A B&W speaker you have never heard about. The Matrix 800. Mike's room tour.
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- Опубліковано 17 лис 2022
- #hifi #speakers #audiophile #stereo #audioreviews #B&W
Gear used or mentioned in this video
Source/streamer: iFi Zen streamer
DAC: Musical Fidelity Tri-Vista 21 (tube dac)
Pre-amp: SuprakTek Chardonnay (tube pre)
Filter: Krell 800 B&W Bass Alignment Filter
Power amp: Pass Labs X350.5
Monitor audio PL500 speakers
Galion TS120 SE tube integrated amp
For the sound demo, go to my Galion channel : ua-cam.com/video/jvst-66-mq8/v-deo.html
OLD but Gold what a Beauty, a treasure
That rug really tied the room together.
THOMAS,🤗GREAT TO SEE THE SYSTEMS OF YOUR FRIENDS AND THANK MIKE FOR SHARING THIS WITH US 😎💚💚💚
Our pleasure!
Back when B&W was actually great! 👍
like a lot of audio salesman and custom guys over the years, I sold B&W products at various times. Some good pieces in their line, some just OK. I never got a chance to ever hear these, and thats a shame. I believe Thomas' assessment. Sometimes a design just works! The Stereophile review from the 90's gave it Class A full range, and nothing but positives. Great to see they're still floating around.
Nice to see the Supratek Chardonnay there.
I remember these. Nice stuff.
thank you so much for your reply
Pass labs CONTINUES to surprise me AT EVERY learning stage
Legendary.
Nelson is, and always has been an amazing designer. Just think of all of the legendary designs he has been a part of throughout all of the products and companies he has been involved with. All the way back to Threshold and GFA!
What a system 😍😍
Underwood HiFi had a bass booster like that B$W with the Krell case. Equalizer that allows your speakers to play 10db Lower. That was the claim. Enjoyed it as usual Thomas.
The binding posts work in a unique way, the best that I came upon back in 1991.
That is one crazy good speaker you could call it an end gamer
Oh yes, very hard to beat.
These B&Ws are essentially the hifi version of the 808 monitor ... iirc, same driver complement, but with a narrow baffle face ... in an 80's Avant Garde form factor.
I wanted the 808 monitors so bad ... I was traveling the country making two channel stereo recordings of steam locomotives ... for editing/mastering, I really wanted/needed high dB monitoring capabilities at that time.
Nice mancave!❤
I have to say Thomas, out of all the audio reviewers I watch you're the one I enjoy most. Some are more technologically savvy than you and some probably have better ears but the difference is you have fun! You have a bunch of friends with completely different tastes and you get to swap equipment to test, that's just great. It should be enjoyable regardless what type of music we like or what kind of sound because in the end it's a hobby and a hobby is something we should savor, get excited about, look forward to and have tons of fun at. I wish you were 400 miles south, I'd love to be sharing with your group!
Thanks a lot! Yes the hobby is supposed to be fun.
I love his "mister" friends, reminiscent of Reservoir Dogs.
Thomas a friend of mine just got some all-new Dynaudio Focus 50 Active Wireless speakers and they are by far the best we have ever heard period ! OMG We have never heard Sound Quality like this from a home stereo system at any price ! OMG Bargain of our lifetime ! OMG Only $11K A Pair USA !
Nope! The tweeter is totally different.
I have owned the B&W 801 Matrix Series 3 for 29 years. Still sound great ($5500 in 1993). I have yet to hear another speaker that reproduces classical piano as good as these speakers.
I’m still running my 1997 vintage Matrix 805s. The factory graphs show a response of +/- 1.75 dB! Amazingly transparent and neutral speakers that, although small, throw out a massive soundstage.
@@ChicagoRob2 yes the puny matrix 805 can throw a massive stage provided u feed them with adequate power.
