Bowers & Wilkens CM5: “Something to Think About”
I included the B&W CM5 in my evaluations for the following reasons:
- My first choice in the $2K price range after in-dealer auditions was the Revel Performa3 M-106, but I couldn’t find a dealer in my area from whom I could home audition them, so that pretty much eliminates any speaker as an option for me
- The CM5 is very accessible from Best Buy/Magnolia. Their 15 day return policy allows for an extensive home audition
- Matching, bolt-to speaker stands ($400) are available for the CM5’s, which I think is a plus for any standmount
- They come in a finish which complements my listening room well
- I had listened to several other B&W speakers - the CM9, 804D, 805D and PM1, but not the CM5
- B&W is perhaps a little more recognized than others as a brand, with the CM5 being a well known, popular speaker and thereby represens a good reference point for evaluation and feedback from Forum members
For those of you unfamiliar with it, the CM5 is B&W’s most expensive bookshelf in their CM line, a line which is a notch below the top of the line 800D (Diamond) series (specs and pictures of CM5 are below).
The speakers come well packaged, two to a box which is of a size and weight that is pretty manageable by one person. The fit and finish is reasonably good, though not outstanding in any particular way and they make for a nice appearance grills off, showing just enough “high tech silver” surrounding the drivers, with a yellowish beige woofer set off by the silver plate, and then wood veneer. The speaker has a basic, two-way, rear-ported design, with a 1” aluminum dome tweeter and 6.5” Kevlar woofer. I did not audition these with the matching stands, but rather used a Sanus Steel Foundations 30” stand. Mine came in a “wenge” finish, which has a light walnut-like color. I think the piano black looks a bit more expensive.
Listening Impressions
For those of you wanting to understand my listening perspective coming into these evaluations, it’s described in my opening post of this thread. Also, I should state that I realize I’m considering speakers in very different price ranges, so it’s not apples to apples on paper. But besides seeking the right sound for me I’m trying to judge the value of each in its price range versus the other. For example, is the value of the WaveTouch Mt. Rainier at $4k a pair in any way comparable to the B&W CM5 at $1500 a pair? Also, I’m looking for characteristics in a speaker that may stand out and would justify spending more, or less for that speaker.
My first impressions upon firing up the CM5 was relative to its bass response. A good amount of bottom end was present, lending a nice overall balance to the speaker, albeit a bit loose and of a one-note character.
Coming into listening to the CM5 I was also very sensitive to the treble response. This was because in listening to the B&W PM1, 805D and 804D I found the treble to be overbearing. With each of those speakers I found myself listening to the tweeter rather than the music itself. I was pleasantly surprised to not have this happening with the CM5. Although it does share a tube-loaded tweeter design with the others, it just seemed to have a more balanced upper frequency presentation.
Midrange was uneventful. Nothing very objectionable, but nothing noteworthy either.
Vocals, both male and female were produced reasonably well. Neither rich or bland, and I could not detent any traces of sibilance. What bothered me most about the CM5 was the muddied bass and an unfocused presentation overall.
The speaker is of reasonable efficiency and could play well beyond my sustained listening tolerance so I believe these would work well with even modestly powered electronics. I did not find it very sensitive to placement, with the dispersion being more than adequate for my relatively small listening space and the image remaining fairly stable. I would guess there wouldn’t be a lot of sensitivity to character of electronics used with this speaker either. It just doesn’t have the resolution or precision needed to reflect that. Listener fatigue did not come into play.
The CM5 was a versatile performer, and handled all varieties of music well. Joe Sample’s “Spellbound” rang true and clear. I also inserted it into my home theater setup, replacing my Infinity L/R in-wall mains, and there was a vast improvement in overall system sound (sub still needed). But that’s not saying a lot because I’ve never liked those in-walls that were installed in the house when we bought it!
But going back to vocals I thought those were the best tool in the CM5 arsenal, especially male vocals. Billy Joel’s near acappella “Longest Time” was realistic and “unspeaker-like.” Dance/club was passable, though again, bass was flabby and monotone for the most part, so I didn’t spend a lot of time on the mixing board with these.
