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I definitely agree with you that the signature series has not always been a Nite and Day improvement over the regular models. Totally agree with that. Is it there? Yes can you achieve it with regular models possibly yes depending on what you pair with it there’s still room to improve regular models to touch signature models I believe but I still say if you have a set of 805D4 and you have surround like 805D3 or better You can come pretty close to an 80 one set of stereo speakers, but they need subwoofers they need at least I’d say 3 to 4 and it would have to be multi channel and you can have that encompassing performance of the 80 one, but it just will not hit the volume levels that that speaker is capable of and depending on the room size, it may not be necessary. Scaling is a big deal but hitting the volume too high is not always a good thing either. At least that’s my take on it.
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 !!
I’ve been running 802D4s for a bit over two years now. Your words are accurate Andrew, and I appreciate your comments regarding toe-in because they are spot on. My room is smallish - 15 x 15 so maybe the smaller woofers scale similarly to your experience - resolved bass, fast and impactful is what I experience. As far as signature vs standard - I can only imagine what the upgrades deliver. I can say this, everything you said about discernability, clarity, delicacy…the feeling of having a private performance in your home are all true. As you suggest, my 802s are powered by a McIntosh MC462. At about half the price of the 801 sigs, I am amazingly happy with this purchase - one I struggled to justify but am so happy I did.
I heard the regular 801 D1 and it was one of the best I have heard so cannot even imagine the signatures. The bass was incredible and I actually had the rep doing the demo to disconnect the external SVS subs and the sound was much more cleaner without the subs. The speakers for music listening needs absolutely no external subs and makes sense at this price point.
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!
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
The first time i head a set of 801s as teenager back in the early 90s my brain exploded, it was on such another level to anything else i had ever heard it made me obsessed with getting a set of 805s which at the expense of my wallet and my sanity finally happened some years later. I agree with what you said, it's an experience and if money (and pets) were no object I would have a pair of these FOR SURE
Great review, thank you. I A/B’d these speakers against the new sonos fabers today. The 801’s broke my brain, I’m absolutely floored how good these are. Your review is spot on, I’d add that these speakers handle power like no other. I got them up to ~150W, and they really wake up- zero distortion, incredible room filling power, literally puts you inside the music. I get what you’re saying about the immersive sound stage. Astonishing.
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!
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.
Amazing review, per usual. I haven’t heard the Signatures, but I have heard the 801 D4s at a local ListenUp (right before I picked up a pair of 705 S2s). To say they were the best speaker I’ve ever experienced would be a massive understatement; I love Focal but for less money I was blown away by how much better the 801s performed over the Utopia Evo (to my ears).
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.
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?
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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?
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! 😁
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 also have to admit, that i love the B&W 800 tweeters, and the flexibility the give top response on off-axis. This i why i decided to install those in my 2000 Audi Avant. Unfortunately the only one available for spare without requirement to buy a whole speaker were the 804/805 D On other rule which I learned and somehow you approved: Divide speaker and amplifier budget by 3, 2 for the speaker and 1 for the amplifier, then you rather get at least the sizing good.
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.
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.
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.
Hey you two! Thanks for all the HIFI input you provide (on more then one level, as the vids are just as hifi as the gear reviewed usually is :) ) ... I've been triggered with this review. For one particular reason ... a certain set of B&W's are the most "guilty" for me catching the hifi sound bug, back in the other life of days (before 2k)!! The bug had never faded to this day. Those were the original B&W Nautilus speakers, that I, then still a teenager, have been lucky to be able to listen to ... my music/sound life was never ever the same again. To this date, I would say, the best thing I have ever heard in life. And I have heard many extreme systems since there. The effect those "snails" had on me .... nothing came close, to date! TLDR: why I am writing this? Since long, I see, the 8xx series is considered the current B&W flagship model, while Nautilus are almost not existent on hifi channels online. I mean, I get it .... price and the sole presence of the speakers is ... well, extreme! But .... would you be able to share a few thoughts of comparison, if, of course you have the Nautilus hearing experience, between 8xx's in the current review and the "snails"? Why do you think, the Nautilus are flying so much below any current radars? Just some of my thoughts, feel free to ignore if you wish :)) Thanks again and keep up. Much love to both.
