Just sold my HTM1 and need similar quality B&W center

[mpauline]

Got what I paid for it four years ago! Now I want to find a center and mains hopefully used. Has anyone compared the CM9 and the 804's? Now that I have had an HTM1 as a center what can I find from B&W which will be as good?

[stuofsci02]

Within the B&W family I would not drop below a CMC2 for a center which would match the CM9. The CMC2 won't be as good at the HTM1..

But if you have had 800 series I think you will have a hard time going to CM series.

[mpauline]

Yes that I what I am afraid of also. I think I might have to make another trip to the USA to find some used 804's and a matching center. I see that you have the 804s' and a HTM3S. What is your impression over the HTM3S and have you ever heard the CMC2?

[stuofsci02]

For centers over the years I have had:

HTM61
CMC
HTM4s
and now HTM3s.

I would rank them in that order, with a big jump in performance between the CMC and the HTM4s.

I got the HTM4s and had it for a year while I searched for a rosenut HTM3s (these suckers are hard to find locally).

The HTM4s was fantastic with my 804s, but the HTM3s is that much better. IMO it is the best match of center I have owned.. It is really a steller match.

I have not had a chance to seriously audition a CMC2, but it is the lowest B&W center that uses tweeter over mid with two woofer arrangement. I will never go back to a center that is mid-tweeter-mid.... Having the tweeter over a single mid makes such a big difference.

[mpauline]

For centers over the years I have had:

HTM61
CMC
HTM4s
and now HTM3s.

I would rank them in that order, with a big jump in performance between the CMC and the HTM4s.

I got the HTM4s and had it for a year while I searched for a rosenut HTM3s (these suckers are hard to find locally).

The HTM4s was fantastic with my 804s, but the HTM3s is that much better. IMO it is the best match of center I have owned.. It is really a steller match.

I have not had a chance to seriously audition a CMC2, but it is the lowest B&W center that uses tweeter over mid with two woofer arrangement. I will never go back to a center that is mid-tweeter-mid.... Having the tweeter over a single mid makes such a big difference.

What do you think is a fair price to pay for a HTM3s?

[stuofsci02]

In Canada if it is in mint condition with all packaging etc ~$2300 would be going price.. But I have seen them in the $2000-2500 range a number of times.

There is high demand for 804s and HTM3s these days.. There are always more then a few wanted ads on Canuckaudiomart.com.

[mpauline]

Darn I should have kept my HTM1 which I sold for $1400. It probably would have been an okay match with the 804s that I am trying to buy. I will search for a HTM3S or maybe even buy another HTM1 depending on the opinion of others whether or not it is a close timbre match.

[stuofsci02]

Can you explain your upgrade path. What you have/had

From your Anthem thread you were going to change your processor and mention Klipsch speakers, but now you mention that you had an HTM1. I am a bit confused..

What colour are you looking for in the HTM3S...?

[mpauline]

Can you explain your upgrade path. What you have/had

From your Anthem thread you were going to change your processor and mention Klipsch speakers, but now you mention that you had an HTM1. I am a bit confused..

What colour are you looking for in the HTM3S...?

I have a Rotel 1098 processor, 1095 and 1080 Rotel amps, Mirage 1295is mains, and just sold my HTM1. I bought the HTM1 a number of years ago with the intent of buying 804 or 803 mains however I did not get the WAF. Now I am getting divorced so can buy what I want hence the new speakers and processor/blu-ray upgrade bug.

I sold the HTM1 one week ago with the intent of getting three matching front speakers. I thought about the Klipsch THX speakers as they are all identical and there is no horizontal center issues. That being said I saw and more importantly listened to some 804s yesterday and have decided that is the route I will go. I have found some 804s in BC to buy. They are the light cherry finish.

[stuofsci02]

Cool,

I saw those 804s on Canuck Audio Mart..

Congrats on the upgrade!

Where did you listen to 804s? Do any shops still have them?

[mpauline]

Cool,

I saw those 804s on Canuck Audio Mart..

Congrats on the upgrade!

Where did you listen to 804s? Do any shops still have them?

Steve's TV in Kitchener has them. They wanted $4600 for the pair.

[emig5m]

What is your impression over the HTM3S and have you ever heard the CMC2?

Heard a CMC2 at a Best Buy Magnolia playing Transformers 2 Bluray and thought it sounded very congested and in the box compared to my HTM3S. You can visually see that the midrange driver isn't the same size as the HTM3S. They where running a Yamaha A2000 and I've ran my HTM3S on a lowly Yamaha 663 before so I doubt it was electronics. Could of been that they didn't setup the system properly (running YPAO) or settings where messed around with by customers or speakers where in a poor location (reason I only like to do serious demoing at home). I've probably been spoiled for life with my 804S/HTM3S, heh. I did however own the HTM61 and got to compare it with the HTM3S in my own system and the HTM3S blew it away in every aspect! So much more airiness and detail was the first thing that I noticed...

[stuofsci02]

Yeah, that is not much below the old list price...

[moosepapi]

Center channel choices for the cm9

Would any of the HTM centers (esp the HTM1) match up well with the cm9 or does the cmc2 be the best match?

[stuofsci02]

I assume by HTM you mean only 800 series HTM models? There is also 600 series and 700 series HTM models.

IMO the better the center channel the better (to a point), so matching a 800 series center with the CM9 would be ok. I would never mix a lesser center with my mains. When I switched from 600 series to 800 series I didn't have my HTM3s yet and still had the HTM61... I didn't use it since it was worse having it..

[moosepapi]

Yes, I meant the 800 series center. I was wanting the best imaging possible.