STRAIGHT to the HEART Bowers & Wilkins 801 D4 Signature Review
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- Опубликовано: 1 июл 2024
- We’re excited to bring you our Bower & Wilkins 801 Signature speaker review! 🛍the 801s here → bit.ly/4aH9d8B
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📌 SHOP THE BOWERS & WILKINS 801 D4 SIGNATURE SPEAKERS
B&W 801 D4 Signature bit.ly/4aH9d8B
B&W 801 D4 Non-S bit.ly/3CczJYq
📌 SHOP THE COMPARABLE SPEAKERS MENTIONED
Klipsch LaScala bit.ly/36bPQVb
Wharfedale Elysian 4 bit.ly/3NQur8o
Monitor Audio PL 200 bit.ly/3r1O1IH
B&W 801 D4 Non-S bit.ly/3CczJYq
Wilson Audio Watt Puppy d/o
📌 TESTING THE BOWERS AND WILKINS 801 SIGNATURE
POWER & PREAMP
Arcam A25 bit.ly/4cdrEly
Classe Delta Pre II bit.ly/3W2PviI
Classe Delta Stereo bit.ly/3sSe8m5
McIntosh C55 d/o
McIntosh MC312 d/o
Yamaha R-N2000A amzn.to/3RLVbK0
SUBWOOFER
KEF KC92 bit.ly/4aFgllt • bit.ly/3U5kBVP
TV
SONY 98” TV bit.ly/3Nd7LkL
SOURCES
Eversolo A8 bit.ly/3uYhEwQ
Apple 4K TV: amzn.to/3em0YUp
Audio Technica LP140XP amzn.to/33OfgXO
Ortofon LVB cartridge amzn.to/3zcPqKM
iPhone bit.ly/3Q4G4Mw
MUSIC
REM bit.ly/3L3JsnH
Zero 7 bit.ly/3VMzZGx
Fiona Apple bit.ly/TidalFiona
DIAGNOSTICS
Measurement & Evaluation Tools bit.ly/3MsYzpR
Room EQ Tools bit.ly/3LtKjz3
📌 STRAIGHT to the HEART Bowers & Wilkins 801 D4 Signature Review
00:00 BOWER & WILKINS 801 D4 SIGNATURE REVIEW
00:31 A QUICK HISTORY LESSON
01:01 WHAT’S NEW IN THE 801 D4 SIGNATURE EDITION
01:44 B&W 801 D4 SIGNATURE SPECS
02:42 BW 801 D4 SIGNATURE POWER REQUIREMENTS
03:34 THE REST OF THE SYSTEM
04:12 RECOMMENDATIONS: SPEAKER PLACEMENT
05:59 MEASUREMENTS
07:28 BOWERS & WILKINS 801 D4 SIGNATURE SOUND
08:56 801 D4 SIGNATURE BASS
09:49 801 D4 SIGNATURE MIDRANGE
10:49 801 D4 SIGNATURE TREBLE
11:52 801 D4 SIGNATURE SOUNDSTAGE & DYNAMICS
13:02 COMPARISONS - KLIPSCH LA SCALA
13:46 COMPARISONS - WHARFEDALE ELYSIAN 4
14:23 COMPARISONS - MONITOR AUDIO PLATINUM 200
14:54 COMPARISONS - WILSON AUDIO WATT PUPPY
15:19 COMPARISONS - B&W 801 D4 (NON-SIGNATURE)
📌 OUR HIFI AND HOME THEATER RECs FOR 2024
SPEAKERS STANDS, CABLES & ACCESSORIES
Our Stands bit.ly/3I9Xa5W
My Cables: custom, n/a for purchase
Similar DIY Cables: bit.ly/3uytNrV
Interconnects: bit.ly/3D314M8, bit.ly/3N6NBri
Cable Management amzn.to/3ZcunWP • amzn.to/3GJtf5C
POWER
Yamaha ($$) bit.ly/3RGwr6d ($) bit.ly/3RLCIPT
LOUDSPEAKERS
Focal ($) bit.ly/3KpemqE
Q Acoustics ($$) bit.ly/406YIoU
KEF ($$$) bit.ly/3A72HY4
TURNTABLE & DAC/STREAMER
TT2 bit.ly/3tWwdxd
Z8 bit.ly/44e0h6P
TVs
QLED: bit.ly/44htvlo
BIG: bit.ly/47xtPhI
HOME THEATER
Receiver: bit.ly/3DyHEjb
Soundbar: bit.ly/43OfVWi ($) bit.ly/3N5KhxG ($$)
In Ceiling Speakers: bit.ly/3I3gAbg
📌 SHOP OUR LIVING ROOM
SONY 98” TV bit.ly/3Nd7LkL
VAN DE ROHE LOUNGE CHAIR 🛍
COFFEE TABLE 🛍
OUR RUG bit.ly/3MOYHSU (Two 8X10s)
EVERYTHING ELSE: bit.ly/shopwithAR
🛍Tagged products in the video
🗒️ ABOUT US
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📍MEMBERSHIP: bit.ly/ARobMbr
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💰VIDEO AND CHANNEL DISCLOSURES
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OUR REVIEW POLICY: We are never paid for our reviews or “our time.” Brands do not see a review before publication, and they have no say in its outcome.
