Should I stay (with the 801 S2 matrix) or should I go (for the mint 803 S1 matrix) ?

[pascalibi]

 

[BigH]

Is the amateur who wants to buy them the same guy who nicked your tweeter? Sorry don't know your speakers.

 

[pascalibi]

No no ! The guy who nicked my tweeter wanted to buy them for only 300 euros or so (making us believe that that is the best price we'd ever get) The guy who wants to buy them in this state is a totally different person.

 

[BigH]

OK I see, any chance of hearing the 2 speakers with your amp? 1,000euros seems a fair price, if the 803s sound better than the 801s it maybe the way to go. I believe you are quoting the W limits for those speakers that does not follow that they will be more demanding, if you can find the sensitivity figs for each speaker that would help, these are normally quoted as dbs, something like 87dbs w per metre @ 8 Ohms. The higher the db figure the less power you need for a set volume.

 

[bluedroog]

Where are you based? Do you have an overall budget? How big is your room?

My gut instinct would say keep the speakers, they are mighty fine and while B&W 800 series tend to respond well to power the 600w rating I suspect is the top range of recommended power. Do you have any other gear other than the old amp?

I’ve not heard them myself which would normally make me reluctant to recommend but I think in this case one of those big beasts from Emotiva could be suitable.

 

[pascalibi]

Tahnks for the answer.

No, I only was able to hear the 801s with my amp before the tweeter got nicked.. and the 803's after the tweeter got nicked.. So I can not compare anymore. But the guys selling the 803's has 30 other pairs of B&W-speakers. What I could hear was that teh 803s speaker had a very likewise sound as the 801's.. whereas for example the DM 804's had a totally different sound.

Because it are speakers that we inherited, we would take the 803s ones because they provide the same kind of sound and they remind of the 801's with the small tweeter on top and the dark yellow kevlar.

I repeat: 1000 euros is what he would pay for a pair of 801s2 in average optical condition and with one tweeter missing. 850 euros is what I would pay for almost mint pair of 803.

B&W: 801s2: sensitivity at 1 m for 2.83V: 87 dB

B&W 803: sensitivity at 1 m for 2.83V: 90 dB

That is a difference of 3dB.. is that a substantial difference ? Which proves that the 803's will be a better match with the amp?

 

[pascalibi]

Hello Bluedroog,

I am based in Belgium. As I explained in the intro: I do NOT have a budget to add an expensive amp. There is no other gear available.

There is no question of upgrading. It is just a question now wether we invest in a new pair of tweeters (400 euros) OR get a fair price for the 801's as they are now (with the 1 tweeter missing) and using that money to buy a mint pair of 803's that apparently is a better match with the power of our Onkyo Integra amp.

P

 

[BigH]

B&W: 801s2: sensitivity at 1 m for 2.83V: 87 dB

B&W 803: sensitivity at 1 m for 2.83V: 90 dB

That is a difference of 3dB.. is that a substantial difference ? Which proves that the 803's will be a better match with the amp?

Thats is a quite a bit, so at same output the 803 will be louder. I think for the same volume you will need to 2x the amps Watts, so for the 803s at 18w you will need 36w for the 801s. Do you have a large room, how far from the speakers will you be listening?

 

[philipjohnwright]

In your situation I think I'd keep the 801's and run them with the 'underpowered' amp. I think it would sound better than the 803's, and you can always (at a later date - I note funds aren't available now) get a better amp.

I say this based on experience when buying B&W Nautilus 802's a while back. I bought them new, together with a Meridian amp. I also auditioned the lesser Nautlilus 803's with a much better amp (Chord 1200E for what it's worth). It was no contest; the better speakers with the lesser amp sounded much better than the lesser speakers with the better amp. More dynamic, more detail, better bass. Everything.

Admittedly I was always lusting after a better amp to go with the 802's, but they did sound good nevertheless. So for me it would be new tweeters, for what it's worth (i.e. you're not me!)

 

[pascalibi]

Hello,

Thank you all for the feedbacks! We have decided to sell the 801's and reinvest in the 803's + maybe a slightly better amp.

No need for extra feedbacks anymore.

Kind regards, Pascal