PDN

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I upgraded from a pair of 2 year old B&W DM603-S3s to the 683s. I've had my eye on them for a while now. While I absolutley loved my 603s, I was able to sell them and upgrade to the 683s for a reasonable and manageable cost.

I've owned them now about 1-1/2 months and they're burning in well. Immediately, I observed significant improvement in the mid-range from the new FST drivers over the older style drivers in the 603s. I heard that in the demo room of my Hi-Fi dealer so I knew that's what I was buying up to. But there's nothing like hearing it at home though. For my size listening room (23' x 13' x 8' high), the 683s seem to be the perfect size floorstander. The 603s were great but just a bit on the small size. My room has two openings out to hallways with no doors. Bass extension and production has improved but that was not my first priority. With 2 B&W powered subs already in the room, I didn't buy these for bass response. What I was more keen on in the bass dept was "drum slam" which you don't necessarliy get from powered subwoofers (in my opinion). Subs provide great 'electric bass guitar" sound and LFEs but drum slam comes from larger drivers and more of them in the main speakers. The 683s have those over the 603s. Imaging is also improved due to their larger size and greater output. They're being powered by a Rotel RMB-1075 5 channel amp in a surround sound 5.1 system with a Rotel RSX-1057 AVR used as a processor. Whether I'm listening in 2 ch stereo, 5 ch stereo, or the various surround sound formats, they sound fabulous. More "in your face" than the 603s.

I know some say that B&W loudspeakers lend themselves more to classical symphony music than good old rock N roll. That they're not in your face speakers. To that I say hogwash. I don't buy it. I listen to it all and they sound great regardless of the music genre. You should hear the drum slam on "Honky Cat" in the Elton John "Honky Chateau" SACD. WOW. I never thought I could ever produce that kind of powerhouse sound in my home. But it's here !!

Physically, I love the cherry wood finish but not as much as the gorgeous sorrento oak of the 603s. The sorrento finish brightens up the room better than the cherry wood. But that's really not important. Just an observation. For the price, the B&W 683s offer so much magnificent sound and performance through state of the art technologies from the engineers at B&W. They can handle serious power. To me, they can be all you'll ever need in a lifetime !!

tmj811998

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I am surprised that more people have not reviewed these speakers. They really are a gem for the cost. I had an all Def Tech system including BP7002 floorstanders for my front speakers. While this system sounded amazing for movie listening, music really seemed lacking. It was very dificult to get them to image well, and they seemed fatiguing to my ears. The owner of a nearby high end audio shop recommended that I try B&W speakers because they would be smooth and very detailed. So I took a stab at it, bought a pair of 683s, a HTM61 center and a pair of 686s.

He was right, before they even broke in they definitely had a very detailed clean smooth sound to them. I can listen at relatively high volumes and my ears never get tired of what they are hearing. I remember listening with the Def Techs at the same volume and I could only make it 15 to 20 minutes before I had to turn them down they just seemed so bright sounding. I can certainly see why many say that a pair of B&Ws may be the last speaker a person will buy.

One disappointment that I had was that the bass seemed lacking. Coming from a set of speakers with built in subs, I was a little disappointed by the bass response. Although in all honesty the 7002s will set you back 2200 dollars plus tax while the 683s were under 1500 dollars. The thing is, I am beginning to understand that the B&Ws make an attempt to sound like the real thing, whereas the Def Techs spent time coloring the music with extra bass and liveliness.

Biwiring the 683s has made a discernible difference, took the listening experience to a whole nother level. Clarity is amazing and I am constantly surprised at how real the music sounds. Instruments are placed in their correct locations, the singer and drums can be heard as if coming from the center channel. Occasionally I have to double check and make sure that I haven't turned on some kind of surround matrix because the center channel seems alive, and even occasionally on some music I seem to hear certain things as if they were played through the surrounds. Truly an amazing experience for me.

I currently use a Pioneer SC-05 hooked to a Rotel RMB-1075 for amplification. I utilize Kimber Kable interconnects and 8TC speaker bi wire. Pleased with the purchase, great value just wish they had a little more bass response.

starguygwb

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
3.88 of 5, 8.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I just bought these for my two channel listening over the movie watching. I think I can review these with the limited time I've had them due to they're floor models and have already been burned in at the dealer. I had the stand mounted 602s2 at one time and stepped up to the 805s. After two years with them I realized I would have to buy an amp with more power or another two channel amp and bi-amp the 805s to get the most out of them. The same was true for the HTM4S center channel, I had to go into the menu and adjust the db up to hear voices in movies comfortably. So I sucked up my pride and put the 805s and center up for sale. As soon as I sold them I found these demos and purchased them. What a difference they make, even at lower volume levels you can hear very small details that with the 805s you had to turn up the volume.(unless you have a more capable amp) I think the step down was actually a step up for me. My entry level Rotel amp (5X120 w) I think match up better with the 683s. Even my wife says she thinks they sound better because of the ability to keep the volume lower and still hear everything.
The bass is very substantial compared with the 805s and the older 602s2's that I've owned and the addition of the FST midrange is just mind blowing. In all a very good speaker that I think will be in my set up for a very long time.