The F80 is a superb product for both its size and its price. To use a sports analogy, it plays in plays in a division way above what you may think based on first looks.

That is can even enter the “game” or “conversation” with good floor and stand mounted speakers, speaks to how well it plays music from CD`s and many DVD-A`s. (Video is very average IMHO)

However, as someone who owns (and has compared it with) D5200`s, there really is a big difference. To continue with the above sports analogy, the F80 deserves to be in the game, but the D5200`s would be superior in every area of the pitch and would end out winning the game by quite a convincing margin. Having owned 96/24 D5k`s previously, I can tell you that the same would still hold thru for the D5k`s. Not as convincing a win perhaps, but still a win

Only in a room with Severe positioning issues (of the type that Joel mentioned above) would the F80 make for a better solution. In all other situations, the D5200`s or 2nd hand D5k`s would make for better sounding music

The above comments relate to comparing an F80 with a stereo pair. If you are looking for Surround from Movies, then the comments apply even more

One other thing to try is a different amplifier with your B&W`s. In the main, I think that B&W produce excellent sounding speakers, but finding the “right” amplification to partner them with can be an issue. And unfortunately, the “right” amplification can vary by B&W speaker and, most importantly, by room type and size. This avenue may also be worth exploring, but it could end out in a lot of trial and error

Good luck



Last edited by RHurley; 2007-12-08 08:53.
-