B&W CDM 9NT replacement suggestions?

[AlonPerel]

Hi,

These sound really good, and I've read that you can't get anythign better for under 1k. But all those reviews seemed to have been old and what not. I was wondering how much would speakers which are "much better" cost, and which models would you guys suggest?

Thanks,

Alon.

 

[TLS Guy]

They are very good speakers. Why do you want to replace them? You will probably be in the four to five K range for replacement.

 

[AlonPerel]

Honestly? Because that's the easiest gift. This year me and mom got dad Denon avr-4100x Receiver, some years before svs pb-13 subwoofer... yet before that those very speakers(b&w), and even before that the ASR Emitter amplifier, twice a computer...

So, now, I think the weakest link are the speakers, though I might be wrong, so I figured, we'll just get him new ones or something... I know, not exactly a typical reason, but hey, 4-5k is way too much. These speakers cost like 1.5k. So I was hoping a better pair cam be gotten for like 3k.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

They are very good speakers. Why do you want to replace them? You will probably be in the four to five K range for replacement.

Are there any measurements to show that they are VERY good speakers?

Even the $25,000 B&W 800D don't measure as well as many cheaper speakers in terms of on-axis and especially off-axis. What chances do the cheaper B&W speakers have?

 

[crossedover]

I'd think these would be a good upgrade. http://philharmonicaudio.com/phil3.html

 

[AlonPerel]

I'd think these would be a good upgrade. http://philharmonicaudio.com/phil3.html

I've sent him a message about transportation (as I live in Belgium, and he seems to be located in the USA, the tax would probably be quite... rapey ).

 

[AlonPerel]

Can't find how to edit messages, so I'll just add: I received a reply. He does not ship it outside the USA . (philharmonica)

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I live in Belgium

First, I wouldn't buy new speakers just because they cost $1.5K and you want $3K speakers. It may not be any significant improvement at all in terms of SUBJECTIVE opinion, even if the new speakers OBJECTIVELY measure more accurately.

Second, if you must buy, I would just stick to local purchases.

So what is available in Belgium? RBH? KEF? PSB? Revel? Paradigm?

In terms of measurement, speakers from RBH, KEF, PSB, Revel, Paradigm tend to be a more accurate than many speakers.

But the question is, do you want to buy speakers that measure the most accurately or just speakers that sound great to you? There are also speakers that measure accurately and sound great. But the bottom line is, you have to listen and try out those speakers for yourself.

 

[zieglj01]

Are there any measurements to show that they are VERY good speakers?

Are you saying that you could not find them on your desk?
http://www.audio-ideas.com/reviews/loudspeakers/bw-cdm9nt.html

 

[zieglj01]

which models would you guys suggest?
Thanks,

I would look at the Wharfedale Jade 7 - see if you can find them, they are all around
http://www.musicdirect.com/p-53437-wharfedale-jade-7-tower-speakers-pr.aspx

If wanting to go cheaper - then the Jade 5
http://www.musicdirect.com/p-53420-wharfedale-jade-5-tower-speakers-pr.aspx

http://www.wharfedale.co.uk/files/brochure/20131112063546_8.pdf

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Are you saying that you could not find them on your desk?
http://www.audio-ideas.com/reviews/loudspeakers/bw-cdm9nt.html

I tried looking briefly on my iPad, but didn't find any.

From the article:

"...the fairly broad midrange hump from 400 to 2 kHz is what defines the sound of the CDM9NT, the new FST midrange seems to be just a little more prominent than its siblings over much of its range. This made female voice just a little papery in character, and orchestra a little more forward...The B&W CDM9NT is a very good speaker with a character that’s just slightly to the left of totally neutral..."

That doesn't "seem" like excellent performance to me.

But as I've said all along, if the user likes the sound of the speakers, that's what matters most to me.

I didn't know the B&W MSRP is $4K. Yet the OP is looking to buy $3K speakers.

 

[AlonPerel]

We bought them for like 1.5k euro. MSRP... Sounds like "recommended price", but here, like, those Wharfedale Jade 7 go for 4k usd, right? yet on german ebay I can find them for 2.5k euro. I'm just saying... It ain't so black and white. Also - does MSRP refer to the price when the speakers were released? If so, speakers which cost 3k and were released 10 years ago, might sound worse than speakers hald that price but released now. No? Just a newbie here, don't be all toothy .

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

We bought them for like 1.5k euro. MSRP... Sounds like "recommended price", but here, like, those Wharfedale Jade 7 go for 4k usd, right? yet on german ebay I can find them for 2.5k euro. I'm just saying... It ain't so black and white. Also - does MSRP refer to the price when the speakers were released? If so, speakers which cost 3k and were released 10 years ago, might sound worse than speakers hald that price but released now. No? Just a newbie here, don't be all toothy .

Higher price doesn't guarantee better performance at all. So even $5K MSRP may not get you the actual improvement you are hoping for.

 

[AlonPerel]

Indeed. Otherwise I wouldn't need that much advice an opinions of people who are more experienced in this field than myself. I'd just go and buy the pricier speakers.

I hope with this we can put to rest the sidetracking and get back to the original topic of which speakers would be advisable as an upgrade to those I have. It seems though that it's more about "whatever sounds better to you" - yet, I'm hoping for a somewhat more objective differentiation than that...

 

[fuzz092888]

I've sent him a message about transportation (as I live in Belgium, and he seems to be located in the USA, the tax would probably be quite... rapey ).

Just an FYI, you could do something like this

https://www.viabox.com/

I'll tell you the Phil's are worth every penny and will match speakers many times their price, at least to my ears. Combine that with the custom finish options and I don't see many options around that price range that can compete.

 

[zieglj01]

yet, I'm hoping for a somewhat more objective differentiation than that...

No one can guarantee or promise anything - good options have been given.
Objective differentiation based on bias or perception of sound, is not the
best or convenient way to purchase. However some will try to promise you.
There is no one speaker out there for everyone, based on the so-called dollar.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I'm hoping for a somewhat more objective differentiation than that...

If you want 100% objectivity, than look for speakers with actual 3rd party measurements where the on-axis listening window frequency response is about 200Hz - 10 kHz +/-2dB and the off axis is smooth, unlike the $25,000 B&W 800 Diamond speakers.

Speakers from Revel (F206), KEF (R700), RBH (SX-6300/R), PSB, Paradigm, and NHT usually have good objective measurements.

Ask everyone to recommend ~ $3K speaker with the best on-axis and off-axis measurements and buy that.

The only problem with measurements is that there is not a single universal standard - they are usually all measured by different people, in different rooms, with different equipment, etc. In addition most speakers were never measured independently by 3rd parties.

 

[AlonPerel]

Thanks for all the advice guys, I'll consider viabox.com+philharmonica 3. But before that I'll go somewhere where I can listen to speakers, there's a place right near me which is like 4 floors of speakers and equipment. I'll see about those Kef/Revel/RBH/PSB/PARADIGM/NHT/Wharfdale speakers.