Bowers & Wilkins side by side comparison

[1111art]

Just had an opportunity to compare the 805S against the CDM1 Special Edition

Bought a used pair of 805S's last week. I hate these speakers! I hate them because they make all my other
speakers obsolete. My God the clarity and sound stage is staggering. I pair them with a M&K dual 12" sub. Parasound Integrated amp.

I have 2 systems, so now I'm on the hunt for a second set, or maybe some other high end M&K. I found an ad on CL
for the CDM1's today. Went over with a single 805S for comparison.

No contest. Nice sound stage, but so lacking otherwise in comparison. Even the seller acknowledged it as very
obvious.

Here's a pic of the outright winner.

 

[chrisr2020]

Ah if i could get a pair of 805s... Now do you know the production year on you?
I am looking for a pair but i am not clear on the evolution of the 805 since launch 15 years ago?

 

[turnitdown]

I have a question. Do B&W use those same woofers and tweeters in most of their models? I have a set of those yellow woofers and the tweeters from something like 603s and, in box, they sounded terrible. One woofer didn't work. I took all the drivers out and cannibalized the crossovers for parts. I tested the drivers one more time to decide if I should throw them or not. Turns out, the drivers are all good.

Point is, if these drivers are common to many other models, I might model a better cabinet and use them.

 

[Dazaa]

I have a question. Do B&W use those same woofers and tweeters in most of their models? I have a set of those yellow woofers and the tweeters from something like 603s and, in box, they sounded terrible. One woofer didn't work. I took all the drivers out and cannibalized the crossovers for parts. I tested the drivers one more time to decide if I should throw them or not. Turns out, the drivers are all good.

Point is, if these drivers are common to many other models, I might model a better cabinet and use them.

603's are worth good money, shame you ripped them apart, theyre great speakers.

 

[turnitdown]

The speaker boxes were trashed and I may (and would bet on it) have been wrong on the model number. Here we go, just did a search. They were DM 601 or 602. Very small bookshelf speaker.

The drivers look the same as the ones in the upper lines is why I asked in the first place.

 

[1111art]

Well I ended up getting those CDM1 SE speakers after all. The price was too good, and they came with the correct B&W stands. Plus they're near mint. I'll probably sell them on
EB.. soon.
Also picked up a pair of Advent 500's.
After more listening, the CDM's are better than I initially thought, maybe 75-80% as nice sounding as the 805S speakers.

The Advents just got refoamed, and they too sound better than I expected. Really nice (and slightly bright) top end, and the bass
starts showing up the more power you feed them. I got them because looks are nearly as important to me as sound. (I'm an artist).
Maybe 70% as good as the 80's