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B&W M1 vs. Anthony Gallo Micro... which for rear? which for 2nd zone?

6219 Views 20 Replies 6 Participants Last post by fatbottom, May 5, 2014

alexb76

Discussion Starter · Feb 24, 2014

I am in-between picking the B&W M1 and Anthony Gallo Micro speakers for my new setup. Not sure which would do a better job.

#1 Pair: Rear speakers, matching B&W 805S, B&W XTC Center, B&W PV1 sub, connected to Pioneer Elite SC-67 (or 77 - buying either this week)

#2 Pair: Dining room speakers, feed from receiver in the other room

#3 Pair: Bedroom/office speakers, feed from PC/iPod/iPad for background music

Now, which of the two speakers fit best for each usage? The Anthony Gallo Micro look very nice and fit quite well into my living room for the rear speakers, but I am afraid if they have enough low-end. The specs on both are similar, and I have auditioned both but not together, so hard to compare.

Any ideas?

1 - 20 of 21 Posts

alexb76

Discussion Starter · #2 · Feb 28, 2014

Any advise on these?

zieglj01

· #3 · Feb 28, 2014

If you want some type of bass response - then go with the M1

sdg4vfx

· #4 · Feb 28, 2014

+1 ^^^^

Though IMHO both of the speakers would be a bad fit for Zone 2 use (in your case the dining room and bedroom). They are satellite speakers designed to be used with a sub to not only cover the low end, but even help out with the mid-range. Can you go with a small bookshelf speaker for the Zone 2 uses? (There are options that will give you much better Zone 2 sound for less money.)

alexb76

Discussion Starter · #5 · Feb 28, 2014

Quote:
Originally Posted by sdg4vfx /t/1519617/b-w-m1-vs-anthony-gallo-micro-which-for-rear-which-for-2nd-zone#post_24420025

+1 ^^^^

Though IMHO both of the speakers would be a bad fit for Zone 2 use (in your case the dining room and bedroom). They are satellite speakers designed to be used with a sub to not only cover the low end, but even help out with the mid-range. Can you go with a small bookshelf speaker for the Zone 2 uses? (There are options that will give you much better Zone 2 sound for less money.)

Zone 2 options are limited to wall mounting, and I only have a small wooden bracket of 5.5" covering the blinds on the window to mount these. I think for sure in Zone 2, M1 would be a better choice, or, this is another option:

Focal Dome: http://www.focal.com/en/dome/163-dôme-satellite-3544052690132.html

sdg4vfx

· #6 · Feb 28, 2014

Gotcha. Maybe have a look at these - both are sealed and designed to be wall mounted.

Ascend Acoustics HTM-200 SE http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers/htm200/htm200.html

NHT Absolute Wall Speaker Black (and White) http://www.nhthifi.com/Home-Theater-Absolute-On-Wall-Speaker-Black?sc=12&category=3772

For the Zone 2 use either of these would give a fuller, more pleasing sound than any satellites speaker. (I also know folks who have painted them the same color as their walls.)

(BTW, I think the Focal Dome is an excellent satellite speaker. But still a satellite and dependent on bass/low-mid help.)

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alexb76

Discussion Starter · #7 · Feb 28, 2014

2

Quote:
Originally Posted by sdg4vfx /t/1519617/b-w-m1-vs-anthony-gallo-micro-which-for-rear-which-for-2nd-zone#post_24420093

Gotcha. Maybe have a look at these - both are sealed and designed to be wall mounted.

Ascend Acoustics HTM-200 SE http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers/htm200/htm200.html

NHT Absolute Wall Speaker Black (and White) http://www.nhthifi.com/Home-Theater-Absolute-On-Wall-Speaker-Black?sc=12&category=3772

For the Zone 2 use either of these would give a fuller, more pleasing sound than any satellites speaker. (I also know folks who have painted them the same color as their walls.)

(BTW, I think the Focal Dome is an excellent satellite speaker. But still a satellite and dependent on bass/low-mid help.)

Thanks man, those look great, but still won't work in the space. Here's where they should be mounted.

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alexb76

Discussion Starter · #8 · Feb 28, 2014

Quote:
Originally Posted by alexb76 /t/1519617/b-w-m1-vs-anthony-gallo-micro-which-for-rear-which-for-2nd-zone#post_24420132

Thanks man, those look great, but still won't work in the space. Here's where they should be mounted. Hence, the smaller satellite speakers... specs of each:

B&W M1:

1x 25mm (1in) aluminium dome high-frequency

1x 100mm (4in) woven glass fibre cone bass / midrange

Frequency range: -6dB at 55Hz and 50kHz

Frequency response: 64Hz - 23kHz ±3dB on reference axis

Sensitivity: 85dB spl (2.83V, 1m)

Crossover: 4KHz

Focal Dome:

4" (10cm) Polyglass mid-bass,

1" (25mm) Al/Mg inverted dome tweeter

Low frequency point (-6dB): 72Hz

Frequency response (±3dB): 80Hz - 28 kHz

Sensitivity: 88dB

Crossover: 2500Hz

Anthony Gallo Micro:

Frequency response: 80Hz to 18Khz

Sensitivity: 89 dB/w

Driver: 3" full range

Anthony Gallo A'Diva:

Frequency response: On wall or stand 76Hz to 20Khz

Frequency response: On isolation ring 88Hz to 20Khz

Sensitivity: 88 dB/w

Driver: 3" full range

So, based on this, B&W should go lowest, while Micro has some good spec, although I am not so sure how reliable that is. I most likely set the Sub crossover to 80 Hz, but the sub won't be heard in 2nd Zone much.

zieglj01

· #9 · Feb 28, 2014

Do not get too carried away with reading marketing specs

The Anthony Gallo is fortunate to play around 125 hz

The Focal Dome is limited around 110 hz

Also, it would be a stretch for B&W to hit real low

For your options I prefer B&W or Focal Dome

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sdg4vfx

· #10 · Feb 28, 2014

Quote:
Originally Posted by alexb76 /t/1519617/b-w-m1-vs-anthony-gallo-micro-which-for-rear-which-for-2nd-zone#post_24420132

Thanks man, those look great, but still won't work in the space. Here's where they should be mounted ...

