Loudspeaker of the Year

Bowers & Wilkins 800 D3 Loudspeaker

Rating: 70*/100
Value: 25/100
Total Points: 95/200

Price: $30,000.00 USD, varies by region.
Weight: 96 kg

If you are working, first year, and into audio, it might be worth spending your money ($30,000.00 USD) on the B&W 800 D3 Loudspeaker. What amplifier would you get? Would the Devialet Expert 200 suffice?

For 2016, our Loudspeaker of the Year is the Bowers & Wilkins 800 D3 Loudspeaker ($30,000.00 USD).

In terms of weight, at 96 kg, the Bowers & Wilkins 800 D3 Loudspeaker (per-unit) is a relatively easy lift. One with a 300 lb weight-set would be able to accomplish this.

In The Grand Tour (2016), Season 1, Episode 5, Jeremy Clarkson discusses and reviews the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider.

In the spirit of Sonic Flare web magazine, which compared cars to Hi Fi speakers, let us declare that the B&W 800 D3 Loudspeaker is Alfa Romeo 4C Spider auto-car of Hi Fi.

At $65,900.00 USD the Alpha Romeo delivers the essence of auto car Hi Fi.

That is, it allows one to be an Alpha Male, and allows one to be, in public, a Romeo, also.

We see, in the episode, that Jeremy Clarkson (of Top Gear), was more selling himself while he was espousing the benefits of the Alpha Romeo 4C Spider in White ($65,900.00 USD) than he was, the car.

You will see it by how he chose to dress, and how he close to talk while discussing it.

Now back to the 802, or the 800, rather.

With regards to rating, we have taken of 20 points for visual quality. Normally, visual quality (looks) would be a component of value, and sound (Rating) would be reflective of sound, also.

You will see in our review of the 802, we were not a fan of it.

Now back to the 800.

In terms of look, it is fit for a palace. That is, it is not very good looking. It is very good looking at the back, however. Very, very good. But, if you have a palace, and you have staff, you can't really control who is in. Can you, however.

Why is the Focal Grande Utopia III EM Loudspeaker 90 points, and this, 70, and not higher (than the Focal)? This is why. Also, we have not listened to the two, in the same room. A mistake. Amen.

With regards to price, why is the Value, 100? The B&W 800 D3 Loudspeaker is $32,000.00 CDN in Canada. Can we not say it is worth $32,000? We looked at a bracelet the same day by Cartier that was $320,000.00 CDN (+50% for resizing).

We are not saying of production quality, or cost to manufacture vs. recommended purchase price, which is our typical nomenclature.

Now, let us set the value product to 25.

With regards to price, why is the Value then, now, 25?

Why could we not say the product is worth $8,000.00 or 1/4?

This is what we imagine the typical studio user in Vancouver would pay.

You would buy this loudspeaker if you had a professional studio. Our typical recommendations for the studio, however are the Rey Audio 7VC MESA ($ usd) + the RIS-1C Infrasonic ($ USD) and the ... Loudspeaker. Also, we should mention the Ocean's Way ...

If you had a professional studio, would you not however  instead purchase the Focal ... which is more suited for the mixing desk?

The bowers and Wilkins 800 D3 is a very good loudspeaker.

Roman Ambromovich has the B&W 800 Diamond Loudspeakers (previous version) on his yacht, which we wanted, but were unable to listen to. In terms of sound, they were noted to be remarkably superior to the 802 Diamond, which were much more attractive (as a domestic product and as a luxury product), as the drivers on the 800 Diamond were too fat for the cabinet.

We are glad we were finally able to listen to the 800. The notable remarkable achievement of B&W was the production of the Matrix 800 series (and Matrix 800 Loudspeaker). The Matrix 801 was fine for a home, or a studio (the Matrix 802, 803, 804 were unnecessary).

The Matrix 805 was fine for a home (though only if you love opera and small group jazz), as it was without bass. They made the Emphasis, which was poorly, physically constructed, resembling a saxophone, but luxury, and fit for collection.

They made the Silver Signature, which was luxury, fit for a gone hone. A better B&W 805. This was their mature, domestic product. They made the PM1 Stand-mount Luxury Domestic Speakers ($2,800.00 USD + $500 USD) as well, also.

If you wished a luxury domestic loudspeaker today, would you instead go for the Vienna Acoustics The Music Loudspeaker? It is still available from Vienna Acoustics. Today, it's $28,000.00 CDN at Hi Fi Centre.

So you could get the Music and a a coat (a coat, we thought in suede re: the price, but in cashmere, locally, unfinished is $8,000.00 CDN) with the money you would save by buying The Music instead. That Kiton, an English brand.

So you can get luxury for this price.

While we've not listened to The Music, we have listened to The Kiss, and found it (on account of the flat mid-range driver) portrayed a sense of scale, greater than other speakers. But, large distortion and low-resolution, on account of perhaps too few mid-range drivers.

VA really missed an opportunity by developing, but not releasing, the Vienna Acoustics Beethoven Imperial Grand ($10,000.00 USD) - which included a super-tweeter for 100 KHz - like The Music.

Has B&W reached it's peak? With their loss of John Bowers, have they lost, as a company?

What of the B&W 800 D3 Loudspeaker?

We find it without flaw in reference to audio quality as perceived. Not in terms of measurements, but in terms of listening.

We do not wish to admit that our ear did not detect a flaw, upon an early, initial listen. That would be admitting poor ears, and a poor mind to go with them.

If the Focal Grande Utopia III EM ($180,000.00 USD) is "the first hi-fi loudspeaker" (2014), what of the B&W 800 D3?

...

Is it better?

The review of the 800 D3 by B&W was brought on by the purchase of the B&O H3. In it, we received a new limit experience - the raise of the bar (at Hi Fi Centre...), which bought us susceptible to new phenomena.

In the past, this would be done when you enter the room in a salon (Sound Plus), you would see a gentleman up in the back, who would make you a cappuccino, and then you would begin your store experience.

Today, you will find this in your hair salon. There is some wisdom in this ancient custom. We like.

By having (experiencing) something new, we are saying, it puts you in the mood (in the frame of mind) - like sampling beer - to experience something again. Anew.

We will write B&W and see if they will send us the 800 D3 Loudspeaker for a proper review.

Yours,

JP 2016/01/13
www.hifiart.ca