Bowers and Wilkins speakers

[pavulon]

A set of B&W 801 series 2 speakers are for sale near me. I know nothing about them. Anyone here have some insight?

[pwd72s]

Other than knowing they are a very high end brand....not much.

[Scott Douglas]

I've never heard a set of them but all I've read about them says they're a good speaker mfg'r.
Good surrounds on the speakers themselves are important, but you knew that already I'm sure.
I myself prefer the sounds of Infinity speakers.

[aschen]

Early 801s are an icon and a classic design. They are decent speakers by high end standards and much better than most mass market speakers of the era. If you are in the market for large vintage speakers they could be a good puck up. Condition is everything. In good shape id say 1500 is fair and under 1k is a bargain. Id probably pass on ones in need of much. Too many good ones available otherwise

[RWebb]

ditto they were not just good but xlnt. - shine a strong flashlight into the cones of all drivers & make sure they are intact (with grills off)

- this could be a steal...

[pavulon]

Thanks all. The ask is $1700.

[RWebb]

I dunno what else you could find for $1,700 that good - much less for an agreed price.

Are you in a major metro area? Willing to do a lot of looking? Otherwise get them before someone else does.

(and I say that as a non-conehead - I left speakers in boxes behind 20 years ago)

[pavulon]

The speakers are not in a major metro area. I'm not bent for them or any others but sometimes good deals show up and the wheels start turning.

Originally Posted by RWebb

I dunno what else you could find for $1,700 that good - much less for an agreed price.

Are you in a major metro area? Willing to do a lot of looking? Otherwise get them before someone else does.

(and I say that as a non-conehead - I left speakers in boxes behind 20 years ago)

[Eric Coffey]

Decent, but sort of "meh" IMO, especially @ $1700. Plenty of other options out there in that price-range for large, outdated upper mid-fi speaks. Also, unless you have adequate clean power (and not the average HT "receiver"), they are likely going to disappoint. With anything in (or approaching) the "vintage" category, there are potential ancillary costs that you should factor in as well. Things like driver re-cone (surrounds/spiders), filter-network overhaul/re-cap, tweet re-dome, etc.

[cairns]

They were the cats whiskers in 95. If they're in good shape could be well worth the asking price.

[kach22i]

They were great speakers.

Not a lot of box colorations, but not for a panel guy like myself .

They can push some serious air with the right amplification, and can reveal weaknesses of poor recordings and cheap digital without mercy.

I'd look at Martin Logan hybrids or Magnepan 1.7's in the same price range before pulling the trigger.

Those squat box speakers tend to keep their sound close to the floor.

Yes, you can have spherical (or hexagon) enclosures and still be considered a box, it's just an expression.

If you want to rock out but those speakers at $1,700 are flawed somehow you might be able to get some 805's for a similar price if you look long and hard enough - could be worth the effort.

801 D, that's the one I'm thinking of - heard in a store many years ago.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/211317407496391970/


TAS Legacy: Bowers & Wilkins 801 Loudspeaker
https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/tas-legacy-bowers-wilkins-801-loudspeaker/

Introduced in 1980, the B&W 801 almost overnight became the speaker for top-shelf recording studios and mastering suites.

The stereo store (early 1990's) had me sitting in the near field for a reason I suspect, studio monitors are not known for sound-stage imaging, just accuracy and good at revealing flaws. One of the CD's was burned/recorded by a salesperson, and sounded terrible on the system compared to regular store bought discs.

The 801's sort of blew me away, like waves of sound coming at me, as if I could leap out of my listening chair and dive in by body surfing the waves.

At casual listening levels they were just okay, but boy crank it up and they could move air like nothing else.

You better have concrete floors and an understanding wife, just saying.

[sc_rufctr]

They're BIG... Not sure if that's an issue.

If you have to room their size alone would make them great performers.
And I'd bet their build quality is better than most of what's on the market today.

This photo should give you some idea of their size.

[Scott Douglas]

My wife thinks my speakers are big. I'll have to show her this thread.

[RWebb]

Agree about amp to drive them, Martin Logan hybrids & Magnepan 1.7's (I have 3.7i's and would really like SoundLabs...)

another issue is the size room you have - all speakers need to be out away from the walls behind and on the sides for best sound (Roy Allison's designs were an exception).

I still say they are xlnt box speakers for $1,700 - since you are not in a big city, you may not do better for a box... w/o some work

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by RWebb

Agree about amp to drive them, Martin Logan hybrids & Magnepan 1.7's (I have 3.7i's and would really like SoundLabs...)

another issue is the size room you have - all speakers need to be out away from the walls behind and on the sides for best sound (Roy Allison's designs were an exception).

I still say they are xlnt box speakers for $1,700 - since you are not in a big city, you may not do better for a box... w/o some work

Yep, this path is an introduction to real Hi-Fi, the high-end stuff, a slippery slope requiring proper amplification, system matching, attention to speaker placement and room acoustics.

It's a very fun path, one of the greatest indoor sports, right behind sex.

We need to know his room size and current equipment me thinks, plus the actual model and year of manufacture.

The spare bedroom that is 9'x11' isn't going to cut it, needs whole basement.

Not going to enjoy this in family room/living room unless you can disguise it as part of a home theater for the wife to also enjoy.

One of the perils of this hobby I'm afraid.

They don't call it the WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor) for nothing.

Sorry, this listing has ended.
Bowers & Wilkins B&W 801 Series 3 1990s Audiophile Pair of Speakers Local Pickup in Milwaukee, WI

Original Asking Price:
$1,750
+ Free Shipping

Never put them on casters as shown, you need to spike these babies into the Earth's bedrock.

Just acquired from the original owner. The woofers have just been professionally reconed by Speaker Exchange in FL

Yep, that's a problem with old speakers.

Looks a little shoddy to me.

[serene911]

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I love B&W as a brand because they are exceptionally clean and bright. I have had several sets and have 803 Nautilus now which are fantastic speakers.

Honestly, you will have to listen to them to see if they are for you. And may be amp dependent. I have a Hafler power amp with Rotel preamp that drives them well.

Quick google: B&W Matrix 801 Series 2 loudspeaker

[RWebb]

that room is well- treated - maybe over treated; you'd have to be there...

the reason to use spikes (for cone drivers) is that music (esp. bass) tends to move the entire speaker enclosure - this can modulate the movement you want (of the driver itself) and lead to distortion

[Eric Coffey]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

I have had several sets and have 803 Nautilus now which are fantastic speakers.

Yeah, the Nautilus series is definitely a step up. The "Series 2" 801's the OP referenced are probably the least desirable of the entire 801 line/lineage.