B&W Owner's Thread - Page 422

So, even though I just bought myself HTD Level 2's. I went to a local (not big box) AV store last night to listen to some KEF's and B&W speakers. I decided a few days ago I don't want to find the "best bang for the lowest dollar" type speakers. I want to get some good High end (High end for me i guess) speakers, and I really want to hear if they blow me away.

Luckily the guy at the store is quite knowledgeable and I started asking him some questions about some of the cheaper counterparts in the store, started listening to them and WOW, the B&W 683 Floorstanders sound amazing. The sound so natural and their imaging is absolutely amazing. I asked them what they were hooked up too and they were just hooked up to a small Marantz 50W stereo amp/media player.

I have decided I WILL be getting these. Won't be for a few months, but I just cannot ignore them after hearing them, price is not that bad too, its on par with what online retailers sell them for, told him if I came in with $X amount in cash if he would sell them to me, and he said for that their yours.


Edit: Also curious as to what you guys would reccomend for the center. I hear the "matched" center has a very narrow sweet spot and differeny dynamics from left to right due to the driver change. Using a 685 is out of the questions, is there a center that matches up as close to a timbre match as possible with the 683s?
Edited by Shady195 - 1/10/13 at 6:39am

^^^
CMC2 center is quite good and some on this forum have recommended it with the 683s.

I agree, I am thinking upgrading my small CMC to the CMC2. LR are the CM7. Trouble is is the price of the thing: it's 1000 euro.

Shady 95, definetely get one with the same FST midrange or you will regret it. If you cannot hear the HTM61 center before buying, you might consider skipping the center alltogether... I try switching from Dolby PLII (standard or movie) to stereo sometimes and it is a viable option. I even prefer stereo for music broadcasts over Dolby PLII standard. And when I use Dolby PLII Music, it is almost the same as plain stereo. I blame the CMC not being on par with the CM7. The CMC2 was not yet avalable when I bought the set.

Currently have a 5.1 system with 804S all channels. i was thinking about trying 7 or 9.1.....

i have been toying around with the idea to sell a pair of the 804 and get a pair of 802n, 800n or 802d (first gen)

I have two extra sets of b&w sitting in the corner... 602 and cdm1se.....

i could sell some of these, or use them all, or whatever... or i could just stick to the 5.1.

what ya think...

My system is a 7.1. If I had a do over, I would probably just stick with my original 5.1 system. Unless your room is perfect for such a system, you will not hear much improvement over the 5.1. My rears are on the back wall over the rear sofa so I don't hear the best effect that I could if the sofa was more centrally located to the middle of the room. However, I do like the 804 Diamonds that I am running.
Edited by SugarmillMan - 1/11/13 at 5:29pm

Maybe a better solution to my room accoustics would have been a set of front high speakers. Don't know for sure.

I had the same problem with the CM8's. They didn't sound anywhere close to how they sounded in the store. But after couple of weeks of playing them I can really appreciate the sound quality. They need at least two weeks of breaking in so be patient.
Also I found my Pioneer VSX-1020-K was a better match for these speakers than Marantz SR 6007. I had a chance to compare them side by side and my Pioneer sounded much better -with or without equalization. Amazon.com is having a great deal on Pioneer VSX-1022-K now ( $239.99,free shipping! ). It's 5 times cheaper and it should be a better much for your speakers IMHO.
BTW, I've tried bi-amping them and it made absolutely no difference for the sound quality.

Thinking about joining the B&W family after test driving some surrounds in magnolia. Like some of you are saying, I have a smaller room, 16 feet, with back row just off the back wall. Makes it really tough for me to use my current bookshelves so looking at in wall or maybe the DS3B as they're not as protruding as my bookshelves. The guy at bb said to consider in ceiling but that just doesn't sound right to me, seems like the front row loses out on that deal though he said u can aim them. Any advice on rears in this type of space?

hi where is the best site to buy a pre owned b&w htm4d center channel?

audiogon.com is a good website with everything in audio stuff.

 

I agree 5.1 with good speakers is the way to go, "Diamonds are a music lover's best friend"

 

If you have the dow adding two more for 7.1 is really cool especially with DTS-Master Audio 7.1 now I heard that DTS Neo X 9.1

Just joining the HT BnW family, I already have the ZepAir and P5s! Picking up my CM9s, CMC2,CM1s, and ASW61 this weekend!

Nice. I like the CM series. After swapping out my center channel for the CMC2 and using it with the 683s, I was debating whether to upgrade the 683s to the CM9. For music, the CM9 definitely sounds better; however, you can definitely find a better sub than the ASW61. I auditioned a few of the B&W subs and they didn't really compare to the offerings from SVS or HSU, which are less expensive to boot.

Hi all,

This is Louis from Amsterdam, proud owner of the following:

Cyrus cd xt se2 + psx r
Cyrus DAC xp + + psx r
Cyrus mono 200 (2x) ---> tara lab vector 2
B&W 803 diamond (one week old!)
Cabasse Jupiter sub woofer

Before the 803 diamond I used the 804s.

I'm mostly listening to music and tv, occasionally movies.

I think this combination sounds wonderful, and there's a hughe difference between the old 804s and the newest 803 diamond.