@@ganck1147 I’m running them with a Yamaha A-S1200, which does a good job in delivering clean power. I have an audio buddy running his 805s with a Bryston 4B ST, which is a real beast.. It’s never ceases to amaze me how incredible B&Ws are, when it comes to power-handling.
@@ChicagoRob2 i recall hearing them driven by a Halfler pre/power combo delivering 400wpc or more & even in a huge room, the matrix 805 delivered a huge soundstage in width, depth & height. The current B&Ws too will deliver a huge soundstage provided u drive them with ample high quality power. Alot of people don’t understand this & are always quick to judge B&Ws as sounding constricted & ponderous. Feed them with serious power & crank them up high & see how massive, open & transparent they can sound. They need to be cranked up appropriately.
@@ganck1147 Agree 100%. They like good, clean power.
Hey, you should definitely start giving people a listen to these speakers. It would really add a touch to your videos. Just saw your channel from a new pair of eyes, you're welcome.
Thanks for the suggestion. I did record a short sound demo, I mentioned it at the beginning and end of the video as well as in the first comment. I usually try to record a sound demo. ua-cam.com/video/jvst-66-mq8/v-deo.html
I used to have their original 805 silver signatures from the 80s. They were around 7,000usd back then. I cant help thinking that B&W have only gone backwards since 2000
Yeah, the older B&W does have that warmth I find which is lacking in modern B&W.
@@ThomasAndStereo Agree 100%, Thomas. The B&Ws from the 80s and 90s had an even tonal balance. The latest offerings tend to be noticeably brighter.
Love the vintage couches looks like a comfy room to relax and listen
and a bar too in that room...perfect.
I want a pair of these.
I saw them debut at Chicago ces in 1990
wow never seen those before
Still have B&W Matrix 3 speakers since 1987. These were the forerunners to the famous 800 series line.
Wow, they must be good for you to keep them for so long.
WoW
good good good
Many many thanks
Incredible! Certainly worth a listen or two or three, lol!
Hard to believe that is B&W-a company whose sound I don't much care for, although many swear by it. Too edgy for me. But, THIS looks like an entirely different beast and with that tube pre-amp, probably more in my wheelhouse? Also, you can't go wrong with Mr. Pass! But they are pricey.
Yeah, they don't sound like modern B&W.
Bought these speakers back in 1991.
No way! Did you like them?
@@ThomasAndStereo Yes unfortunately digital still sucked back then but vinyl was great.
In 92 while stationed in Japan I purchased 2 pairs of B&W Maxtrix 3 series 2's. I know it's not what we're talking about. Just throwing my 2 cents.
I’ve had the Matrix 800s now for about 10 years and I would never ever sell them. The best speakers I’ve ever heard.
Always... vintage FTW.
The best toys one could ask for!
Don't forget the bar.
There’s a set of these setup at a record store in Ottawa.
Haven’t seen those speakers in years. And I don’t know where i saw them. In magazine I’m sure
Thomas,yah! insane ~ catch you later, 🖐
🖐
I have no doubt that these B&W are some of the best there is But they are difficult to place and hide. Many say my Oskar Kithara are awful but I find them beautiful in comparison...
Taste is personal, I agree 😋
It does have a unique look.
HI thomas what do you think focal sopra 1 or kanta 2 im using luxman 550mkll ,Im not against selling amp to power Canton k7 love your channel and im really looking at your gallion amp thanks so much Joe
I personally would get the Kanta 2 and add a sub, end game, done.
Did I see the boxes for pl500ii in the back ? 😁 I have them and love them so kinda wondering how these b&w compare 😁
5:10
@@RennieAsh what about that timestamp ? Not sure what about him showing the bar has anything to do with my comment 🙂
Yes, it will be in another video with Adam instead of Mike. Mike bought the PL500 but Adam will talk about them in another video. The B&W feels warmer while PL500 is more 'neutral' I guess. Only they can tell you the real difference, I only had limited time with them.
