Booser

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
4.20 of 5, 5.00 votes

Price Paid:  $665.00 from eBay

Summary:
Driving these 3-way towers in a bi-amped set-up. I use an Adcom GFA-535II on the high end, with an Adcom GFA-6000 (5 channel ht amp) on the low end. All of this is controlled via an Adcom GTP-860II HT Preamp. Audio and video content delivered via an Adcom GDV-850 disc player. Ok, stipulated, I like Adcom as an excellent example of the intersection of price and quality.

I find these DM604s to be excellent for my space. The room is effectively square at 22' by 18' with 10' ceiling. There are hardwood floors with some damping coming from two couches and a 12' by 9' turkish mid-pile carpet.

They function as the primary speakers for stereo (compromised by the placement of the couches) and as L and R for the HT. In this environment, I have not found the need to add a SW to my 5.1 set-up, preferring instead to control bass reponse via wall proximity. I find the bass powerful, though not overpowering. Where these speakers excel is in the high end and treble responses. There are arguments to be made about bi-amping, bi-wiring, or simply jumping the terminals, but in my tests, the bi-amping proved obviously superior. The high end proved the test.

For audio, I have enjoyed testing with three particularly well mastered albums: Radiohead "Kid A", Beck "Guero", and Prince [Symbol or Love Sign]. These albums truly push the frequency reponse and test your amplification. Properly amplified, they keep sound integrity down to the lowest volume with consistent imaging.

In the end, excellent dual-purpose towers. They will likely fail the most exacting audiophile irrespective of amplification, but considering the price:value ratio, superb.

Strengths:
Consistent imaging from the lowest to the highest volume.

Weaknesses:
Cabinetry - black ash has a low WAF

Price Paid:  $1600.00 from Stereo Exchange NYC

Summary:
I've had these speakers for 2 months, and, despite continual placement attempts, I've yet to to coax an acceptable sound stage from them. The image is compressed into the centre, with little or no width. Large amouts of toe-in did help a little. Its an understatement to say they require careful positioning. As for the bass, its great it you want them for home theatre use. For music reproduction the bass was too forward, and too dominating, for my taste.

Strengths:
Good for annoying your neighbours while you watch a John Woo film.

Weaknesses:
Poor sound-staging/imaging. Out of proportion bass.

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
Great value for money. Leans towards the bright side. Needs careful positioning for focus and imaging. I could imagine them doing well in a home theater set-up. A bit boomy. Plugged the port. these speakers need to be on its spikes as well to get a tight and defined bass. Hits low frequency extremes very well (This i noticed when amplified by Adcom SS Amp)Had it Driven by paragon 12A preamp and pair of 100+W Ambient Labs Mono Blocks- 6 6L6GC per channel.

Strengths:
Dynamics, Visceral impact great overall value. One of the best all arounders I've owned

Weaknesses:
Highs a bit rolled off. Needs carful positioning

Similar Products Used:
EPOS ES14, Magnepan SMGC, Systym 935 (Systemdeck), Soliloquy 5.0

Price Paid:  $1500.00 from Good Guys

Summary:
Very poor bass. Nothing you can do to correct this problem. Very boomy. Otherwise the sound is decent but nothing to write home about.

Strengths:
average except for bass.

Weaknesses:
bass

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
For the attention of Aaron Borchard: Once again you see fit to 'grace' the audioreview site with your 'unconditional brand loyalty' biased opinion (all too common amongst B&W owners unfortunately). It never ceases to amaze me how people can be so influenced by marketing hype without realising it. Firstly, B&W are NOT 'the market leaders' as you put it, despite the claims of the company themselves, or your father for that matter (who's opinion carries little weight around here BTW). There are numerous companies out there at present producing superior loudspeakers using more advanced materials and techniques. I suggest you remove your blinkers and do some research beyond the confines of your family and B&W's website ;) Secondly, whether or not a company makes it's own drive units is no indication of the quality of it's loudspeakers. I'm sure you'd like to believe that the primary reason for making your own drive units is the pursuit of perfection, but the reality is that it ultimately reduces production costs and therefore increases profits for the manufacturer. Sure, it pays off in terms of development and quality control, but it can also lead to stagnation. In B&W's case, this is illustrated by their continued use of inherently unsuitable drive unit materials, namely kevlar and titanium (known for their resonance problems, harshness and chaotic breakup modes). Neither of these materials stand up to scrutiny when compared with state-of-the-art technology, yet B&W refuse to give up on them despite frequent complaints about harshness by reviewers, simply because they've invested so much time and money in their design/production. Sooner or later they'll be unable to iron out any more creases in these out-dated materials, and will fall behind until they accept that "if you can't beat em, join em". Companies that source drive units externally can more readily take advantage of new technologies, but profits/pricing may be affected. FYI i wouldn't buy anything from the 600 series. I'm not fond of their drive units, hate their looks, and rear firing ports on floorstanders are no good to me. I also don't like the use of chipboard for cabinet construction! Yours sincerely, Matt