B&W 803D/HTM20/DS8S/ASW855 - What Hi-Fi ? November 2009

This Big B&W 800-series system is a marvellous set-up, whether you're sitting in rapt attention and air-conducting to the masters, or just kicking back and enjoying some movies.
Thanks to the diamond-dome tweeters fitted to the front three speakers, the astonishing transparency and detaile clarity of this system makes it an ideal reference set-up. It can be driven by modest amplification, too.
It's just as capable crashing out the Foo Fighter's explosive Live at Wembley Stadium Blue-ray as it is conveying the heat of battle in the Saving Private Ryan DVD or tragic Japanesewar movie Otokotachi no Yamato, where you live every minute of the sinking of world's largest battleship. But it's not all crashing-bang-wallop. The fine detail in 3:10 To Yuma's 7.1-channel LPCM soundtrack is handled deftly and with real subtlety.
Just as impressive is the way the system deals with music. You'd expect it to be good anyway - but the inclusino of those extruded Nautilius tweeters takes rousing orchestral scores to jaw-droppingly immense levels. This package delivers the kind of sound that will have you revisiting those movies you haven't spun for ages.

Verdict : One of the best surround system's around. Even if you can't afford it, audition it.

B&W CT800 system - What Hi-Fi ? November 2009

Before you add enough power amplification to drive this seven-speaker, three sub system: B&W recommends you use Classé kit, which it also distributes. You'll also need a surround processor, some decent cables, a source or two and a projector with screen. Then there's the small matter of installing the thing ideally in its own dedicated listening room.
But then some people think Bentleys and Breitlings are worth the money: as home cinema enthusiasts, we're just delighted that B&W CT800-series system exists. It's been made to deliver the ultimate. cost-no-object sound quality, and after an extended testing process (it's a hard life, eh?). we're happy to report that it delivers: we've certainly never heard a home cinema sstem - to better it.
It sounds so effortless. Granted, our system used three of the huge CT8 SW subs (each with a 15in driver, and powered by its own amp), but even so - for the sheer dynamic reach, it's hard to imagine anything more thrilling than this.

Verdict: Expensive, of course, but you get the best home cinema system we've ever tested.