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B&W Owner's Thread - Page 133

post #3961 of 13876
1/29/09 at 9:47pm
hey guys,

i have the 804S. Currently being powered by a denon 2808. I have the opportunity to buy a CA-2200 amp at a "good" price - (read still pretty expensive). do y'all find a big diff in sound quality?
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post #3962 of 13876
1/30/09 at 9:50am
Quote:
Originally Posted by cwchan View Post

hey guys,

i have the 804S. Currently being powered by a denon 2808. I have the opportunity to buy a CA-2200 amp at a "good" price - (read still pretty expensive). do y'all find a big diff in sound quality?

Huge. I have 803Ds, and was initially powering them with Rotel 1069/1077. I've since switched to Classe SSP-800 and CA-5200. The difference is remarkable. The clarity and detail with the Classe is outstanding. The imaging is clearer. The soundstage is deeper and broader. With the Classe, you're enveloped with sound. I feel like I'm at the performance.

However, if you're going to keep the 2808 as a pre/pro, the differences you experience will probably not be as great. Is there a way you can demo the CA-2200?
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post #3963 of 13876
1/30/09 at 12:59pm
I say if you can get the CA-2200 for a "good price", then go for it. You can worry about upgrading your pre-pro later. New Classe gear is expensive though, if that's what you're thinking. But either way, you should get an instant performance boost from the CA-2200, if only because you are providing a lot more headroom with nearly double the wattage. And the CA-2200 is an amazing amp, I've heard them drive 802Ds and they were more than capable.
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post #3964 of 13876
1/30/09 at 1:46pm
B&W 804S speakers, CA-2200 with a Denon 2808? Two very nice pieces with a mid-level receiver controlling them is a classic bottleneck. You should definitely experience an improvement, but that 2808 is definitely going to be holding them back. Depending on what you're using the 2808 for, you may want to look on Audiogon for an Outlaw pre/pro. The 990's will be popping up on there soon for some really cheap prices. I second the recommendation to audition the amp if you can.
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post #3965 of 13876
1/30/09 at 2:17pm
With the discussion of lack of bass in the 703 is it possible that the 683 has more bass? Because I came from 15" 400 watt Cerwin Vega's and you'd think if anyone would be disappointed in bass it would be me (I always shied way from thin towers with small bass drivers assuming they wouldn't put out any bass). I find the 683's don't lack any bass at all and in fact when my dealer asked how I liked them I told him "they're perfect". Even playing rap "boom.. boom.. boom.." type music they hit strong and hard. Maybe I have a perfect synergy with them with my electronics (and possibly room?) Because like I said earlier I don't even have to touch a bass, treble, or EQ knob. Of course, some recordings just don't have much bass hit or dynamics. My room is carpeted and highly dampened with thick couches and packed with furniture (no clap echo at all) running a Yamaha RX-663 in pure direct mode bypassing all DSP to a Emotiva XPA-5 power amp. Totally happy with the sound (I always know when I fully satisfied when there's absolutely no buyers remorse, lol). When I start listening to the system, I almost can't get away from it, lol.
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post #3966 of 13876
1/30/09 at 4:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Emig5m View Post

With the discussion of lack of bass in the 703 is it possible that the 683 has more bass? Because I came from 15" 400 watt Cerwin Vega's and you'd think if anyone would be disappointed in bass it would be me (I always shied way from thin towers with small bass drivers assuming they wouldn't put out any bass). I find the 683's don't lack any bass at all and in fact when my dealer asked how I liked them I told him "they're perfect". Even playing rap "boom.. boom.. boom.." type music they hit strong and hard. Maybe I have a perfect synergy with them with my electronics (and possibly room?) Because like I said earlier I don't even have to touch a bass, treble, or EQ knob. Of course, some recordings just don't have much bass hit or dynamics. My room is carpeted and highly dampened with thick couches and packed with furniture (no clap echo at all) running a Yamaha RX-663 in pure direct mode bypassing all DSP to a Emotiva XPA-5 power amp. Totally happy with the sound (I always know when I fully satisfied when there's absolutely no buyers remorse, lol). When I start listening to the system, I almost can't get away from it, lol.