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How a $55,000 USD tag price can be justified?
@@DJVARAO Why would any price tag need to be justified on any product? This is a question that can only be answered by the owner.
Agree
If I owned these, I don’t think I’d ever leave the house.
Trust me. They're getting boxed up this week, and I'm NOT looking forward to returning them. It has been so hard moving on from them and reviewing other gear.
I can’t imagine! That would likely make my eyes leak 😢
I don't own them , and I still don't leave the house 🙈
Well played Robinsons! Great video. Serious question though: if I got insanely lucky and ever had the cash, how much space is enough to house these? You think the 5ft spacing is ever likely to be enough?! Seems to me you’re definitely going to need closer to 10?
Agree but I’d have to add a second mortgage to afford them.
While 99% of us will never be able to afford these speakers...100% of us will benefit from the research and development of these speakers trickling down into their more affordable offerings.
Assuming it trickles down.
@coasterchum8289 - The R&D usually does trickle down into less expensive models. I think more than 1% can afford them though
You should be criminally charged for getting me interested in a speaker that costs $55k. Straight to jail! lol
Yeah, I do pretty well for myself but there is no way in hell I'd spend 55k on some speakers. I guess I'm just a cheap ass. 😂.. Hell, my heart when I bought my mcintosh xr100's and I got a hell of a deal on those.
My weekly Sunday regimen for the past couple of years has been my 12:30pmEST lunch break and an Andrew Robinson video.
That's awesome! Thank you.
Sadly I could not afford the 801 D4's, but I did purchase some 804 D4s last year, and a year on, I remain entranced by the sound, every time I listen I am taken on an emotional rollercoaster, powered by a Michi X3, through a Chord Hugo TT2 and M_Scaler DAC set-up from an Eversolo A6 ME, I cannot believe what I am hearing, truly magic !!
Sounds like a great setup!
As someone who just recently discovered the amazing sound of b&w, I can only dream how amazing these sound.
Speakers like this are what dreams are made of. The range of price point reviews that you do is what makes your channel so good. Keep showing me product reviews for me to dream about and product reviews that I one day will be able to afford. Both of you two keep up tue good work!
Thank you!
There is nothing one can really say about these speakers other than WOW. Absolutely gorgeous jewelry grade speakers that anybody would be so fortunate to own and pass down to the next generation. I have no need for a midlife crisis car. But THIS!?! Oh man.... these are special!! The dark blue finish is amazing by the way. And even though I hope you end up getting that Wilson review down the line, to me the B&W's styling is just better to my taste.
I heard the 801 with a michi system at a demo. It’s a dream that will come true someday. Just euphoria. 🎉
Dude you were like a poet on this review. Well done
I appreciate that!
I've had the pleasure of hearing these last year at CEDIA 2023 in a private B&W demo. They're unbelievable in person. They were running a Classé 600W amp on each channel
Yes, sir. Great episode. B&W with McIntosh is a magical combo.
Thanks for watching!
Your interior design is consistently immaculate! The way you present the speakers/room is truly a work of art. Kudos!
Glad you like it!
Your enthusiasm makes me wanna go downstairs and listen to sone good music again! Awsome review, thanks Andrew
I would encourage you to do so! Better to listen and enjoy yourself than talk about it. Appreciate you watching!
Great Sunday everyone!! Glad to see these speakers get the spotlight!!
