February 27, 2008

  • B&W 805S, Part 6

    Can you believe it's been 10 years since *N Sync hit the market?  Everybody bought the album, and each kid had it.

    In high end audio, when you have a product from the "big brands," such as B&W, Krell, and Thiel, you simply do not feel exclusive or special.  It's kind of like having the *N Sync CD; everybody has it.  In 1998, while shopping for speakers, I certainly felt that way towards B&W.  I went with the ProAc Response One SC over the ubiquitous B&W Nautilus 805.  Either one would have been fine.  But with the ProAc, I felt as if I weren't a sheep.

    "Ooh, ooh, ooh," says Aiden, as he slams down his AKG K701 headphones, "Lemme help you."

    Aiden doesn't know about brand names.  All he knows is, the B&W 805S has been burned in on the small system, and is now ready to be set up in the medium-sized room.  Not only have the speakers seen playing time, but the included B&W jumpers are off the Cable Cooker.

    Aiden wrestles with the Nordost Odin on the other side:

    Whereas the 805S was initially used with the Sonus Faber Stand Fixed, it is now on the all-black Franklin & Lowell stand.

    And finally, Aiden inserts the Odin into the second speaker:

    Somewhat surprising to me, the 805S has the same even tonal balance as it did in the smaller room.  The room, system, and stands are different, yet, the 805S still sounds remarkably even, calm, and grain-free.