B&W and CES 2013

[Rod#S]

With CES just around the corner I was curious if anyone has heard any rumors of new models, line updates etc?

It would be nice to see B&W re-think the discontinuation of the HTM1D and bring back the beast. It sucks that Wilson seems to be one of the only companies now making very large centers specifically designed to pair with their top tier expensive towers. It's odd that Wilson, a much smaller company than B&W can maintain production of not one but two very large and expensive centers because I can't imagine Wilson sells very many of either models throughout the year and I believe it was poor sales that led to the discontinuation of the HTM1D.

Focal makes the Viva Utopia center which is fairly large but that is basically just a standard Viva arranged horizontially and made more for the Viva towers than say the Grande Utopia, Stella and Masestro. It would probably make a very good match for the Scala though.

The Paradigm C5 is a large center speaker also and designed to go well with the S8 but the Paradigm's aren't exactly in the same class as Wilson, B&W and Focal.

Edit. I just remembered that McIntosh still makes a big center, the XCS2K for their flagship XRT2K tower.

[BWLover]

Any new information?

[BVLDARI]

A local B&W rep recently told me that they are looking to expand their in wall series to include what will essentially be CM series speakers. The biggest difference being that these will be speakers within a cabinet vs. the regular in wall series. This spawned from a conversation about what speakers I could get to try and match my diamonds if I needed in walls/in ceilings.

[Kevin D]

A local B&W rep recently told me that they are looking to expand their in wall series to include what will essentially be CM series speakers. The biggest difference being that these will be speakers within a cabinet vs. the regular in wall series. This spawned from a conversation about what speakers I could get to try and match my diamonds if I needed in walls/in ceilings.

Hmmm. The 700 series in-walls all ready have a cabinet included with them for in-wall applications. Pretty nifty folding box to fit inside the wall through a cut-out just for the speaker.

Kevin D.

[Mikael]

Maybe he means the new CI 800 series, they have a big backbox that could look like a cabinet or it could be the CT700 series they are made with a cabinet for placement in a cabinet. Both models are on B&W web site.

[BVLDARI]

I may not have understood him correctly, but he made it sound like the new speakers are going to come pre packaged to be mounted between joists, behind the drywall, as is the Fathom IWS subwoofer for example. I guess I should not have said anything considering I didn’t know the details…

[Mikael]

The CI800 models are made just like the rep said.

[BVLDARI]

The CI800 models are made just like the rep said.

I must have misunderstood then. Sorry about that.

[Mikael]

Don't be, I for one would like to see the new CI800 models in a real speaker cabinet, sincs I don't have the oppertunity to build them into my walls.

[Race Car Driver]

It would be nice to see B&W re-think the discontinuation of the HTM1D and bring back the beast. It sucks that Wilson seems to be one of the only companies now making very large centers specifically designed to pair with their top tier expensive towers. It's odd that Wilson, a much smaller company than B&W can maintain production of not one but two very large and expensive centers because I can't imagine Wilson sells very many of either models throughout the year and I believe it was poor sales that led to the discontinuation of the HTM1D.

As a previous owner of the HTM1D, HTM2D and HTM1, the 1D was an amazing center. I too wish they would bring it back!