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The B&W tweeter is very special. It is very revealing, but it's other qualities really make it shine. Like Steve mentioned, it's hard to go back to any other speaker after spending time under it's spell. It's a shame the price of B&W speakers keep going up and up - making it hard for a lot of audiophiles to give them a go.
Hi Steve - thanks for the reminder of that first Mothers album. It's been too long since I've heard "Help, I'm A Rock". I drove my parents crazy with that one. I think that was the point.
Thank you Steve. This concretes my impressions on these speakers. I owned it for over a month now and loving & enjoying it. I have a REL T5i which I sometimes use to get more bass but as it stands, I just loved how it sounds. More power to your channel Steve!
I purchased 805S 15 years ago and love them. Run with a Rotel 100 watt amps and SVS sub for home theater. I have 5.1 system and use 5 805S in total. The speakers are much much higher in price these days.
You know Michael if you're running Rotel 100 watt amplifiers with a B&W 805S speaker, you would need a sub-woofer. Rotel do very powerful pre/power amplifiers but they're only competition for mass-market Sony, and not really amplifiers for B&W 805S. Rotel was founded by Mr. Tomoki “Tac” Tachikawa, who was born in Taiwan ... and these are not amplifiers for B&W that was a British concern. You're far better with British amplifiers for B&W, Arcam are the ideal matching amplifiers. Rotel might sound okay but you know, as you say, Rotel are low priced for B&W. Rotel are not the most detailed sounding amplifiers.
I also had the 805s couldn’t fault them , musical fidelity 308 pre / pow. Amp 250 watts . They sound & work better with a higher wattage amp /high current, then what B&W stated 120watts ,
@@Bzz22 I am running Rotel 120 X 5 as recommended by B&W. But I agree a little more power could be a good thing. My Rotel amp stopped working and taking it in for repair today. If it’s to costly to fix a 15 year old amp may look to upgrade with more power.
B&Ws are power hungry. I have 703s from the same era as the 805S and surprisingly I’ve gotten by with a Marantz SR8002 (large toroidal) but I bi-amp. In 2 channel, it gives 175 watts (I use a min of 4 channels) and 120 into 5 channels and 110 into 7. I played them full range until a decent looking small sub finally became available (the 3000 Micro). Everyone else had Classe or Rotel amps with it. I always wonder what they might have sounded like with a 200-300 watt amp at the same volume and whether there is more performance in them. Maybe I’ll pick up a Purifi or Hypex since I don’t have room for a 60-100lb Class AB amp.
Steve - great review as usual. Saw the Audiophiliac Viewer System of the day incorporated products from Vincent. That's my brand, I have always wished you'd get one of their hybrid integrated amps in for review. TY!
I heard these played A - B next to Kef R3 Meta. I liked Kef better -- hands down -- in every way. The B W sounded bright and edgy. The Kef cleaner, sweeter WITH better definition. Not even close. IM
I have a pair of DynAudio Contour 20s with some power behind them, which I love for all genres of music. I think for my preferred sound that a pair of these B&Ws would make my ears bleed…but I guess that there are large variances in our hearing and tastes. It sure makes the pursuit interesting.
I have campared the 702 s2 with s3 i most say i prefer the s2 by far. I did not feel its an upgrade, s3 is a little more transparent, but its cost of being more forward and even more clinical its to much in my opinion the bass notes was also more in depth with s2
I purchased the 706 S3s in December and they're finally broken in. They sound great with a Yamaha A-S801and exceptional with a Marantz Model 30. The only disappointing thing is the quality of the optional speaker stands, which the base seems to be made of compressed wood (they dent with light touching), and the design stripe is peeling off.
This actually would be a nice comparison. I have the 705 S2 and the Kef R3 non Metas and the 705 S2 is definitely better, more detail-mids and treble, but the Kef R3 has more bass and the top end is more subdued.
