I'm getting prepared to take the plunge into 800Di territory. I've been very happy with the 803D's, but hey, you only live once right? I'm fortunate to live in the San Francisco Bay area where there are multiple dealers to choose from within a fairly small radius, including Magnolia Diamond retailers. My question is, does anyone know or have experience dealing with Magnolia's, specifically the B&W brand? I would like to take advantage of their no interest financing, but would also like to know if they discount at all from the MSRP price. Even 5% would amount to a chunk of change on these babies.
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Magnolia will only discount EVER so slightly... They have a deal with Bowers and Wilkins to not discount like most other stores you can get to, however you will get the zero percent financing and often, since BestBuy bought them, they will give you something like a $500 or $1000 worth of gift cards...
So if you're looking to buy a TV with them or something at Best Buy it may be worth it.
This is from the experience I had working with them where they were a good $3k over what I got my 802Di & HTM2Di for.Digital Audio makes me Happy.
-Dan -
I would try small retailers as well as Best Buy.....I find it very effective too simply ask "is that your best price?" when the dealer senses you are serious that is a very powerful question. After their answer I say " ok, thanks, I'll check around and get back to you" and then I give them my cell number. I never try to barter with them or get confrontational in any way. Sometimes they will call later with an even better price.
I would check out at least a few retailers with this approach and see what happens.
This approach got me a 20% discount on a dealer's 804's floor models when the new Diamonds were coming out. He followed that up with a new HTM4 with the same discount. I suspect I would have gotten more like 10% had the new Diamonds not been coming out. Something like that or free financing would still be a sweet deal.B&W 804s Mains
B&W HTM4 Center
Monitor Radius 180 Surrounds
Sony 46 HX929 TV
Marantz AV 7005 processor
Anthem MCA 30 Amp
Panasonic 3D BluRay playerComment
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Not all high end audio stores are 'High end'. Just as an example, I called one once to ask if they had this Rotel product in stock.....asked then if was new and in the sealed box. They said yes. Then I asked them if they could sell it to me for such and such price and they said yes. I drove into town to pick it up and when they bought it out, the box was not factory sealed. As a matter of fact, there was a dead bug inside the unit! (Demo unit). Then, they had the nerve to tell me that they could not offer it to me at the price we agreed to on the phone!!. Imagine that!!. I of course said a BIG goodbye to that sale and the store in general.Dan Madden :TComment
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Thanks for the advice guys. I guess the approach I'll take is to weigh the best offers, and figure out which one works best for me, whether it be 0% financing, or a bigger discount up front. Also, I think I would rather give my business to a small retailer than a huge chain, so I'll factor that in too.Comment
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Was it a stink bug. :rofl:Originally posted by madmacClasse ssp-600
Classe CA-M400 Monoblocks
Classe CDP-100
B&W 802D :T ;x(
Velodyne DD-18 :TComment
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Hehehe!!! It actually was a cockroach !! :rofl:Originally posted by HallettDan Madden :TComment
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800di
Leap!!!!!Comment
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It's a done deal! I went with Magnolia, as they offered a sweet deal, which also includes delivery and set-up to dial them in. I auditioned the 802's and also Wilson Sophia 3's . Not a real fair comparison due to the price point, but I wanted to hear what the differences were and if they were significant. IMHO the differences were just enough to justify spending the extra $$. While the 800's couldn't match the killer bass of the Sophias, they made up for it in other areas. Ultrawide soundstage and just a real cohesiveness that's hard to describe. I might have opted for the Sophia's but for one shortcoming. The vocals just seemed real distant to me. The salesman told me that was interesting, because that is not a characteristic they are known for. Might have been the set-up, I don't know. Anyway, I take delivery a week from today, and I will be counting the days
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Woohoo
Piccies of the install, please
kcArcam avr600, Sky HD 2Tb, Oppo 103D, Sony VPL-VW500ES, Phillips large Pronto pro remote
B&W 803Di speakers, B&W HTM2Di centre speaker, B&W 7NT in wall rear speakers, B&W ASW1000 SubComment
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Congrats.
I'm really glad you actually got to audition the speakers and against other models too.
Interesting that you felt the Sophia with a single 10" driver was delivering more bass then the 800 with two 10" drivers.
Just curious, how would you compare the 802 to the Sophia as they as closer in price then the 800 and Sophia? The Sasha would be the more direct competitor to the 800 even though the price has been getting further away from the 800 over the years. I see the 802 and Sophia as more direct competitors.