In our house, I'm not a big bass person...I like bass, but I don't "jones" for it. My wife "jones's" for it. We're constantly adjusting bass up and down in each other's cars when the other isn't looking.

Having said that, I think the 683 is a tad heavy on the bass, but not bad. It's ok, not the best attribute (imo). My wife thinks it fine. She likes the 683...very realistic, not overstated...good bass.
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post #3967 of 13876
1/31/09 at 7:51am
Would the 685's work well for my mains in a 16x25 room? Long axis is the listening area with seating 15' from speakers. I am using a 2808 Denon with 2 matched Mirage S10's. Also what center would be a good choice? I have listened to these speakers and not only have I truley enjoyed what I have heard, but the are withen my price range.
Thanks
Mike
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post #3968 of 13876
1/31/09 at 8:07am
I just missed out on a pair of DS7s on ebay for about 1/2 price. I have 703s and htm7 and currently using a pair of Mission surround speakers 77ds from my old Mission setup.
I believe the DS7 are discontinued but my dealer says he can still get them but not to wait too long. I was also looking at the DS3s.

Do you think I would miss much going with the DS3 which are about 1/2 price of DS7s?
It's not a large room so they may be a better fit size wise and are lighter for hanging on my wall. Drivers don't seem much smaller 6.5" vs 5" and 4" vs 3".

Any opinion on how much better than my current Missions? They also are 4" drivers but the tweeter is a soft dome.
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post #3969 of 13876
1/31/09 at 8:09am
In dipol mode, not much at all, in monopole mode, it depends. The tweeters are different. But it proably isnt an issue if you arent listening to alot of fine tuned multi-channel music.
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post #3970 of 13876
1/31/09 at 8:15am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil Tomaskovic View Post

I just missed out on a pair of DS7s on ebay for about 1/2 price. I have 703s and htm7 and currently using a pair of Mission surround speakers 77ds from my old Mission setup.
I believe the DS7 are discontinued but my dealer says he can still get them but not to wait too long. I was also looking at the DS3s.

Do you think I would miss much going with the DS3 which are about 1/2 price of DS7s?
It's not a large room so they may be a better fit size wise and are lighter for hanging on my wall. Drivers don't seem much smaller 6.5" vs 5" and 4" vs 3".

Any opinion on how much better than my current Missions?

I would stick to the same line and get the DS7. I would pick them up before they are really unavailable! The timbre match between your front soundstage and rear spreakers will be much more seemless.
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post #3971 of 13876
1/31/09 at 8:16am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aphasia View Post

In dipol mode, not much at all, in monopole mode, it depends. The tweeters are different. But it proably isnt an issue if you arent listening to alot of fine tuned multi-channel music.

I do have quite a few sacds and concert dvds...
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post #3972 of 13876
1/31/09 at 3:48pm
Hi all new B&W Owner, But earlier today i remove the grill of my back surround speaker it's a B&W 685 and i accidentally ding the tweeter with the grill....see the attach picture.. how much of a problem is this going to be?




Also here is a picture of my front setup



Back Setup

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post #3973 of 13876
1/31/09 at 4:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil Tomaskovic View Post

I do have quite a few sacds and concert dvds...

My above statement is still valid though. As long as you use only dipole mode, it shouldnt be an issue since the front tweeter isnt used at all with dipole, only with monopole.

Although considering that SACD's and music are usually mixed with monopole in mind, get the DS7's if you are planning to keep the rest of the 700-series around for a while.
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post #3974 of 13876
1/31/09 at 4:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by realjh View Post

Hi all new B&W Owner, But earlier today i remove the grill of my back surround speaker it's a B&W 685 and i accidentally ding the tweeter with the grill....see the attach picture.. how much of a problem is this going to be?

You're going to get a bit of distortion out of that but probably not a huge amount. Play some music and put your ear next to it and swap between speakers. That will tell you how bad it will be.

And for future reference, ALWAYS take your grills off starting with the bottom most pegs and work your way up. That way you are holding the pegs nearest to the tweeter as you pull them off (and can, thus, control them). Note: I learned this lesson the same way.