Excellent review Andrew, a very impressive speaker. Have you inquired with KEF regarding the Blade One Meta's or by chance asked Paradigm to review the Persona 9H? These I think would be a good comparison in this price range.
i heard these when speaker searching a few years ago and compared them to just about everything in the shop . I waitd til last and with great anticipation the proprietor turned them on ,,,AND, 💤💤💤 i thanked him and left . ok that should invite some flames 🔥😂
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!
@@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.
Great review as always. I heard a pair of the normal 801 D4's at my local Best Buy and they sounded off the charts good. Sadly, I will never be able to buy them. I know you get requests all the time and might even be annoyed by all the requests but thought I would ask anyways. Would you ever consider review the Philharmonic BMR Towers?
Absolutely great review you send it straight forward. I love my audio research and B&W speakers. I was blessed with this system. I’m running 60 watts per speaker and I wanna upgrade but I’m low on funds. AR D60 amp and my preamp is pretty fire also
Many comments expressing dislike of the 801 D4 Signature’s looks. And believe me, it is a spectacular sounding speaker. But as an interesting counterpoint, I would love to see you review what may be the most beautiful looking speakers made, a feast of natural materials that would be an asset to most any decor and room. I’m referring to the Sonus Faber Maxima Amator. The cabinet is made of pure walnut wood painstakingly dried and matched, a leather covered front baffle, and tasteful brass inserts, all perched on a Marquina marble base as only the Italians would conceive. Paper cone midbass, soft dome tweeter, and a novel low parts-count crossover. A slender 44” tall 2-way floorstander, it takes up less space than the Bowers and Wilkins 805 D4 on stands. If you recoil from the high-tech accuracy at all costs version of hi end speakers today, and just want something of both great beauty and great sound to greet you each day, maybe the SF Maxima Amator might be worth a peek and a listen. And a very interesting review.
Tastes differ too much I'm afraid, what you call beautiful, another calls ugly. I find the design of the Sonus Faber Maxima Amator ugly, really ugly. You can even put diamonds on it, that won't make it a beautiful speaker. And I also don't like Marble and certainly not in combination with that walnut wood. And I certainly don't like the shape of the speaker either. I call it even a mismatch between the marmer feet with right angles and the wooden cabinet with rounded edges. Not to mention those antique-looking spikes underneath. Should I get it for free regardless of how it may sound, it would go on sale immediately. I would rather have it for, say, the Sonus faber Aida. So you see how the same speaker is for one person one of the most beautiful looking speakers ever made, where someone else it call really ugly.
@@PaulDeMeersman You know, I don’t disagree at all. These SF Maxima Amators are the definition of a niche product. But they do sound fabulous no matter how they look. Cheers!
The 801 and my Polk L800's now related, thank you sound united for proudly displaying the L800 right next to your BW 800 in your show room, and ABBY Road Recording Studio using the BW 800 for the Left Center and Right in there recording studio, the stuff Legends are made of.
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.
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’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…
@@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.
While certainly not the same, I feel the same way about by sonnetto V’s powered by the McIntosh . Just nirvana. I’m waiting for the MAC review. I very much appreciate these reviews of products that are in fact out of reach. I think we learn more from this than we learn from cheaper speaker reviews.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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!
@@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.
Hi. Thanks for the subscribers' content. You guys are great at what you do. Your notification teaser piques my curiousity: what was so hard about expressing your thoughts and feelings about these loudspeakers?