I really hope you (and everyone) enjoy the video!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews I am enjoying it so much! Do you think I can power this with a Fosi? 😂
@@txerapng HAHAHAHA.
The sadness of packing them up and sending them back 😢 Another great review! Should be a fun conversation on Friday.
Well done, Andrew! Your closing thoughts in particular resonate with me. These products push the whole industry forward. Thx!
B&W is not to my sound signature taste but I respect them a great deal. These look flawless.
What sound signature do you prefer?
@@andrewrobinsonreviewsI currently own harbeth 30.2 xd and Maggie 1.7i in my listening areas. My local dealer has both dyn and B&W. If listening for the first 2-3 songs the B&W is more impressive but I prefer dyn for longer sessions. The tweeters and voicing for B&W just isn’t my taste but it is impressive.
Withstanding sounding like a Robinson fanboy.
It's clear why you're at the top of the pecking order.
Your ability to articulate the nuance differences as well as the emotional derivation of a speaker is unmatched.
Thank you Andrew and Kristi
Thank you, that is so kind! I appreciate you watching.
I’m sure you’ll get some comments from people citing the price. What you guys produce is entertainment as much as buying advice and I found this thoroughly entertaining. Thank you!
Thank you, Steven. I wish more people could let go and enjoy the ride.
I walked into a demo area by myself years ago, sat down and began listening to a pair of B&W 702s2. I not only lost track of time, but deep emotions were stirred, and before I knew it, tears of joy. Were they over my budget at the time? Oh, ya. Did that, or anything else matter? Nope. I've wanted to try other speakers, especially those you've covered, but can't shake the connection I made that day.
That's the power of a great speaker right there! Appreciate you sharing.
I've followed B&W for a while, and yes they are what they are. It's a beautiful, big, speaker and I'm glad that you've finally reviewed it! Well done.
Dear Lord Baby Jesus, please help me win the Lottery, Amen!! Lol... Love those speakers and that beautiful setup! You and Kristi have Crushed It!!!💯🙌🙌
Fantastic Andrew. You can tell these truly resonated with you! They are stunning to look at. As owner of the 802D3s I can only dream of what these sound like! Well done AND so glad you were able to review these!
I auditioned these speakers and the elysian 4 with Mcintosh gear that was more expensive than the 801 d4's. admittedly the D4's were over my budget but I hated them, way too forward and sharp, very fatiguing, and I thought there was no cohesiveness between the mid/tweeter units and the bass units, as if they were two different speakers playing the different frequencies. ended up buying the elysians and love them, can listen to them for hours and hours.
When you say these speakers.....Do you mean the 801 signature?
Having heard this and it's little brother I was blown away also. Glad you both got to experience the top B&W next to the Nautilus.
Oh the Nautilus would be a fun video to bring you all!
Nice. My very first hifi memory is listening to a silver signature as a kid so it was great to see the image of them and be reminded of what they looked like.
I like this speaker a lot. Classic design. Excellent build quality.
Perfection? I just want to say that they effing BETTER be for 55 LARGE a pair.
Glad you got to review these
Build Quality is one step over all other company's ... Dream❤
801 D4 Signature + CLASSE AUDIO PRE Delta + Mononblocks = AUDIO HEAVEN
Thank you for sharing so much details of something I that i think would never be able to hear.
Great to hear your love for such a magnificent speaker
Great review ..love the passion and honesty….
I’ve heard the Watt Puppy’s at my local dealers. If the Bowers and Wilkins are their equal they are amazing speakers indeed. The Pups were truly outstanding to my ears. Great review as always.
Still got the B&W DM 2A and DM4 from the 70's. Those new speakes must be a lot better but the fact that they are still working without faults is impressive.
That is just beautiful.... 😍blue and blue amazing! You guys do an espectacular job with design and the review . I love love everything about it!!! Thank you!!!!
I love the look of B&W tweeter-on-top speakers. These are the cream of the crop and priced like it. The blue is beautiful. I would take my time returning them.
I had the 805d4 ....sold it and regretted it!!! .....I decided to rectify it with the 805d4 signature!.....All I can say .....there is a level of sophistication that the standard model while great ,just didn't have!...i would have bought these if i could but I don't have that kind of money! I am driving them with 1100 watts of power and can attest that for a bookshelf they are fantastic......I can only imagine what these big brothers from the same mother can do!
