B&W Owner's Thread - Page 400

Originally Posted by sofast1 

READ THIS (WRITTEN BY CHRIS,ONE OF THE AUDYSSEY FOUNDERS)
http://www.audyssey.com/blog/2009/05/small-vs-large

Originally Posted by Rod#S 

Yeah the numbers mean very little to me when it comes right down to it, it's what is heard that counts. Cosmetically the Stradivari and Elipsa look really nice as do the Amati anniversario and Aida. I like the Ultima Salon and Focal Maestro, Stella and Grande Utopia looks as well. Cosmetically for me my choice of speaker in the 20kish to 30kish range is the 800D2 (over say the Sasha, Elipsa SE and Ultima Salon) and in the 10kish to 20kish range I like the 802D2 (over say the Studio Salon, Elipsa, Sophia, Cremona M). I would love to have an opportunity to hear all of these speakers but alas that will never happen. My dealer sells Focal but doesn't have the Utopia series on hand. Having now owned my 802's for about a year and a half I would love to be able to get a comparison of the Scala and Maestro towers.

Originally Posted by purbeast 

I'm not a B&W owner just yet, but I think I may be very soon.
I was leaning towards a Klipsch RF7 ii and matching speakers initially after demo'ing a set, but today I went to listen to some other stuff at a store.
I listened to the Klipsch again, B&W CM9's, Monitor Audio and Golden Ear in the same price range (don't remember their model #'s).
I had previously listened to the CM9's with matching CMC2 for center and CM1 for rears, and liked it. But I had heard the Klipsch ones and liked those too and was leaning that way, also due to a cheaper price.
But today after listening to the CM9's again, I'm going to go that route now even though it is going to cost me more in general.
I was quoted that the retail on the CM9 pair, with CMC2, and a pair of CM1 was $5250. They told me they could sell it to me as a package for $4700.
Is that a pretty reasonable price for that set, or should they have more wiggle room?
Additionally they told me if I were to get a sub (they have JL Audio and Velodyne, and I was looking at the DD12+ for $3500 retail there) that they could drop it some more for a package deal. I am not even sure though if that is a reasonable price for the sub or not, and I'm going to start doing a little bit of sub research because I've really done none.

Originally Posted by jima4a 

10% off is good, maybe not great for CMs. Both Velodyne and JL make great subs so you can't go wrong but if you have room twin subs would be better. What is your music/HT split?

Originally Posted by wse 

The Focal sound very good but they cost a lot more than B&W unfortunately it's the 35 Hour work week in France and the super high French taxes on labor and everything else that makes the price absurd
- Focal Diablo Utopia III Monitor Loudspeaker ($12,000/pair
- Maestro Utopias ($49,995/pair)
http://www.whathifi.com/blog/behind-the-scenes-at-focal-france
http://www.whathifi.com/blog/behind-the-scenes-at-focal-france-part-2

Originally Posted by jima4a 

10% off is good, maybe not great for CMs. Both Velodyne and JL make great subs so you can't go wrong but if you have room twin subs would be better. What is your music/HT split?

Originally Posted by purbeast 

I'm not a B&W owner just yet, but I think I may be very soon.
I was leaning towards a Klipsch RF7 ii and matching speakers initially after demo'ing a set, but today I went to listen to some other stuff at a store.
I listened to the Klipsch again, B&W CM9's, Monitor Audio and Golden Ear in the same price range (don't remember their model #'s).
I had previously listened to the CM9's with matching CMC2 for center and CM1 for rears, and liked it. But I had heard the Klipsch ones and liked those too and was leaning that way, also due to a cheaper price.
But today after listening to the CM9's again, I'm going to go that route now even though it is going to cost me more in general.
I was quoted that the retail on the CM9 pair, with CMC2, and a pair of CM1 was $5250. They told me they could sell it to me as a package for $4700.
Is that a pretty reasonable price for that set, or should they have more wiggle room?
Additionally they told me if I were to get a sub (they have JL Audio and Velodyne, and I was looking at the DD12+ for $3500 retail there) that they could drop it some more for a package deal. I am not even sure though if that is a reasonable price for the sub or not, and I'm going to start doing a little bit of sub research because I've really done none.

Originally Posted by purbeast 

This is mainly going to be for HT for movies, tv, and video games.

Originally Posted by cbibbs 

I greatly prefer the CM9 to the RF7, but movies and video games aren't as demanding since you aren't as focused on the audio. If you can be content with the Klipsch, I'd just stick with those.

Originally Posted by AcuDefTechGuy 

20% off MSRP is the minimum or me.
Most dealers get 30-40% off MSRP depending on the speaker line.

Originally Posted by purbeast 


Well after hearing the Klipsch again today for a 5 minute straight clip, I am thinking the high pitch of the horns may bother me after a long 2 hour movie or so.
Are you saying though that you only prefer the CM9's to the RF7's for music and would prefer the RF7's for movies/games?
I was a little confused by that comment, because I am definitely focused on getting great audio out of my movies and games as well.

Originally Posted by purbeast 

This is mainly going to be for HT for movies, tv, and video games.

Originally Posted by purbeast 

Are there online shops that sell B&W? I've really only seen them in 2 local shops so far.
I will see if they have more wiggle room though, thanks for at least letting me know that 20% should definitely be doable!

Originally Posted by pbarach 

B&W doesn't allow authorized dealers to sell online.

Originally Posted by jima4a 

B&W IMO is great for music but I feel if HT is a big focus you may want to look at Kef (which does both music and HT very well, IMO of course) or even speakers that focus on HT, high efficiency of say 95 dB or so. If you can get a good deal on the CM9s with the CMC2 you will certainly have a fantastic system but there are other options that may give you better dynamics.

