B&W 804 D3 Speakers (Piano Black)

The 804 D3 lacks the cool combination of integral casters and spikes found on the more-expensive 802 D3 and 803 D3; they allow you to roll the speaker into position then lower the spikes to secure it. However, at 73 pounds, the 804 D3 is pretty easy to move around. Standard threaded sockets are provided for the included spikes or rubbery feet. Buyers of the 804 D3 can take some solace in the fact that their speakers cost roughly half as much as the step-up model, the 803 D3: $9,000 per pair for the 804 D3 versus $17,000 per pair for the 803 D3.

I expect most 804 D3s will find use in two-channel systems; however, if you want to create an 800 Series home theater, you can add one of two center speakers (the $6,000 HTMI1 D3 or the $4,000 HTM2 D3), plus maybe two or four of the $6,000/pair 805 D5 as surround speakers.

The Hookup
I used the 804 D3 towers with a Classé Audio CA-2300 amp and CP-800 preamp/DAC, in addition to my Music Hall Ikura turntable and NAD PP-3 phono preamp. Connections were made using Wireworld Eclipse 7 speaker and interconnect cables. For level-matched comparisons with other speakers, I used my Audio by Van Alstine AVA ABX switcher.

The 804 D3 is as easy to set up as a typical inexpensive tower speaker. It’s fully assembled right out of the box; all you have to do is add your choice of spikes or rubbery feet and connect the included jumper cables between the two sets of binding posts on each speaker (unless you intend to biwire or biamp then, in which case you don’t need the jumpers).

Setup on these speakers isn’t fussy at all. The tonal balance seemed just right with the speakers in the position I typically use for tower speakers: pointed straight at my listening chair, spaced about eight feet apart at a distance of 10 feet from my chair. Each speaker’s front baffle was 36 inches from the wall behind the speakers.

B&W includes foam plugs that can be used to tune the ports, reducing bass response in situations where it might be overwhelming, such as a small room or when you’re forced to place the speakers near a wall. Neither of those situations applied in my case.

The 804 D3s got lots of use during the review period–in part because I simply enjoyed listening to them, and in part because their stay coincided with a five-day visit from my friend Gordon Sauck, founder and proprietor of Innovative Audio, a huge vintage audio store in Vancouver, BC. During Gordon’s visit, we spent hours listening to vinyl records we’d picked up at Los Angeles’ many used record stores, as well as action movies from my collection of Blu-ray discs.

Performance
If I seemed too reverent in my introduction, trust me, I’m not. I have heard a lot of 800 Series speakers and other B&Ws, in many different environments. Many of those experiences have thrilled me, but a few have left me disappointed, so I came into this review with no particular expectations.

By the time I’d finished the setup of the 804 D3s, I knew I’d like them a lot. Right off the bat, they sounded dynamic and engaging. Even with the system cranked up, I could hear no distortion or signs of distress, and nothing that sounded like an obvious tonal coloration. I started throwing on more records and was happy with the result every time; the speakers didn’t obscure the flaws in the sub-standard records I played, but they didn’t seem to highlight the flaws, either.

I was fortunate to have a pristine, barely played old copy of Stanley Turrentine’s 1966 LP Rough ‘N’ Tumble on loan from a friend when I was doing this review. Just as Turrentine could tell stories in his solos, the first cut, “And Satisfy,” nicely tells the story of the 804 D3. Turrentine’s tenor sax sounded exceptionally intimate and involving through the 804 D3, somehow more focused and realistic–more “in the room with me”–than I’m used to hearing. Everything in the mix just seemed to be a little more “there.” Cymbals stood out very clearly without seeming boosted or bright. Bob Cranshaw’s bass had great pitch definition while also exhibiting a fat, satisfying groove.

Comparison and Competition
I can’t think of a modestly sized tower speaker that I’d prefer to the 804 D3. That said, most towers of comparable configuration cost far less. As I stated above, a very well-engineered cones’n’domes tower speaker like the Revel Performa3 F206 (or the larger F208) may sound somewhat more open, and at $3,500/pair and $5,000/pair, respectively, they’re much more affordable. However, in my experience, neither sounds as comfortable at high volumes as the 804 D3.

Another competitor at a lower price would be the $5,798/pair Thiel TT1, which more or less equals the 804 D3’s fit, finish, and drive complement but lacks the 804 D3’s top-end sparkle and life.

You could also buy a nice big pair of panel speakers for a little less money, including the $5,995/pair Magnepan 3.7i (plus a thousand or two more for a couple of subwoofers) and the $6,995/pair MartinLogan Ethos. They won’t likely match the 804 D3’s dynamics, but they’ll sound a lot more spacious. If that’s the sound you’re looking for, though, you probably aren’t considering the 804 D3. (By the way, I strongly recommend every audiophile own a pair of panel speakers at least for a while. Personally, I’ve never wanted to settle down long-term with a pair of them, but that’s a matter of taste, and you can’t make that decision without long-term exposure to that sound.)

Conclusion
I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent with B&W’s 804 D3s. From a performance standpoint, I can’t really criticize them. Sure, I can detect a few subtle flaws, but I’ll happily tolerate them for all the many wonderful sonic qualities this speaker exudes. If there is one major downside to this speaker, it’s one my friend Gordon Sauck captured well with nothing more than a facial expression. “These are really nice,” he said after a couple hours of listening. “How much are they?” When I replied “Nine thousand a pair,” his jaw dropped. Yep, the 804 D3s sound great and have an impressive fit and finish, but $9,000 per pair is a lot to pay for a relatively small tower speaker. That being said, I would be very surprised if anyone who can afford that price is disappointed by the result.