Yeah, if we were to buy a signature model, the 805 D4 would likely be our choice, too. The 805 D4s are great speakers!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews I was lucky enough to buy them,(order them) Just 6 days before the 2k extra price increase that I didn't know was going to happen! In Canada they are now 18k before tax. So glad I made the move when I did! Oh...got them in the Blue......the other color is terrible to my eyes but the Midnight blue is stunning! When I took it out of the box I thought is was black ........that's how deep the blue is! Oh....And I Won't be selling these babies! Won't make that mistake again!
Back around 1996, I was privileged to hear a pair of Nautilus 801s driven by an incredible McIntosh amp/preamp at a place called Marvin Electronics in Fort Worth Texas.
What I heard still haunts me. Maybe a year later, I bought a pair of Nautilus 804s and a Nautilus HTM1 center channel speaker. I drove the 804s with a 250wpc Bryston 4B-ST till last summer.
My current dedicated stereo rig is McIntosh MC275 MkV, Schiit Audio Freya+ and B&W stand mout speakers.
Listening to those Nautilus 801s way back then cost me money, but I have zero regrets.
a great sounding speaker review, now that is an entertaining watch :)
i do not like compromises in sound but damn that cost a lot to get, 801 D4 Signature is something great here.
Love the passion❤
Finally! So excited
Hope it was worth the wait!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews every video you do is worth the wait! I was part of the first 12 employees from Best Buy to hear these in California a couple days before they were announced. Truly one of the pinnacles of audio! And you do it justice
I heard a pair at a dealership about four years ago, very impressive. You can’t deny that they are a statement piece. I’ve also heard some speakers in the 12-20k price range (still a lot of $ I know) that compare favorably with them but fall short of overall performance. If you have the means to spend an extra 30k or so to get that last bit of audio nirvana, go for it. Speakers and components like this are not designed with bang for the buck in mind.
Aight Mr. Robinson, I have to admit, while I was expecting some enthusiasm, i wasn't really prepared for this level; very glad though, as I believe they're deserving. My opinion is based on my experience with the 802D3 + Krell (250wpc 8/ 500wpc 4) with the only negative in Setup being a "not so friendly" room. My takeway was very similar and almost exact when you speak of a "presentation" rather than listening to music - this is spot on with my experience, only knowing the limitations of the room, makes me wonder and salivate for when they're setup properly. I couldn't agree more about "scale" and "image" - simply outstanding and something I wish everyone in the hobby could experience as what a "baseline" benefit that would be.
The 801D4 in blue is one SEXY AF speaker! It deserved a well articulated review such as yours - I appreciate IT sir!! And kudos to both you and @KristWright for another awesome job and one befitting in quality to the product reviewed today. Stay safe, cool, and HAPPY SUNDAY! 😁
Thank you so much!
Hope to see you this Friday!
I know is not easy what you do but man what a blessing to have your job , you are the most professional RUclipsr in my humble opinion, thnks
Thank you so much!
Well said. 👏
Very nice, I enjoyed your joy😊. Man, if I had the money, and the space....
Thanks for sharing!
Always wanted to go and listen to those speakers but maybe one day I will hear them.
So what you're saying is that these are pretty good speakers? Awesome.
That California Burled finish though.. yes please.
Great video and a beautiful set of speakers. Thanks.
Thank you for this.
Good afternoon Andrew and Kristi! It is great to see you do this review, your excitement for this is obvious, while you manage maintain composure. You look like a kid at a candy store, which makes for a great watch, thank you!
I have had my eye on the 705s2 signatures in blue… those 801’s are epic…you should keep them around as a “reference”, for business purposes of course…
I honestly didn't know how to approach this review because it took me back to a time when I used to sit and enjoy myself and my music without a care in the world, and for that, I was grateful. But, I realized I needed to treat them the same as any other product in the end, so I'm glad I struck the right balance. Kristi gets credit for reeling me in, too.
For McIntosh, I think the MC462 is the absolute bare MINIMUM that should even be considered with these. And ideally, the 611 and 1.25Kw.
Comparison-wise, the Blade Meta (which I presume you could get your hands on since you have a relationship with KEF) would be worth considering.
Appreciate your passion for these speakers. God tier level audio. Would love a pair. They also look the part.
I appreciate you watching and I agree, they are god-tier.