I tried the new speakers with my old (cheap) cables and it was of course better than before, but when I connected the much bigger
cables, I could not believe my ears! As if a big blanket was taken off from the speaker fronts!
Anyone who claims cables don't matter should try this once, and you'll be convinced for ever.

Bye for now from Amsterdam

So I got a new pair of speakers--Audio Physic Tempo 25 for my vacation home. I was blown away by the detail, bass and imaging coming out of these tiny towers (for the CM9 to huge for my requirements). Came across this speaker setup guide on their site:

http://www.audiophysic.com/aufstellung/index_e.html

Follow the 'example' section for my main speakers, 802 Diamonds. Ended up moving them a couple of inches forward and a few inches closer to each other and a few degrees of toe-in. Whoa....the improvement was stunning and dramatic. Like getting new speakers.


Previously I though the bass was too boomy and muddled everything a bit and put it down to the speakers being too big for my room. Had given up and decided to wait till I move apartments in a couple of months, but now I honestly think my system is one of the best I have ever heard

I encourage everyone to give it a go. You have done what I have in the past and place speakers based on aesthetics of convenience, but you may be missing a lot!!!

I only got the sub b/c it was deeply discounted. can always upgrade that later!

If you like classical music then listen to this on B&W it is wonderful 

 

http://www.linnrecords.com/recording-berlioz--symphonie-fantastique.aspx

If i decide to get the CM9's it's going to be in rosenut. They look absolutely beautiful. I'm tired of black glossy. Scratches show up easily too.

yes indeed but too less musical

To clarify my prior post, the offerings from SVS and HSU are better sounding for movies (as good or better sounding for music) and can handle lower frequencies (below 20hz) AND are less expensive to boot.

I tend to recommend Rythmik and PSA, but agree the SVS and HSU are still better choices then the B+W sub offering. Deeper pockets? Seaton, JTR, or Funk.

if you check the datasheet of svs(sb-1000) that is a closer match for de ASW610 neither of both will get under the 20Hz performance and if you look in the web for awards the B&W are the winner, maybe it no get the performance of SVS Ultra line but is more "musical" according the professional reviewers, so maybe is not a good idea throw up the air comments like "better sub than the ASW61"; specially if we don't know the special case of any one. the B&W subs are excellent for people that prefer use your HT for music listening.
Edited by leo2498 - 1/25/13 at 9:55am

I'm wondering if B&W will drop the price of its Subs many people will say the same like they say now , if the price will be the final point for choose a sub and not its use maybe yes, you will get better performance vs price for another sub brand. I know some forums will be agreed with you guys but remember that it is a B&W forum.

I wasn't trying to dismiss ChronRM's purchase of the ASW610. I bought it, used it and liked it. I decided to try some other subs as well in that price range. I ended up returning the ASW610 and choosing two SVS PB-1000s. While the SB-1000 might be the most comparable specs-wise to the ASW610, consumers often not only look at spec comparisons, but also look at price comparisons. Perhaps ChonRM has space constraints. Maybe he does not. If not, he might prefer a ported box or sealed box from some other manufacturers with a similar or equal sound and a lower price. The SB-1000 and PB-1000 are $150 less than the ASW610. I also tried the ASW10CM, but for less than its price I got two ported subs that reach virtually as low as the ASW10CM.

Does B&W make good subs? Yes. Are they pricier than offerings with similar sound quality? Yes. Nonetheless, ChronRM seems to like his sub and he got a good deal on it.

The sound quality of the servo Rythmik is very very high (super low distortion) and we are talking about a sub that digs deeper and provides more output for less money. You will be very hard pressed to find a sub with sound quality enough to keep up. We're all entitled to our opinions but the distortion numbers, extension, and output are not subjective. Also we are talking about the frequency range below the "Transition Frequency" where the room is much more in charge then the speaker.

I'm not dissing B+W, My dual Rythmik FV15HP's sound great with my 805's which I love. But in the sub category there are higher performing subs out there which are a better value.

If you are enjoying your sub, that's what counts.

BTW, I am new here and kind of a novice to this sort of thing.

My living room is fairly small, maybe 20 by 20 feet

I am debating between the Bower and Wilkins 685
http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/Speakers/Home_Audio/600_Series/685.html

or the B&W cm5
http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/Speakers/Home_Audio/CM_Series/CM5.html

I have a Yamaha RX-V373 receiver and I want to start with the front speakers first.

Eventually I will get a new woofer, center speaker and rear speakers but for now I will continue to use my old yamaha nsP 220 speakers for rear and woofer and will take out the center completely for now.

Or if you guys know of any comparable speakers in quality that are less expensive so that I can get a new woofer as well, that would be awesome.

I will be using the sound mostly for movies and music obviously.

Hi all,

Does anyone know where I can buy a tweeter for the latest 800 Diamond series? For a bit less than the $1,300 the factory wants?

Thanks in advance

Love my Cm5s.

Your room is too large for 685. I use 802D in smaller room than yours. In you case look at 683, they sound similar in midrange and treble, but will work better in the room of your size.

+1 on the 683. Also would throw out Kef R300s. Kef has good center choices where B&W has really only the CMC2 which is also good but may not be a perfect match to the 683s. CM5s are also a good option with dual subs, IMO. 802Ds would be be most sweet but $$$$