Often, when I express too much emotion or wax poetic, it can irk the masses and result in some backlash. But sometimes, a product's performance goes beyond the technical and hits on a more emotional level. It wasn't always a no-no to be subjective and emotional, but nowadays, it really feels like everything is being distilled down to pass-fail or specs, which saddens me.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews I think you're always going to run into friction when recommending/reviewing anything that costs more than half your viewers take home annually. That's OK. Not your fault. I was pleasantly surprised that as a Recovering audiophile you rolled out the superlatives for something this spendy, because it is apparently so special. Rather than steering the channel towards higher volume product lines that (presumably) might be more profitable for you two. End of the day, what I love about the work you do is the candor x precision x plain speaking real words. Too much of audiophile (or wine-ophile) culture relies on gibberish words and subjective assertions. One of the things I admire about your work is that all of your sentences parse in plain English. Example, even I can figure out what you mean when you say a loudspeaker is or isn't too Forward. But that's right on the semantic edge of wanting a clearer word, in my opinion. Whereas I'm sure in your unrepentant audiophile days you could have written 1000 words on same speakers without actually saying anything objective or falsifiable. It's the taking of a clear position that is estimable. Respect,
You comment about wanting to compare the 801 signature to the new Wilson WATT/Puppy, but I'd think a better comparison would be to the Sasha V. The price is closer ($55,000 for the 801 Signature and $51,000 for the Sasha V), as is the frequency response.
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?
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.
As mentioned before, love this review, and your genuine appreciation for the opportunity to review these. Question: you mention quite a delta between these and the 800D(1 or 2) which i believe are the best looking B&W’s to date(in natural cherry). I digress… for a smaller space than yours, would a pair 805d4’s realistically outperform a pair of 804 D2/3 for the same or less costs. Just curious about your thoughts with your vast experience reviewing this brand.
I got to hear these a few months ago in a showroom where I could actually afford very little, but where the guy just liked demo-ing stuff. I've never heard anything like them. Wallowing in my apparent unoriginality, I put on Bela Fleck and the Flecktones Flight of the Cosmic Hippo and heard texture in Victor Wooten's bass sound that I'd never heard. Unreal.
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
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.
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.
First, this video really looks good! The panning, editing, animated elements and effects...everything. Great work! So, these are big (but beautiful) speakers. And no toe-in 😁! Do you plan on owning these one day? Because we can tell how much you really love them! (i.e., Chef's Kiss😄) I'm really interested in hearing Kristi's feelings on these at the end of the week. Have a great Sunday and thanks for showing us these beauties!!
Have you heard the KEF Blade One Metas vs these? I’m considering either and love them for different reasons. I found the KEFs revealed more detail in the Jazz I enjoy and seem to pressurize the demo spaces I’ve heard them in better than the 801 D4, but I haven’t heard the Signatures.
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!
@@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!
This is like reviewing a Lamborghini - anyone buying it isn’t buying it based on reviews but emotion 😄 I do wanna ask that if y’all get time in the next unplugged, please talk about why better amplification is needed when impedance fluctuates as much as it does with these.
Well, it's more of buying a Lamborghini and planning on driving on roads with potholes, gravel dirt, and uneven surface. People that are getting into higher end audio systems NEED to spend time, money on the room and how it's treated. The room in this review is not going to be that good because there's no treatment, he's got a lot of glass surfaces and a couple of love seat couches in the way of the direct sound emitting from the speakers. I would also suggest pulling the speakers out at least 3ft to maybe even 4 ft from the front wall. It will probably help the low frequency definition.
@@Oneness100 How sure you seem to be of yourself. There is room treatment. Just because our room doesn't look like the obviously treated rooms you are used to seeing, does not mean there is none. All you are doing is speculating. For someone who hasn't stepped foot in our space, perhaps you might consider keeping your opinions to yourself...that is, after all, that's all they are...and they are misguided at best.
@@KristiWright OMG, I struck a nerve, yet you have not proven you know what you're talking about, so I will ignore your personal attacks. Ad Hominem attacks usually mean you lack an valid argument, but be that as it may. Anyone that knows the basics of room acoustics knows that glass surfaces is NOT a good surface for audio. It produces glare, and does NOT help RT60 times. So, what type of "room treatment" do you have in that room? I'd like to know what you have, and what you expect it to treat.