Cheers,
Dave.
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post #3975 of 13876
1/31/09 at 6:25pm
Well I got hold of a good salesman today and now I am trying to decide on wether to get 2 685's with a center or get 2 684's with a center or get 2 683's and no center? As you can see I only have appx 1500.00 to work with.
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post #3976 of 13876
1/31/09 at 6:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by oldtexasdog View Post

Well I got hold of a good salesman today and now I am trying to decide on wether to get 2 685's with a center or get 2 684's with a center or get 2 683's and no center? As you can see I only have appx 1500.00 to work with.

Personally, I like the 685s better than the 684s. However, if you're into music, I'd recommend the 683s with no center and then start saving for the center later. If you're just going to do HT, then the 685s+HTM62 will do you nicely.

...IMHO....
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post #3977 of 13876
2/1/09 at 1:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by FiguredMaple View Post

Anyone familiar with the M-1s or MT-30 setup?

I am planning to buy the MT-30 as well, but with a price tag of CAD$3200, it's a bit hard to pull the trigger. Just wondering what the price is over states side?
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post #3978 of 13876
2/1/09 at 1:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MorganB View Post

Well I took the plung and got the "mini theatre" set of 5 M-1 speakers with the AS2 sub. Am very pleased with the sound.

I am also in the market for the "Mini Theater" package with the M1's, but I can't decide whether to go for AS2 or the PV1. My dealer is saying I could buy two AS2's and the price would still be cheaper than one single PV1.

What do you all think? Is it worth it to go for PV1?
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post #3979 of 13876
2/1/09 at 4:57am
Quote:
Originally Posted by dfidler View Post

Personally, I like the 685s better than the 684s. However, if you're into music, I'd recommend the 683s with no center and then start saving for the center later. If you're just going to do HT, then the 685s+HTM62 will do you nicely.

...IMHO....

Actually, hold on a sec; you didn't mention that you had a sub, sorry that I missed that first time around. You'll want a sub with for HT if you go for the 685s.

If you *can* move up to the 683's, I'd recommend it. Mine cost me 800 quid plus another 300 quid for the center and they were well worth the expense. Of course, they're a lot bigger than both the 684 or 683.

And one other thing to consider. 685+speaker stands is almost the price of a pair of 684s.

I guess the question in all of this really is, do you have future budget for expansion? My order of preference would be:

1. 683+htm62
2. 685+asw610+htm62
3. 684+htm62

But again, that's just all my opinion. YMMV.
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post #3980 of 13876
2/1/09 at 5:12am
Quote:
Originally Posted by oldtexasdog View Post

Well I got hold of a good salesman today and now I am trying to decide on wether to get 2 685's with a center or get 2 684's with a center or get 2 683's and no center? As you can see I only have appx 1500.00 to work with.

The budget has to end somewhere. Can you stretch it a couple hundred?
Pair of 683's at $1100
Pair of 685's at $500 (maybe $550). Use 1 for the center and sell the other or use in 6.1 set up.
I have been offered these prices so thye are possible to get.
The 685 is superior to the HTM61 or 62 as a center.
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post #3981 of 13876
2/1/09 at 5:57am
Purchased pair of 685's, 686's, ASW 608, and HTM 61 for $1644 (brand new and sealed) and no tax for my boss as his first home theater. 20% discount was all I could get. One each of the 685 and 686 had a problem whereby the copper coil attatched to the inside of the back binding post plate fell off. They are attatched by plastic ties. I opened the back to confirm this. They are being replaced.
So much for Chinese quality control. I never had any problems with my British made B&W's including 804N, ASW 6, LCR6 s2, 600i, and DM6.
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post #3982 of 13876
2/1/09 at 8:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by dudley07726 View Post

I never had any problems with my British made B&W's including 804N, ASW 6, LCR6 s2, 600i, and DM6.

That's because they don't put oil in speakers; if they did, you can be sure that they'd have leaked.

Cheers,
Dave.
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post #3983 of 13876
2/1/09 at 9:45am
Quote:
Originally Posted by HTMAN21 View Post

The budget has to end somewhere. Can you stretch it a couple hundred?
Pair of 683's at $1100
Pair of 685's at $500 (maybe $550). Use 1 for the center and sell the other or use in 6.1 set up.
I have been offered these prices so thye are possible to get.
The 685 is superior to the HTM61 or 62 as a center.

