I went out this afternoon, and listened to the Klipsch Reference RF-7 IIs, Bowers Wilkins CM8s, Energy Veritas 6.2, Def Tech Mythos Fours, Martin Logan Electromotion ESLs, and Monitor RX8s. I brought a few of my favorite records along (OK Computer-Radiohead, Come Fly With Me-Frank Sinatra, Symphony Number Nine-Antonin Dvorak, Exile on Main Street-Rolling Stones) and spent a good two hours listening. I will go through each speaker one by one and voice my opinions-please note that I have almost no audio "education" and am merely expressing what an average Joe thinks.
The Bowers Wilkins CM8s
They look absolutely fabulous. The only other speakers that I feel are come close to being as aesthetically pleasing as these in my lineup are the Energy Veritas 6.2s. As an added plus, the piano black gloss goes along with almost any decor. The Kevlar drivers look just so striking that it is a wonder that these even come with grills.
Now for sound. During the beginning of the song Paranoid Android by Radiohead, the gentle guitar emerges only slightly louder than the wood blocks and drum kit in the background. The imaging is so wonderful that one can almost see the delicate movements of the guitarist's changing of positions and
the guitar's satisfying twang. When Thom Yorke's placid vocals come in, they sound cold and precise. (I use the word cold to describe the emotion in his voice; the speakers have a wonderfully rich sound) When heavier guitar riffs come in later in the song, the speakers handle the added bass pretty well-I even asked if there wasn't a subwoofer that they didn't tell me about. The bass was quite crisp, clean, and tight. There was enough punch that I could feel the vibrations in my socks, yet not enough to cause much in the room to rattle. I have a sub that I will be using, so no problem there. The soundstage is fairly large-I could see backup vocals coming in from the far sides, and Thom snarling just right of center. When it came to Frank Sinatra's vocals, I found them sounding a tad richer and fuller than Thom Yorke's; Their singing styles are different, but Frank just sounded "better" than Thom.
All in all, these are sexy pieces of furniture and have incredibly detailed highs and mids, with a little less punch than I would want. (With a subwoofer added in, this "con" quickly disappeared.)
