rbalagopalan
Well-Known Member
I have started my Audio Journey way back in 1994 and from then on the upgrades and changes and brands were haunting me. The last non B&W high end Speaker package I had was Jamo D7 series. By now I had learnt a hard lesson that whoever in Audio Hobby should settle and consolidate in the Speakers first as they are the ones which does not undergo big technical/format changes like Receivers and Processors. So I decided to go with B&Ws.
First I started off with 300 series in B&Ws package. I owned all the models in 300 as my Home Theatre set up.
Then upgraded to 600 series in this also I owned all models excepting 604 S3. I need to mention one thing here, the 603S3 was highly musical with clean clear rounded bass and was jellying with almost any integrated I threw at it.
In the meanwhile I got my hands on CDM 7NT, CDM CNT, CDM 1NT then ASW 675 sub. I got two packages of the same one in Natural Veneer and another one in Black ASH. In this the CDM 7NT and CDM 1NT were great performers. These were real upgrades from 600 series.
This CDM series was then 700 series later became CM series and this CM series is the one which I hate the most in the B&Ws line. I briefly had CM9 and gave it off with in a week. Actually 700 series was discontinued by B&W only because the price difference between 800 and 700 was marginal and hence customers were either buying 600 or 800 so 700 has become slow runner. Having launched a product with a price tag B&W could not reduce the pricing so they launched it as CDM series with a decent price gap.
I changed (NOTE: not upgraded) to Full 680 series. ie 683, 684,685,686 I had everything imported from Dubai before even it was launched in India. This was a big mistake these were no where near to CDM series.
683 was too boomy in the same set up and I had tough time in pairing them with suitable amp combinations and ended up spending a lot on Amp correction.
Having auditioned 68series S1 I just wanted to get the feel of 68series S2 versions so just bought 685S2 and I should admit that lot of refinement has under gone in the S2 versions and this was sounding lot better than 685 S1.
Here comes the high light while getting 683 I had also bought Nautilus 804. My god it was a phenomenal upgrade and the difference in performance was from sky to deep sea. Though the driver complement was almost similar to CDM series still this is all together a different league.
Then I started building the chain of 800 Series so I imported HTM3S for my center, SCM1 for my surround and one more SCM1 for Surround Back. The whole set up has become lively and no words to describe that too after started to drive them with Anthem Receivers and Anthem Processor and ATI power combo.
In the mean while I had purchased B&W 801 Matrix S3 from Manav Malvai for my Stereo set up. This is one of the best B&Ws I heard so far and this was paired with Accuphase E303X and The deadliest combo mesmerising. Our forum Friend Clearcut was wanting this from me but for him I would not have given this combo to anybody.
Briefly I changed to 805N book shelves with Symphonic line and this combo was blowing the synergy out of proportions.
I had a luck favouring me. I had a call from our forum member Rajeev one day that one of his friend is moving away and wanted to sell some B&W speaker he said. I called his friend he said its 802 Nautilus. thats it I took my car and was in his place the same day and picked 802 Nautilus. Which I still own.
By now it has become that almost any B&W movement in India the news started flowing to me either the seller wanted to know the best price or the Buyer called me to have my opinion on the lowest possible price that he can offer.
This way I had an info of 803D with box packing is available for sale along with HTM3S and 805S so I rushed to this place and bought the package. Retained the 803D with me and sold my 804N along with HTM3S and 805S to our forum friend.
Here I have to say one valid point. In any HT setup all the speakers will be configured as SMALL only, that too by ANTHEMs ARC1 room correction I thought the size of the speaker will not add any change in sound performance, but to my surprise the upgrade from 804 to 803 taught me a lesson that though both are configured as small and the frequency band width being the same but then the body that the sound gets with in that frequency band width is phenomenal and one should hear it to believe it. In fact I tried my 802N in HT set up it was a great addition in that chain. But then it would be brutal on my part to kill them in a HT set up.
With the same connections I had got 802D2 in Mint condition and the sound signature when compared to my 802N was a sure shot improvement especially with smooth and far more controlled bass. Being D2 If I dont say about its Tweeters performance then there is no point. The highs were neither bright nor grainy it was excellent and non fatiguing even after hours of listening.
Owing to the fact by now I have got in to full Tube set up and Altec building I had to let go this rare gem 802D2. So this was given to the same forum friend who bought my earlier 804N.
