B&W CM2

[Vancouver]

Does anyone hear have these speakers? I currently have the B&W 601 series and am considering the upgrade. For one obviously I want a better sounding speaker, and two I want to change th color of my current speaakers from maple to black.

Where I buy my equipment if I return the 601's all I have to do is pay the difference between them and the CM2's tp get them...is it a worth while upgrade?

 

[annunaki]

What is the price difference? Have you done direct comparison tests (A-B) between them. The main reason for the increase in price is for the aluminum baffles and real wood veneers. Frequency response is almost the same, with the 601 S3 having a slight advantage. The driver selection looks the same as well. The CM2 appears to have a rear port and smaller enclosure which can affect performance. I would say the real way to upgrade in the B&W line would be with the 705.

 

[Shinerman]

I listened to the CM2 about 8 months ago and compared it to the 602 S3. It had nicer highs and mids than the 602 but it also lacked a lot of bottom end. It just sound "thin" to me. Now, the 705 was a big improvement but out of my range for what I needed. If your looking at the CM2, definitely check out the 705. I can almost guarantee that as soon as you get the CM2, you will want to upgrade to the 705.

Shinerman.

 

[outsider]

I have compared the 601, CM2, and 705. The CM2 had better overall sound than the 601, but didn't sound quite as nice as the 705. However, I didn't feel there was as large of a difference between the CM2 and the 705 as there was between the 601 and CM2.
Since the shop is willing to trade, I say do it.

 

[Vancouver]

all good advice...anyone know the apx price difference in the CM2 and 705? I will find out soon enough i guess, but would be interested to know right now

 

[perato]

You can go to the B&W website to get the MSRP for each of their speakers. You must have cookies enabled though. I have very briefly heard the CM2 but I have compared the 602 to 601 and the 602 to the 705. The 705 has very good soundstage. I didn't think the CM2 was too much different from the 602 or 601. Choose the CM2 only if you like the aesthetics and/or want the rear port. As outsider said, if the store is willing to trade, go ahead. If you later decide that you prefer the 705, you could upgrade again.

 

[Vancouver]

well honestly here are my needs....I like my 601s. If the the CM2 is slightly better I will upgrade because the price to do so isnt to bad. I need to ask. I never really play my music or home theatre laud so in that aspect will a difference be heard in the CM2 or 705?

I will go in a listen myself but would appreciate the input.

By the way to throu in a wrench into it does anyone know how the b&w FPM series compares to both the 601, 705 and C2? are you just paying for the fact they are flat or are they a premium sounding loudspeaker?

 

[Colonel_Tomb]

all good advice...anyone know the apx price difference in the CM2 and 705? I will find out soon enough i guess, but would be interested to know right now

MSRP for the CM 2 is $900/pair. The 705 lists for $1,500/pair.

I own a pair of 705s (as well as the floorstanding 703s, $3,000), and they are wonderful speakers. Keep in mind that the 700-series gets you the freestanding "tweeter on top" that defines B&W. On the other hand, I'll be the first to say that most people consider $1,500 to be serious coin for a bookshelf speaker, and the best value among B&W's lines is clearly the 600-series.

If I were you, I'd go down and demo a pair of CM 2s and see if they sound significantly better than 601s. I like the 601s, and I suspect the CM 2s' greatest advantage would be the real-wood cabinets and not much else. (Not that the "furniture factor" isn't important, because it is.)

Now that I think about it, I probably wouldn't take just one step up the B&W line, because I think the return would be marginal. On the other hand, if you can take two steps (to the 700-series), then it'd probably be worthwhile. But keep in mind that the $1,500 you drop for 705s could get you a pair of floorstanding 604s or CM 4s, so there's always a legitimate trade-off to consider.