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Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: B&W 804S Speakers by mark_nz

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REVIEW: B&W 804S Speakers

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Model: 804S
Category: Speakers
Suggested Retail Price: $4000USD
Description: Floorstand Loudspeaker
Manufacturer URL: B&W
Model Picture: View

Review by mark_nz ( A ) on April 14, 2007 at 22:33:11
IP Address: 125.239.192.194
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for the 804S


I have owned the B&W804S for almost a year.

The 804S is the baby floorstander in the 800 series with following features: Tube loaded aluminium dome tweeter, kevlar FST midrange driver, Two 165mm (6.5 in) diameter Rohacell® cone bass drivers. Matrix-braced cabinet.

The speakers look fabulous in the Rosenut wood veneer finish, and their compact rounded cabinents are as unobtrusive as a floorstander can be.

As a reference, I have owned the following loudspeakers: B&W CDM1, B&W CDM 2SE, Jamo D830 (Concert 8) and Jamo D870 (Concert 11). Currently the Jamo D870 and D830 are used for the home theatre system.

It was with some trepidation that I bought the 804S due to my concerns about the potential brightness of the treble from the older 800 range and controvesy re the FST midrange. But both concerns were unfounded, the treble is very precise and clear without any spurious edge while the midrange is smooth and open.

Imaging is precise, stable, and in comparison to the other loudspeakers I owned, unique in allowing the decay of high frequency sounds to be followed easily into the music's background ambient noise.

The midrange is smooth, non-fatiguing and open, if slightly laid back - it doesn't draw attention to itself. I am not sure if this is the most transparent midrange around, but fortunately doesn't have any obvious vices.

The bass is accurate, with good articulation of the mid-bass and superb integration with the mid-range. Unfortunately it lacks impact, and doesn't go particularly deep, but I guess that is why the 803S and 803D models exist.

I have used the excellent Jamo D830 as my reference to which all loudspeakers are compared. Surprisingly the 804S doesn't go any deeper than the 2-way D830 bookshelf loudspeaker (which does have exceptional bass for a bookshelf), but in every other respect the 804S is better.

In comparison to the D870, the 804S sounds a little bit cleaner, but lacks bass authority compared to the D870. On the otherhand the bass is faster than the D870, and better integrated with midrange.

The 804S sounds well balanced at both low late night listening and loud party levels.

If you desire deep and big bass, look elsewhere, otherwise recommended.


Product Weakness: Bass is bit muted and doesn't go particularly deep.
Product Strengths: Looks, build quality, clean treble, clear midrange, coherent, imaging


Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: 2 x Marantz PM15S1 bi-amp
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): None
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Marantz SA14v2 & Sony CDPXA555ES (modded)
Speakers: B&W804S
Cables/Interconnects: Kimber
Music Used (Genre/Selections): All types, especially pop and jazz
Room Size (LxWxH): 12m x 4m x 2.4m
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Monster Power Conditioner
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner




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Topic - REVIEW: B&W 804S Speakers - mark_nz 22:33:11 04/14/07 ( 16)