B&W launches 4 new speakers in CM Line

[Ajani]

For those who think Audiophilia is dying, just check out the ever-expanding lines of some of the major brands and think again...

B&W launches 4 new speakers in CM Line:

http://www.electronichouse.com/artic...w_speakers/C18

I really like the CM1, but it's 5 inch driver meant limited scale and bass... which seems to be the major complaint against the CM7 floorstanders as well... so adding the CM5 (a bookshelf with a 6.5 inch driver) and the CM9 (three way floorstander with dual 6.5 woofers instead of the the single one in the CM7), sounds like a smart move to me...

Anyway, the expanded CM line gets me thinking about when they plan to update the 700 series...

[Rich-n-Texas]

I wish I had some intelligent input for this thread Ajani, but the only thought that comes to mind is...

I want some!

[bobsticks]

Actually I have nothing to say about the specifics of these speakers either but...I can tell ya it's a good time to buy year-end stuff. I just about walked out of the shop today with a brand new set of 705 with stands for under a grand.

Then I remembered I had nowhere to put 'em.

Spent an afternoon with the new CLX though. Details will be forthcoming...

[pixelthis]

For those who think Audiophilia is dying, just check out the ever-expanding lines of some of the major brands and think again...

B&W launches 4 new speakers in CM Line:

http://www.electronichouse.com/artic...w_speakers/C18

I really like the CM1, but it's 5 inch driver meant limited scale and bass... which seems to be the major complaint against the CM7 floorstanders as well... so adding the CM5 (a bookshelf with a 6.5 inch driver) and the CM9 (three way floorstander with dual 6.5 woofers instead of the the single one in the CM7), sounds like a smart move to me...

Anyway, the expanded CM line gets me thinking about when they plan to update the 700 series...

THOSE speakers look great but let me explain something.
They are expressly designed for home theater
Other than proof that "audiophilia" is not "dying" they are quite the opposite, they are a marketing response to a complete lack of two channel interest.
You can use these for that sure, but thats not the intent of their design.
Not that it matters, at twice the price of my B&w's they are a lottery
ticket away from my house.

[Ajani]

THOSE speakers look great but let me explain something.
They are expressly designed for home theater
Other than proof that "audiophilia" is not "dying" they are quite the opposite, they are a marketing response to a complete lack of two channel interest.
You can use these for that sure, but thats not the intent of their design.
Not that it matters, at twice the price of my B&w's they are a lottery
ticket away from my house.

Though I am a 2 channel fanatic, I don't regard audiophilia as being synonymous with 2 channel. Apart from the Nautilus, all of B&W's current speaker lines are designed to be used as part of a HT system. The 802D can be used as part of a redanculously expensive HT package or as the Left and Right speakers in a very expensive 2 channel setup... The CM Line is no different... I don't think HT kills Audiophilia, just that it makes it even more stupidly expensive....

[E-Stat]

THOSE speakers look great but let me explain something.
They are expressly designed for home theater...

First of all, I think it is ridiculous to state that a speaker is *expressly designed* for either. As for your asssertion, B&W lists them on their hi-fi page: B&W Hi-Fi Speakers CM Series

"Although nearly all B&W speakers can be used for both hi-fi and home theatre applications, the following ranges are more orientated to hi-fi use."

rw

[pixelthis]

First of all, I think it is ridiculous to state that a speaker is *expressly designed* for either. As for your asssertion, B&W lists them on their hi-fi page: B&W Hi-Fi Speakers CM Series

"Although nearly all B&W speakers can be used for both hi-fi and home theatre applications, the following ranges are more orientated to hi-fi use."

rw

OH PLEASE.
Nope, no home theater system here! Just a center, two towers, two smaller ones for the rear, and a matching sub.
Doesn't resemble any HT set I've ever seen!
You sound like the Iranians, with their "peacefull" nuclear energy
ambitions, when they are drowning in oil and need "peacefull"
nuclear power like a horse needs a motorscooter.
ANY audio company had better pay attention to the HT market, because next to nobody can afford two seperate systems, and most are going to go HT.
Would those bookshelfs or towers make great stereo pairs?
Sure, but they are timber matched to others in the line, their main
forte is HT.
Check out all of the speaker companies, all but the most esoteric
have matching centers for their speakers, and a sub to boot.
That is just a fact of life these days, this has to be done in order to survive .
Outside of the fanatic, how many "average" homes these days have
a dedicated home audio system? Not many.
A decent HT system can play music very well, sure, but lets face it, the golden age of two channel audio is over, basically.