Ah - gave it a shot

In that case +1 zieglj01's suggestions (again).

Just out of curiosity - what's the measurement on that ledge?

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alexb76

Discussion Starter · #11 · Mar 1, 2014

The ledge is only 5" 1/4.

alexb76

Discussion Starter · #12 · Mar 1, 2014

Quote:
Originally Posted by sdg4vfx /t/1519617/b-w-m1-vs-anthony-gallo-micro-which-for-rear-which-for-2nd-zone#post_24422538

Ah - gave it a shot

In that case +1 zieglj01's suggestions (again).

Just out of curiosity - what's the measurement on that ledge?

Just under 5.5"

sdg4vfx

· #13 · Mar 1, 2014

They're considerably more expensive, but the Galla Strada 2 ("center" version) would fit and offer significantly better sound quality. You might find some of the first gen Strada's used for a good price (I often see them on audiogon and ebay).

Otherwise back to the M1

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alexb76

Discussion Starter · #14 · Mar 3, 2014

I like those but a tad too big.

I'm now between Focal and B&W. Focal looks nicer and is made in France, while B&W has better specs, made in China and $100 cheaper.

Hard to compare sound quality as they're in two separate places and setups.

ercreador

· #15 · Mar 18, 2014

I have the focal dome 5.1 (in his white version) for a 1 year to now. Before purchase it, I have been tested and compared with the B&W M1 system. They sound more or less close but no one better than other, and they sound great. Then in my opinion the difference come to the manufacture : the french made in aluminum dome vs wherever made in plastic M1, no way to compare... and in addition the look of the focal dome is stunning. In my opinion only surpassed by the B&O beolab 14 (concerning the looking)

alexb76

Discussion Starter · #16 · May 4, 2014

I thought an update is in order. At the end, I did get B&W M1s, and literally right now listening to them! I have B&W 805S for the front, and then use these for rear, as well as 2nd Zone/room. They are absolutely one of the best satellite speakers you can find, have great flexibility for mounting, and are built very good, and they sound much better than the older M1s (my parents have those).

I did a ton of auditions of many speakers and here is what I've found!

B&W M1: Great all around sound, best bass amongst smaller speakers I tried. BUT, they need a LOT OF POWER!
Focal Dome: Probably slightly better high/mid than M1, but less bass. It was very very hard to pick between these two. Focal is also made in France, comes in really cool shiny colors, it's round shape, and was just a toss-up.
Anthony Gallo Mico: Incredible highs and good mid, and if you place it correctly with a sub probably sounds the best. BUT, it literally has no bass, and must have a sub.
Monitor Audio Radius 90: GREAT sounding speaker, it lacked a bit of bass vs. the first two and again very close in performance. We just didn't like the look that much.

So, I would recommend ANY of the above, it basically comes down to style, how you need to mount them, price and if you have a good amp/receiver. I think if you are going to have a full satellite system (no larger front), then the MORE important thing is the SUB! Problem with all of these smaller ones is that they don't go low enough, and most subs don't go as high... so you usually get a gap in the 80-150Hz... My B&W 805s do an amazing job on bass, so it literally covers that gap nicely.

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pmanyon

· #17 · May 4, 2014

I had the M1's for 5.1, matched with an svs pb-1000, and it was a very good sounding system. The M'1s or any of the speakers mentioned are not for use without a subwoofer. I went to the M'1 from orb audio mod2's which are similar to the gallos, and here is what I noticed.

The M'1's had much better detail in the high frequencies due to the 2-way speaker vs. full range design. Also, the low end of the M1's allowed me to move my receiver's crossover point from 150hz to 100hz. The midrange sounded much better with this setup and there was very little if any localization of the sub. Really, with the orbs, the rears sounded very thin. With the M1's, the sound all around was much fuller. I now have ARX towers for my front soundstage but still use the m1's for my rears. Although for aesthetic reasons I may have to go back to M1's all around, but honestly, this isn't a bad thing. For small speakers you get a great low end that will blend well with a sub. Again, they are not going to blow you away on their own, but you will notice a more fuller sound than competing satellites when paired with a good sub.

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sdg4vfx

· #18 · May 4, 2014

For surrounds I'd lean toward the M1 over the Micro.

You might also check out the Ascend HTM-200 - it is a sealed speaker and designed to be mounted flush on a wall (actually more space efficient than a satellite with a wall mount). It digs deeper than either the M1 or Micro and it will accommodate an 80Hz sub crossover, which is preferable to a higher crossover.

fatbottom

· #19 · May 4, 2014

pretty daft the only surround speakers B&W make is the DS3

sdg4vfx

· #20 · May 5, 2014

Probably true. Though the only folks I know with 5.1 B&W Diamond series setups use Diamonds all the way around.

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