SOLD

What more can be said? The legendary B&W 800 Series Matrix 802’s - Not to be confused with B&W’s similarly named, entry-level “Matrix” line, the 800 series were the “big guns” at Bowers & Wilkins until discontinued in favor of the Nautilus line after several years. These (Series Three) units are the most refined of the old 800 series - Amazing sound along with the cleanest style of the series - losing the clumsy looking front end in favor of a much more refined speaker mounting technique for the woofers. It’s almost a crime to want to keep the grilles on. 

These units were originally the rear surround speakers in a 5.1 system headed up by a pair of massive (no pun intended) M-801’s. They have been used (and NEVER abused) here at MASSIVE Mastering for around two years with very clean Bryston amplification.  In essence, the drivers only have the equivalent of several years of “real” use. 

There is “normal” wear here and there - Nothing really noticeable from a few feet away and nothing that would photograph well. The housing for one of the tweeters split and was less-than-wonderfully “fused” (probably a crazy-glue incident). It doesn’t affect the sound quality and is only visible from the rear. I couldn’t quite get it to photograph. One of the grilles has a bit of (debris?) on it that I didn’t attempt to clean and one of the mid grilles has a small “hole” in it toward the edge - also only visible upon close inspection. All of this is pre-MASSIVE, so I can’t tell you much more than that. 

SO - If you’re looking for an absolutely amazing set of speakers for a home theatre setup, a pair of mains for a budding mastering room, or even a set of “desk-based” control-room mains (you haven’t mixed until you’ve mixed through a set of speakers like this), CONTACT me. 

More information is provided in the original sheet at Bowers and Wilkins (PDF) -- B&W SERIES 800 MATRIX 802 SERIES THREE

I don’t like haggling - so I’m setting the FIRM price well below market value - $1,900 takes the pair. I suppose I’d consider shipping them (at buyer’s cost - Which would probably be quite substantial) but would seriously prefer pickup from the NW burbs of Chicago. 

These are the speakers your ears have been begging for.