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Kef Q60 vs. B&W DM

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purejunk

New Member
I'm looking into replacing my recent bookshelf Wharfedale Diamonds with something more vintage, hoping to improve the sound.
I can get a pair of Kef Q60 for 90 euro (about 100 usd) or otherwise I can get my hands on some B&W DM110 / DM220 and DM4 speakers, all around the same price. I play rock / blues rock and occasional electronic / downtempo. What should I go for knowing I can't sound test any of these before buying. THANKS ALL!!!:music:
 
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Great, so I guess I can narrow it down to a DM4 or Kef Q60? I like the looks of the DM4, beautiful wood finish, but I read some great reviews about the Q60 too. Are these two speakers in the same ballpark or is either technically on a "higher level", do you think? My other stuff: marantz 1060 amp, Pioneer SA-7500 amp and Dual 701 table.
 
A close friend of mine bought after reading raving reviews of some new Kef bookshelfs (I really don't know which) a pair for 460 Euro new. A year later we had a Garden party and i had my PC2002M paired with some B&W DM110 playing music all the time. After this evening he took the DMs home for comparison. One day later he called me upset and told me, that he was shocked how much these UK girls sounded better than the Kefs. I was sceptic and drove over to him and yes, these 25 years old B&Ws where beating the new Kefs with ease. Now he is B&W owner. No matter I'm 80s B&W fan I really expected the Kefs being better but really no chance, they where not worth the money and we both wondered how they could get such sparkling reviews. I have to say that he is (I don't know the english term for this, one may help) a "master of musical instruments building" :headscrat and has good ears.

My advice would be to get the Dm220 and the DM4. The 220s will deliver rich and full sound with a smooth and deep bass extension, while the DM4 will be excellent and precise monitors but not as impressive for the first moment.
Note that monitors usually don't sound spectacular in any way, just clean and neutral, which is highly desirable and which grows on one once "learned". It's an addictive experience.
But when it comes to having loud and shaking beats you may take the 220s. Not to mention the DM220 (domestic monitors) beeing not precise, but they will have a kind of more overall pleasing sound, while the DM4s may show the weakness of your records.
My advice always will be to have both. If you have to choose and I see your preferred music, I would go with the 220s. While the DM4 are the higher league and hard to get for this price afaik, leastways here in Germany.

And as always at this point: the old B&Ws are ugly hungry for current. You need massive amps to make them sing. I believe your amps will not offer you a satisfying experience with B&Ws from this era. At least 150WPC (8Ω) for the DM220s. They will be thankful.

Let us know!
Best regards
Marne
 
Marne, you make some very good points. I'm afraid I am opening a can of worms and I will be tempted to buy them ALL and pick my favorites :thmbsp:
If there are any other top notch speakers in similar price ranges which I may want to consider, by all means, please let me know! I appreciate all the feedback.
 
Quickie: anyone know anything about the Celestion Ditton Three? Found a pair for 100 euro but I know nothing about them.
 
I know both speakers. As a matter of fact, I own both of them. The DM4 is the better one at normal listening levels. Lots of detail and transparancy. Because of its bextrene woofer it tends to distort at a higher volume though. Don't forget that the DM4 is considered the equal or even better than the Spendor BC1. The Kef Q60 is simply one of the best allround compact speakers you can buy. The raving reviews you read on audioreview are all true.

My DM4's are slightly tweaked which makes them the best in the universe. First of all, I use them upside down (like the DM2a). I inserted a traverse (a foam-filled carton role) linking the left and right wall. That's because I found out that cabinet resonance messes up the woofer's performance. I put a foam plug in the port hole; call it "critically damped" rather than an open system now. Foam padding covering the lower half of the rear panel on the outside completed the job.

I love vintage B&W and Kef, more than I do Tannoy and Mission, the other two major British brands. I know the B&W DM2a, DM5 and DM10 very well. I still own the DM5 (tweaked this one too). I also know the Kef Chorale and Corelli, also very recommendable, if you are in the market for compact speakers.
 
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Sold DM4 and DM5. Kept the Q60 as my main speakers, backed up by a couple of tweaked passive B&W subwoofers. In the dining room, tugged away in a bookcase, a pair of unobtrusive compact Mission 771 are performing duty. Says enough I guess that I let go of the DM4 in favor of the Q60. I use NAD amps by the way. May make a difference what type of amp you are using.
 
Hi, I have just pulled a pair of Q60's from the loft and a pair of B&W DM 106 out of the wardrobe along with an Arcam 7 plugged my iPhone in and demo'd the two pairs to test them and now I can't understand why they were tucked away ( maybe ill have to ask the missus) Unfortunately one of the Q60's has a seized coil Arrrrgh remind me to ask her before I cut the brake pipes on her car.
Although different speakers floor and bookshelf Wow and wow again for thier size the 106,s were loud clear and maybe just a tad to bright the quality was superb but the Q60 the one Q60 :( was way way better clear sharp and true slightly warmer and obviously so much more bass.
So where can I get a new driver for my Q60 and has anyone ever swapped out the tweeter in one of these units it's an SP 1280 MB200 with a tweeter in the centre? I tried to ease the coil but it would not shift and eventually the cone separated from the coil tube while apart and the screw removed the tweeter did not seem to want to shift either but was working well before and after.
 
I had a pair of B&W DM603 S2 speakers and I did not like them. They sounded like there was a thick blanket covering the speakers. I could not get used to them. They sounded ok at best. A big disappointment from such a reputable company.. My only experience with KEF was the Coda 9. Now that speaker sounded very nice. Vocals were as though the singer was in the room. I got startled a few times thinking someone else was in the room, seriously. The Coda 9 was nice overall but lacked bass and the cabinets were known for falling apart. I hope this helps.
 
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