Exceptional bass response, good overall balance when associated components are carefully chosen.

Best sound is with tubes, especially when used for cd playback.

Although an excellent speaker overall, these can be too bright and can sound terrible if used with the wrong associated equipment. If you can put up with the hassle of tubes, the Matrix 804's can sound incredibly good. They can also sound very good with carefully selected transistor equipment, but mixing and matching for best results can be very time consuming. If using a cd player as the front end, this is even more crucial. The time spent choosing the right associated eqipment can be very rewarding if you hit the right combination. The bass response of these speakers is astounding, and appears to go much lower than claimed by the manufacturer. This is amazing considering the small size of the bass drivers. I recomend using without the equalizer that was offered as an option.

Similar Products Used:

Rogers LS3/5A, Meridian 206, Forte Model 4, Audio Research LS3, Linn Classik

Sounds wonderful with good front-end components

Pricey when bought new

I am resubmitting this review since I can't alter the one I submitted below in Jan' 98.

I've owned the 804's for nearly two years now. About a year ago, I radically upgraded my front-end from a cheap, low-quality Technics integreated amplifier to the high-quality Proceed AVP processor and a Bryston 9BST amp. I also biwired the speakers. I use a Toshiba 3109 DVD player as my source.

The improvement in sound is astonishing. I've come to agree with folks who say that the signal path before the speakers contributes the major part to sound quality. As they say, don't shoot the messenger!

I'm giving 4 stars since my audio taste is vastly improved, and I understand what good sound is, and I'm convinced that there must be better (and probably more expensive) speakers out there.

Clarity, Bass, Space, Definition

No specific weaknesses

Not to restate everything that has been said before, I will keep this short. These speakers are really terrific, under the following conditions:
- correct placing (experiment!)
- enough amplifier-power
As with lots of speakers, these B&W's are sensitive for correct placing; just experiment. I find that they do best when there axes cross approximately 1/2 to 1/3 on the distance between listener and loudspeakers. They will have to be turned quite significanlty. Any other experiences?

I have also found out that amplifier power really brings them to a higher level. I have used a 2x50Watt (at 8 Ohms)amplifier (Nakamichi Amplifier 2) before, and I thought this was a good combination. I know better now, as I recently bought a Quad 606 power-amplifier. Wow! What a difference! The sound and bass sound so easy now. Percussion is so clear. Voices are detailed; instruments are very balanced and well-placed. Absolutely a hint. Any other experiences with amplifier-power in combination with these speakers?

Overall, I find these speakers very good - with the right equipment. An absolute bargain and recommendation for all kinds of music-lovers! Buy the last ones available new, or second hand, although not very many owners would want to sell them.

Similar Products Used:

B&W Matrix 2

I have gone through alot of equipment over the years and there is little of it that I regretted parting with....the one exception is the Matrix 804's. Fantastic value for the money, especially when you consider for substantially inferior performance and about the same price you are stuck with the CDM series these days. These speakers sound incredible with YBA amplification.

Easily sounds great in most rooms. Very safe purchase.

Expensive, Bass could be better.

I am using my 804s for left and right channels along

with 805s for my left and right surrounds and toped off

by an HTM center. I have yet to hear a better sounding system for an average size living room or family room being used for HT. Any lack of bass is handled by my Velydine sub and I happen to like how these speakers handle music even with the sub turned off. The strength of the 804s, 805s are not in the way they sound, which is great anyway. The thing that make these a great speaker is the way the stage !!

Anyone who owns them will tell you that they melt into the room and simply vanish. leaving behind a full wrap around of great sounds. When I try to explain this to friends that ask me about what a good soundstage means, I sit them down and have them listen to a cd. I ask them to tell me if they can point out which sounds are coming from the center HTM which is not even playing. Of course they are quick to point out all the music they are sure hearing from a speaker that is OFF !!. I am very sad to see these speakers off the market. The new N series are nice but it will cost you more money to get a good sound out of them. I rate my 804s a six. Can I do that?

Similar Products Used:

NHT

I guess I'm the odd person on these speakers. I've heard them three times and came away totally unimpressed every time. The sound was so bland and uninvolving that I had a hard time keeping my attention focused as I listened through my standard set of evaluation tracks.
The lower bass output from these speakers is particularly weak. Listening to my Holly Cole and Mark Knopfler CDs, I couldn't believe how much of the music had disappeared. The lower bass line, which sets the foundation for these pieces, was barely, barely audible. I can't imagine listening to Enya through them, anyone doing so will not know how much of the music they are missing.

As to the midrange and highs, I found them dull and uninvolving. Whereas some speakers have set me on the edge of my seat with these same pieces, sounding eerily natural that you start to look for the musicians in the room with you, the 804s had the opposite effect. The music sounded like it was coming out of box and I became bored with each piece before it finished.

Seriously, I wouldn't even consider purchasing these speakers for $2200.

Value for the $$, Small footprint, Easy to drive

Bass response

Having owned in order the following speakers, I have some comments which may be useful to some.
B&W DM640, B&W Matrix 802S3, B&W Matrix 804, and now B&W Nautilus 804.

Of all my speaker purchases the original Matrix 804's are near the top. I found them more natural sounding than the 802's. Their lack of ultimate bass response is easily made up for in their lack of size. These are sometimes around $1K used on the net which is an outright bargain.
I do think however that the N804 is a significant improvement over the old M series. They are magical in the FST midrange, faster and cleaner in the treble and bass. These improvements do however come at no small price.
Matrix 804's may be one of the best Bang for the Buck speakers of all time.

sound stage, incredible mid-range and highs

none

I purchased my 804s used about 6 years ago after comparing many other speakers. I used them for about 6 months with my rotel surround system and was happy with them but not estatic. About 5 1/2 years ago we moved, and the B&Ws were put away because my wife felt they were to obtrusive for our living room so I have been using Canton's +S +D subsat system. One weekend while my wife was out of town, I dug out the B&Ws and a Sansui AU 919 thats been in hiding since I got the Rotel surround system. I was just astounded with the difference. The Rotel was too harsh and did not have enough bottom end to make these speakers sing like the Sansui does. It's sad to hear what I have been missing. The B&Ws stay, If my wife can't handle it she can go.

Accuracy, Detail, Clarity

Need Short Stands (Like sound Anchor)

I bought these used recntly. I had a pair of 801F (vintage 1980's) which needed bags of power to run. Thus the problem I had with the 801's was trying to get solid bass. I purchased a Nak PA7 with high hopes but it did not cut it.

I talked to a dealer who said dont bother going from 801F to matrix 804's as there would not be an improvement.

Boy was he wrong! I was astonished by the improvement in detail, imaging and overall tightness. The bass as I suspected tightened right up and yet was full and robust.

I ordered a set of Sound Anchors as they need to be up off the floor a little bit.

I'm listening to all of my CD's all over again (You know that feeling)

These are simply one marvelous loudspeaker!

Similar Products Used:

B&W 801F

I bought a pair of B&W 804s last year in Boston (made a special trip for them as they are not available here). Along with them I purchased the HTM center channel and the DS6's for surrounds. All powered by the Rotel RSP 980 surround processor, Rotel RB980 2 channel amp for my 2 front channels and the Rotel RB956 six channel amp that is bridged into 3 channels for my center and surrounds. After that hook-up I thought nothing could be better..............until I purchased the VELODYNE 1215! Overall, I highly reccommend the 804s for clarity and absolut natrual-ness. However, if your one that enjoys BIG bass ( eg. PSB Stratus Gold)then one might consider a sub.