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B&W Owners Thread

I have owned my B&W DM640i since 1995. I Bought them new in a high end stereo dealer. They were the coolest looking, and the biggest speakers in the music store. I still use them today even though all the original tweeters and drivers and crossovers have been replaced with original B&W parts over the past 24 years from me underpowering them. Most new "tower" speakers lack low end and require a sObwoofer. That's not the case with these OEM crossover modified house shakers! I could have bought a new set of speakers with all the money I’ve invested in these but I’m stuck on the sound, build quality & Made in England tags .
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Catswold said:
Well, I now have my TOTL home system complete...for the time being :)

Upgraded my B&W Matrix 1 series 1s with a pair of Matrix 3 Series 2. Not a whole lot of difference. The 3s do sound a bit fuller and they are 5db more sensitive (90 vs. 85 on the 1s). The sound coming from my system now is absolutely sublime...as close to live as I've ever heard from a recording.

I also have the full story on the evolution of the Matrix series to the 800 series, according to Doug Schneider at Sound Stage...

"A while after that initial Matrix 1, 2, and 3 lineup, B&W gave their much-heralded 801 the Matrix treatment and dubbed it the 801 Series 2. The audio world had heart palpitations. Although some disagreed, many called it the greatest dynamic speaker of the day. Stereophile's Lewis Lipnick crowned it Class A and that was that. Soon afterwards their longstanding 802 became one of the Matrix brethren and it too carried the Series 2 moniker.

B&W seemed to like that Series 2 name so gosh-darn much that when they released a new version of the Matrix 1, 2, and 3 lineup they tacked Series 2 to the end of that too. However, from what I could tell the consumer world didn't seem to like the 'Series' part of the name as much as they liked seeing 800 up in front. The B&W 800 series quickly became known as the upscale B&W line.

Being the smart marketers B&W are, they latched onto the 800 name pronto and brought out a mucho expensive 800 speaker (Series 1 implied, I'd imagine). Seeing as they already had an 801 and 802 (in Series 2 form) it seemed only logical to scrap the Matrix 1, 2, and 3, redesign 'em, then call them 803, 804, and 805 (Series 1 implied of course)."
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I have original Matrix 1s and 3s. Circa 1989ish.

I have the opportunity to buy some 804s for reasonable dough.

Are the 804s that much of an upgrade from the original Matrix 3 ?

Edit: 5-29-2019
IMO, the 804s are not an upgrade.
 
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I am looking to repair some deep scratches / gouges on top of my 801 Series 3 head units, on the very tops of the tweeters. Does anyone have any tips?
 
Anyone here know both the DM12 and DM1200 speakers? How do they compare? Thinking about picking up one or the other. Thanks
 
I picked up a pair of 802Fs at the Habitat Restore several months back. After some relatively minor repairs, they're quite amazing.
 
Hello. I bought half of the CM9 price that was on display at the store. When I took them to my house a tweeter died. They gave me two new tweeters. I use them with an old Yamaha DSP A1. Very happy with their sound. I think they make a good dance couple
 
biscuithead said:
I have original Matrix 1s and 3s. Circa 1989ish.

I have the opportunity to buy some 804s for reasonable dough.

Are the 804s that much of an upgrade from the original Matrix 3 ?
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I just picked up a pretty nice pair of Matrix 3 Series 2's yesterday! How are yours sounding?
 
Metamodern said:
I just picked up a pretty nice pair of Matrix 3 Series 2's yesterday! How are yours sounding?
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I think they are the bees knees!
I ended up buying the 804s in Cherry too... already sold the 804s off. The Matrix 3s please me to no end. I did replace the tweeter diaphragms with OEM replacements ... when they were available.
 
biscuithead said:
I think they are the bees knees!
I ended up buying the 804s in Cherry too... already sold the 804s off. The Matrix 3s please me to no end. I did replace the tweeter diaphragms with OEM replacements ... when they were available.
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Yeah I'm pretty pleased myself! Got em for like $300 CAD. Very natural sounding.
 
Metamodern said:
As requested
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Thanks! They look just like mine... maybe I have series two...:idea:

I currently own over 30 pairs of speakers. :crazy:
I’ve gone through at least a 100 other pairs in the last 25 years.
These are my most favorite that I’d keep over all else. I love what they can do with such a little foot print.
I have Snell, ADS, Cornwall, Forte, Lascala, Altec 604e, Cantons, huge JBLs, etc...
These can get to concert levels with a measly 125 watts, they can replicate strings and horns to my satisfaction, these can punch you in the chest one moment and then tickle your cochlea with a feathered finesse the next.
For me, I’m just fine with these:D.
 
I have no idea how I missed this thread until now!

I've been a fan of B&W speakers since I was a kid. I got my 804s speakers about 15 years ago.

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I moved to a newer house a couple of years ago and the room my large television went in did not accommodate the CDM7SE speakers. Sadly, I let them go and run a stereo plus sub for my home theater.

I was able to find a nice pair of 805S’s for my main system. A speaker I have always wanted. I really enjoy the sound of these speakers.

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The CDM7SE
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