Bowers & Wilkins M-1 Compact Speaker and PV1D Sub Preview

[GranteedEV]

Here is a, 4" speaker, that Gene measured

and determined it was 86db/2.83v/m sensitive

No, it's not as small an enclosure as the B&Ws but it shows the bass extension when on a desk. Now these speakers are virtually a pure 8 ohm load. If you let the drivers be more current hungry, getting an extra ~3db of sensitivity (not efficiency) out of them is not crazy.

I can't believe i'm being forced to defend B&W.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Yes, a lot of good looking speakers there.

I wish Revel would make a bookshelf that looks like a Salon2 mini-me.

Like the way the KEF 201/2 looks like a smaller clone of the 207/2.

 

[DS-21]

Here is a, 4" speaker, that Gene measured

and determined it was 86db/2.83v/m sensitive

Eyeballing a best fit to determine sensitivity, it looks like the F3 for those speakers is still higher than B&W claims, for a smaller cabinet. Also, if it is a bigger cabinet, that explains the deeper extension for a given efficiency as well.

 

[bikdav]

True, but that also means less bass extension.



Neither do the metal cabinets of the similarly-sized KEF HTS3005 or Tannoy Arena. Both of which are good for about 120-150Hz on a good day.



I'm not sure they're any better-looking than these:

(KEF KHT3005SE)

or these:

(Tannoy Arena)

or these:

NHT Absolute Zero

or these:

Paradigm Millennia One

or these:

Revel M8

But it's nice that there are more options now for people who need good-looking compact speakers. A decade ago, someone whose decor required small speakers had pitifully few high-quality options.

You are so right about the past. My first mini-speker was the Realistic minimus 7. Back then, they were one of the few _ and I mean few _ choices available. Though I actually liked them a lot, there are many more and better choices available nowadays.

 

[bikdav]

I have tested the new M-1's and even though they are better than their predecessors, they definitely leaves a lot to be desired. And calling them "full range" as B&W does is simply not correct. The biggest problem with the M-1 (and their predecessors) are the bloated upper bass (175-250 hz) which gives them an "shoe-boxy" sound and is hard to eliminate even in the presence of the mighty PV1.

Instead I opted for the Dali Fazon Sat, which in my opinion has a superior sound in every way - much deeper and cleaner bass-response, higher resolution trebles and a much more full and open sound.

Nothing beats the PV1, though, and I am excited about the PV1D, which has already been ordered here

You are right. As far as the "old" M1s are concerned, I also experienced a problem with the bloat that you mentioned. In my case, moving the speakers a little further away from the rear wall and angling them in a little greatly reduced it.

 

[jmilton7043]

Spel chex

"...a low pass filter with frequency, slop, and phase control..."


Slop? Too funny!