@@Oneness100 I see it is I who has struck a nerve simply by addressing your misconceptions in a conversation that you inserted yourself into. You seemed so confident in your definitive statements about our room. Had I felt you were interested in actual dialogue I would have entered into one. I let you know you were incorrect about our room treatment. I owe you nothing more.
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.
I purchased my first Bowers & Wilkins speakers in the late 70’s and have been a fan of the marque ever since. They have come a long way since the original factory in Worthing with their innovative engineering advancements in cabinet, driver and crossover designs. A manufacturer always worthy of consideration even if they don’t hit the mark for some. Great review Andrew though I don’t think the colour shows them at their best, but it may be the only reason you have for not actually keeping this pair!🤣🤣🤣
May I ask what pair you purchased in the '70s? They don't always score a 10 out of 10 for me either, but when they do, my God, they're hard to let go of.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews I had the DM5, DM4 and the DM7mk2 back in the day. They were somewhat in line with the BBC sounds from that era but were never loved by the UK hifi press the same way Mission, Kef and some of the boutique brands were. But as a manufacturer they certainly had their fan base at the time. They were certainly innovative as well as early adopters of laser interferometry for cone measurement and woven (Kevlar?) drivers for rigidity. The occasional Coles and Celestion drivers crept into early designs but the later model drivers were all designed and built in house. The dna of the 801 midrange drive goes back almost 50 years though it’s fair to say it has massively evolved and no doubt is a huge improvement on the original design.
@@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
These are, indeed, amazing speakers. While I've not spent any extended time with them, I have heard them a few times. Very good all around. I'm wondering... do you think you'll ever get around to reviewing any offerings from Legacy? I've spent more time in front of Legacy's and for me, the $ to sound ratio leans towards the Legacy offerings. One man's opinion.
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 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.
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.
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! 😊👍🎶🎶
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.
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.
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.
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
Hi guys, my first comment on one of your videos. Can you please review Martin Logan Electrostatic Speakers? Any of them would do but preferably one of their higher end ones (not monoliths) I have Electromotion ESL’s and I like them but would like to see your comparison with the other current competition. FYI, I did see your review of the ML EM ESL’s but I’d like to see a fresh take. Thanks! (Do I watch the upcoming podcast to find out if you saw/acknowledge my comment?)
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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
Hi. What furniture is the equipment sitting on?
I definitely agree with you that the signature series has not always been a Nite and Day improvement over the regular models. Totally agree with that. Is it there? Yes can you achieve it with regular models possibly yes depending on what you pair with it there’s still room to improve regular models to touch signature models I believe but I still say if you have a set of 805D4 and you have surround like 805D3 or better You can come pretty close to an 80 one set of stereo speakers, but they need subwoofers they need at least I’d say 3 to 4 and it would have to be multi channel and you can have that encompassing performance of the 80 one, but it just will not hit the volume levels that that speaker is capable of and depending on the room size, it may not be necessary. Scaling is a big deal but hitting the volume too high is not always a good thing either. At least that’s my take on it.
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!
The verbal execution of this review is perfection. Your true excitement and joy over these is infectious. Great review!
Thanks for your great reviews! Greetings from Germany
My pleasure! We appreciate the extra support!
I’ve been running 802D4s for a bit over two years now. Your words are accurate Andrew, and I appreciate your comments regarding toe-in because they are spot on. My room is smallish - 15 x 15 so maybe the smaller woofers scale similarly to your experience - resolved bass, fast and impactful is what I experience. As far as signature vs standard - I can only imagine what the upgrades deliver. I can say this, everything you said about discernability, clarity, delicacy…the feeling of having a private performance in your home are all true. As you suggest, my 802s are powered by a McIntosh MC462. At about half the price of the 801 sigs, I am amazingly happy with this purchase - one I struggled to justify but am so happy I did.
