B&W704 + HMT7 or HMT2?

[IR73]

Hi All!

I'm a proud owner of a pair of B&W 704s with a Amphion Impact 500 sub. I'm trying to find info and opinions to which B&W centre-speaker to buy within price-range under 1500 eur. It will be used mainly to movies.

I've checked the internet, and this forum, to see if this topic has been covered. There has been conversation concerning 703s matchability to HMT1 and to HTM7, but not 704's or HTM2 - if I haven't missed something.

I know that HTM7 is a good match to my 704s but I would prefer HTM2. Problem is that I'm not sure how well it matches to my 704s? What about sound quality etc? Please, give me facts and/or opinions to make decision!

Thanks all and merry X-mas!

[Twincam]

The "soon to be discontined" HTM2 might be a better center than HTM7, but in your case I would save some money and go with the HTM7, unless you plan to upgrade to 805 very soon.
On the other hand, depending of where your dealer of course, there might be a time to make good deals on the "old" N800 series now before the new stuff arrives in Jan/Feb. Last week I picked up a pair of SCM1s at a B&W dealer here in Switzerland for a 40% discount.

Cheers,

TC

[weijst]

IR73,

I'd say the HTM7 (I guess that's not what you wanted to hear ).

First, as you allready know, the HTM7 is designed to match the 705s and 704s. The tweeter and the way it'll handle midrange sounds will be simular to your front speakers, creating the ever so important homogeneous front soundstage.

Secondly, the HTM2 is not an easy speaker to drive, or at least a lot more difficult to drive than the HTM7. People told me my RMB-1075 (120 w/ch) wasn't up to the task / wouldn't make it 'sing'...

Furthermore, I highly doubt the extra (?) performance of the HTM2 is worth the extra cash, since I myself didn't believe this to be the case with the 805s vs the 705s.

Finally, the HTM7 rocks!

Good luck and a merry christmas to you too!

[JohnG]

Hi everyone, this is my 1st post but I've been keeping a close eye on this forum as I have just upgraded my 600 series to 703's and the HTM7. I have to say they sound far superior but my only gripe isn't with the sound. The problem I have is the shape of the HTM7. It is placed directly underneath my plasma screen but with the speaker having that sloping forward top, I do get screen glare reflecting on top of the speaker especially on bright scenes on my display. Apart from that, the sound is wonderful.
Cheers, John

[BlazeMaster]

JohnG, welcome to the forum and congrats on your new setup. I have a few question to you about the results of your upgrade. Did you upgrade from the 600s S2 or S3? Did you pretty much stayed with the same speakers sizes and just up'ed a series? My main concern is the difference between the HTM7 vs. LCR600, since I want a cleaner dialogue, since main usage for my system is for movies. Did you notice an improvement in movies audio playbacks also? Or the most improvement is in music? Please let me know as I'm considering upgrading to the 700s series as well. Thanks.

[JohnG]

Blazemaster,
My previous speaker setup was 603 S2 fronts, LCR6 centre and 601 S2 rears.
I bought them over 4 years ago and they were my first foray into home cinema. I thought they were excellent. The rest of my system has been slowly upgraded but I never bothered with the speakers.
I can confirm however, that if it's cleaner, crisper dialogue you are looking for, the HTM7 is brilliant. I was allways very happy with my 600 setup and never really expected such a huge leap in performance. The whole sound stage is much more cinematic with sound effects moving seamlessly across the front speakers. I don't listen to a lot of music by the way, mainly just movies
I have no experience of the S3 series, so I'm not sure if they were much of an improvement of the S2 series. All I can say is that from my experience the improvement is dramatic.
I have only had them a few days and have read they can take quite a bit of running in. I'll let you know how they progress.
Cheers, John

[bcgator]

IR73,

As an owner of the B&W 704 + HTM7, and having done A/B comparisons with HTM2 vs. HTM7 + 704, I concur with the previous posters who recommend the HTM7.

Yes, the HTM2 is a better center than the HTM7, but the HTM7 forms such a perfect match with the 704 that it becomes a no-brainer once you hear them at work. The differences between the HTM2 and HTM 7 are not huge...it's not like comparing the LCR60 vs. the HTM7. The differences are more subtle, and will require expensive amplification for you to be able to hear and appreciate the differences. And the HTM7 + 704 combination is so seamless, so well-integrated, so perfectly matched, that I'm pretty sure you'll be happy with the setup. If you like your 704's, do not hesitate to pair them up with the HTM7.

BCGator

[csuzor]

Perhaps just a redundant post, but I just added the HTM7 to my 704s, 90% music / 10% movies, and it is wonderful. I had a KEF speaker in the centre, but I could always "see" it, it wasn't matched. I was recommended the HTM7 on this site, and now I understand why...

I play stereo music in a "matrix" mode, where the "common" component of the left and right channels is played from the centre channel: the result is that voices or instruments that used to sound "somewhere in the middle, but a little hollow", now are "visible" exactly where they should be. Going back to just plain stereo is difficult, the HTM7 fills the hole in the middle of the 704s, but remains invisible in the "front stage"... difficult to describe, highly satisfying to listen to!

I wish I could raise it a little, because under the TV it is a little low, and on the TV it is a little high... The instructions talk about placing it behind a "sonically transparent screen", I guess that means a projector screen. That'll have to wait. Ideally, I would have all the tweeters at the same height.

Christophe

[IR73]

Hi all and thanks for helping out!

I think I'll go for the HTM7. :T

Next issue are the rear channels...

[weijst]

I think I'll go for the HTM7. :T

Smart choice. You'll save some money to get yourself those rear channels too!

Next issue are the rear channels...

And it starts all over again!
I for one am still trying to figure out which to get; 705, DS7 or 601. Let us know how it goes and good luck! :T

[theMaximus]

Hi all and thanks for helping out!

I think I'll go for the HTM7. :T

Next issue are the rear channels...

I have 704 and HTM7 and using 601 S3 for rear channels. IMO, this set up works really well with movies and DVD-Audio. I highly recommend 601 S3 unless you are willing to spend extra money for 705 for rear channels.

[junior77blue]

Ideally, 705s.

601s or 602s should work fine as well.

[grit]

Two quick questions:

1 - Lots of talk about the 704s and HTM7. How well will the 703's match up with the HTM7? The 705's, 704's, and HTM7 all seem to share the same midrange speaker, whereas the 703's have the FST midrange.


2 - For HT surrounds in a 5.1 B&W 700 series speaker system, are the DS7s or the 705s the better way to go? I understand the mechanical differences in dipoles vs monopoles, but I'm not sure which'll sound better.

[junior77blue]

2- for HT dipoles seems to be the consensus, since your looking for a difused sound for special effects. For multi-channel audio, complete opposite.

1 - the HTM7 will be the best match for the 703s. It is an exact match, definately not. Will you notice it, probably not. But let your own ears be the judge.