B&W DM603 S3 vs B&W DM6 (Pregnant Penguin)

[ahartig]

Hello all, long time lurker, first time poster. Been getting sucked into the speaker upgrade, audio madness lately and can tell there is a good community here. So my question is if anyone has ever compared or listened to a B&W DM603 S3 vs a B&W DM6.

I would be driving either set with a Marantz SR8500 (info here: http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/marantz-sr8500-audio-video-receiver/).

100% music as it would be for my office, using an iphone 6 for playback with a Q1 Fiio DAC on the front end.

I would be able to bi-amp the DM603. I have a feeling this will be a clean sweep for the 603, but just wanted to make sure I wasn't passing on a classic B&W speaker. Mostly folk, donwtempo, rock, and 80's classics being listened to.

If this post isn't appropriate for this forum, please move.

 

[bhunter]

You need to listen to both and decide which you prefer. I prefer the DM6. Though old, the DM6 was a higher end speaker relative to DM603s and they also look a lot nicer than a standard run of the mill skinny tower. That said, the condition of the speakers ought also be considered.

 

[jamiecantar]

I've owned the DM6's for 2 years and can personally say they are amazing vintage speakers and I've heard many quality speakers. They are so innovative and so well built, and quality is written all over them, then again their from B&W. Very smooth, non fatiguing and deep deep bass from the dedicated 10" poly woofer. They are big though, 16"w x 36" h and if your using them in an office they may be too big for that space. It depends how big your office is. I have never heard the 603's so cannot comment on them. Just by looking at them, they would probably be ideal if you were to use that Marantz in a 5.1 home theater set-up with the 603's...That would work...That Marantz is an AVR and I don't know it. The DM6's are more 2 channel speakers and require a bit of power to run them alone, a minimum of pure 200w/ch +. You can always upgrade the amp later and then get a separate pre-amp...Then you will see what I mean. If it were me, I would buy the DM6's. If you get an opportunity, hear them both before you pick one. Either way you will always get your money back as B&W hold their own and retain the value...

Further, if your planning on adding some music to your office environment while you work, you will probably be focusing mainly on work and the music will be an ambient background kind of thing? Those DM6 would be beautiful for a focused dedicated listening space where you can just turn down the lights, sit back and let the music wash over you like a a blanket of fidelity...

This is just a suggestion, buy the DM6's for a 2-channel set up and for the office think about a pair of new Elac debut 5's for $229 or used pair of PioneerSP-BS22-LR and then get a used or new sub like the Polk Audio PSW10 and run it with that Marantz as a 2.1 set up. It would sound more than amazing for an office and not take up a lot of space...

"This has been my journey and everyone's taste and satisfaction levels are going to be different." ~ Jamie

 

[ahartig]

Two votes for the DM6. Interesting. I actually went ahead and picked up the DM603s last night for $230. I am thinking of just picking up the DM6s also as they can be had for $200, although I am semi concerned about the surround on the mid-range kevlar drivers, see the attached pics. The seller assures me it is purely cosmetic, any thoughts?

Here is the actual link to the c-list ad with more pics: http://slo.craigslist.org/ele/5667498761.html

My office is only about 15' x 11', so its not that big. I also have a pair of Klipsch Epic CF2s hooked up which to me sounded better then the 603s during the very brief A/B test I did last night before I had to go. I just feel the Epics are too massive for my office and deserve more breathing room.

Only problem is how to explain all the speakers to wife if she comes to visit my office.....

 

[jamiecantar]

Nice set up. $200 for the DM6's are fair considering the condition, they range from $400-600 in very good condition. They don't have the original feet, but if one is not fussy then its not a problem. Yes, the slim rubber ring around the kevlar cone and surround is kinda stupid. Its come loose from the glue. Mine did too. I think B&W did that to hide the joint between the two materials.

I know what you mean about the amount of speakers, lol .

 

[ahartig]

Nice set up. $200 for the DM6's are fair considering the condition, they range from $400-600 in very good condition. They don't have the original feet, but if one is not fussy then its not a problem.

Any concern over the kevlar surrounds on the DM6s?

I also have a Yamaha R9 laying around that I could use to power the B&Ws, but I feel the Marantz puts out a cleaner richer sound. Although I came to that decision when I was using a set of Dynaudio Audience 72 towers. Might change with different speakers.

 

[jamiecantar]

Other than that little ring coming loose. I haven't had any problems. I don't know that Yamaha or Marantz sorry, but I know both companies build some quality products...