@@mpi5850 I won't say exciting, just different. I have went back and forward with both as I own them both as well as a pair of Kef Q350s. I have used them both with and without a sub. Steve is right the 705s are detail freaks. I'm able to hear detail and things in songs that I could never hear with the Kef R3s. My next move if I stay book shelf will probably be a pair of Focal Kanta N1. My dealer did allow me a while ago to use the kef ls50s and they drove me nuts, way over sibilant. We all hear differently and I have had Vandersteen, Magnepan, Martin Logan and the list goes on and on. We all like what we like, but I wouldn't mind hearing the Kef R3 meta to hear the improvements. The R3 is a good, solid speaker, with good bass and mids, but the highs are subdued by comparison and I have the equipment to make them shine, they just aren't.
I have the model lower (706 S3s) and I've tried them with a Yamaha A-S801 (which sounds great), and a Marantz Model 30 (sounds exceptional and slightly fuller and warmer)
Yeah but ... with what amplifier? You see your other you know, so-called ... 'high end' speakers that you owned ... probably had the wrong interconnect, amplifier, sources, room and listener to sound at their best. What you had sounded best with these British ... Woodman ... things and another thing is time spent running. Speakers are often improved too by hooking up different amplifiers and input sources so sellers of audio might refuse to sell their seasoned audition speaker. Billy Woodman of ATC died in July of last year and uh ... you know ... maybe that's the end of the company as you knew it.
I've had Bryston 7B Monoblocks, Adcom GFA565 Monoblocks, Jolida JD1000R Tube Amp and some various integrated Amps. I worked in 2 HiFi Shops with over 10 years experience. I'm good and plenty of ATCs will continue to be made.
@@RennieAsh Yeah but you know you picked up the wrong end of the stick and many people do. You know they get it wrong but feel that they're right. You know our hearing is trained on what we're used to and in isolation would take 3 months listening to only one system to hear it as it really sounds. But few are equipped to get to that place in life and they're not the right listeners for themselves and uh ... you're pretty sure of yourself but a novice and uh ... the wrong listener for too many systems. But you're not alone, there's loads of you, impatient and self-centered. Bad attitude but hey.
If a reviewer says, it’s very clean and transparent, this is a diplomatic way to say it may be bright. You have to read between the lines as professional reviewers refrain from saying something directly negative.
My only problem with B&W is their pricing. I mentioned them to Andrew Singer and he was apoplectic. Can get similar sound signature for substantially less. Believe it!
Agreed, Just like every other element of loudspeaker design, it's a balance of compromise. Everything I know suggests it impacts the energy propagating forward. In this case I'm thinking it's very little impact in the end ... and the driver has to be protected, so protect it and don't look back.
Don't listen to them ... because uh ... the mesh over the carbon dome tweeters makes the sound spread out, you see High Frequencies have a very narrow dispersion pattern. The dome is wider in dispersion than a horn throat or an electrostatic device but it only goes so wide, how wide is usually reported in brochures and uh ... the problem is most exaggerated where there are two ... or more listeners in different chairs. In the old days in the USA, we used to read a graphed plot for F.R. (Frequency Response) on axis and off axis varying by degrees, we could lose some middle-range and to a lesser extent high frequencies and this of course, affects how we hear the low frequencies, that are greatly helped the hissing sounds made by the HF drivers. To some extent these mesh covers have offered protection too but usually they're aimed at increasing HF dispersion and the listening angle accuracy of the F.R. in listening rooms.
I been really interested in B&W since I heard there TOTL at an audio show. It actually sounded good at the show in not the best room when others not so much. An the look is griwing on me.
Steve, whenever I get used to my Wharfedales and go back to listening to my Polks, I miss the definition. The Polks are more forgiving on recordings, so I keep both. I listen to the better recordings on the Wharfedales.
Dear Steve, love your video’s, how do you think of used standard connection bridges used by B&W?, are they of good quality?, or better to Exchange with something else?, Thank you for your answer upfront.
