Full Review of the new B&W 800D

[E-Stat]

I think the old law of diminishing returns starts kicking in pretty hard when you get past $2000/pr for loudspeakers.

The same could be said for $20 ear bud headphones as well.

You'll never find the "magic" with $2k speakers.

rw

[PAT.P]

The same could be said for $20 ear bud headphones as well.

You'll never find the "magic" with $2k speakers.

rw

I'm curious but why dont you list your equipment ?Is there a reason ?And yes if money was not an issue I could find the magic with $2k ++++ speakers.Pat.P

[E-Stat]

I'm curious but why dont you list your equipment ?Is there a reason ?And yes if money was not an issue I could find the magic with $2k ++++ speakers.Pat.P

I really should list my equipment as I find it does give others a point of reference for my comments. Call my lazy. Until I do, here is a link that provides that answer:

http://cgi.audioasylum.com/systems/966.html

rw

[Florian]

I really should list my equipment as I find it does give others a point of reference for my comments.

This is a very good comment because i feel the same way. I list all my equipment and names like Apogee, Krell, VMPS or Pathos mean money. I do agree that you will not find the magic with 2K. Not saying there are no good speakers for 2K, but you wont find Audio Nirvana with those.

-Flo

[dean_martin]

This is a very good comment because i feel the same way. I list all my equipment and names like Apogee, Krell, VMPS or Pathos mean money. I do agree that you will not find the magic with 2K. Not saying there are no good speakers for 2K, but you wont find Audio Nirvana with those.

-Flo

Flo - when are you going to get rid of that cheap-assed Rega P2 and Rega phono amp analog rig? You don't even list your cartridge! It's time you moved up to a real analog rig. Your present one is severely lacking.

Therefore, you are prohibited from offering any comments or advice on turntables, tonearms, cartridges and phono preamps until you offer proof of owning a genuine "high end" rig!

[Florian]

Flo - when are you going to get rid of that cheap-assed Rega P2 and Rega phono amp analog rig? You don't even list your cartridge! It's time you moved up to a real analog rig. Your present one is severely lacking.

Therefore, you are prohibited from offering any comments or advice on turntables, tonearms, cartridges and phono preamps until you offer proof of owning a genuine "high end" rig!

That is true in every regard. Since i do not use the Analog section at all, i have absolutly no experience with it whatsoever. That is exactly the reason why you will not find one comment about Analog devices from me. Thanks for making my point ;-)

-Flo

[dean_martin]

That is true in every regard. Since i do not use the Analog section at all, i have absolutly no experience with it whatsoever. That is exactly the reason why you will not find one comment about Analog devices from me. Thanks for making my point ;-)

-Flo

You might be surprised if you funnel some of that money toward a nice analog rig. I prefer my budget analog over my budget digital. Plus, you can do a lot more tweaking and you can try a variety of cartridges. Once you're satisfied with your amp/speaker set-ups, you should set your sights on a nice high end analog rig. With your commitment, you should be able to come up with an awesome turntable/tonearm/cartridge/phono amp combo. I have to give you your props. As we say here in the states - you put your money where your mouth is.

[Geoffcin]

This is a very good comment because i feel the same way. I list all my equipment and names like Apogee, Krell, VMPS or Pathos mean money. I do agree that you will not find the magic with 2K. Not saying there are no good speakers for 2K, but you wont find Audio Nirvana with those.

-Flo

Nirvana, if you take it at it's literal meaning, is a PERSONAL state of being. No one can tell anyone else what nirvana is. Certainly those in search of it can expound all sorts of philosophies about how to attain it, but in the end it is a personal experience.

[RGA]

Nirvana, if you take it at it's literal meaning, is a PERSONAL state of being. No one can tell anyone else what nirvana is. Certainly those in search of it can expound all sorts of philosophies about how to attain it, but in the end it is a personal experience.

And some people reach Nirvanna listening to Nirvanna - while they just give me a headache.

The notion that money is associated with reaching a cathartic experience with the music is as ludicrous as it gets -- I have hear many many systems that based on price dwarf mine that are totally outclassed by my system in most every sonice regard and certainly in every musical regard. I have heard systems that are more expensive and better in every sonic and musical regard as well -- I have heard systems that would have trouble musically against the Wharfedales for that matter - a speaker with technical weakspots but can generate emotion and be highly enjoyable.

There is a BIG difference between musicphile and audiophile and appears some in this thread have lost the music for the sonics (forrest for the trees). As much as I love to talk about systems and of some gear I like more than other gear, the music is what really counts and I can be happy listening to it on my Panasonic personal disc player with $4.00 headphones.

UHF said it best
"It remains a fact that most famous-name equipment is deliberately built to perform poorly. It is also true that some astonishingly expensive esoteric equipment just doesn't cut it. Fortunately, it also remains true even today that real music can be heard from a system that is, by hi-fi standards, inexpensive."

And
"Nor do I put sound ahead of music. It says a lot that I collect records by the great conductor, Arturo Toscanini, who made his last recording (in mono!) in 1954. Perfectly reproduced boring music is perfectly...boring."

"The problem
If all you needed to do was look up "hi-fi" in the Yellow Pages and go and get a system, there would be no need for this book. In fact there are tremendous barriers to high fidelity. Most of the merchants claiming to sell hi-fi wouldn't recognize it if the RCA dog bit them on the ankle. They have never heard it themselves, and they don't care whether you ever do or not. They will try to sell you boxes, some of them cheap. some of them expensive, bearing famous names. Most of it will not be hi-fi equipment.
To find true hi-fi, you will need to visit a different kind of store. You will need to let your ears guide you. You will need to beware of technical arguments which are not backed by demonstrations that seduce you with music. You will need to avoid being seduced by what equipment looks like, and concentrate on the only important aspect.
How it sounds."

[topspeed]

The notion that money is associated with reaching a cathartic experience with the music is as ludicrous as it gets -- I have hear many many systems that based on price dwarf mine that are totally outclassed by my system in most every sonice regard and certainly in every musical regard. I have heard systems that are more expensive and better in every sonic and musical regard as well -- I have heard systems that would have trouble musically against the Wharfedales for that matter - a speaker with technical weakspots but can generate emotion and be highly enjoyable.

There is a BIG difference between musicphile and audiophile and appears some in this thread have lost the music for the sonics (forrest for the trees). As much as I love to talk about systems and of some gear I like more than other gear, the music is what really counts and I can be happy listening to it on my Panasonic personal disc player with $4.00 headphones.

I am in complete agreement with you!

Geez, did I forget to take my pills again?!?




WOMAN, where's my supersuit?!

[Florian]

There is a BIG difference between musicphile and audiophile and appears some in this thread have lost the music for the sonics (forrest for the trees). As much as I love to talk about systems and of some gear I like more than other gear, the music is what really counts and I can be happy listening to it on my Panasonic personal disc player with $4.00 headphones.

I have no problems listening to my old Maggie .5's with CA equipment either. But this is totaly besids the point. The Audiophile and Musicphiles quest (at least mine) is to get as close to reality as possible.

UHF said it best
"It remains a fact that most famous-name equipment is deliberately built to perform poorly. It is also true that some astonishingly expensive esoteric equipment just doesn't cut it. Fortunately, it also remains true even today that real music can be heard from a system that is, by hi-fi standards, inexpensive."

This includes AudioNote. AudioNote has one of the absolutly highest prices you can get. Also they have the least materials in their system. Sound quality aside-

-Flo