Bright speakers

[tonych31]

I currently have Monitor Audio Silver 6 and to me it seems to be a very bright and detailed speaker.

Just want to know if B&W speakers can be considered bright as well.
Currently I have the Rotel 1075/1068 combination running the MA6.
My speaker cable is chord carnival.

I still feel that it is too bright though. I am thinking of updating it to B&W 600 or 700 series.

Any opinions.

[weijst]

I started to 'get involved' with B&W a while back because I preferred their somewhat 'warm sound' (i.e. not bright). It was because of this characteristic that I decided on a pair of DM602 (S1). As time passed I remained impressed by the DM602 performance, resulting in the purchase of a new pair of DM602 S3. These sounded a bit more defined in the high frequency range compared to the older 602. Notice I use the term 'defined'. At first (back when deciding on the DM602 S1) I might have described this as 'bright'. The thing I'm saying is that I started to prefer the more defined sound over the somewhat warmer sound (not to say these two characteristics can't be combined, but I think you'll have to go into the upper 700 or 800 series). Last summer I sold my 600 serie speakers and stepped into the 700 range. Again an increase in high frequency definition (brightness?) and stereo image, combined with a tighter bass.

Somewhere in the middle I also had a pair of KEF Q1. Now there's a speaker I tend to describe as bright instead of defined…

I'm now using 705 / HTM7 with QED's Silver anniversary, driven by the same Rotel combination as you have.

Hope this helpes.

[tonych31]

Which 700 series model did you get ? And what amp do you have ?
Did it give you a more profound or defined sound than the 602.

[weijst]

Amp: 1068 / 1075

The 705 definitely gave me a more defined sound. But it was the increased stereo image that was most notable. With the 602, the 'virtual speaker' in the middle was very small. With the 705 it is a lot bigger (FYI, the stereo image of the 805 was even bigger…). Off course this all has to do a lot with speaker placement, but thrust me, I moved them around a lot… .

But still, I believe B&W's DM602 is the true sweet spot of the series. Price / performance wise, this speaker can't be beaten (do make sure you place them on a firm stand)…