orokach wrote:

Hi everyone,
considering to buy B&W 804 D3 (have no budget for the 803),
my living room + kitchen is 40x25 ft (1000sqft)
looking for opinions weather room size is too big for those speakers?

Thanks!

You have a large listening room and normally for that room size you will need bigger speakers than the B&W 804 D3. I would look into a used second hand previous model of B&W 802 D2 or 803 D2. The used pair of previous model 802 D2 can be had for cheaper than a brand new pair of 804 D3 these days.

But if you want to stick with the new 804 D3, I would suggest you get a competent and high quality amplification for the 804 D3 in order to achieve desired level of dynamic headroom for your large room and the power needed to drive those B&W 804 D3 to the fullest and full potential of the B&W 804 D3 performance.
I would either get the Classe Sigma separates (Classe Sigma SSP preamp + Classe Sigma Amp2 power amp) or the Classe Sigma 2200i integrated amp, which is basically the stereo portion of the Sigma SSP + Sigma Amp2 put in a single chassis. Both the Classe Sigma 2200i integrated and the Sigma separates puts out 200 wpc into 8ohms and 400 wpc into 4ohms. They are very great sounding gears and will be an excellent choice for the B&W 804 D3.

For cheaper alternative, you can get the Rotel RC-1590 stereo preamp and Rotel RB-1582 MKii stereo power amp. The RB-1582 MKii puts out 200 wpc into 8ohms and 375 wpc into 4ohms. This is a class AB amplifier design whereas the Classe Sigma amps are class D design. The Rotel separates will also sound very good on the B&W 804 D3, not quite as resolving and revealing and refined as the Classe Sigma gears but the Rotel separates would also be a good choice for the B&W 804 D3.

For your amplifier, I suggest that you consider the Musical Fidelity M6si, which is a wonderful-sounding integrated amp with tons of power and a very attractive price of only $3000.

orokach wrote:

Hi Caphill and thanks a lot for your insights!
i will indeed try to follow your guidelines and see if i can find 2nd hand larger speakers, such as suggested.
another point: is there a reason why you prefer the Rotel separated than the integrated ra-1592? which according to Rotel is 2-in-1 package deal?

For B&W 800 series Diamond speakers (805,804,803,802,800) I would get Classe electronics....that would be my first choice. If you go with the 804 D3 I would just get the Classe Sigma Amp2 power amp with either Classe Sigma SSP preamp processor or a used Classe CP-800 stereo preamp/DAC. The CP-800 has been discontinued last year and you should be able to find a used one on Audiogon, etc for around $3500 or so. Its original msrp was $6k. This CP-800 preamp sometimes popped up on Audiogon.
Or you can also get the Sigma 2200i stereo integrated amp.
And for cheaper alternatives you can get the Musical Fidelity M6Si integrated amp or the Rotel RA-1592 integrated or Rotel separates (RC-1590 preamp + RB-1582 MKii power amp). The Rotel separates would be better choice than the RA-1592 integrated since the preamp and the amp are in separate chassis and each has own power supply, etc. Less crosstalks and better separations.

If you go with a used 802 D2 or 803 D2 I would look into a used Classe CAM-300 monoblock amps or CA-2300 stereo amp with the CP-800 stereo preamp. Again those CAM-300 and CA-2300 amps have been discontinued last year and from time to time I saw them (used) offered for sale on Audiogon. The CAM-300 monoblock amps would be ideal to pair with the 802 D2 or D3.

orokach wrote:

Hi and thanks for your suggestion,
i did go to the Audio shop once more, and since the 803 are out of budget, he offered the Monitor Audio PL300 II,
and when my hair got stiffen, I suddenly understood what i was missing...and once you go black.....
I figured that there is no alternative to size, no matter how much technology the 804 d3 has, they are not in the same league.

i have opened a new thread:
https://www.stereophile.com/content/monitor-audio-pl300-ii-vs-elac-507-jet-general-comparision-speaker-cabinet-geometryetc

Thanks for all the help!!

But the Monitor Audio PL300 ii retails for $15k/pair and the new B&W 803 D3 retails for $17k/pair. For only $2k more I would probably go for the B&W 803 D3 if I were you. But I never heard the MA PL300 ii so I can't really comment.

orokach wrote:

Thanks strage...
in europe MA PL300II : https://pricespy.co.uk/product.php?p=3451029
11398$
but B&W prices are higher than u.s.

And IMO ALL B & W speakers are grossly overpriced compared to the competetion.

On the other hand, the Focal Aria 948 speakers are IMO MUCH better-sounding than the B & W speakers, and in the USA they sell for around $6000 per pair.

Since Focal is a French company, I would think that prices in Europe would be good.