Is it just me or have B&W forgotten their roots. aside of the new 800 series a couple of years ago we haven't seen a new affordable speaker line instead of the old 7 series, and the 6 series has about 8 years of running. Instead of all their inwall and airplay headphones it is time for some real B&W products ie speakers to place in the room, just my 2 cents.
Have B&W forgotten their roots?
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They just re-did the 600 series to the 68x series last year and brought out the CM series in place of the 700 series... I think a speaker manufacturer can only support so many lines and B&W is really to the end of what I think they can support at one time.
Their normal turn around to either upgrade or create a new line is about 4 to 5 years... So I think they are right on par with things for the moment.
They really need to update the Nautalis line! ha ha. Well maybe upgrade the drivers in them.Digital Audio makes me Happy.
-Dan- Bottom
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They haven't forgotten their roots, no one is buying their roots. The box speaker market is still crashing hard. The unfortunate truth is without headphones, airplay ipod speakers, computer speakers, and architectural speakers; there would be no B&W right now. Same reasons you can find some of the line at Best Buy and in new Jaguars.
Putting their(our) passion before business is a sure fire way to be left with only their(our) passion.
Kevin D.- Bottom
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Agree totally with Kevin, I think B&W are doing what they must to stay relevant. People don't tend to buy new speakers every year, so you've got to find other stuff to sell. It doesn't change the fact that B&W still produce some of the best high end speakers in out there, and I should imagine finding ways to improve them - and then selling it - isn't very easy.- Mike
Main System:
B&W 802D, HTM2D, SCMS
Classé SSP-800, CA-2200, CA-5100- Bottom
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Kevin nailed it. I don't see a new line developing soon, although I won't be surprised if they eventually add models to accompany the PM1 and slowly phase out the CM line; kinda like a couple years ago when the CM phased out the 700 series.- Bottom
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As much as I enjoy seeing new lines or updated , I think B&W is doing just fine with the current product line. The only thing I think right now B&W is lacking is a surround speaker for the CM series. They need a wall mounted model in monopole and Bipolar. Or some kind of hybrid design in a mono/bipolar. Currently there is only a book shelf model that is non wall mountable.- Bottom
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I migth get in trouble in here with this remark, but I think that the CM9 is the worst sounding B&W speaker ever. A very brigth sounding mid and treble and a bass that sounds shut in and not comming out of the box, The 683 does a far better job with the bass and mids, but has an even poorer sounding treble. I cant afford the 800 series, so when I heard the new treble for the PM1 I was sold, I think it is that good, so I was hoping to see aleast a 3 way floor model in the PM series, but I guess that will never happen.
Then they go and make the new CI800 series wich is fine by me, it has the treble and mid and bass that I want(CWM8.3) but since I don't have the oppertunity to build them into my walls, they are not for me sadly. I think there would be a marked for a boxed version of those new CI800 models, or atleast a on wall version.- Bottom
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I migth get in trouble in here with this remark, but I think that the CM9 is the worst sounding B&W speaker ever. A very brigth sounding mid and treble and a bass that sounds shut in and not comming out of the box, The 683 does a far better job with the bass and mids, but has an even poorer sounding treble. I cant afford the 800 series, so when I heard the new treble for the PM1 I was sold, I think it is that good, so I was hoping to see aleast a 3 way floor model in the PM series, but I guess that will never happen.
