B&W Matrix 803 loudspeakers

 

Ideas from the B&W innovation pool.

The Matrix 803 contain an upper bass/midrange ubit in Kevlar - aB&W inovation now copied by many other manufacturers - and a Cobex cone bass unit with a modified matrix 801 tweeter mounted on top of the enclosure.

Throughout the Matrix 800 Series B&W Kevlar  cone drivers are employed to produce a unique break-up pattern which enables the speakers response to roll-off in a controlled manner aabove their working range. Kevlar's unusual directional weave induces a largely self-cancelling resonant pattern across the cone.

Air is moved around close to the surface but no intrusive output is produced by the resonance. In consequence the Kevlar cone bass/midrange driver offers up a significantly more neutral sound with higher information retrieval. In the Matrix 803 the Cobex cone lower bass driver is optimised for bass frequencies as its performance is confined to below the lower midrange. A specially formulated rubber surround enhances both drivers performance giving higher electrical/mechanical damping ratios, resulting in a more accurate and faster sound when reproducing bass transients.

At high frequencies, the modified Matrix 801 tweeter incorporates magnetic fluid cooling to damp any unwanted resonances leading to noticeably smoother response, and in the process, more than dounling the tweeter's power handling. The tweeter's position on top of the enclosure provides a spaciousness of image not found in many other loudspeakers.

 

Specifications

Frequency Range:  23 Hz - 22 kHz (-6 dB points)

Bass Loading:  Sixth-order Butterworth alignment 26 Hz cut-off

Free-Field Response:  listening axis  28 Hz - 20 kHz , ±2 dB

±30° Horizontal :  ±2 dB to 10 kHz

±5° Vertical ;  ±2 dB to 20 kHz

Sensitivity:  90 dB spl (2,83 V at 1 m)

Drive Units

1 x 180 mm (7") bass with Cobex cone

1 x 180 mm (7") bass/midrange with Kevlar cone - both have 30 mm high-temperature voice coils on Kaptan formers

1 x 26 mm ( 1 ")  high-frequency with metal dome, high-temperature voice coil and ferrofluid cooling

Distortion (for 95 dB at 1 m): 

Second Harmonic

Less than 2,0% (20 Hz to 100 Hz)

Less than  0,5% (100 Hz to 20 kHz)

Third harmonic

Less than 2,0% (20 Hz to 100 Hz)

Less than 0,5% (100 Hz to 20 Hz)

Nominal Impedance:  8 Ω 9not falling below 4 Ω)

Power Handling:  Suitable for amplifiers with 50 to 200 W output into 4 Ω

Cabinet Finish:  real wood veneers of black ash, natural oak, rosewood orwalnut semi-gloss black or white

Dimensions (H x W xD):  1017 x 285 x 334 mm (40: x 11-1/4" x 13-1/8")

Weight:  26,3 kg (58 lbs)