-
Feeling lucky? Check out the AK 24th Anniversary Giveaway thread and join in the fun!
B&W Owners Thread
- Thread starter wgb113
- Start date
-
- Tags
- 805 b&w bowers wilkins
newzealand
Super Member
i have a couple of pairs of DM 7'S
i got them out for a photo with my KEF transmission lines ,just had the drivers reconditioned on both pairs,
i have always regretted selling my DM 2A's and DM4's but oh well,
any one else got a pair of DM7's? i dont see many around,people say that they dont sound as nice as other models like the DM6 etc,most complaints are that they are light on the bass,
i dont seem to have that problem with these,
the way they look makes up for it if they are light on bass any way lol
mike
i got them out for a photo with my KEF transmission lines ,just had the drivers reconditioned on both pairs,
i have always regretted selling my DM 2A's and DM4's but oh well,
any one else got a pair of DM7's? i dont see many around,people say that they dont sound as nice as other models like the DM6 etc,most complaints are that they are light on the bass,
i dont seem to have that problem with these,
the way they look makes up for it if they are light on bass any way lol
mike
Hey folks. Just picked up a pair of 604 S3. Strangest thing is that all the rubber surrounds have dried up so much that they are more akin to plastic than rubber. There is almost zero give in them which causes the woofers to buzz at very low volume. Anyway went ahead and ordered 6x surrounds to do the lot.
One of the tweeters had been pushed in so I went ahead and removed the mid to access the tweeter. When I had the mid out I happened to notice the it seemed even stiffer than the bass units with absolutely no forward backwards motion, I tried gently but firmly putting equal pressure all around the Kevlar cone and not a budge. I've come to the conclusion that the driver is totally seized. I've had this before with some more vintage units(some peerless mids from gale 401 and some wharfedale e50 woofers ) where the magnet had shifted and jammed the coil between the pole and magnet but with these 604 mids there is no sign of any bolts at the rear and I'm slow to cut out the bullet dustcap to see if there's a bolt holding the pole in place. So...I'm wondering if there's anyone else out there that has had similar issues with these drive units and knows a fix or anyone has any mid units for sale.? Hopefully someone can chime in as I'd love to get these working again. Thanks
One of the tweeters had been pushed in so I went ahead and removed the mid to access the tweeter. When I had the mid out I happened to notice the it seemed even stiffer than the bass units with absolutely no forward backwards motion, I tried gently but firmly putting equal pressure all around the Kevlar cone and not a budge. I've come to the conclusion that the driver is totally seized. I've had this before with some more vintage units(some peerless mids from gale 401 and some wharfedale e50 woofers ) where the magnet had shifted and jammed the coil between the pole and magnet but with these 604 mids there is no sign of any bolts at the rear and I'm slow to cut out the bullet dustcap to see if there's a bolt holding the pole in place. So...I'm wondering if there's anyone else out there that has had similar issues with these drive units and knows a fix or anyone has any mid units for sale.? Hopefully someone can chime in as I'd love to get these working again. Thanks
Last edited:
RVT1K
Super Member
I also have a pair of DM604 S3's but mine don't have any of the problems that you are describing. In fact, I just got up and checked the surrounds and all is good. All the cones move freely, too.
I did replace the diaphragm on one of my tweeters and that went well. Have you checked the DC resistance of the coils to verify nothing is open or shorted?
There are still some parts available from a few channels. Here's a list of part numbers: https://www.bwgroupsupport.com/parts/partslist-bw
Just discovered this thread . Have a pair of Grand Pianos
Yes, I suppose those DM7 would be bass shy compared to the massive KEF transmission lines next to them.
Wow! May I ask what you're using for amplification?I picked up a pair of DM7 (Mk1, like yours) recently and find the bass adequate, but our living room is only 14 x 14 feet and the listening area is smaller than that, due to the way the room is configured. Even in that small space, I would consider 100wpc the minimum for them. I agree with you about the looks: they are beautiful in person. I bought mine from the son of the original owners, who purchased them in 1979 from Audio Consultants in Evanston, IL, for those in Chicagoland who remember that place--a great audio store that closed in recent years. He had been using them in his house but he's downsizing to a condo and thus decided to sell them and pick up some bookshelf speakers. He said they have never been in storage. They are in excellent shape except for one grill, which is intact but has a long mark on it (it doesn't appear to be a stain). I'll see what I can do about that.
My wife loves the "natural" sound they put out as well as their looks, so it looks like we're keeping them.
They excel at things like vocals, acoustic instruments, piano trios. I also love the sound of cymbals on them, especially with jazz--you feel like you're listening live in a small club. They smooth out any harshness of digital recordings. Dynamic passages with lots of instruments can be a challenge for them compared to really good modern speakers, but overall they have a beautiful, mellow sound that all but the best modern speakers lack. Just my opinion. I believe these used poly caps, which supposedly age better than electrolytics? I'll probably leave all of that alone, since we like them the way they are.
B&W DM 7
They do indeed! Ones from the seventies and eighties have a very different sound from the 21st century B&Ws. I'm not knocking the newer ones, I've owned some of those too, just saying that in my experience it's a completely different sound. My wife loves the DM7's so it looks like they're going to stay here a while.
