Buying Bookshelves, I love B&W but....


my experience is that the mids are a bit compressed, less open and detailed. I really like the imaging, highs, lows, fullness, stage pres etc. As well as design and build. Is this a common problem in bookshelves, obvious size limitations? Seems to be an issue with the old S3 series, new 600 and CM1. Should I demo floor standing models or consider 700 or 800 series bookshelves? Or is this simply one of the characteristics of B&W?
Demo'd with Rotel, NAD, MacIntsosh integrateds.
mcb
There are lots of speakers, at worst as good, or at best a whole lot better than B&W. Look through the speaker threads and list the speakers that a lot of people like, then go and audition. Hi-fi shows are a good place as there will be virtually every/most manufacturers attending to show off their wares.Good hunting.
I would suggest trying Era, Dynaudio and Focal; they are both, ime, significantly better than the models you mention.
it's not endemic to 'bookshelves'. suggest you demo other brands for starters. i love great beers... to me , b/w is the guinness stout of british spkrs. try some microbrews my friend and you may be surprised. it's your taste that will decide and the market these days is loaded w spkrs that i personally think are much better for the $$$. just my opinion.