I heard the regular 801 D1 and it was one of the best I have heard so cannot even imagine the signatures. The bass was incredible and I actually had the rep doing the demo to disconnect the external SVS subs and the sound was much more cleaner without the subs. The speakers for music listening needs absolutely no external subs and makes sense at this price point.
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!
As someone who just recently discovered the amazing sound of b&w, I can only dream how amazing these sound.
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
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.
Dude you were like a poet on this review. Well done
I appreciate that!
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!
The first time i head a set of 801s as teenager back in the early 90s my brain exploded, it was on such another level to anything else i had ever heard it made me obsessed with getting a set of 805s which at the expense of my wallet and my sanity finally happened some years later. I agree with what you said, it's an experience and if money (and pets) were no object I would have a pair of these FOR SURE
Thanks!
Thank you for the kind contribution.
Great review, thank you. I A/B’d these speakers against the new sonos fabers today. The 801’s broke my brain, I’m absolutely floored how good these are. Your review is spot on, I’d add that these speakers handle power like no other. I got them up to ~150W, and they really wake up- zero distortion, incredible room filling power, literally puts you inside the music. I get what you’re saying about the immersive sound stage. Astonishing.
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.
Your interior design is consistently immaculate! The way you present the speakers/room is truly a work of art. Kudos!
Glad you like it!
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.
Amazing review, per usual. I haven’t heard the Signatures, but I have heard the 801 D4s at a local ListenUp (right before I picked up a pair of 705 S2s). To say they were the best speaker I’ve ever experienced would be a massive understatement; I love Focal but for less money I was blown away by how much better the 801s performed over the Utopia Evo (to my ears).
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.
Well done, Andrew! Your closing thoughts in particular resonate with me. These products push the whole industry forward. Thx!
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.
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?
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!
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.
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!
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.
Yes, sir. Great episode. B&W with McIntosh is a magical combo.
Thanks for watching!
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!
I loved the perspective in the last two minutes of the review. Very well written!
Thank you so much!
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.
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.
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!
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 heard the 801 with a michi system at a demo. It’s a dream that will come true someday. Just euphoria. 🎉
I also have to admit, that i love the B&W 800 tweeters, and the flexibility the give top response on off-axis. This i why i decided to install those in my 2000 Audi Avant. Unfortunately the only one available for spare without requirement to buy a whole speaker were the 804/805 D
On other rule which I learned and somehow you approved: Divide speaker and amplifier budget by 3, 2 for the speaker and 1 for the amplifier, then you rather get at least the sizing good.
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.
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.
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.
Hey you two! Thanks for all the HIFI input you provide (on more then one level, as the vids are just as hifi as the gear reviewed usually is :) ) ...
I've been triggered with this review. For one particular reason ... a certain set of B&W's are the most "guilty" for me catching the hifi sound bug, back in the other life of days (before 2k)!! The bug had never faded to this day. Those were the original B&W Nautilus speakers, that I, then still a teenager, have been lucky to be able to listen to ... my music/sound life was never ever the same again. To this date, I would say, the best thing I have ever heard in life. And I have heard many extreme systems since there. The effect those "snails" had on me .... nothing came close, to date!
TLDR: why I am writing this? Since long, I see, the 8xx series is considered the current B&W flagship model, while Nautilus are almost not existent on hifi channels online. I mean, I get it .... price and the sole presence of the speakers is ... well, extreme! But .... would you be able to share a few thoughts of comparison, if, of course you have the Nautilus hearing experience, between 8xx's in the current review and the "snails"? Why do you think, the Nautilus are flying so much below any current radars?
Just some of my thoughts, feel free to ignore if you wish :))
Thanks again and keep up. Much love to both.
Excellent review Andrew, a very impressive speaker. Have you inquired with KEF regarding the Blade One Meta's or by chance asked Paradigm to review the Persona 9H? These I think would be a good comparison in this price range.
i heard these when speaker searching a few years ago and compared them to just about everything in the shop .
I waitd til last and with great anticipation the proprietor turned them on ,,,AND, 💤💤💤
i thanked him and left .
ok that should invite some flames 🔥😂
The sadness of packing them up and sending them back 😢 Another great review! Should be a fun conversation on Friday.
