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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
bar81
791 posts
 
I would suggest trying Era, Dynaudio and Focal; they are both, ime, significantly better than the models you mention.
audioconnection
1,270 posts
 
what cables were used during your listen?
Best John
veroman's avatar
veroman
298 posts
 
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.
digsmithd
913 posts
 
Dynaudio would be on my shortlist!!
tigerwoodkhorns
130 posts
 
Demo their more expensive lines. I heard thei rlower line and was not impressed. I have owned two of their 800 series speakers (801's and 800's) and was very impressed by the 805's.

When it came tiem for me to buy bookshelf speakers for my office I bought ERA Design 5's here on Audiogon. About $700 and great performers.
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