Would these be a good match?

[olddog]

I have a pair of B&W704s and I found a local dealer that has made me what I think to be a very good offer on a B&W LCR60 S3 center and a pair of B&W DM600 S3 surrounds. Would these be a good match? I'm shure there are better choices but not in the price range I'm looking at, but will I be happy or be having buyers remorse everytime I fire em up?

 

[Adam]

Hi. I don't have knowledge of those speakers, but I have a thought. Will the dealer let you audition them at home in your own set-up? If so, then you could hear them all together and decide if you'd regret getting them.

 

[olddog]

No he is going out of business. I have listened to them there, buts thats not the same. Cash and cary-no returns, just warrenty. Were talking less than 400. here.

 

[jostenmeat]

I have a pair of B&W704s and I found a local dealer that has made me what I think to be a very good offer on a B&W LCR60 S3 center and a pair of B&W DM600 S3 surrounds. Would these be a good match? I'm shure there are better choices but not in the price range I'm looking at, but will I be happy or be having buyers remorse everytime I fire em up?

Maybe, maybe not. Personally, I'd aim for the matching "center". Not only will you get the best match, it will also make selling the set as a whole easier in the future, at least I guess it would.

Here is the matching center speaker, for $499 OBO on the gon. You don't get surrounds, but you can keep your eyes peeled for some other BW monitors in the future. Here, I don't mind nearly as much if you don't match.

Well, it's just something to consider.

Please note this uses a top mounted tweeter, so that your off axis response will be superior to a horiz MTM.

Now I have to admit, one of the issues with this superior design is the tougher implementation because of the taller height. This is over one foot tall, I believe.

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrfull&1260989043&/B-W-HTM7-700-Series-Rosenut-Ce


edit: Are you ok with that nick on the corner? If you are, I'd talk him down and see what the seller says.

 

[olddog]

Thanks jostenmeat. I saw those but my center space is limited to 14.5in deep by 23in wide and here is the kicker 9&3/4in high. The B&W is 12.1in high Thanks though for your thoughts and time I appreciate.
The 1k(on 50% off sale) entertainment center in natural wood that would hold the 52" Samsung was a nessary trade with the HH so I could have the room treatments I wanted

 

[njedpx3]

Get a matching center to maintain timbre

Maybe, maybe not. Personally, I'd aim for the matching "center". Not only will you get the best match, it will also make selling the set as a whole easier in the future, at least I guess it would. ....\

I agree with Jostenmeat, it is very important that the fronts and the center match to maintain timbre ( seamless sound across the front). I would go back and either look at that Audiogon or another 700 series matching center speaker.

Surrounds do not necessarily have to match the fronts and center, the DM600 S3 surrounds should work fine.


Good Luck!

Forest Man

P.S. - I threw aquestion to B & W to ask how well LCR60 S3 center would match the 704s. I will pass on the answer when they respond.

 

[jostenmeat]

. . . was a necessary trade with the HH so I could have the room treatments I wanted

I henceforth forgive you for any mild mismatch you may need to implement.

As njedpx3 has done, I would contact BW to see what they think the best match would be, given the physical dimensions required. They might very well say the S3 is as close as it would get, or perhaps they'll give you a few available options.

 

[olddog]

Thanks good idea.

 

[njedpx3]

Answer from B & W -- LCR60 S3 might sound okay

olddog,

An answer from B & W

Thank you for your interest in B&W! The center channel speaker designed
for use with the 704's was the HTM7 so this is the ideal match. The
next closest model would be the CDM CNT which is what the HTM7 replaced.
If size is an issue, using models such as XTC, CM Centre, CM C or the
LCR60/600 S3 would all work reasonably well also. The LCR60 S3 is the
same vintage and there are some similarities between the two models so
it should do a pretty good job as a center for these speakers if you
cannot use the HTM7.

Best Regards,
Michael Sheehan
The B&W Group
B&W / Rotel / Classe
www.bwgroup-support.com


=========

Good Luck!

Forest Man

 

[DJ in TX]

I'm not getting a center channel speaker anytime soon, but this thread is making me curious about it...

When people talk about making sure to have a matching center, is this always referring to one specific speaker that is made by the same manufacturer and in the same series, or is it just referring to getting a speaker with similar build materials and sound quality?

 

[jostenmeat]

When people talk about making sure to have a matching center, is this always referring to one specific speaker that is made by the same manufacturer and in the same series,

Actually, the matching center is the identical speaker to your mains.

Horizontal speakers are an aesthetic compromise, that have mistakenly become recognized as the matching speaker for center channel.

or is it just referring to getting a speaker with similar build materials and sound quality?

Build materials won't do it, but sound quality will.

Now, the problem is, how do you know which speaker will match in SQ? Unless you can bring these speakers into your room, to couple with the mains, or conversely bring your mains into stores where hopefully the salesmen will oblige (questionable chances), you won't know.

Otherwise, yes, it is always best to use the identical speaker as main, or the matching horiz center from the same lineup.

 

[DJ in TX]

Good info. Thanks Josten~