Oh, it will tear me apart watching these get loaded back onto the truck to return to England.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews I thought you said they were yours...
Hello from Ireland, big fan of your channel, great honest informative review
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. 👏
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.
Great review as always. I heard a pair of the normal 801 D4's at my local Best Buy and they sounded off the charts good. Sadly, I will never be able to buy them. I know you get requests all the time and might even be annoyed by all the requests but thought I would ask anyways. Would you ever consider review the Philharmonic BMR Towers?
Absolutely great review you send it straight forward. I love my audio research and B&W speakers. I was blessed with this system. I’m running 60 watts per speaker and I wanna upgrade but I’m low on funds. AR D60 amp and my preamp is pretty fire also
Many comments expressing dislike of the 801 D4 Signature’s looks. And believe me, it is a spectacular sounding speaker. But as an interesting counterpoint, I would love to see you review what may be the most beautiful looking speakers made, a feast of natural materials that would be an asset to most any decor and room. I’m referring to the Sonus Faber Maxima Amator. The cabinet is made of pure walnut wood painstakingly dried and matched, a leather covered front baffle, and tasteful brass inserts, all perched on a Marquina marble base as only the Italians would conceive. Paper cone midbass, soft dome tweeter, and a novel low parts-count crossover. A slender 44” tall 2-way floorstander, it takes up less space than the Bowers and Wilkins 805 D4 on stands. If you recoil from the high-tech accuracy at all costs version of hi end speakers today, and just want something of both great beauty and great sound to greet you each day, maybe the SF Maxima Amator might be worth a peek and a listen. And a very interesting review.
Tastes differ too much I'm afraid, what you call beautiful, another calls ugly. I find the design of the Sonus Faber Maxima Amator ugly, really ugly. You can even put diamonds on it, that won't make it a beautiful speaker. And I also don't like Marble and certainly not in combination with that walnut wood. And I certainly don't like the shape of the speaker either. I call it even a mismatch between the marmer feet with right angles and the wooden cabinet with rounded edges. Not to mention those antique-looking spikes underneath. Should I get it for free regardless of how it may sound, it would go on sale immediately. I would rather have it for, say, the Sonus faber Aida.
So you see how the same speaker is for one person one of the most beautiful looking speakers ever made, where someone else it call really ugly.
@@PaulDeMeersman You know, I don’t disagree at all. These SF Maxima Amators are the definition of a niche product. But they do sound fabulous no matter how they look. Cheers!
The 801 and my Polk L800's now related, thank you sound united for proudly displaying the L800 right next to your BW 800 in your show room, and ABBY Road Recording Studio using the BW 800 for the Left Center and Right in there recording studio, the stuff Legends are made of.
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?
@@xsamitt no, im an idiot it turns out. 801 d4 $54k CAD is the speakers I heard.
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!
They look so good in that blue
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…
Build Quality is one step over all other company's ... Dream❤
Great episode! Truly appreciated the down to earth response regarding room treatments.
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.
While certainly not the same, I feel the same way about by sonnetto V’s powered by the McIntosh . Just nirvana. I’m waiting for the MAC review. I very much appreciate these reviews of products that are in fact out of reach. I think we learn more from this than we learn from cheaper speaker reviews.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Great review ..love the passion and honesty….
Hi. Thanks for the subscribers' content. You guys are great at what you do.
Your notification teaser piques my curiousity: what was so hard about expressing your thoughts and feelings about these loudspeakers?
Often, when I express too much emotion or wax poetic, it can irk the masses and result in some backlash. But sometimes, a product's performance goes beyond the technical and hits on a more emotional level. It wasn't always a no-no to be subjective and emotional, but nowadays, it really feels like everything is being distilled down to pass-fail or specs, which saddens me.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews I think you're always going to run into friction when recommending/reviewing anything that costs more than half your viewers take home annually. That's OK. Not your fault.