Originally Posted by saprano 

Aren't the CM9's 90db efficient? Besides your not taking in account room size. My current speakers, Def Tech, are only 87db. But my room is 1500cu ft. so they get really loud easily.

Originally Posted by AcuDefTechGuy 

20% off MSRP is the minimum or me.
Most dealers get 30-40% off MSRP depending on the speaker line.

Originally Posted by AcuDefTechGuy 

20% off MSRP is the minimum or me. Most dealers get 30-40% off MSRP depending on the speaker line.

Originally Posted by metallicaband 

I'm thinking about adding a couple of customized wooden bases for my front 683s to stabilize them (didn't get any plinth when I bought the pair), didn't decide on the dimensions yet but I was thinking the wooden base would be around an inch thick and extend 5 inches on each side of the speaker, what I'm wondering is will this be a bad idea acoustically or it won't have a significant effect?

If you're wondering why I want to stabilize the speakers, it's because we have a very jumpy cat that could easily smash my floor standing 683 into my plasma with the setup I'm planning to do this time around at a new apartment.


ps: If anyone has the original 683 plinth bases lying around and willing to sell them, please let me know your price shipped to NY11413.

Originally Posted by SeattleHTGuy 

AcuD.... I am thinking that you don't own any B&W's or have much experience with purchasing them. B&W probably clamps down hardest on retailers straying too far from MSRP than any other speaker vendor in the market place. I believe some really crazy esoteric stuff holds the line even harder but certainly no other main stream producing manufacturer controls retail as firmly as B&W. This goes to online selling above all else (note I did not lump you in with the person who is looking for an on-line retailer. You can get 20% on very rare occasion from a retailer but this would usually mean a model change out or a floor model that has been around a long while.
So, if you are looking for Klipsch or Def Techs at 20 to 40% off full MSRP that is probably locatable. B&W's pretty much never, ever, ever. Now the cool thing about B&W's is that they hold their value far better than just about anything out there. The 800 line is quite extraordinary here. My 805N's sell from around 60 to 70% of their original retail price 13 years later. The little SCM1's are even in higher demand and sell for as much as 75% of full retail 10 years later. I purchased my 803S's on close out and did indeed get a 25% discount Funny thing is 3 years later, this is what they are going for used at many sites. I suppose that if you get the cheapest series of B&W's or many of the in wall systems, you will see used speaking going below 50% of retail. B&W has been described as the Rolex of speakers. Rolex started off with some pretty reasonable watch prices and over decades raised the price on all lines. This has helped establish a used market that has done well. Certainly, this is the path B&W has taken with the Nautilus line as well.
OK, my point here is your 20% rule is pretty silly for many of B&W's speakers. This is because they do go all rabid pitbull on deeper discounts and online sales. If however, you go buy some Polks at anything less than a 35% discount, you are burning dollars.
So...... Please provide better advice to those looking to buy or at least do some homework on the used market. 10% is often the best many can get on B&W's. There may be occasionall retailer deals better and they usually involve a system type purchase.

Originally Posted by jima4a 

I know ADTG got an incredible deal on 802Ds, if I had the room I'd love to have auditioned them when choosing my latest system. Agree it is tough to get a discount on B&W but I have and others have, the dealer just does not like it advertised to keep heat off from B&W.
Edit: Two years ago I could have gotten a very good deal on CM9s with the CMC2, less money than the XQ40s and XQ50c so I know they can be found. Don't disagree that B&W controls things tightly, just that 10% would be minimum and 20% very good.

Originally Posted by SeattleHTGuy 

AcuD.... I am thinking that you don't own any B&W's or have much experience with purchasing them. B&W probably clamps down hardest on retailers straying too far from MSRP than any other speaker vendor in the market place. I believe some really crazy esoteric stuff holds the line even harder but certainly no other main stream producing manufacturer controls retail as firmly as B&W. This goes to online selling above all else (note I did not lump you in with the person who is looking for an on-line retailer. You can get 20% on very rare occasion from a retailer but this would usually mean a model change out or a floor model that has been around a long while.
So, if you are looking for Klipsch or Def Techs at 20 to 40% off full MSRP that is probably locatable. B&W's pretty much never, ever, ever. Now the cool thing about B&W's is that they hold their value far better than just about anything out there. The 800 line is quite extraordinary here. My 805N's sell from around 60 to 70% of their original retail price 13 years later. The little SCM1's are even in higher demand and sell for as much as 75% of full retail 10 years later. I purchased my 803S's on close out and did indeed get a 25% discount Funny thing is 3 years later, this is what they are going for used at many sites. I suppose that if you get the cheapest series of B&W's or many of the in wall systems, you will see used speaking going below 50% of retail. B&W has been described as the Rolex of speakers. Rolex started off with some pretty reasonable watch prices and over decades raised the price on all lines. This has helped establish a used market that has done well. Certainly, this is the path B&W has taken with the Nautilus line as well.
OK, my point here is your 20% rule is pretty silly for many of B&W's speakers. This is because they do go all rabid pitbull on deeper discounts and online sales. If however, you go buy some Polks at anything less than a 35% discount, you are burning dollars.
So...... Please provide better advice to those looking to buy or at least do some homework on the used market. 10% is often the best many can get on B&W's. There may be occasionall retailer deals better and they usually involve a system type purchase.

Originally Posted by ap1 

Try contact B&W support service directly. They may be able to sell you plinths.

Originally Posted by metallicaband 

Can any 683 owners please confirm whether you got the plinth bases or not when you bought your speakers?

Originally Posted by metallicaband 


I live internationally (in Bahrain) and we only have 1 B&W dealer over here (the NY address I mentioned earlier is provided to me via 3rd party courier), when I asked them about the plinth bases they told me that the speakers don't come with plinths.

Can any 683 owners please confirm whether you got the plinth bases or not when you bought your speakers?