@@hliddi if you listened, he said they'll go and check them out later, suggesting that there could be video or at least they'll be able to give you the info you're after
I make new crossovers for these B&W 800 and other B&W models.
Those speakers look like they are playing a game of Tetris
Haha, that thought did cross my mind.
🤔THOMAS,DO I SEE A YAMAHA DSP-A1 ,in his home theater 😁
I don't think so, maybe?
I saw it too! I have the same amp from back then. Thing is a beast.
The Matrix series were a fantastic line of speakers. Then they came out with Nautilus I and hated it immediately, spit in your face treble. About ten years later I thought maybe I was unfair and they weren't properly burnt in. Turned out my original assessment was correct. The Nautilus look nice, I guess
This seems to be the trend, super bright treble.
@@ThomasAndStereo Back in the 90's to early 2000's , no. But later stuff, definitely so , yes. In fact B&W used to be more of that typical British warmer and smoother rather than more analytical and bright. Just thoughts
Not manufactured in 1993 as stated by owner.
When was it made? Maybe the one he had was?
@@ThomasAndStereo Maybe you're right. I took his words to mean when the speaker was originally released.
What is the Preamp?
In the description.
What was the name of his preamp please???
In the description. Pre-amp: SuprakTek Chardonnay (tube pre)
@@ThomasAndStereo Thanks Thomas 🙏
There are many many vintage pieces that would perform to 70-90% of modern day equivalents. Speaker technology has not drastically changed regardless of what salesman say except for a few examples..
It is a question of taste and perceived value/performance to the buyer/owner.
This gentleman is content with his investment and enjoys the music. The merry go round of HIFI upgrades can leave one discontented, always seeking more. There are so many variables to each system and it’s room plus the power grid/ supply to your home one has to stop and rethink the basics.
Thomas, you need to keep the mic near you
Agree
@@ThomasAndStereo I did enjoy the review quite a bit. Love to see those archaic speakers. I have a pair of 1981 ADS 1230s. They just broke down. Sad to see them go. But time to move on! Auditioning tribe towers that Jay likes quite a bit. What a difference in size!
The B&W 800 Matrix occasionally pops up on the used market but at a heavy discount, around $10K, because they are stone cold ugly. High on the WHF. (Wife Hating Factor!) Or, to be less sexist, high on the ARF (like a dog or the Audiophile Reluctance Factor!)
The problem is I think it needs to be refoam too.
@@ThomasAndStereo No, Thomas all the drivers have rubber surrounds.
He should spend some money on a new couch. That looks like the one I gave away after university back in 1982! Lol
Y’all never said the brand of his preamp and separate power supply.
Hey Doug, it is in the description.
@@ThomasAndStereo thanks :)
Haven’t seen those B&W’s in years , but I remember seeing them on magazine covers back in the day. Wow
Can never believe that anyone who is an audiophile at this level with this much dedicated space has not discovered tgat vinyl crushes any digital in the most humiliating fashion. It's like having a ferrari and running it on the cheapest gas you can find using the cheapest tires you can find. It's so wrong. I note the $400 streamer 🤯
Maybe you like it, but for others, the digital format is better. Plus, there so much music out there that doesn't come on vinyl. I sure won't limit my music just because some random person thinks the vintage format is "crushingly better" lol
Thank you for a fun review, BUT please go and buy a decent microphone, it's peanuts cost compared to all the hi-fi you patiently review........ 😊
I bought 2 mics and one ran out of battery :( So that is why Mike sounded great but not me.
trust fund baby?
Yikes!
Wife hell no lol
Based on the looks alone I will never buy such an ugly thing regardless how good they sound 😂😂😂
I love how they look and everyone of my friends were envious of me and loved the look as well. Mine were in black satin finish.
At the end a bookshelf speaker with two subs…
Only downside is bookshelf will not have the same scale.
Not even close. How many subs operate at 380Hz? They're two woofers like in every other 3 way speaker. With your logic everything 3 way is a 2 way with a sub.