Comparison to Other Speakers
In comparison to the $4K Wavetouch Mt. Rainier the CM5 had a fuller, but not necessarily richer sound. It was significantly muddier overall, but even the Silk took a back seat to the Mt. Rainier in terms of articulation, attack, detail and air.
The Mt. Rainier fared better with recordings strong in bass by enabling it to demonstrate its ability to transmit dimension and palpability. I found the CM5 more advantageous with recordings light in the low end. If a recording’s bass was weak it seemed as if the CM5 made up (perhaps literally) for it, and therefore was more satisfying overall, with the caveat of the bass lacking tightness and control.
Instruments were more natural on the Mount Rainier, and it shined on better quality recordings. But on lesser quality recordings the CM5’s “personality” often resulted in a better listening experience, perhaps hiding flaws that the more accurate and precise Mount Rainier revealed.
I did not do an extensive comparison to the Salk Silk because I didn’t think it was warranted. The Silk is different and I think better in many respects, most of which having to do with either its extended and tighter bass response and/or its neutrality. Also, I think the typical buyer segment for the B&W would be different than that for the Silk. (Although that could be said for the Mt. Rainier also, and perhaps even more so).
Conclusion
First off, I think in general B&W has a great line-up, at least on paper, and I think the buyers for Best Buy/Magnolia are smart to feature it as much as they do. A prestigious, audiophile caliber name, a wide range of pricing and products with a good amount of technology common throughout the line, and excellent marketing. As a former HiFi salesman I would have loved to sell B&W. I could show a customer everything from small bookshelves up to the 802D conversation piece and build up a customer’s expectations using all of the aforementioned such that a CM5 would sell without the customer even hearing it! (I sold a lot of Bose tiny cubes that way)
But none of those factors have to do with sound. I think if you get right down to it, the B&W CM5’s have significant coloration to them. Sometimes that works, sometime is doesn’t. So it’s the usual “to each his own”, but the power of the B&W formula is such that it can potentially shape “his own” exceedingly well, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy of sorts.
I had a lot of mixed feelings about the CM5. It actually auditioned better than I expected, even coming off the Silks. In my evaluation I found myself thinking more about what it’s not, than what it is. Maybe that’s a good thing - I don’t know, but at $1.5K I’d rate it as a better than average all-around performer for beginning HiFi.
To me their coloration is of a “balanced” nature that was pleasing overall. It’s hard to explain, but there is a good fit, feel and confidence to this speaker. And when I inserted it into my home theater, it really turned me on, although as I mentioned this is not a hard test to surpass.
It may not be audiophile caliber (whatever that means), but it seems a good value in its segment , which is a very competitive one. Other great choices are out there in KEF, Revel, Focal, Epos, or the Internet Directs.
Full sound from a small, attractive cabinet, showroom-apparent good bass (but not really), efficiency, versatility in placement and electronics, matching stands, reasonable price, prestige and pride of ownership. Bottom line…all things that in a mass appeal way can make the more casual customer feel good about buying it. B&W sells, but still not sure I would own it, although I am thinking about keeping it in my home theater setup.
My last thought about B&W was that if my brother who lives in New York and is certainly not a discriminating audiophile or a nut like me who’ll spend a couple of months researching and auditioning speakers, wanted my recommendation on a good pair of bookshelves, I’d say go drive a couple of miles down to Best Buy, get a pair of CM5’s and be done with it. For me, I’d have more thinking to do.
Next up is the $6K Totem Element Fire. I’ll be posting impressions real time at
@audioamici if you have an interest.
Specifications
- Two-way 1” aluminum dome tweeter, 6.5” Kevlar woofer
- Frequency response 52-22kHz
- 8 ohms, 88dB SPL
- Recommended power 30-120 watts
- 13.4” h x 7.9” w x 11.9” d
- 19.6 lbs
- $1500/pr, stands $400/pr