Hey Steve…I love your channel…I would be very happy to get your quick opinion on two speakers…Which one of the following B&W Loudspeakers would you prefer B&W 706 S2 for around 1000€ on Sale or the B&W 705 S3 approximately double the price also on Sale…they both seem to me very similar accept the tweeter position and I don’t know if the extra Cost would be worth it….many thanks from Hamburg
I got the 706 S2 speakers and they sound a bit boxed in with the woice sound. Brass sounded a bit "fooffy". That is compared to my home built speakers. The B&Ws are my reference speakers and I copied the sound with my built speakers then tweaked them to my liking. I like to see their throat when I hear vocals. With the 706s I just don't get that.
Ha I won the first thump up contest ! Years ago I've started with DM14 followed by DM 802 now many years later DIY open baffle with fieldcoil fullrange, not perfect , just live sounding ! Thank you so much Steve , need a note block to write down all the music you experience , and magic happens and that is soooo affordable
I take away that if the recordings are very good/ excellent, these would be a great choice/ may be thee choice, however, "for me, my listening needs (we're all special snowflakes)" I prefer speakers that "overall" sound good on both good & bad recordings, also at lower listening levels.
Wish one day you can review the ATC SCM 20 ASL, active books at 6kusd, which would be comparable to a 4k passive speaker plus a 2k power amp. Bet the ATC will be miles away from any other bookshelf speaker...
It depends what kind of sound people like. I liked the ATC that I've had, though I don't have one of them any longer. The other I have because it fits the purpose, and I don't use them enough to warrant fussing over if there is a "better" speaker or not :)
What bubbling? I can only see where the rubber has been glued to the Continuum material, and has conformed to its texture. Means the surround is very compliant as it should be
Steve what up what do you think is better a Tom's 4 ohms three homes you always talkin about 4 ohms what is actually better to run your speakers at I have mine they're locked in at 8 my amp is set at 8 but it can be switched to 4 I just never dawned on me to use for reply if you can
I don’t understand speaker position comment. When 18” from front wall is too boomy and 3’ is bass shy, why stop there? I would think speaker happy place is somewhere in between. Maybe 2 or 2.5 feet.
You do understand just because its made in china it doesn’t have to be poor quality Made in china there are at highest quality items and unlimited number of items made there . People such delusional have no flexibility in their brain to understand simple things Once they have idea its locked in in their mindset and they cant see anything else You not the only one dont worry , its majority of people
Yes, it had a dual foam plug. But I didn’t use it that way I’m seeing that with more and more speakers come with plugs, why not, it’s a useful tool, and doesn’t cost anything.
Hi Steve, how are you? Don't like the Bowers & Wilkins "sound" myself. I'm more of a Dynaudio and KEF person 🙂 Aren't you using the Buchardt stands backwards?
I spoke to Mads about the orientation, it doesn’t matter, there’s no front or back to the stands. But yes, I know most people use them the other way around.
@@TeensierPython I just think these compare poorly to, for example, speakers like the Martin Logan Motion F20 -- same price, both passive, same finish choices, however the MLs are floor-standing, having dual 6.5"s and a 5.5" midrange (three way), plus an AMT tweeter. Or, you could go for active Adam Audio T7Vs (AMT and 7" driver) and dual Adam T10S subs, have active crossovers and built-in amplification, and save $2,100 vs these B&Ws, and you've got driver parity plus your low end taken care of and no need for four outboard amps. These aren't high end and they're not priced like it, but $3,400 is asking a lot and at this level there are significantly, maybe even wildly better value propositions.
@@niveketihw1897 Have you ever seen Steve do a RU-vid review of a Martin Logan speaker? I haven't so I suppose they don't work with "influencers" so they get very little buzz. I take these reviews for "entertainment" value over real information.
@@Skier_202 I have not, although the channel Andrew Robinson did the top end ML Motion model just a few days ago. You're right, I treat these as notifications to maybe do a bit of research.