I was pleasantly surprised that as a Recovering audiophile you rolled out the superlatives for something this spendy, because it is apparently so special. Rather than steering the channel towards higher volume product lines that (presumably) might be more profitable for you two.
End of the day, what I love about the work you do is the candor x precision x plain speaking real words. Too much of audiophile (or wine-ophile) culture relies on gibberish words and subjective assertions. One of the things I admire about your work is that all of your sentences parse in plain English. Example, even I can figure out what you mean when you say a loudspeaker is or isn't too Forward. But that's right on the semantic edge of wanting a clearer word, in my opinion. Whereas I'm sure in your unrepentant audiophile days you could have written 1000 words on same speakers without actually saying anything objective or falsifiable. It's the taking of a clear position that is estimable.
Respect,
You comment about wanting to compare the 801 signature to the new Wilson WATT/Puppy, but I'd think a better comparison would be to the Sasha V. The price is closer ($55,000 for the 801 Signature and $51,000 for the Sasha V), as is the frequency response.
I'd compare them to any loudspeaker Wilson would like to offer up for comparison sake.
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?
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
@@coasterchum8289 If you had listened closely you would had heard that they don’t recommend there lower priced speakers ~
They don't like the 600 series.... they do recommend the 700 series which is a fraction of the cost of the 800 series @@rocksinger45
Speak for yourself. Don’t trap yourself in that tiny mindset.
As mentioned before, love this review, and your genuine appreciation for the opportunity to review these. Question: you mention quite a delta between these and the 800D(1 or 2) which i believe are the best looking B&W’s to date(in natural cherry). I digress… for a smaller space than yours, would a pair 805d4’s realistically outperform a pair of 804 D2/3 for the same or less costs. Just curious about your thoughts with your vast experience reviewing this brand.
I got to hear these a few months ago in a showroom where I could actually afford very little, but where the guy just liked demo-ing stuff. I've never heard anything like them. Wallowing in my apparent unoriginality, I put on Bela Fleck and the Flecktones Flight of the Cosmic Hippo and heard texture in Victor Wooten's bass sound that I'd never heard. Unreal.
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.
Andrew, please review the KEF reference line of speakers
We've requested them in the past and Kristi has followed up (somewhat recently) but KEF continues to be KEF --at least regarding review samples.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews 2022 to be exact. No response.
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.
Hi Andrew, based on your history with B & W could you ask them to consider offering a zero interest, 100 year payment plan ?
😆how about zero interest, zero payment.
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.
First, this video really looks good! The panning, editing, animated elements and effects...everything. Great work! So, these are big (but beautiful) speakers. And no toe-in 😁! Do you plan on owning these one day? Because we can tell how much you really love them! (i.e., Chef's Kiss😄) I'm really interested in hearing Kristi's feelings on these at the end of the week. Have a great Sunday and thanks for showing us these beauties!!
Hi Dawayne! Thanks for watching! I have a lot to say about these. Hope you're doing well!
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.
Have you heard the KEF Blade One Metas vs these? I’m considering either and love them for different reasons. I found the KEFs revealed more detail in the Jazz I enjoy and seem to pressurize the demo spaces I’ve heard them in better than the 801 D4, but I haven’t heard the Signatures.
The Blades are sure impressive in a kind of glacial way, at least in my opinion! Haven’t these 801 D4 signatures though!
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!
This is like reviewing a Lamborghini - anyone buying it isn’t buying it based on reviews but emotion 😄
I do wanna ask that if y’all get time in the next unplugged, please talk about why better amplification is needed when impedance fluctuates as much as it does with these.
Noted!
Well, it's more of buying a Lamborghini and planning on driving on roads with potholes, gravel dirt, and uneven surface. People that are getting into higher end audio systems NEED to spend time, money on the room and how it's treated. The room in this review is not going to be that good because there's no treatment, he's got a lot of glass surfaces and a couple of love seat couches in the way of the direct sound emitting from the speakers. I would also suggest pulling the speakers out at least 3ft to maybe even 4 ft from the front wall. It will probably help the low frequency definition.
