I have had the 803 D4s for a couple months now. When my wife first laid eyes on them, her comment was "Well, I don't HATE them...." I can live with that. 🙂
@@Hi-FiRiff - They are certainly the best speakers I've ever owned! I'm still getting them broken in and trying to find time for "serious listening", but they are certainly the kind of speaker that makes you want to pour an Islay malt and settle onto the couch!
Great review guys. I was blown away by the 801 D4 Ref at my local dealers. I hear the tweeter in the 803 D4 is not as well integrated as the ones in the 802 and the 804. I hear its brighter, any truth to that? Bucket list speaker for me.
Thanks guys, another facinating insight into a product Id love to listen to, and its always a pleasure to hear you chat about such an interesting bit of kit! I laughed when you jokingly said 'next week some wharfedales' as im currently using some wharfdale evo 4.4s and id love to hear your impressions of some kit at this end of the market, especially these as I think they are a bit of a bargain (once burned in, difficult to listen too before!) I do love that you bring us aspirational gear though, and I look foward to more!
Don't have any Wharfedale Evos I'm afraid, but we're going to cover the classic 1970s Denton/Linton/Glendale XP series soon. Also I have a pair of heavily modded Dovedale SP2s, which I created as an April fool one year - but they turned out too good to part with!
I was compiling a shortlist of speakers and integrated amp for a future purchase a couple of years from now. Needless to say, many speakers were auditioned in the process. All the top makers , including Martens, Dali, TAD, Paradigm, Revel and the list goes on and on. Then it occurred to me that there was nothing in this list leaving a listing impression in terms of QPR (not the soccer teams lads :)... and just pure wow factor for the money. Then one day by pure happen chance came across the B&W 805 D4. I was instantly taken in with the sheer clarity and clean sound presentation. My interest was instantly piqued by the B&W brand. Next, I ventured forth and looked at models up and down from the 805. The one which completely enthralled me for the incredible sound quality at 1/2 the price of the 805 was the 705 signature. Probably reaching 85% or even more in sound quality of the 805 in direction comparison. Easy decision was made to put down the cash and bring the 705 signature home resplendent in midnight blue. In the intervening months since acquiring these great bookshelf speakers, my own esteem for the B&W brand was grown exponentially. So much so that if in the position to purchase any speaker out there at any cost, the 801 D4 at $40k will do me nicely , thank you very much.
@@jimsregaturntableshifijukebox Fair enough. I have suddenly developed an interest in early 2000s Rega turntables, which for some reason I never got round to reviewing back in the day!
I have the 804 D4s, truly stunning, (the wife could not cope with the look of the 803s), with Chord Hugo TT2 and Music Fedelity M8xi amp, I live in a utopian world of music. I have tried many speakers, amps and dacs over the years and or course there is always better (for lots more money), but I think I have reached that point of deminising returns. Before you say anything about the 800 series D4 speakers, or the dac/amp, go and listern to them, measurements only tell half the story.......
Anyone who says cables don’t make a difference need to own an 800 speaker 😊 Punishing if you don’t get the upstream right for sure, but very satisfying if you do. I have the older Nautilus 805’s and I really needed to step up to the Rega Aethos for them to come properly together (though the small Exposure 2510 drove them surprisingly well) and add a pair of Rel subs. They are actually almost forgiving now. One hifi dealer who used to sell B&W said that you can cut away the protruding cardboard tube (the one around the phase plug) to get rid of the “duck sound” 😃 But I’ve not been able to confirm this with other sources though.
I have a pair of 27 yr.-old Matrix 805s, and they are transparent enough to easily hear differences in cables. Perhaps, because my particular pair is unusually flat to within +/- 1.75dB throughout its range.
Great Riff guys. I would really like to know the power rating of the monoblocks used to drive the B&W 803 D4s. I'd auditioned the 603s and 704s earlier and I found that the speakers require a lot of power to come alive. "Bass Drops" by Nenad Vasilic was the track which brought out the difference . Also, why don't you do a "riff" on the B&W 702 S3 floor standers? Price-wise, they're closer to planet Earth. I found very few reviews of those speakers from credible sources, that, I felt, maybe the speakers are bad, and reviewers want to stay away from them.
I think the purpose of hi fi should be to make ordinary or bad recordings sound good enough to make you want to listen as well as good recordings sound amazing. Its the emotional connection needed with all recordings not soundstage/inaging etc
I'll put these on my fantasy lottery win audition list, along with some KEF Blade Ones and the Muon (£180,000!). Not forgetting an MSB Technology, The Select DAC for £110,000. Might slum it with a dCS Vivaldi DAC (35k) or Nagra HD DAC (24k) though. Always nice to dream...
Prestige 802 D3 are superb speakers, too bad they didn't continue this amazing finish with the newer speakers which I think have ugly finishes right now
So, as a sound engineer I actually use modern studio equipment (to work with) and as a music lover I use good hifi stuff (to listen to, without extra equipment criticism). It is not a paradox, and also no contradiction, but a professional and emotional decision.