Thanks for that info on the center. Yes music 40% movies 50% games 10%
so..683 and just sit on it till I can afford the center looks like a good solution but would I still want to use a single 685 for center?
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post #3984 of 13876
2/1/09 at 11:05am
Hi:

I have a pair of DM610's I series from the mid 1990's that I want to keep as HT fronts that I am putting together.

1. I need recommendations on a timber matched centre! What is the best way to timber match. Most likely I will have to buy the center without previewing it with the dm610's.

2. Should I just not bother and go with a new setup of about the same quality / price?

thx
bert
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post #3985 of 13876
2/1/09 at 11:22am
Quote:
Originally Posted by oldtexasdog View Post

Thanks for that info on the center. Yes music 40% movies 50% games 10%
so..683 and just sit on it till I can afford the center looks like a good solution but would I still want to use a single 685 for center?

oldtxdog - I get my fix from my "dealer" in Plano. If interested, I can send you a PM with his contact info. I trust his expertise. My opinion, with that big room, the 683's will fill it more effectively than the other choices. The 683's should also give you a little less buyer's remorse for not having gotten the "best" mains possible. For the price, they are truly remarkable for how they image the sound stage. Sometimes, for fun, l listen to movies in 2 channel, and while it may not be considered "ideal" it is really pretty good. Originally, my intent was 100% HT, but I'm always sneaking up there to throw a 2 channel John Prine into the ethers. 683...all the way!
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post #3986 of 13876
2/1/09 at 11:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by oldtexasdog View Post

Thanks for that info on the center. Yes music 40% movies 50% games 10%
so..683 and just sit on it till I can afford the center looks like a good solution but would I still want to use a single 685 for center?

That's up to you. One of the things to consider is where would you put the 685 if you did use it as a center. It's wider than the htm62 is tall and so it won't fit on the top shelf of most TV stands. That may mean that you need a dedicated stand.

I've not heard the 685 as a center yet (will play with it later for giggles as I use 685s for rears) but I suspect that you'd be happy with both. I currently use the htm62 for a center and I'm fairly happy with it.
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post #3987 of 13876
2/1/09 at 12:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dfidler View Post

That's up to you. One of the things to consider is where would you put the 685 if you did use it as a center. It's wider than the htm62 is tall and so it won't fit on the top shelf of most TV stands. That may mean that you need a dedicated stand.

I've not heard the 685 as a center yet (will play with it later for giggles as I use 685s for rears) but I suspect that you'd be happy with both. I currently use the htm62 for a center and I'm fairly happy with it.

Above the TV on a dedicated shelf I built at 5' just above the screen. I look foward to your findings
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post #3988 of 13876
2/1/09 at 3:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by oldtexasdog View Post

Above the TV on a dedicated shelf I built at 5' just above the screen. I look foward to your findings

I have listened to the HTM61 more than once in a local shop where a friend works. Front stage simply collapses with movies. IF you really want to test it move left or right of center and see how drastic the sound changes. It osunds like it is the size of a micro speaker. I have heard better HTIB center speakers. The HTM62 is minimally better.
I brought a pair of 685's home to demo over a week end. I used a 685 as the center with my RF7 mains. It was not as good as the RC7, However it served well as a center.
The 685's are very good with 2 channel music. I think they give up a lot of dynamics on movies. All around the 683's are better IMO. Still the 685 is a very good speaker.
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post #3989 of 13876
2/2/09 at 1:56pm
Just pulled the trigger and ordered a HTM61 to replace my Paradigm CC-390. It was killing me not having the matching center for my 683's. If it sounds like crap i'm going to be REALLY pissed. Let's hope for the best. Should have it by early next week.
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post #3990 of 13876
2/2/09 at 2:46pm
Here I am again and this time I would like some opinions from owners of the 800 series dipoles the DS8S.

I have the 800ds and HTM1D as my three fronts and (some KEFs at the sides and back) i was thinking of adding the DS8S as my side surrounds and 805s as my backs (or even bigger if there is a point).

My concern is whether those are powerful enough compared to my fronts since they look a bit "weak" (specs too). I want the best match possible (apart from 7 800Ds ofc) but I would like to hear from some owners how do they sound and how loud they are.
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