Looked at the LS50 Meta or R3 Meta and decided to build the CSS Criton 1tdx kit with the upgraded crossover. Have you seen the Kef crossover components? I have been disappointed with many factory built speakers and the cost cutting was very obvious. More work for me this time but no compromising on associated parts. No plastic input plate on my diy either !
@@mikelanier5617 - the LS-50 metas sound glorious (with the right equipment in a proper sized room) and are universally acclaimed by RU-vidrs and the hi-fi press alike. If they’ve achieved this with lesser parts, as you claim, good on ‘em. I judge on sound alone, not exotic parts or bougie finishes.
@M Pi Those same RU-vidrs and hifi press agree on their bright response and discuss that certain combinations do not have good synergy. Where those same people you refer to talk about glare and the associated lack of refinement in micro dynamics, which is caused by using low cost caps, resistors and chokes. This is why many of us upgrade our factory built speakers with the aforementioned cheap parts replaced with much better sounding components. Companies like GR Research, CSS, Madisound, etc. supply these to improve on just this issue. In my case I am building the CSS Criton 1TDX bookshelves for fun and musical enjoyment, knowing everything that is being implemented was top notch. All of this is system dependent on if your associated equipment is even revealing enough to tell the difference. Mine is and small changes make an audible difference to me and all of my past clients including : NASA, DOD, US Military, Lockheed-Martin, British Aerospace and many celebrities (MTV Cribs) and powerful business people. Not bragging, just establishing I'm not just some hobbyist consumer without decades of experience in A/V sales, design, manufacturing, importation and distribution. I've been with the speaker manufacturers who made the decision to use parts that were knowingly worse sounding but they were able to save money by buying them way cheaper due to forecasted purchase orders from lower bid parts manufacturers. They don't order from Mouser or Parts Express and thus can get a large discount while being relatively safe from lack of availability. Yes, the designers of the speakers or electronics are often furious when these substitutions occur as this is not what the sound signature was intended to be, but the executive level staff are numbers oriented and driven by profit even if short sided. Consumers would be utterly shocked by the margins from Asian imported products, I used to import containers of speakers from a manufacturer in China in the 90s. These were waterproof, 2 way 5 1/4" speakers with an advanced multi-angle mounting solution and used a 7 element crossover network. I paid $5.00 per pair and wholesalers paid $75.00 pr., then sold them to retailers who charged up to $350.00 to retail customers ! Great little speakers and I still have 3 pair, lol. Whatever you like and can afford is the right answer to all of this when buying through traditional sources. Once again that's why companies like CSS and GR Research are becoming increasingly popular. I can have many brands send me a pair free or substantially reduced in cost but would rather solder every Jantzen poly capacitor and torque down those SB Acoustics drivers all by myself one last time for me as these will be my last pair ! Rock on 👍🇺🇲
Thats how Hifi Reviews on youtube works... or do you think the Reviewers pick all randomly the same Models & Brands and praise them in heaven ... Its one small Bubble of Products.... the people dont care about other products otherwise would be also (more) Reviews of Stuff from Genelec, ATC Neumann, Amphion, Strauss, ME Geithain, PMC etc. - but people only care about mass products like Klipsch, Monitor Audio, Dali, B&W (same story in England, USA or German RU-vid Channels), they dont want to hear anything else, even if its better (topics like room acoustics, DSP / Room Correction, Active, Subwoofer Use + DSP... No Videos from the big Hifi Channels). Its simply an different Market and thats why most Hifi RU-vid is so repetitive and not effective as an Guide for an way to get an successful, workin System at home
B&w in general has a bass lean, transparent and clean detailed sound, this is because bowers and Wilkins were right into classical music and that's why Abby road put the speakers in their classical music tracking room.
