Wed night, not to be missed
BOWERS AND WILKENS PRESENTATION: B&W 800 D3 and B&W 805 D3
Convoy International is the Australian importer for what arguably is Britain’s most famous loudspeaker company: Bowers and Wilkins. For half a century B&W has been building speakers, and their latest 800 series represents a landmark in the company’s history. Specifically created to celebrate B&W’s 50th anniversary, the 800 series has been re-invented, from the cabinets through to the drive units, just about every component has been newly developed.
Two models will be demonstrated on the night, the 800 D3 and the 805 D3 as two different systems. The B&W 805 D3 will be first. This stand mounted speaker uses a 165mm bass/mid driver matched to B&W’s famous Diamond Tweeter, quite a step up in materials from cloth or base metals that are usually used to build tweeters. Powering these speakers will be NAD’s newest flagship integrated amplifier, the M32 from their ‘Masters’ series of hi-fi components. Speaking of flagships, the second system will feature B&W’s most distinctive looking model, the 800 D3.
This three way floorstander with its Nautilus tube, in which the tweeter is mounted, the ‘head’ containing the midrange driver, and the bass unit, are all entirely new. Gone is the yellow coloured Kevlar material now upgraded to a metallised finish on the midrange cone. Just as striking is the new head, reshaped to enhance its rigidity, it now sits on the shoulders of the bass cabinet. The most obvious change is the curved front to the bass cabinet, into which are fixed circular metal mounts for the two 12 inch bass drivers. To prevent cabinet vibrations and inhibit standing waves, a system B&W calls ‘Matrix” bracing has been optimised, while the back of the cabinet gets a finned alloy heatsink, -it’s not just there for looks.
The B&W 800 D3 deserves a flagship system to show off their abilities, from the stables of Convoy, a pair of CLASSE mono blocks will power the speakers. The CA-M600 amplifiers put out 600 watts each, plenty of headroom for the speakers and the size of our room. The matching CLASSE CP-800 II Preamplifier/Processor will complete the system.
With such a distinguished brand of high-end speaker and amplification at the MAC, the best seats in the house are going to fill up very quickly.
Nick Karayanis – Program Co-ordinator.
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