 

[xrayspex77]

That ring just hides the kevlar edges of the mids. The Woofer surrounds are impossible to find (been looking for 6 weeks now) but those look ok. Their minimum power requirement is 25wpc so that R-9 should hit their sweet spot. Even without the original feet $200 is a steal in any market if all the drivers are working. I got mine at auction, researched the prices so I wouldn't overbid and they've been going for $800-1200 Cdn lately (500-1000US hifishark)

Edit
when I fist saw this thread it was in Dollars &.....
DM6 probably too big for your office

 

[ahartig]

That ring just hides the kevlar edges of the mids. The Woofer surrounds are impossible to find (been looking for 6 weeks now) but those look ok. Their minimum power requirement is 25wpc so that R-9 should hit their sweet spot. Even without the original feet $200 is a steal in any market if all the drivers are working. I got mine at auction, researched the prices so I wouldn't overbid and they've been going for $800-1200 Cdn lately (500-1000US hifishark)

Edit
when I fist saw this thread it was in Dollars &.....
DM6 probably too big for your office

Ok awesome, thanks or the info. The R9 also has the option to run in class A mode, but it gets SUPER HOT, and I couldn't really tell an audible difference when i was messing with it. Im going to swoop up those DM6s. Only problem is now I'll have the 603s, DM6s, and Epic CF2s in my office. Yikes. Ill need to move a set to my garage or sell one on clist/ebay.

 

[ahartig]

So... got the DM6s, thy sounded cherry, until I played the first track form dark side of the moon. The bass pulse made it evident that both 10" drivers were blown. In hindsight I should have pushed in on the woofers before the transaction to hear/feel if they scraped. Luckily, the guy I purchased them from has refunded the full amount $200 via paypal and doesn't want the speakers back..... So now I have a pair of 70 pound vintage B&W speakers with blown woofers that are impossible to replace. Any ideas?

 

[xrayspex77]

From the photos the surrounds looked good and its the Bass Surrounds that are so far, impossible to find.
The Bass Units do sometimes come up on ebay
Is the glue separating from the surrounds?
Can you post some photos?

 

[ahartig]

From the photos the surrounds looked good and its the Bass Surrounds that are so far, impossible to find.
The Bass Units do sometimes come up on ebay
Is the glue separating from the surrounds?
Can you post some photos?

The midrange is fine. And the surrounds on the large 10" drivers are also fine. It's when you gently press in on the 10" driver that you can feel/hear it scratching against the voice coil? or something like that, telltale sign that they were at some point in there life driven way too hard. When playing Bass heavy songs you can hear them rattle. I'll just need to be diligent about scouring eBay every week for replacement drivers. Unless its worst piecing out the tweeters and midrange Kevlar drivers on eBay, not sure if that would even be worth it.

 

[xrayspex77]

I'm no expert but I think they can be re coned. May be cheaper or faster than waiting for replacements.
You could try flipping them 180 to see if that makes any difference, surrounds may have sagged

 

[ahartig]

I'm no expert but I think they can be re coned. May be cheaper or faster than waiting for replacements.
You could try flipping them 180 to see if that makes any difference, surrounds may have sagged

Flipping them 180? I am so confused. I assume I need to just re-cone both speakers, way easier said then done after looking at a few youtube videos..... darn

 

[bhunter]

Flipping them 180? I am so confused. I assume I need to just re-cone both speakers, way easier said then done after looking at a few youtube videos..... darn

He's suggesting that you rotate the woofers 180 degrees. Gravity over time causes the suspension, spider and surround, to sag. Sometimes rotating the driver helps alleviate the problem. Good luck.

 

[xrayspex77]

He's suggesting that you rotate the woofers 180 degrees

Yes but better said by bhunter
Try that and let us know

 

[ahartig]

Ok. Did some digging and Waddya know a thread on audio karma helped me visualize this a little better:

http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/rotating-your-woofers.434942/

These forums are awesome and you guys/gals are awesome help. This would make sense as the surrounds on the DM6s are rubber, and the speaker is 30 years old.

I was overthinking what it meant to rotate the woofer 180°. I realize now it's just simply unscrewibg the screws and rotating the woofer 180°. And now that I re-read that I'm rather embarrassed it didn't click the first time.

I'll try this in Monday, hopefully the speaker cables inside to the woofer aren't soldered on.

 

[ahartig]

Update, flipped the woofer 180 degrees. After very close inspection you could tell the rubber surround on the top was sagging a fraction of a millimeter more than the bottom.

When flipping I had the woofers out of the box. I gently pulled the woofers down a tiny bit, grabbing from inside and outside of cone, then pushed in gently, and voila, no more scratching.

Only thing now is that the even though the woofers are flipped, the surrounds haven't balanced out immediately, still scratching of cone on voice coil when pushed in. I'm hoping it doesn't take 30 more years for the surrounds to get back to original condition without sagging, I assume after playing the speakers for a bit it should even out. My plan is to just play the speakers as often as possible to help re-adjust the surrounds.....

This make sense? is there a faster way to "re-condition" the surrounds back to original?

 

[xrayspex77]

Sound like you need new Voicecoils.
Playing them that way will damage them further
Probably a good idea to talk to someone who rebuilds Speakers

 

[ahartig]

Sound like you need new Voicecoils.
Playing them that way will damage them further
Probably a good idea to talk to someone who rebuilds Speakers

Really? Darn, so no chance the woofer go back to normal?

Should i flip them back 180?