Last year I was lucky enough to buy a pair of 803 D4 demo speakers for a 30% discount. Fabulous price for fabulous speakers.
I brought along my integrated amp and cables to the shop for my audition before finalising my purchase decision. And I compared my amp on those speaker with a brand new T+A pre+amp combo worth 35K€, plus 10K€ crazy expensive loudspeaker cables.
I understood that my Marantz PM-KI was absolutely up to the task of driving the 803 D4 (cables made no difference) and so I finalised the purchase of the 803 D4 (15K€) and also settled on my integrated amplifier forever, no need to upgrade it.
Full end game system for me 😎
Trust someone who’s built enough cables and played tricks on people with cables “worth” more than my brand new pickup truck at the time, cables don’t make nearly enough of a difference than manufacturers and some people make it out to be. So long it’s good quality copper, and the connectors and terminations are done well, any cable will work for any system really. You can very much use a high quality, well built $200 pair of speaker cables in a 100K system, no problem.
I bought some high quality speakers (within my price range) 30 years ago and they still sound fantastic. So glad I did that instead of spending on a succession of long-obsolete TVs or audio players.
I have lived with B&W 802d's since 2008 using a Chord SPM 1200E stereo amp and it sounded amazing. I just auditioned Soulution 311 stereo amp which will replace the Chord. I have never heard my first generation 802 Diamonds sound so good, no need to upgrade my speakers now :) - So you do need a good amp or mono blocks to get the true performance that these speakers can deliver.
Bravo! bravo, Andrew! Aspirational High End Hi-fi most certainly has it's place in our enthusiast community. They set the bar, they educate our ears to what is possible, and most importantly they can lead to trickle down to lower lines. In my case, I 64 years of age and 45 years into the madness I still aspire to own a pair of Wilson Audio speakers. Thank you.
These were in my top 3 choices and I had actually p ordered them in 2022 but the delay made me keep auditioning other speakers. I still wouldn't mind owning these but I am pretty content and have been for a few years now. Great video, very smooth presentation. Definitely made me want to go listen again to these babies!
What did you ultimately end up with?
@@andrewrobinsonreviews The Paradigm Persona 9H. They checked all the boxes and had surprisingly even better low end. They were available to ship and I had them in 10 days. I was on a waiting list for the 801d4s and was staring down the barrel of a six month wait. Doesn't mean I wouldn't be just as happy with the BW's. Again, great video! Love to see some high end stuff from you guys.
Awesome, keynote and sendoff...this review sparked more questions than answers. I could only imagine how much better the music sounds than my r11s
Thanks so much!
Just gorgeous. A dream speaker
For sure
Absolute dream.
Andrew thanks for taking one of the Porsche 911's of audio on the road and letting us ride along. The blue is nice too. 😊
I heard the 803 D3 once in a showroom, and even with everything I've learnt since about speaker measurements and objective measurements, I absolutely am still dreaming of owning a pair of this series at some point. Even just the 805 D4 would probably be endgame for me.
Good video! I heard both the Wilson Audio WATT/PUPPY's and the B&W 802D in the early-mid 2000's in the same store with Mark Levinson behemoths driving both. At that time, I had preferred the Wilson Audio speakers, but both speaker systems were mightily impressive. Out of my price league at the time, but I just had to listen to both, as the opportunity presented itself. I would love to repeat that comparitive listen with the newer models of each, for sure. Thanks for the rekindled incentive! 😊👍🎶🎶
Great review on speakers I can only dream about. Would love to hear recommendations of older attainable B&W speakers on unplugged. Loved the videos on market appreciation/depreciation and hope you'll do more of them, maybe by brand. Hard to tell what is worth it on the used market and what isn't. Thank you for this channel
Flagging this comment for Kristi to include in our next Unplugged!
Watching a review of $55k a pair B&Ws is like watching a Car & Driver review of a Ferrari. Interesting and cool but not something I'll ever own.
Honestly, I'd rather get the Kef Metas or the SVS Ultra Evolutions with appropriate electronics and still have enough money to get a new car. A pretty damn nice car. Or a significant portion of a new house. Crazy to spend this amount of money on audio if you're not wealthy. Very wealthy.
Dear Andrew, your review is totally correct i have been living with those also now for a couple of months, before I had the BOWERS & WILKINS 800 D3, they where already magnificent , the 801 d4 are a so much better.
Thank you for sharing your personal experience!