Then they go and make the new CI800 series wich is fine by me, it has the treble and mid and bass that I want(CWM8.3) but since I don't have the oppertunity to build them into my walls, they are not for me sadly. I think there would be a marked for a boxed version of those new CI800 models, or atleast a on wall version.- Bottom
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I think home audio gear in general is out pricing their clientele. The 800 series is a good example of that... I remember when 802's were $8k new and 805's were 2k new. The fact of the matter is house hold income hasn't kept up with the rising costs of goods/services. It's a shame but if these high end business don't get their costs under control I think they might not survive. Probably why B&W is now gearing themselves towards the big box stores, which could be a gamble and hurt brand image.dan87951
audio guru- Bottom
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I think home audio gear in general is out pricing their clientele. The 800 series is a good example of that... I remember when 802's were $8k new and 805's were 2k new. The fact of the matter is house hold income hasn't kept up with the rising costs of goods/services. It's a shame but if these high end business don't get their costs under control I think they might not survive. Probably why B&W is now gearing themselves towards the big box stores, which could be a gamble and hurt brand image.Kal Rubinson
_______________________________
"Music in the Round"
Senior Contributing Editor, Stereophile
http://forum.stereophile.com/category/music-round- Bottom
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I think home audio gear in general is out pricing their clientele. The 800 series is a good example of that... I remember when 802's were $8k new and 805's were 2k new. The fact of the matter is house hold income hasn't kept up with the rising costs of goods/services. It's a shame but if these high end business don't get their costs under control I think they might not survive. Probably why B&W is now gearing themselves towards the big box stores, which could be a gamble and hurt brand image.First, let me say that I do agree with you. However, my first reaction was that B&W is not the company nor is the 800 series the products that I would point at as whipping boys for this. IMHO, the 800 series is of higher value than competitive high-end speaker lines which run to many multiples of their prices.B&W 800 Diamonds (L/R), HTM2 Diamond (C), 802 Diamonds (SL/SR), Paradigm Signature Sub 25 (LFE), Reference Servo 15a x 2 (Stereo subs), Lexicon MC-12Bv5EQ SSP, Bryston 28B-SST2x 2, 7B-SST2x2, 4B-SST C Series, BDP-2, Oppo UDP-205, Pioneer Elite Kuro PRO-150FD, Furman SPR-20i, IT-Reference, Eastlink Maestro PVR, Xbox One & 360, PS3, Siltech Golden Ridge II, Ruby Hill IIx2, 330ix2, Kimber Kable PK10 Gold, Tonic, PBJ, Cadence, HD19e, HD19, OPT-1, HDSW 4x1, Ixos 6003, Harmony 1000- Bottom
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I migth get in trouble in here with this remark, but I think that the CM9 is the worst sounding B&W speaker ever. A very brigth sounding mid and treble and a bass that sounds shut in and not comming out of the box, The 683 does a far better job with the bass and mids, but has an even poorer sounding treble. I cant afford the 800 series, so when I heard the new treble for the PM1 I was sold, I think it is that good, so I was hoping to see aleast a 3 way floor model in the PM series, but I guess that will never happen."Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today."- Bottom
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"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today."- Bottom
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hi RebelMan
I really don't like CM5 either so as you might have seen, I got the CT7.5 speakers and I love it. it doesn't go that deep in the bass but it has a very full and pleasent sounding bass and midrange and a smooth sounding treble only the sligtest hint of s and t sound on bad recordings.- Bottom
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Partnering equipment has a greater influence on the resulting outcome than people give credit for. Under different circumstances you might think differently. If you're still using Rotel equipment then silk dome tweeters will play nicer than aluminum.
The CM5 is a sleeper product. It uses a similar tweeter motor found in the 805S but an identical mid/bass driver and crossover system found in the 805D2 and 805S respectively. All housed in an fairly inert MDF cabinet, the CM5 performs nearly indistinguishably from the 805S. Well coupled to a mass loaded stand not only puts the CM5 in a class leading position but makes it the price/performance king in the entire B&W lineup.Last edited by RebelMan; 20 May 2013, 11:40 Monday."Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today."- Bottom
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I actually had talked to my dealer about this for a friend. From what he understands, B&W could not make the cabinet look right and as of this moment, the plans have been put on hold, but they may pick this back up later. So there's no real date of any kind on these (if) they will even be made.
Talks have now switched to doing something with the CM line (just my guess, but maybe a CM10 or something), though I don't know what that would be.Digital Audio makes me Happy.
-Dan- Bottom
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