B&W has released the B&W 802 D3 Loudspeaker ($22,000.00 USD). "Boy are they bitch-ass Oakley!"
Do you remember Oakley sunglasses from the 1980's?
They have listened to us, and replaced the Kevlar mid-range. Do we like it? No. The extended woofers are far too Signature Diamond like. Not at all. We prefer the look of the 802 Diamond Loudspeaker, predictly. We don't like the look of the woofers now on the front, at all. They could be placed elsewhere, like on KEF's Blade Loudspeaker.
Remember how ugly they were? Bringing back Oakley, B&W has some really fine slopes.
The frequency response (17 Hz - 28 kHz) is stunning. Could the treble in the B&W 802 D3 be extended by 100 kHz to 128 kHz? The likely +/- 6 dB response, down to 14 Hz is amazing. It tops out at 35 kHz, though, so we have to ask what that diamond tweeter is used for. As for bass, the previous B&W 802 Diamond ($15,000.00 USD) was poorly specified (34 Hz - 28 kHz +/- 3 dB) by comparison. And yet, it performed as if it included a genuine subwoofer (27 Hz to 33 kHz +/- 6 dB) when properly driven.
That leaves us wondering, "What is Real Bass?"
Do we like the base of the 802 D3? Other than the mounting arrangement for the spikes or castors with regards to manufacturing: no. You will find manufactures now include bases to simplify cabinet construction. It is round. and the previous model looked nicer: but look at those extra 17 Hz. We can tell you that having a second identical 17-year old twin is superior by parlactice. It also would be nice if it included a down-firing woofer, but it does not need it. Being fit at 28 is fine.
What do we really not like about it? There is no D3. Truly. True, there is 3-state logic. Tri-state and Terniary. How about some Ockham's Razor? :) Four drivers, though. True, there is FiiO, but that doesn't mean ...
They've taken the back from the Linn's Magic (Exact Acubarik Loudspeaker to be exact), and yet there is no power amplification in it. Argh. The Linn Acubarik (non Exact) is the closer competitor (<$41,000.00 USD).
Now, they will look quite handsome in someone's home. B&W had a beautiful object in the PV1, but screwed it up in the D. The 800 Diamond was also quite a bit worse looking than the 802 Diamond, by far - even in Signature edition.
We'll have to write more of the sound. Given the object is to your taste.
JP 2015/09/10 www.hifiart.ca
Bowers & Wilkins, Dale Road
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