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Choosing between B&W CM5 and Jamo concert 8's

I'm currently using fairly large full range speakers (Martin Logan Oddysseys) and want to make the change to bookshelf/stand speakers. In other posts I have mentioned that my absolute first choice would be the Canalis Anima but they're a little outside of my spending comfort zone.

I recently auditioned a pair of B&W CM5's and was impressed with them and am seriously considering them for purchase. On the other hand, I read some very nice reviews on the Jamo Concert 8's which can be had on the used market for about half the price of the B&w's. my choice, then, is down to these two speakers so am asking for advice.

One review commented that the Jamo was a little bright in the higher frequencies which is a concern but I do have a tube DAC behind the CD player that I use to tame some of that unpleasant "shrillness". Price is not my primary concern but is a factor so I'm hoping that someone here has had some experience with these speakers and can give me some advice. BTW, my CD player is a solid state Shanling and the amp is an integrated Rogue Audio Sphinx hybrid.
128x128broadstone
tls49's avatar
tls49
1,351 posts
 
It is hard for me to understand why you would consider a piece of equipment that is said to be bright, and then use another piece of equipment to mask the flaw.

You should always trust your ears.
broadstone's avatar
broadstone OP
310 posts
 
I appreciate the advice and wish I had the resources necessary to listen to all of the speaker pairs that I'm interested in; I don't. Therefore, and like most people, I rely on reviews for, at least, a starting point.

As far as brightness goes, of all the reviews I read regarding the Jamo Concert 8's were very positive, even the only one that eluded to its brightness. As a matter of fact, my current speakers, the ML Odysseys, are reviewed by some as somewhat bright also but I don't have a problem with them.

I did win a pair of the Jamos and installed them today; they are overall pretty impressive but, as I feared, they are a bit shrill at certain frequencies and higher volumes. Before I put them on Audiogon or eBay , though, I will try switching DACs to get some more tubes trying tame them.
zd542
5,339 posts
 
I have to agree with Tls49. I don't see the sense in what you are doing here. Why not just keep your ML's? I feel they are easily better than both of your other choices. As far as brightness goes, 2 things to keep in mind about your ML's are: 1. They don't have a tweeter. 2. The panel is not made out of metal.

If you are concerned about brightness in the high frequencies, that's a big advantage. If there is something that you don't like about your system with the ML's in it, maybe that can be addressed. Also, I won't tell you what to do, but if you want to be successful in audio, throw the magazines in the trash, where they belong. You may not get that now, but you'll thank me later.
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