It sure is one of the best designed loudspeakers out there and second to none. What I like most about it is the elliptical enclosure
of the midrange driver coupled with sound engineering of the rest.
Great video. Would love to have that setup.
One of the best, with a little correction, I've ever used!
What type of correction did you apply?
Afternoon Andrew,Kristie & Kadie👍👍👍
Morning KJ!
Lovely review.
Its obvious that this speaker Won you over pretty quickly.
Hope you both enjoy them for a long time.
having owned a set of the OG N803 i can say that B&W dont really make great speakers untill you get into the 803 or above but once you hit their premium sets they are a bit special...their cheaper sets arent anything to right home about and can be bettered by many other alternatives but the big sets can punch it out with the very best.
I'll never spend anything like that price on hi-fi. I bought my B&W 705s in 2006, and they're still great. Along with my Spendor SP1s, they are all the main left and right loudspeakers I'll ever need. Yes, my 705s are paired with an SVS sealed box sub. My hearing rolls off sharply above 6kHz, so I appreciate the 705s' tendency toward brightness.
I appreciate your efforts here. A comprehensive review. I have heard these up against the KEF Blades. imho the KEF Blades came out the winner. Subjective I know, but I felt more emotion after auditioning them (same amps, streamer, TT and everything). I feel that it was to do with their point source drivers. I want to audition the Monitor Audio Platinum now. Another great review.
I’ll bet my bottom dollar that Burn Rubber On Me by The Gap Band sounds marvelous via those Bowers.
Great review. Would love for you to review the Dali Kore!
I’ve had the pleasure of listening to a pair of the 801d4 non signatures powered by the McIntosh MAC12000 stereo receiver. And I have to agree 100% with your wonderful review. It can be so difficult to describe what is being heard when listening to such magnificent combination. I’ve grown up playing in full orchestra and when performing in well designed acoustic concert halls, the audible visceral energy experience in live music performance is nearly matched by these speakers with a Mac. I couldn’t imagine how much better they can get with some dedicated McI amp and preamp combo, but I can believe I would end up loving them even more. And the streamer being used was a relatively cheap $700 unit. Phenomenal. And I’ve heard Wilson watt puppy powered by AR , Eschelon powered by Naim. And many other top tier. All of which was next level. But… this B&W Mac12000 made me want this experience more than anything else ever. My dream system. Period. Now off to buy lottery tickets…
Fantastic review. Now for the Watt Puppy🥊🕶
Fingers crossed!
I have a friend who owns a pair of B and W speakers, a lower model, but similar design. They are magical. This newer more deluxe model, well your review doesnt surprise me. Sometimes you get what you pay for. And if one has the funds, why the hell not. Cheers
Awesome review as always! The passion you both have for the hobby really shows. Makes me excited for equipment I can’t quite get yet 😂. Might have Bowers and Wilkins as my next home theater speakers. Have you thought of trying an Omni directional speaker such as German Physiks or MBL? I’ve heard they create a soundstage like no other. Might be heavily room dependent. With that said, results may vary.
We recently downsized our home and for 2 pairs of those you could buy a house on about an acre of land in 2016. Maybe I’ll get to hear them at Audio Advice live in Raleigh in August.
Going from 803d3’s to my Sasha DAW’s I’ve got now I can tell you the Wilson’s mop the floor with any B&w I’ve ever heard. The sound is so impactful and deep and room filling in comparison to the 803’s. Amps are mc611’s/c2700
I still have a pair of B&W 801 Series 80, and a pair of 801 Matrix playing in my home-bought them over 35 years ago. They sound so amazing, I could never part with them.
Bravo Andrew Robinson 🙂
And of course B&W
I've followed you for a long time Andrew, prior to youtube. Congratulations on your success! My thoughts are almost as if this review could have been a farewell if you wanted, as you've got the ultimate there. Of course there are still better and way more expensive speakers out there but I've always thought of these as the top of what may possibly be attainable, one day, for an average person like myself. Man you look proud with those beauts sitting in your living room. I must admit I envy you and Kristi, but moreover I'm happy for you! You're a smooth operator. Nice work!
We sincerely appreciate your comment, @JanPatrickLucas. Thank you for watching!
@@KristiWright Very kind of you, to take the time, Kristi! Must be very overwhelming trying to respond to everyone. Of course you can't and that's also understoood.
