Replacement for 802 D3s


Hey all,

After living with them for a few months, I'm looking to replace my B&W 802 D3s. While they offer great detail and soundstage, the sound is too bright and thin for our space. My room is fairly large (roughly 20'x30') and the speakers are on the long wall. The rest of the system includes...

Mac c2700 & MA 462
Aurender ACS100
VPI Prime Signature

The speakers I'm considering (and about to start auditioning) include...

KEF Blades
Paradigm Persona 9H
Wilson Audio Sasha DAW

I'm also considering Revel & Harbeth from a local dealer and am trying to find a dealer to demo Sonus Faber Amati Traditions and Il Cremonese.

I would be interested in any perspective from people who have owned any of these speakers and lived with them in their system for some time. Whatever we end up with has to not only sound great, but also look fantastic in a contemporary aesthetic.

Many thanks for any feedback...


beach2mtn
I have heard the 803d3 on mc601s and it was bright to me. Great demo but not a purchase for me (I have owned B&Ws in the past). 
I would look at the Sonus Faber the Largest Olympica Nova (5?) would actually be a little cheaper and a better speaker based on my demo of the Nova 3 and 803d3 demo (same shop different rooms gear....) The Serafino would be right in the price range and might be better. I have never heard it. 
The new Sonus Faber sound is neutral to me. Not rolled off at all with a little bloom in the upper bass. 
I don’t think you need the Sasha DAW unless you want the adjustable head. The Yvette would do the trick and save a lot of money. 
Video below comparing the Serafino to the wilsons. 

https://youtu.be/R5-BGiLmEHs

for what it is worth I have heard the 802D2 803d3 (bright, needed played loud to come alive), Kef blade (meh), Reference 3 (boring no dynamics), Revel Salons ultima 2 (lean for your room and buttoned down) and most of the wilson line. I personally would choose the yvettes as the best of the group and the sweet spot for the money in Wilson’s line. 

Not in the least surprised by your reaction to B&W.  Trust us, even if you like the Paradigm at the store, they'll be exiting your house faster than the B&W.

Good alternatives: Harbeth and Vienna Acoustics.  Seek out the Liszt or the Music if you can swing it.

Otherwise as stated, Sonus Faber, Joseph, Vandersteen.
I bought the persona 7f 5 months ago and drive them with a hegel h360. I think what impressed me most is that the bass is as transparent and fast as the rest of the system. Your list looks like a win, win, win. The Wilson being the biggest pita to dial in, but always sound amazing at shows. Have fun.
I’d highly suggest only looking at speakers with a cloth dome tweeter. Having auditioned a ton of speakers over the years, I’ve generally found myself much more drawn to them and tend to find metal dome tweeters too bright and harsh for my tastes. That includes every pair of B&W’s I’ve heard over the years, which I find to be particularly bombastic.

I ended up with Egglestonworks speakers which, to my ear, are incredibly well-balanced, image wonderfully, and are designed to be non-fatiguing for use by mastering engineers.

I’ve heard a few Revel and Harbeth speakers from your list; I don’t think the Revels will be what you’re looking for but you might like the Harbeths. I’d describe them as a bit of a magic trick - the ones I heard (can’t remember which, maybe the HL5s?) sounded absolutely huge compared to their tiny size and completely disappeared. I didn’t find them as musically engaging as the Egglestonworks that I directly compared them to though.