A lot of music is recorded to sound good on your car radio, or your phone, because that's where it is listened to most. No point in putting a lot of detail in that these devices can't play.
Hi Omar - Sf speakers have recently taken a step change forward, in my view, so the Amator 3 should be good. As for JMR, they're hard to find in the UK, but we'll see what we can do... we'll make enquires about both.
Thanks, and funny you should mention the Dynaudio. I reviewed it for Choice, and loved it. Seem to remember it winning an EISA award while I was involved with that, too. A truly excellent stand mounter. Would love to feature a pair if I can dig one out!
@@MrVinylista That would be great. Another youtube reviewer said he once had a buyer who mainly listened to old heavy metal music but also had sensitive ears and in the end the only speaker the client could tolerate was Dynaudio.
"It's still not going to make What's The Story Morning Glory sound good...'" NEVER has a truer word been spoken. Bloody awful album with bloody awful production by a bloody awful band! (*dons crash helmet, battens down the hatches and awaits incoming flak!*). Another great episode guys, cheers 👍
People from systems that are expensive as like a Rolex they look at as a status symbol in many ways I would say the smarter of the group will go for the lower price for the best amount of sound
I have had the 803 D4s for a couple months now. When my wife first laid eyes on them, her comment was "Well, I don't HATE them...." I can live with that. 🙂
Do you love them as much as I did?
Mike
@@Hi-FiRiff - They are certainly the best speakers I've ever owned! I'm still getting them broken in and trying to find time for "serious listening", but they are certainly the kind of speaker that makes you want to pour an Islay malt and settle onto the couch!
They have to sound great as they look bloody awful. Always reminded me of a dalek
@@grecoceltlufc6491 - their appearance is certainly an acquired taste. Personally, I'm kind of enjoying the Flash Gordon vibe. 🙂
Seems like you guys have a lot of fun, in turn, it makes us enjoy your experience.
Great review guys. I was blown away by the 801 D4 Ref at my local dealers. I hear the tweeter in the 803 D4 is not as well integrated as the ones in the 802 and the 804. I hear its brighter, any truth to that? Bucket list speaker for me.
Thanks guys, another facinating insight into a product Id love to listen to, and its always a pleasure to hear you chat about such an interesting bit of kit!
I laughed when you jokingly said 'next week some wharfedales' as im currently using some wharfdale evo 4.4s and id love to hear your impressions of some kit at this end of the market, especially these as I think they are a bit of a bargain (once burned in, difficult to listen too before!)
I do love that you bring us aspirational gear though, and I look foward to more!
Don't have any Wharfedale Evos I'm afraid, but we're going to cover the classic 1970s Denton/Linton/Glendale XP series soon. Also I have a pair of heavily modded Dovedale SP2s, which I created as an April fool one year - but they turned out too good to part with!
@@MrVinylista Sounds like a great Riff to me, especially the SP2s which would be a good chat :)
I was compiling a shortlist of speakers and integrated amp for a future purchase a couple of years from now. Needless to say, many speakers were auditioned in the process. All the top makers , including Martens, Dali, TAD, Paradigm, Revel and the list goes on and on. Then it occurred to me that there was nothing in this list leaving a listing impression in terms of QPR (not the soccer teams lads :)... and just pure wow factor for the money. Then one day by pure happen chance came across the B&W 805 D4. I was instantly taken in with the sheer clarity and clean sound presentation. My interest was instantly piqued by the B&W brand. Next, I ventured forth and looked at models up and down from the 805. The one which completely enthralled me for the incredible sound quality at 1/2 the price of the 805 was the 705 signature. Probably reaching 85% or even more in sound quality of the 805 in direction comparison. Easy decision was made to put down the cash and bring the 705 signature home resplendent in midnight blue. In the intervening months since acquiring these great bookshelf speakers, my own esteem for the B&W brand was grown exponentially. So much so that if in the position to purchase any speaker out there at any cost, the 801 D4 at $40k will do me nicely , thank you very much.
Owned the 803 D4 for 4 months, coupled with Naim SN3 and NDX2- sounds wonderful. Looking to upgrade the SN3 … funds allowing.
Enjoyed the review.
Thanks for another entertaining and educational watch guys.
Jim 🏴🙂
Thanks Jim. Are you a retro Rega expert? If so, which is better - the Planar 5 or the P25? Asking for a friend...
@@MrVinylista no, not an expert, sadly.
Have only heard the P25, so can't comment. 😉
Jim 🏴🙂
@@jimsregaturntableshifijukebox Fair enough. I have suddenly developed an interest in early 2000s Rega turntables, which for some reason I never got round to reviewing back in the day!
@@MrVinylista I look forward with interest to hearing your views.