I have acquired a pair of B&W DM4's which are not in working condition. Both DW200/4 woofers had been replaced at some stage and both Coles 4001G super tweeters were open circuit. The latter are being sourced currently from Coles but finding a suitable replacement for the DW200/4 is proving more of a problem.
I am wondering if anyone here has found a suitable alternative which is currently available and if so what is their opinion of the results.
I am considering the possibility of using the SB Acoustics SB23NRXS45-4 or SB23NACS45-4. Some minor surgery on the mounting will be necessary but that is not a problem.
Any thoughts regarding this substitution would be welcome.
I am wondering if anyone here has found a suitable alternative which is currently available and if so what is their opinion of the results.
I am considering the possibility of using the SB Acoustics SB23NRXS45-4 or SB23NACS45-4. Some minor surgery on the mounting will be necessary but that is not a problem.
Any thoughts regarding this substitution would be welcome.
Last edited:
There is 2 pairs of DM4's for 300 a set approx Canauck Audio Mart of course in Canada
I know you are stateside but cheaper to buy a pair of those if you were closer to get them
But also watch US Audio Mart
Also check ebay parts there
DM4's value be way less with non OEM parts, let alone their sound
Sorry, should have mentioned I was in Australia so importing anything from overseas is not a goer due to shipping cost. There is a seller in South Australia with a pair of DM4's for parts and he only wants AUD100 for them. I offered him AUD150 if he would strip the DW200/4 drivers and crossovers and ship to me but he wasn't interested in going to the trouble. He wants pick-up only.
https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/cor...m4-speakers-for-parts-or-refurbish/1296016867
Postscript:
Good news! The seller in SA had a change of heart and is now prepared to ship the drivers and x-overs for a total of AUD200.
B&W DM4
I'd been looking for these for a while and picked them up yesterday after being the first person to respond to an ad for them. I had a pair years ago and stupidly sold them. These are in much better shape and are an earlier version, from 1973. There are some light marks on the tops (not pictured) but I should be able to smooth those out. Otherwise they are beautiful. The sides, also not pictured, are flawless.
They don't need a lot of power, and based on past experience, warmer is better, because the super tweeters can sound bright with the wrong amp. For example my DM7 sound great with a Yamaha CR-2020, and these do not. Fortunately I have other amps and receivers. IMO these are timeless speakers. They do not sound like they are almost 50 years old.
I'd been looking for these for a while and picked them up yesterday after being the first person to respond to an ad for them. I had a pair years ago and stupidly sold them. These are in much better shape and are an earlier version, from 1973. There are some light marks on the tops (not pictured) but I should be able to smooth those out. Otherwise they are beautiful. The sides, also not pictured, are flawless.
They don't need a lot of power, and based on past experience, warmer is better, because the super tweeters can sound bright with the wrong amp. For example my DM7 sound great with a Yamaha CR-2020, and these do not. Fortunately I have other amps and receivers.
IMO these are timeless speakers. They do not sound like they are almost 50 years old. tube-a-lou
Addicted Member
Hi, I know these are older speaker but does anyone have or had a pair a DM22's?
Thanks! B&W lists the woofer diameter as 143mm, which translates to 5.6 inches. It looks bigger than that due to the black surround and frame, I think. Unlike my last pair, these have the finished baffle and back, and black woofer surround. I much prefer this look. They are fairly efficient and are sounding great right now hooked up to a Sansui 6, which was built the same year these were made. Highs can be brighter and sharper than with a lot of vintage B&W due to the Coles super tweeter, so I like to use warm amplifiers with them. My first pair sounded excellent with a Fisher tube amp, which is long gone. I was very, very fortunate to find these in this condition. These will go with me to my grave.
Recently got a pair of DM 601 s1 with no particular plan for where they were gonna go. I'm running them now on an old solid state The Fisher 250-TX, and I'm digging the bright punchy sound. Don't have them on stands though, and don't really have the space for that set up. Might have to be a true bookshelf for a bit.
Many years ago I would catch glimpses of the Nautilus, and I thought it was the coolest thing in the world. Never even heard of the Matrix series until I joined AK. Weird.
Many years ago I would catch glimpses of the Nautilus, and I thought it was the coolest thing in the world. Never even heard of the Matrix series until I joined AK. Weird.
snorrewiets
New Member
Congratulations with your DM 4's, they look very nice indeed. You are right these speakers performs best with vintage amps from around the same era.
I enjoy my DM4's every day on my Superscope from 1976, the DM 4's are from 1978, the later series...
Have fun with them..
Ben.
I enjoy my DM4's every day on my Superscope from 1976, the DM 4's are from 1978, the later series...
Have fun with them..
Ben.
B&W DM23
Picked these up yesterday. Like the DM4, they are front ported. They are hooked up to a Yamaha CR-2020. More efficient than the DM7 (what isn't?), but they still seem to like some power. Like so many of the classic British speakers, they aren't as accurate as ones made today, yet they make almost everything sound really good. According to the woofers stamp, these were made in 1981.
Picked these up yesterday. Like the DM4, they are front ported. They are hooked up to a Yamaha CR-2020. More efficient than the DM7 (what isn't?), but they still seem to like some power. Like so many of the classic British speakers, they aren't as accurate as ones made today, yet they make almost everything sound really good. According to the woofers stamp, these were made in 1981.