and ads more depth. In general the midrange opens up more and sounds more 'at ease'. They are not cheap, but worth every eurocent in my opinion.



This is how they work and on which B&W speakers you can use them:



Good luck!

I saw these but no way paying $900 for a set of spikes!

[akhter]

The speakers are here. The floor has some scratches already even though I had them in cardboard box bottom. The castors ate through them! Now have them on some carpet squares.

[Rod#S]

The speakers are here. The floor has some scratches already even though I had them in cardboard box bottom. The castors ate through them! Now have them on some carpet squares.

Congrats! That was a very quick turnaround. Post pictures when you can.

My parents had a similar thing happen when they had their 70" Sharp LCD brought into the house. We thought we were being super careful but somehow, even through the cardboard box the hardword floor received dents.

[akhter]

[Rod#S]

Awesome :T

[madmac]

A tip for whenever you find the right position for your speakers. Use ice hokey pucks under your spikes. Real cheap and works very well. You an even get them in "junior" size so they don't take up to much space.

Very interesting idea!. So I am to assume that spiking produces better results from speakers that offer them?

[PewterTA]

AWESOME!!!!!!! I bet they sound good even not broken in yet!!!

Is the marlan head speckled or is it a completely gloss black and that's just the way the picture came out?

Congrats, I know you'll like them for a LONG time!

[akhter]

Marlan head is not speckled and smoother than the pic! Perfect piano black finish.

[Antus]

in previous generation 802D, the paint was matelic black. in newer generation Diamond series, it become pure black.

[akhter]

You mean the marlan head color is different in the different generations? never noticed...

[PewterTA]

Yes, when you see the two side by side... the piano black (at least for the marlan head) is definitely the way to go for it!

[aarsoe]

Very interesting idea!. So I am to assume that spiking produces better results from speakers that offer them?

Don't think it works in all cases but generally speakers tend to sound "firmer" when spiked. In any case it is a cheap solution if you have the spikes already.

[madmac]

Quick question however. Do spikes stop vibration to the floor or channel it there. My speakers give the option but I never tried that option because of my hardwood floors.

[stuofsci02]

Quick question however. Do spikes stop vibration to the floor or channel it there. My speakers give the option but I never tried that option because of my hardwood floors.

I reduces the transmission from the speakers to the floor.. If you want to use spikes on the hardwood floor, just get some spike cups... You can get them pretty cheap.

[wkhanna]

I once put metal cups between my oak hardwood floor & the spikes on my speakers.

I found the effect to be degraded performance in the LF. Specifically loss of detail, dynamics and a tilting toward generally softer, mushy & boom box like quality.

Of course, this is just my personal experience; your mileage may vary depending on the type of floor, floor construction, et al.

[stuofsci02]

Yes, when you see the two side by side... the piano black (at least for the marlan head) is definitely the way to go for it!

I notice this today when comparing 801D to the 802Di

[Rod#S]

One thing to watch out for, if ever thinking of putting coins under the spikes to protect your floors be careful. I used Canadian quarters for my old Paradigm Reference Studio 100's (v2) which are lighter than even the 802's and although the spikes didn't punch through they left a hell of an indentation in the coins pushing the coins out slightly on the opposite side, enough that the indentation scratched the floors when the speakers were being moved.

Hey wkhanna, I haven't seen you posting much in a long time. You still have that kick ass B&W setup with 800D's, HTM1D, 802 (D's ?) and what was it 803D's for the rears?

[PewterTA]

LOL I bet Bill (WKHanna) would give ANYTHING to have the 800s and HTM1D 802s and 803 rears... especially if he was given them for free! LMAO!

Bill's got an excellent set of oversized NatP's... and boy are they impressive!

[Rod#S]

LOL I bet Bill (WKHanna) would give ANYTHING to have the 800s and HTM1D 802s and 803 rears... especially if he was given them for free! LMAO!

Bill's got an excellent set of oversized NatP's... and boy are they impressive!

Oops ah my bad, wrong guy then ops:

Who is it on these forums that has that setup? I think the only picture I have ever seen of it was in the person's avatar. The gear if I recall is powered by McIntosh. I would love to see a good set of photos of that setup.

[Rod#S]

Phew, after a lot of digging through the pictures thread I found the guy. His forum name is Jerico.

[wkhanna]

Don’t fret, Rod. :T

I wish I were that guy. If so, you probably would not here from me V often either.

I would always be doing one of two things:
Sitting in my sweet spot every spare minute, or working the four jobs it would take to afford the speakers. :W

[Rod#S]

Don’t fret, Rod. :T

I wish I were that guy. If so, you probably would not here from me V often either.

I would always be doing one of two things:
Sitting in my sweet spot every spare minute, or working the four jobs it would take to afford the speakers. :W

LOL...nice response :T

[PewterTA]

Hey... I'd be over there listening to them as well Bill!!!!

Though I have to say I'd have to split my time between your system and mine. HA HA.

[madmac]

I reduces the transmission from the speakers to the floor.. If you want to use spikes on the hardwood floor, just get some spike cups... You can get them pretty cheap.

mine came with cups for the spikes which I am currently using. I'm moving into a place soon that has carpeting so I plan on using the spike option there and if it reduces vibration into the floor, all the better!! :T

[aarsoe]

Quick question however. Do spikes stop vibration to the floor or channel it there. My speakers give the option but I never tried that option because of my hardwood floors.

The idea is to let the vibrations see an increase the mass of the speaker. By using spikes vibrations will not only have to "move" the speaker but also the weight of the floor at the same time.
Effect will depend on your speakers construction, your floor and I am sure a lot of other parameters...

[akhter]

mine came with cups for the spikes which I am currently using. I'm moving into a place soon that has carpeting so I plan on using the spike option there and if it reduces vibration into the floor, all the better!! :T

What kind of cups? any pics?