@@Oneness100 How sure you seem to be of yourself. There is room treatment. Just because our room doesn't look like the obviously treated rooms you are used to seeing, does not mean there is none. All you are doing is speculating. For someone who hasn't stepped foot in our space, perhaps you might consider keeping your opinions to yourself...that is, after all, that's all they are...and they are misguided at best.
@@KristiWright OMG, I struck a nerve, yet you have not proven you know what you're talking about, so I will ignore your personal attacks. Ad Hominem attacks usually mean you lack an valid argument, but be that as it may.
Anyone that knows the basics of room acoustics knows that glass surfaces is NOT a good surface for audio. It produces glare, and does NOT help RT60 times.
So, what type of "room treatment" do you have in that room? I'd like to know what you have, and what you expect it to treat.
@@Oneness100 I see it is I who has struck a nerve simply by addressing your misconceptions in a conversation that you inserted yourself into. You seemed so confident in your definitive statements about our room. Had I felt you were interested in actual dialogue I would have entered into one. I let you know you were incorrect about our room treatment. I owe you nothing more.
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.
Afternoon Andrew,Kristie & Kadie👍👍👍
Morning KJ!
I purchased my first Bowers & Wilkins speakers in the late 70’s and have been a fan of the marque ever since. They have come a long way since the original factory in Worthing with their innovative engineering advancements in cabinet, driver and crossover designs.
A manufacturer always worthy of consideration even if they don’t hit the mark for some.
Great review Andrew though I don’t think the colour shows them at their best, but it may be the only reason you have for not actually keeping this pair!🤣🤣🤣
May I ask what pair you purchased in the '70s? They don't always score a 10 out of 10 for me either, but when they do, my God, they're hard to let go of.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews I had the DM5, DM4 and the DM7mk2 back in the day. They were somewhat in line with the BBC sounds from that era but were never loved by the UK hifi press the same way Mission, Kef and some of the boutique brands were. But as a manufacturer they certainly had their fan base at the time. They were certainly innovative as well as early adopters of laser interferometry for cone measurement and woven (Kevlar?) drivers for rigidity. The occasional Coles and Celestion drivers crept into early designs but the later model drivers were all designed and built in house. The dna of the 801 midrange drive goes back almost 50 years though it’s fair to say it has massively evolved and no doubt is a huge improvement on the original design.
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
These are, indeed, amazing speakers. While I've not spent any extended time with them, I have heard them a few times. Very good all around. I'm wondering... do you think you'll ever get around to reviewing any offerings from Legacy? I've spent more time in front of Legacy's and for me, the $ to sound ratio leans towards the Legacy offerings. One man's opinion.
I would like to see Kristi back in your reviews.
That was a unique addition to your video's.
A shame it is lost! 😔
She appears every Friday in our Unplugged videos. You can view the playlist on the main channel page.
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.
Love the passion❤
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.
Just got a pair of brand new Signatures 801 D4. But now thinking I overpaid vs the standard 801 that migh be just as good 😅
There's no way you overpaid since you can easily afford both 🙂 I say easily because if you couldn't afford them you would not have bought them.
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! 😊👍🎶🎶
Hi Andrew - how would these compare to the Beolab 28s?
Hi Andrew - would love to hear your view on just the sound differences of the B&W vs the Beolab 28
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.
Future comparison of Reference 5 Meta coming hopefully?
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.
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.
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
Hi guys, my first comment on one of your videos.
Can you please review Martin Logan Electrostatic Speakers? Any of them would do but preferably one of their higher end ones (not monoliths)
I have Electromotion ESL’s and I like them but would like to see your comparison with the other current competition.
FYI, I did see your review of the ML EM ESL’s but I’d like to see a fresh take.
Thanks!
(Do I watch the upcoming podcast to find out if you saw/acknowledge my comment?)
I think he reviewed those speakers, but the review is from 5 years ago.