I have the 804 D4s, truly stunning, (the wife could not cope with the look of the 803s), with Chord Hugo TT2 and Music Fedelity M8xi amp, I live in a utopian world of music. I have tried many speakers, amps and dacs over the years and or course there is always better (for lots more money), but I think I have reached that point of deminising returns. Before you say anything about the 800 series D4 speakers, or the dac/amp, go and listern to them, measurements only tell half the story.......
Anyone who says cables don’t make a difference need to own an 800 speaker 😊 Punishing if you don’t get the upstream right for sure, but very satisfying if you do. I have the older Nautilus 805’s and I really needed to step up to the Rega Aethos for them to come properly together (though the small Exposure 2510 drove them surprisingly well) and add a pair of Rel subs. They are actually almost forgiving now. One hifi dealer who used to sell B&W said that you can cut away the protruding cardboard tube (the one around the phase plug) to get rid of the “duck sound” 😃 But I’ve not been able to confirm this with other sources though.
Well put, and I often wonder when people say that "cables don't make a difference", what speakers they're using!
Not these, that's for sure...
I have a pair of 27 yr.-old Matrix 805s, and they are transparent enough to easily hear differences in cables. Perhaps, because my particular pair is unusually flat to within +/- 1.75dB throughout its range.
Great Riff guys. I would really like to know the power rating of the monoblocks used to drive the B&W 803 D4s. I'd auditioned the 603s and 704s earlier and I found that the speakers require a lot of power to come alive. "Bass Drops" by Nenad Vasilic was the track which brought out the difference .
Also, why don't you do a "riff" on the B&W 702 S3 floor standers? Price-wise, they're closer to planet Earth. I found very few reviews of those speakers from credible sources, that, I felt, maybe the speakers are bad, and reviewers want to stay away from them.
I think the purpose of hi fi should be to make ordinary or bad recordings sound good enough to make you want to listen as well as good recordings sound amazing. Its the emotional connection needed with all recordings not soundstage/inaging etc
Agree totally!
I'll put these on my fantasy lottery win audition list, along with some KEF Blade Ones and the Muon (£180,000!). Not forgetting an MSB Technology, The Select DAC for £110,000. Might slum it with a dCS Vivaldi DAC (35k) or Nagra HD DAC (24k) though. Always nice to dream...
Indeed it is - but sadly dreams don't often come true. I can prove this because Kate Bush hasn't left her husband and shacked up with me yet!
How much. In the real World. Second hand is the way to go....
Spendor S8e , Rotel RB991......£1258.00. That includes a full Service on the Rotel...
Prestige 802 D3 are superb speakers, too bad they didn't continue this amazing finish with the newer speakers which I think have ugly finishes right now
So, as a sound engineer I actually use modern studio equipment (to work with) and as a music lover I use good hifi stuff (to listen to, without extra equipment criticism). It is not a paradox, and also no contradiction, but a professional and emotional decision.
I’ve always found any decent speaker worth having will show up a poor recording, something I can live with. I’ve ordered a pair of the 805 D4.
A lot of music is recorded to sound good on your car radio, or your phone, because that's where it is listened to most. No point in putting a lot of detail in that these devices can't play.
Opinion on Sonus faber Electa Amator 3 and Jean Marie Reynaud Bliss Jubile ? Any plan of doing a review?
Hi Omar - Sf speakers have recently taken a step change forward, in my view, so the Amator 3 should be good. As for JMR, they're hard to find in the UK, but we'll see what we can do... we'll make enquires about both.
@@MrVinylista Thank you David for the reply
Excellent review.
ps> Isn't the answer to a friendly listen to The Jam, Dynaudio Contour 20i? Makes every quality of recording sound good. ;)
Thanks, and funny you should mention the Dynaudio. I reviewed it for Choice, and loved it. Seem to remember it winning an EISA award while I was involved with that, too. A truly excellent stand mounter. Would love to feature a pair if I can dig one out!
@@MrVinylista That would be great. Another youtube reviewer said he once had a buyer who mainly listened to old heavy metal music but also had sensitive ears and in the end the only speaker the client could tolerate was Dynaudio.
Nice review. Why didn't you rate these loudspeaker as usual you do?
They did, a 9 and a 9.5...
How does it compare to the previous version?
"It's still not going to make What's The Story Morning Glory sound good...'" NEVER has a truer word been spoken. Bloody awful album with bloody awful production by a bloody awful band! (*dons crash helmet, battens down the hatches and awaits incoming flak!*). Another great episode guys, cheers 👍
Thanks, and it's good to know that it's not only me who doesn't own a copy of this. I thought I was in a gang of one!
"My Tea-Time with Andre".
$22k in U.S.A wishing it was $18k.
Inflation is a bitch…
People from systems that are expensive as like a Rolex they look at as a status symbol in many ways I would say the smarter of the group will go for the lower price for the best amount of sound