Re: B&W Matrix 801 S3 ?

[Scott Dorsey]

Ivo > wrote:
>Do you have any direct experience with these ? Would it be a good step
>forward ? One studio engineer told me these could possibly be the last
>monitors I would ever need ...

They are okay. They're very clean sounding and are one of the more common
choices for classical work. Personally I don't like the general presentation
on the things, which is much closer than I tend to like, but they are
perfectly reasonable (and anyway I have a personal bias against monkey
boxes to begin with). If you're used to the Genelec 1030s, though, you
will find them really a huge shock... for one thing, the narrowband bass
resonances of the 1030 aren't there and it can be hard to get used to that.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Bob Chandler]

(Ivo) wrote in message >...
> Within a search for an upgrade from my Genelecs 1030 there came an
> incredible opportunity to get B&W Matrix 801 S3 in very good condition
> for reasonable price. I heard very high praise about these monitors
> (kind of a legend) and they seem to be used for plenty of classical
> music recordings worldwide. Some people say (especially pop and rock
> guys), that these speakers have a bit blooming bass and they would
> prefer 802 model.
> But some people also say that these monitors sound a way better than
> the new Nautilus series.
>
> Do you have any direct experience with these ? Would it be a good step
> forward ? One studio engineer told me these could possibly be the last
> monitors I would ever need ...

I've used the 802 matrix S3 for years and I still love them. I think
they translate well. The bass is a little more manageable than the 801
but if your room doesn't have any bass problems they would probably be
fine. Still haven't heard the nautilus series yet so I can't compare.
The Matrix have very detailed mids and I think the soundstage is very
realistic. They don't like high volume and as Scott said, they sound
NOTHING like the Genelecs.

How "resonable" is the price?? I'd be very tempted.



bob

[Bob Chandler]

(Ivo) wrote in message >...
> Within a search for an upgrade from my Genelecs 1030 there came an
> incredible opportunity to get B&W Matrix 801 S3 in very good condition
> for reasonable price. I heard very high praise about these monitors
> (kind of a legend) and they seem to be used for plenty of classical
> music recordings worldwide. Some people say (especially pop and rock
> guys), that these speakers have a bit blooming bass and they would
> prefer 802 model.
> But some people also say that these monitors sound a way better than
> the new Nautilus series.
>
> Do you have any direct experience with these ? Would it be a good step
> forward ? One studio engineer told me these could possibly be the last
> monitors I would ever need ...

I've used the 802 matrix S3 for years and I still love them. I think
they translate well. The bass is a little more manageable than the 801
but if your room doesn't have any bass problems they would probably be
fine. Still haven't heard the nautilus series yet so I can't compare.
The Matrix have very detailed mids and I think the soundstage is very
realistic. They don't like high volume and as Scott said, they sound
NOTHING like the Genelecs.

How "resonable" is the price?? I'd be very tempted.



bob

[Ivo]

I enquired at the Czech Philharmonic studios , Czech National
Symphonic Orchestra Studios and one more studio, where they use 801
and they all said, 801s are great and extremely accurate. The only
problems they mentioned is 1) 801 tend to sound very beautiful, so
sometimes one may be too satisfied with the mix 2) they are not really
suitable for rock etc. due to their rather slower bass 3) one needs a
room which is not too small ...
Let us see, I may go for them in the end

[Ivo]

I enquired at the Czech Philharmonic studios , Czech National
Symphonic Orchestra Studios and one more studio, where they use 801
and they all said, 801s are great and extremely accurate. The only
problems they mentioned is 1) 801 tend to sound very beautiful, so
sometimes one may be too satisfied with the mix 2) they are not really
suitable for rock etc. due to their rather slower bass 3) one needs a
room which is not too small ...
Let us see, I may go for them in the end

[Scott Dorsey]

Bob Chandler > wrote:
>
>I've used the 802 matrix S3 for years and I still love them. I think
>they translate well. The bass is a little more manageable than the 801
>but if your room doesn't have any bass problems they would probably be
>fine. Still haven't heard the nautilus series yet so I can't compare.
>The Matrix have very detailed mids and I think the soundstage is very
>realistic. They don't like high volume and as Scott said, they sound
>NOTHING like the Genelecs.

I didn't like the Nautilus stuff at all... upper midrange just didn't
sound right at all to me.

But I still think he should give the S30 a listen.
--scott


--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Scott Dorsey]

Bob Chandler > wrote:
>
>I've used the 802 matrix S3 for years and I still love them. I think
>they translate well. The bass is a little more manageable than the 801
>but if your room doesn't have any bass problems they would probably be
>fine. Still haven't heard the nautilus series yet so I can't compare.
>The Matrix have very detailed mids and I think the soundstage is very
>realistic. They don't like high volume and as Scott said, they sound
>NOTHING like the Genelecs.

I didn't like the Nautilus stuff at all... upper midrange just didn't
sound right at all to me.

But I still think he should give the S30 a listen.
--scott


--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."