levinson390s

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 2.00 votes

Price Paid:  $1000.00 from easten audio.ipswich

Summary:
wow....what a speaker!

i have used this speaker for nine years and it keeps improving after each upgrade....and there has been many!
Started using it with an audiolab 8000 integrated amp and 8000cd player...moved to arcam 9 amps(bi amped)...changed to audiolab 8000 mx monos....now currently using mark levinson 390s cd processer and a mark levinson 336 power amp with nordost valhalla mains, nordost valkrja xlr and nordost tyr bi wire cable(3 times more than the speakers themselves!).
It might seem like overkill to have these electronics and cabling driving the cdm's but they just sound fabulous and any concerns i had about the loose bass has been totally eradicated! They portray a cavernous soundstage(helped by the 336 no-end) and are detailed without being sterile. Female vocalists like diana krall sound like she is actually in the room with you!
I love these speakers and i will only upgrade them to b&w 802d's which i will hopefully purchase this year......but i will keep my 7's just because i love em!!
If you own these speakers try and get to hear them on the end of some really high quality electronics and cabling and hear what these beauties are really capable off!!!

Strengths:
soundstaging, musicality, emotion

Weaknesses:
uncontrolled bass

Price Paid:  $1800.00 from Audible Elegance Cin

Summary:
Have owned the CDM7SE's for aprx. 6 yrs. now and have not even considered replacing them with anything else. With the right components, (I have a Mcintosh 4280 receiver, and Adcom CD player and DAC. Cabled with Monser Z2 bu-wire, monster M1000i digital and cardas Quadlink 5 i/cs) they sound very smooth and laid back. Not bass monsters but very adequate for my listening tastes, (vocals, mainstream jazz, big band)
the midrange problem that occured in the original CDM7 was overcome in the SE model the SE's still sound great.

Strengths:
Mid's, appearance, can be bi-wired.

Weaknesses:
none

Similar Products Used:
Lg. Advent, Klipsch forte, B@W P5,

amatot

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5, 4.00 votes

Price Paid:  $700.00 from eBay

Summary:
Highly under rated.
Exceptional bass considering size.
Drive 'em with single wire pairs (independant bi-wire) for the most impressive performance.
Most mid-line AV amps will do but classic low impedance drive separates (i.e. Sony ES) will really open these up.
Solid build.
Excellent value.
No rivals in their (used) price range.
Higly recommended.

Strengths:
Superb imaging.
Suprising bass response.
Well balanced and precise mids.
Not that it's totally important but the workmanship quality and materials is second to none in the (used) price range.

Weaknesses:
No plinths for added stability in earthquake country.
Delicate finish requires pampering to maintain that Denmark craftsmanship quality.

Similar Products Used:
KEF Q70 (circa 1994)
KEF Reference (mid nineties)

evberg

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5, 4.00 votes

Price Paid:  $1800.00 from Goodwins Audio

Summary:
I have been using these speakers for approximately 4 years. They are a bit of power hogs and the bass is a little weak. I set them near walls to try to compensate for that. They took about 6 months to break in but now truly yearn to be turned up and sound better as they get louder.

Strengths:
Clarity, design

Weaknesses:
Bass

Similar Products Used:
Boston Acoustics, Kef,

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I have been very pleased with the CDM7SE speakers. Vocals sound incredible. Sound reproduction is very accurate as I often hear noise from the recording that is definately not induced from the system.

Strengths:
Beautiful cherry cabinet great sound accurate reproduction crisp mids and highs

Weaknesses:
Not big bass. Not a big issue with me as I have a 300W sub