This is how I have become Balagopalan to B&WBalagopalan.
Still the search and Journey continues on B&Ws.
Thanks for Reading such a long post patiently.
R. Balagopalan
First I started off with 300 series in B&Ws package. I owned all the models in 300 as my Home Theatre set up.
Then upgraded to 600 series in this also I owned all models excepting 604 S3. I need to mention one thing here, the 603S3 was highly musical with clean clear rounded bass and was jellying with almost any integrated I threw at it.
In the meanwhile I got my hands on CDM 7NT, CDM CNT, CDM 1NT then ASW 675 sub. I got two packages of the same one in Natural Veneer and another one in Black ASH. In this the CDM 7NT and CDM 1NT were great performers. These were real upgrades from 600 series.
This CDM series was then 700 series later became CM series and this CM series is the one which I hate the most in the B&Ws line. I briefly had CM9 and gave it off with in a week. Actually 700 series was discontinued by B&W only because the price difference between 800 and 700 was marginal and hence customers were either buying 600 or 800 so 700 has become slow runner. Having launched a product with a price tag B&W could not reduce the pricing so they launched it as CDM series with a decent price gap.
I changed (NOTE: not upgraded) to Full 680 series. ie 683, 684,685,686 I had everything imported from Dubai before even it was launched in India. This was a big mistake these were no where near to CDM series.
683 was too boomy in the same set up and I had tough time in pairing them with suitable amp combinations and ended up spending a lot on Amp correction.
Having auditioned 68series S1 I just wanted to get the feel of 68series S2 versions so just bought 685S2 and I should admit that lot of refinement has under gone in the S2 versions and this was sounding lot better than 685 S1.
Here comes the high light while getting 683 I had also bought Nautilus 804. My god it was a phenomenal upgrade and the difference in performance was from sky to deep sea. Though the driver complement was almost similar to CDM series still this is all together a different league.
Then I started building the chain of 800 Series so I imported HTM3S for my center, SCM1 for my surround and one more SCM1 for Surround Back. The whole set up has become lively and no words to describe that too after started to drive them with Anthem Receivers and Anthem Processor and ATI power combo.
In the mean while I had purchased B&W 801 Matrix S3 from Manav Malvai for my Stereo set up. This is one of the best B&Ws I heard so far and this was paired with Accuphase E303X and The deadliest combo mesmerising. Our forum Friend Clearcut was wanting this from me but for him I would not have given this combo to anybody.
Briefly I changed to 805N book shelves with Symphonic line and this combo was blowing the synergy out of proportions.
I had a luck favouring me. I had a call from our forum member Rajeev one day that one of his friend is moving away and wanted to sell some B&W speaker he said. I called his friend he said its 802 Nautilus. thats it I took my car and was in his place the same day and picked 802 Nautilus. Which I still own.
By now it has become that almost any B&W movement in India the news started flowing to me either the seller wanted to know the best price or the Buyer called me to have my opinion on the lowest possible price that he can offer.
This way I had an info of 803D with box packing is available for sale along with HTM3S and 805S so I rushed to this place and bought the package. Retained the 803D with me and sold my 804N along with HTM3S and 805S to our forum friend.
Here I have to say one valid point. In any HT setup all the speakers will be configured as SMALL only, that too by ANTHEMs ARC1 room correction I thought the size of the speaker will not add any change in sound performance, but to my surprise the upgrade from 804 to 803 taught me a lesson that though both are configured as small and the frequency band width being the same but then the body that the sound gets with in that frequency band width is phenomenal and one should hear it to believe it. In fact I tried my 802N in HT set up it was a great addition in that chain. But then it would be brutal on my part to kill them in a HT set up.
With the same connections I had got 802D2 in Mint condition and the sound signature when compared to my 802N was a sure shot improvement especially with smooth and far more controlled bass. Being D2 If I dont say about its Tweeters performance then there is no point. The highs were neither bright nor grainy it was excellent and non fatiguing even after hours of listening.
Owing to the fact by now I have got in to full Tube set up and Altec building I had to let go this rare gem 802D2. So this was given to the same forum friend who bought my earlier 804N.
This is how I have become Balagopalan to B&WBalagopalan.
Still the search and Journey continues on B&Ws.
Thanks for Reading such a long post patiently.
R. Balagopalan
cheers..