Just finished the watch of this review and it was just so good! I am glad you took the time to really live with the pair to get to know them on a deeper level and bring us all the details you did. The cinematography and the history section are just brilliant, you are constantly delivering excellent work and I have to say it does not go unnoticed. Looking forward to hear Kristi's thoughts and what she thinks about the design of these massive speakers, they are certainly a conversation starter and they will take the spotlight in every room someone can possibly put them on!
Thank you so much. In the middle of producing this review, we had to switch to a new camera system, as our LUMIX cameras let us down for the last time (see our last live stream). So, I had to overcome some technical hurdles as well as timing ones. I'm so glad they didn't appear to affect the final product!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews I was there when the camera freaked out on the live stream, and I could also see some dead pixels on some recent videos but kept silent, what did you change on the camera setup?
Hello! Andrew is a perfectionist and puts so much into these videos. I know comments like this one mean so much to him.
@@KristiWright yeah, I know. I love when people acknowledge my work so I always mention it when I can! It’s a great way to make someone happy :)
@@KristiWright how has the week been for you?
Well, if you have $42,000+ for the B&W 801 D4 speakers... you're not buying a Kenwood amplifier from Best Buy. I'm sure "skimping" on amplifiers, in this tax bracket, means spending $2-$5K. Which, for 99% of us, is splurging.
More like $10k+
And away we go!! Coffee in hand!
Please enjoy. Curious what you think when it's over.
Looks like " a love letter to my favourite speakers". 😃
I managed to listen to the B&W Nautilus at a show. I know they are not everyone's cup of tea, but for me...a dream.
Same... the design of the Nautilus make them a dream speaker for me as well.
I have only heard that speaker once, and it was VERY early in my career. I was so enamored with its look that I honestly don't remember how it sounded. Would love to hear it again.
Good morning from Ottawa 🇨🇦 Happy Canada Day to everyone, tomorrow 🎇
Morning. Thanks for tuning in!
I really expected the Mcs to pair the best with these fiery top end beasts and I was not wrong. Zero toe in, find every possible way to match them to subdued top end equipments, treat first reflection points like you are treating a broken arm and these might just sound tame enough for most people. The distortion on these are crazy low with a rock solid cabinet so PEQ might make this one heck of speaker. I know quite a few studios are using these as monitors, with PEQ of course.
9:54 someone had fun with that shot hehe.
Also very much looking forward to next weeks unpluged.
“I’m sorry Dave…”
Neat review. Love that you are so excited by them. Speakers like this are way beyond my personal hifi journey, but great to see someone you “know” review them like this. You purposely slow your speech down for this one or is that my imagination?
Well, what can I say about a set of speakers selling for $55,000, plus taxes, not sure if shipping is free, and then the 2 Mc's totaling $16,500 and we still don't have a source and/or cables. Getting close to $100,000 is not just fantasy. And to be honest, as I literally love McIntosh products, I have no use for the aesthetics of the B&W's and that does overshadow how good they sound, IMO. Sorry, but I'll pass on them. With that money I can get an older 911 and have a bout 10 grand left for set of good, very good speakers, and in this case a McIntosh integrated could do the whole job and so saving extra $$$$$ on amplification as well. This would be my choice.
There are a million things one can do with this amount of money. It's a fun experiment to play!
I have the B/W Px7 S2 headphones and I'm very satisfied w/o spending tons of money thanks for the review
Great video! I was actually surprised that you took measurements. As soon as you go beyond five figures for a sound system, you’re not looking for a reference speaker. You’re looking for something that moves you.
Loved your review of the MIGHTY 801's and yes, they are as good as you explained. My foray into hifi started with a pair of 602 S2 then the 702 D2. Couldn't find anything better for the price (in Australia) until I discovered Focal. I was instantly in love with the sound of the Kanta 3 and bought a pair. If I ever have the money, I will definitely get a pair of the Scala Utopia Evo which I believe would surpass the 801's.
Thank you
On a FB audio forum a guy is actually getting rid of his 802 D4 and replacing them with the Scala Utopia Evo, which he says sounds a lot better.
Last year I heard non signature version at Munich Hi-end. Before hearing them I thought: meh, there probably will be so much better speakers at the show. But I must admit that 801 was among my top 3 from the show and these are budget speakers compared to prices of many other super exotic speakers I heard there