B&W Loudspeakers - Tribute to John Bowers

jadis

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Apr 28, 2010
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I used to own 2 big B&W loudspeakers (and 2 more small ones) and enjoyed them immensely during their times with me.

Here is a blog in which the hallmark is a 2-part recording that pays tribute to John Bowers by his close friend Peter King of BBC. The recording is very informative and contains beautiful music as well. I enjoyed every minute of it.

http://blog.bowers-wilkins.com/sound-lab/john-bowers-–-a-recorded-tribute/
 
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JackD201

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I started out with budget B&Ws. 302,601,604, CDM1,CDM2. I aspired for the 801 Matrix and remember seeing a local article with 800s in it. Years later I learned they were yours Indiana J! ;)

I'll always have a warm spot in my heart for the Brit sound. I also still have my Tribute to John Bowers CD.
 

jadis

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I started out with budget B&Ws. 302,601,604, CDM1,CDM2. I aspired for the 801 Matrix and remember seeing a local article with 800s in it. Years later I learned they were yours Indiana J! ;)

I'll always have a warm spot in my heart for the Brit sound. I also still have my Tribute to John Bowers CD.

Cool, Jack. Btw, that B&W CD always sound sublime on B&W speakers, small wonder. I tried it on an IRS and a Genesis 1 system and the magic was not there. Horses for courses, Jack? ;)
 

JackD201

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Same goes for almost all my favorite DG LPs too! A tad dry but not on B&Ws. :) Yee haw! Okay I'm behind on the Pony Express. Oops!
 

karma

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Jun 17, 2011
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HI Steve,
Personally, I would like to see a B&W forum. My HT system is entirely made up of B&W 800 series speakers powered by Krell. I like the English sound and especially the B&W tweeters.

I think B&W is one of those companies that successfully bridge the gap between affordable speakers all the way up to true high end. This makes them interesting.

Sparky
 

microstrip

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My first B&W speakers were the Matrix3, followed by the B&W802 and later a B&W801. The 801 were my first serious DIY upgrade victim - I rebuilt the crossover wit better quality capacitors, eliminating as much bipolar electrolytic as possible. Unhappily I soon discovered that the B&W 801 needed a room much larger than mine and it was a bad move from the 802's. After a long time with ESL63 I owned the first pair of B&W Silver signature SS25 (serial 001 and 002) to leave the factory, that I still regret having sold, and only some years ago I managed to get a mint pair from Germany that is now part of my collection.

As Phil referred, listening to the tracks of the "A Tribute To John Bowers" CD using the B&W SS25 is an unique experience - the drunk Placido Domingo of "The Fledermaus" seems holographic!
 

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jadis

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Steve,

+1 for a dedicated thread on B&W. I still own a DM 302 for my HT and are times I use it to play CDs in my bedroom. My heart also has a soft spot for B&W speakers as I had used the Matrix 3, the 801 Matrix S3 and the 800 Matrix. The dealer here also gave me a poster which still hangs in my listening room today. :)



A picture from the 90s when I still had the 800s driven by Jadis JA 200s.

 

jadis

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Phil

why do your 800's look different than the ones I know

Steve,

These were the 800 Matrix that came out after the 801 Series 3, vintage mid 90s. The present ones are the 800Ds, D for diamond, I think, and they are the size of the old 801s but with a very modern sculpture.
 

jadis

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Phil

with that explanation and knowledge I AM going to start the dedicated forum

Give me 10 minutes.

Once done perhaps this thread can be moved to the new forum

Great, Steve.
 

microstrip

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jadis

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