I love these audiophiles who can afford to have speakers three, four even FIVE feet from a wall, lol. Who can accommodate that who is not having a room dominated by SPEAKERS. I suggest you take them outside, there are NO room boundaries there and you can put them anywhere and they will always sound the same, lol! Or, perhaps, knock down your walls. Who needs a BACK WALL? Certainly not SPEAKERS! Or forget about speakers and get a super expensive set of headphones. Ah, but then you need a spectacularly high end HP amp. Maybe throw some tubes in there? I'm going to take one of my speakers, put it in the CENTER of my room and pull up a chair in front of it. Then remove everything else from the room and FORBID my wife from ever entering it. There you go. MONO a MONO. Me and ONE speaker. Middle of the room, me too. What MORE can you ask for-the room disappears and the speaker and you are ALL ALONE! The divorce papers are on their way, lol!
Well he is a fossil and probably can't hear high frequencies very well anymore. What i find dunny is we know for a fact that your hearing degrades rapidly when you get over a certain age, yet we listen to people way over that age review audio products and for some reason their opinion is more respected than younger people with way better hearing 🤔
@@crazyprayingmantis5596 What's real Funny is that I am sure the man you call a Fossil, is able to spell simple words much better than you. Pretty Dunny, huh? ;)
Nothing picks apart a recording like B&Ws. If only Led Zeppelin had a pair when they were recording, the drum tech would have oiled John Bonham's kick drum pedal.
Ever heard a ATC, Strauss, Genelec or Neumann ? They will show you details of the mix. B&W is and was never an Company, who build Studio Equipment with the highest Resolution. Just because Abbey Road use the 800s, doesnt mean that they are Precision Monitors, specially not the Consumer priced, Mass Products like the 600's or 700's. The all have a Sounding so most tracks sounding good on them
This is my experience with B&Ws as well. B&Ws are voiced to have a suppressed midrange, along with somewhat exaggerated highs. I think this is what Steve noticed when he described the speaker as "unengaging" at lower volumes.
I’ve wanted to buy them so many times. But every time I audition them I find something else I like better. Last go around it was LS50 meta. Mainly because it sounded better at low listening levels. One of these days I’ll get a set. Maybe 805/804? Gonna have to save my limited money though.
Hi, why do you only have the speaker cables in only two of the binding posts on the back of the speakers, I’m presuming the speakers are bi-wirable why do people not bi-wire if it’s available? Just learning.
With a 8 to 10 db peak over one octave wide at 10 Khz no wonder they have an edge to the sound. I listened to them for bout 30 seconds and had to leave the room. But then most B&W these days are overly bright and edgy.
No, he means listener fatigue was very fast because of their overly aggressive approach to voicing their tweeter. The words air and clarity don't exist when you have such a frequency response. Not hating on B&W or KEF but they both seem to have gone for an increased response which is soon found to be grating and just not musical at higher levels 🤔
The Stereophile frequency response graph shows no such peak - the tweeter is actually very flat within the AUDIBLE range. There is an ultra sonic resonance at 30K, which no human can hear, unless you’re part German Shepard.
@Cherubin "Stay in your lane"...I am, the lane with a system that doesn't rip my eyelids off with an overly bright response. My lane has lots of traffic with people who don't like them either. Not meant as an insult, just too bright on all kinds of pairings. Enjoy your "lane" or, more like it, a bright ditch beside the lanes 👍
@@bod140k THANK YOU! I wanted to converse with you! I purchased a pair of Contour 20s just after the 20i s came out. I purchased them new from a dealer at a SUPER Cash & Carry discount…. unlistened to. 😂 It was worth the risk! I LOVE these speakers. I am guessing that you love yours too! The way Steve describes these B&W speakers I imagine that they would make my ears bleed. I had a pair of Monitor Audio Silver 100 Speakers that 50% of the time made my ears bleed. It was like Russian Roulette! HORRIBLE! Never with my Contour 20s!!!
There's plenty of ways a speaker can have "clarity". B&W have tailored the sound to give the impression of clarity and air etc. But recent models I feel are harder on the ears in some ways, at least if the 606 was anything to go by
