B&W CM7 and low volume performance

[Mathieu]

Hi,
I listened to the cm7 at my local shop and really loved them.
However I'd like to have a system that works well at lower volumes as I don't listen too loud. I didn't really managed to make sure of that with the cm7 in the shop. I guess it also depends to some extent to the amp they are matched with...

Do you feel the cm7 are suited to low volume listening (at least moderate levels) ?

Also, they will be a small room (15m²), is there going to be a problem with bass?

Thanks
Mathieu

[htsteve]

Hi,
I listened to the cm7 at my local shop and really loved them.
However I'd like to have a system that works well at lower volumes as I don't listen too loud. I didn't really managed to make sure of that with the cm7 in the shop. I guess it also depends to some extent to the amp they are matched with...

Do you feel the cm7 are suited to low volume listening (at least moderate levels) ?

Also, they will be a small room (15m²), is there going to be a problem with bass?

Thanks
Mathieu

Mathieu,

First off, welcome to the forum! Hopefully you will find it helpful.

Nice choice with the CM7's.

As to your questions: The performance will greatly depend on your electronics, both pre-amp and amp. The better they are (and the quieter their reproduction), generally , the better they perform at lower volumes.

What are you running today with the CM7's? Are you strictly 2 channel or part HT? Do you have a subwoofer?

You do not have a large room. I have a 20m², so a bit bigger than yours.

If you have good electronics driving the CM7's in that size room, your bass response should be pretty decent. However, the CM7's do not go really low. They are not a true full range speaker. If you do not have a sub, low bass and even some upper bass may be missing. This can be treated with speaker placement and better electronics, but a sub is a strong consideration for these.


Hope this helps.

[Mathieu]

Hi Steve,
They would be part of a 2 channels system.
It will not be a problem if the bass response doesn't go too low, I was just a bit worried with bass being messy due to the small room as opposed to with bookshelf speakers that are often recommended for smaller rooms because of their more limited bass response.

For the electronics I've come across many people telling me that a big amp is necessary for good low volume performance. However it's not very clear to me what a big amp is as it seems power is not the main factor to take into account here...

Some people on another forum have been recommending class D amps with the CM7, any feedback?

Cheers
Mathieu

[htsteve]

Mathieu,

I think in general, a big amp is 150 to 200 watts per channel or more. I think for CM7's, at least 100 wpc is a good starting place.

Any amp needs to be a quality amp like a Rotel or other comparable amp.

I've had both solid state and class D amps from Rotel. Both types perform well and come in various power ratings. The class D amps are smaller and they run cooler.

There are two ways to approach a 2 channel system: separates or an integrated.

Separates allow you to get exactly what models you want. Or maybe start with an amp now and upgrade the pre-amp later.

An integrated is a nice 2 channel solution in one package. Here is a very good deal on very good integrated with excellent power.


http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....ran&1230129591


Your bass response with the CM7's will be better than most bookshelf solutions. That will be a very nice speaker in that sized room.


Power, room acoustics and speaker placement all have an impact on the sound you hear. I tend to favor having extra power. In general, it does tend to make speakers sing, especially in the bass area (where extra power is really noticed). Things are cleaner and tighter.



Hope this helps.