Be sure to post some pics
B&W 800 Diamonds (L/R), HTM2 Diamond (C), 802 Diamonds (SL/SR), Paradigm Signature Sub 25 (LFE), Reference Servo 15a x 2 (Stereo subs), Lexicon MC-12Bv5EQ SSP, Bryston 28B-SST2x 2, 7B-SST2x2, 4B-SST C Series, BDP-2, Oppo UDP-205, Pioneer Elite Kuro PRO-150FD, Furman SPR-20i, IT-Reference, Eastlink Maestro PVR, Xbox One & 360, PS3, Siltech Golden Ridge II, Ruby Hill IIx2, 330ix2, Kimber Kable PK10 Gold, Tonic, PBJ, Cadence, HD19e, HD19, OPT-1, HDSW 4x1, Ixos 6003, Harmony 1000Comment
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Although I was a able to audition all 3 speakers, unfortunately they were all in different locations, with the 802's being the previous day. I was a bit disappointed with the 802Di's, as I felt they weren't that much of an improvement over my 803D's. They sounded a tad bright to my ears, which I don't understand because I thought they share the same tweeters as the 800's. But, without hearing them at the same time, and same place, I'm sure that had an effect. Choosing between the Sophias and the 802's would have been a tough decision, but just based on what I heard, the edge would go the Sophias. They might require a little more work to dial them in though. As far as looks go, no contest, 802's win hands down. I really didn't think looks mattered all that much, but the 802's were stunning, and the Sophias, well lets just say they were not.Comment
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Per request, here they stand in all their glory. The best way I can describe the sound of these beauties is total impact, they have a remarkable presence, along with a rock solid presentation, that seems effortless.[IMG]
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Awesome! Congrats. I'm glad you are liking them and they are in my color too
B&W 800 Diamonds (L/R), HTM2 Diamond (C), 802 Diamonds (SL/SR), Paradigm Signature Sub 25 (LFE), Reference Servo 15a x 2 (Stereo subs), Lexicon MC-12Bv5EQ SSP, Bryston 28B-SST2x 2, 7B-SST2x2, 4B-SST C Series, BDP-2, Oppo UDP-205, Pioneer Elite Kuro PRO-150FD, Furman SPR-20i, IT-Reference, Eastlink Maestro PVR, Xbox One & 360, PS3, Siltech Golden Ridge II, Ruby Hill IIx2, 330ix2, Kimber Kable PK10 Gold, Tonic, PBJ, Cadence, HD19e, HD19, OPT-1, HDSW 4x1, Ixos 6003, Harmony 1000Comment
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Very, very nice Cruxis. Congratulations :T- Mike
Main System:
B&W 802D, HTM2D, SCMS
Classé SSP-800, CA-2200, CA-5100Comment
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I lime My favorite color too
Crystal Clear Music Tweaked Mac Mini / Yosemite -> JRiver 20 -> Ayre QB9DSD -> Bryston BP26DA -> Bryston 4BSST2 -> B&W 802Di | Transparent Reference XLRs, Transparent Super Speaker Cable, Maple Shade USB cable, Crystal Clear Music Power CordsComment
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Crystal Clear Music Tweaked Mac Mini / Yosemite -> JRiver 20 -> Ayre QB9DSD -> Bryston BP26DA -> Bryston 4BSST2 -> B&W 802Di | Transparent Reference XLRs, Transparent Super Speaker Cable, Maple Shade USB cable, Crystal Clear Music Power CordsComment
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Interesting move for sure. I wonder if Rotel and Classe will be offered as well?
From Cepro.com:
B&W, which historically has sold its loudspeakers through a limited number of specialty A/V retailers and custom integrators, will open "a significant portion of our... -
I am planning on pulling the trigger on a new turntable at the end of this week that will do my new phono stage justice. No, not getting rid of my Clearaudio Sigma Wood Cartiridge, just the rest of the TT. I have been investigating turntable options for about a year, not really all that serious about... -
I need help figureing out this LEAP sim. I am blind and of course it is in a pdf doc that I cant read with a screenreader... So if anyone with experience with Leap sims could please look at this and tell me what they think I would really appreciate it.
Edit: This has turned into a total redesign.... -
www.magnoliaav.com/Products/ProductDetail/tabid/240/productId/2124/categoryId/145/Default.aspx
"Years ago, Magnolia founder Len Tweten described it as “near fanatical dedication to customer satisfaction."
Try that with best buy
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Looking for either online retailers or ones in / near saskatchewan. thx
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