[Ajani]

OH PLEASE.
Nope, no home theater system here! Just a center, two towers, two smaller ones for the rear, and a matching sub.
Doesn't resemble any HT set I've ever seen!
You sound like the Iranians, with their "peacefull" nuclear energy
ambitions, when they are drowning in oil and need "peacefull"
nuclear power like a horse needs a motorscooter.
ANY audio company had better pay attention to the HT market, because next to nobody can afford two seperate systems, and most are going to go HT.
Would those bookshelfs or towers make great stereo pairs?
Sure, but they are timber matched to others in the line, their main
forte is HT.
Check out all of the speaker companies, all but the most esoteric
have matching centers for their speakers, and a sub to boot.
That is just a fact of life these days, this has to be done in order to survive .
Outside of the fanatic, how many "average" homes these days have
a dedicated home audio system? Not many.
A decent HT system can play music very well, sure, but lets face it, the golden age of two channel audio is over, basically.

So does timbre matching the centre and sub to the bookshelves and towers diminish the 2 channel performance of the B & Ts?

[E-Stat]

OH PLEASE.
Nope, no home theater system here! Just a center, two towers, two smaller ones for the rear, and a matching sub.
Doesn't resemble any HT set I've ever seen!

It also resembles a multi-channel music system. So, despite the fact you disagree with Bowers & Wilkins about their own product direction, what characteristic(s) do you find make a speaker "expressly designed" for home theatre use? Are they popcorn butter resistant?

ANY audio company had better pay attention to the HT market...

Agreed, but what does that have to do with your claim? Successful marketing strategies are different from engineering objectives.

Would those bookshelfs or towers make great stereo pairs?
Sure, but they are timber (sic) matched to others in the line, their main
forte is HT.

So, what does that mean "their forte is HT"? What do you do differently with an HT speaker than a music speaker? Just curious.

Check out all of the speaker companies, all but the most esoteric
have matching centers for their speakers, and a sub to boot.

Here again, I don't disagree. Even Sound Labs makes a center (if not a full range electrostatic one). Did Dr. West change his development objectives to support HT when he created the center? Did he make changes to the rest of the line that might be considered the "mains"? Did he forget about the multi-channel recordings available?

rw

[pixelthis]

I don't think we disagree on too much.
But two channel is what I have spent most of my life with, you know.
The citeria fo two channel is more difficult to acheive than with HT.
Most movie tracks have little to do with accuracy anyway, most are
dubbed voices, foley effects, digital effects, and all is mixed to be
as dynamic as possible.
Music reproduction is about accuracy, reproducing the original sound
as closely as posible, almost to the point of being neurotic.
Follow a movie closely enough and the residual sound will fade into the background, but with audio music is the key.
Two speakers, each providing their own bass, with as simple a path from source to speaker as possible.
And I know that stereo started out as three channel, but it didnt end up that way, and most recordings are geared to two channel.
Sure you can use HT speakers for an audio system, you can use car stereo speakers also, or computer speakers.
But for the purist everything must be slanted toward reproduction of audio, no taking into account the failings of most movie soundtracks.
A decent HT system is a good compromise for most, for financial
reasons it has to do for mostthere is no choice.
But the most important thing to remember is that music listening for most these days is portable(Ipod, etc) , to just sit and listen to music
is not a concern of a lot these days, and most would consider spending several K just to "listen" to music to be a waste of money if not insane.
Pure audio listening is becoming more rare.
AND "timber matching" and other compromises built into todays
speakers wont disable them for casual or even moderate "listening
sessions", indeed I enjoy my B&w's a great deal , a very detailed speaker, but a true dedicated audio system is something else entirely.
Just because you can fly cross country in a Cessna or a Lear jet doesnt mean you should confuse the two, both are quite different,
really.
And you know this, my guess is you are just trying to stir debate,
but for me there is none.
A dedicated audio system is entirely a beast of its own realm, but
most are going to have to live with a audio/HT hybrid until (if ever)
pure audio listening becomes more popular

[E-Stat]

I don't think we disagree on too much.

Perhaps not. Just wanted to understand your "expressly designed for HT" comment.

Two speakers, each providing their own bass, with as simple a path from source to speaker as possible.

I'm certainly with you there.

And I know that stereo started out as three channel...Pure audio listening is becoming more rare.

Yes.

... but a true dedicated audio system is something else entirely.

I think I found your answer. So, the little B&Ws are good, but not good enough to warrant audiophile status. Again, just trying to understand your comment that triggered my question.

A dedicated audio system is entirely a beast of its own realm...

Actually, this is another point of agreement. Do you remember the discussion I had with your buddy TtT over this topic?

rw

[pixelthis]

Who could forget?
Anyway I find the urge increasing to just chuck the HT gear and hunker
down with a nice lower level audio 2 channel system.
I never had more fun than listening to Jazz on my two channel stuff.
And since I am a fan of music video type material anyway...
Can you go home again? I wonder sometimes.