Posted by: RedSIinPA
Back to B&Ws - and back to 2-channel!?! - 04/06/09 03:47 PM
Yes.
This weekend I made the ultimate sacrifice...or was it? For over a year now I've been running the setup in my signature. 13 months ago though my daughter came into my world and the only (tiny itty bitty) downside is that I do not watch movies at massively loud volumes any more. In fact I'd found that my 1070 was off a lot and I was using my TV speakers!
My 1070 was being used for music, which is does IMO quite well. But I didn't feel that way about my speakers. Delving more into jazz, classical, and keeping up with rock and whatnot, I was finding that the highs, for lack of a better term, sucked. There just wasn't enough definition. I thought for a while that maybe SACD wasn't really worth it.
April 4, 2009, after a $500 experiment with a ZVOX Base 550 for the master bedroom, I decide to return the unit and retrieve said $500 to be repurposed in an unknown manner. I knew I wanted music in the bedroom. I headed over to the local HiFi shop (Bob and Ron's World Wide Stereo) where I explained my dilemma to the salesman. I explained that I was looking for a nice pair of bookshelf speakers - efficient, tight response, clear highs, ballpark $500. He steers me towards the little B&W 686 - the most junior in the series. I demo'd for 15 minutes and found myself impressed. My child then did something in her pants and, assuring the salesman I wasn't using this as an excuse to bail, said I would be back. He said while I was out, he'd prep the 685's for the next demo - they were a little more but he thought I should hear them too. I agreed. I went out to the car.
Now those of your that are parents know, the strangest things can creep through your head while you exchange diapers staring at your child's what-was-breakfast. I was thinking "so these are more money...how are we gonna pitch this, Maggie?"..."those speakers sounded better than your current speakers..." - all sorts of random stuff.
I stroll back in, clean kid in arm. I have a seat as I see the new 685 on the stand, dantily sitting in the middle of the front of the room. I grab my leather seat. My kid grabs the remote (of course) and walks the room to check out the Sunfire subs. The salesman plays the 686's one more time to refresh my mind. He happens upon a live cut of Neil Young's "Cowgirl in the Sand", over which I gush. It's one of my favorite songs. It's at that point I tell him...cut over. And then it happened. about 30 seconds into it, I point to the larger 685's and say...
"I'll take those."
And not only was I taking those - they were going in the main setup. These sounded far too nice to go anywhere else. I don't know why the decision was so easy, but it was. I guess my priorities have shifted dramatically - but quietly.
And so it is done. I packed up child and speakers, and elated, drove home. I told my wife that the win for her is the 5 speakers are going bye-bye. (Needless to say she rolled her eyes at me, stating it was just a matter of time before I went back.) She might be right. Who knows.
I hook up the B&W's, reposition the Fathom, flatten the adjustments (I haven't even recalibrated yet, and STILL...so good) - and all I can say is - pure bliss. SACD's DO make a difference! How 'bout that! These speakers, mated with the Fathom, are simply the most wonderful additions I have ever made to my setup. I know I gave something up, but what I received in return...it was a no brainer. I know people around here have spent a lot more money than $700/pr for speakers. I quite frankly can't beleive how good these sound for that price. I guess that's why I took the leap.
I highly recommend the 685's for anyone thinking about a entry-mid-level 2 channel setup especially when mated with a good sub.
Now what to do with all this extra equipment...
This weekend I made the ultimate sacrifice...or was it? For over a year now I've been running the setup in my signature. 13 months ago though my daughter came into my world and the only (tiny itty bitty) downside is that I do not watch movies at massively loud volumes any more. In fact I'd found that my 1070 was off a lot and I was using my TV speakers!
My 1070 was being used for music, which is does IMO quite well. But I didn't feel that way about my speakers. Delving more into jazz, classical, and keeping up with rock and whatnot, I was finding that the highs, for lack of a better term, sucked. There just wasn't enough definition. I thought for a while that maybe SACD wasn't really worth it.
April 4, 2009, after a $500 experiment with a ZVOX Base 550 for the master bedroom, I decide to return the unit and retrieve said $500 to be repurposed in an unknown manner. I knew I wanted music in the bedroom. I headed over to the local HiFi shop (Bob and Ron's World Wide Stereo) where I explained my dilemma to the salesman. I explained that I was looking for a nice pair of bookshelf speakers - efficient, tight response, clear highs, ballpark $500. He steers me towards the little B&W 686 - the most junior in the series. I demo'd for 15 minutes and found myself impressed. My child then did something in her pants and, assuring the salesman I wasn't using this as an excuse to bail, said I would be back. He said while I was out, he'd prep the 685's for the next demo - they were a little more but he thought I should hear them too. I agreed. I went out to the car.
Now those of your that are parents know, the strangest things can creep through your head while you exchange diapers staring at your child's what-was-breakfast. I was thinking "so these are more money...how are we gonna pitch this, Maggie?"..."those speakers sounded better than your current speakers..." - all sorts of random stuff.
I stroll back in, clean kid in arm. I have a seat as I see the new 685 on the stand, dantily sitting in the middle of the front of the room. I grab my leather seat. My kid grabs the remote (of course) and walks the room to check out the Sunfire subs. The salesman plays the 686's one more time to refresh my mind. He happens upon a live cut of Neil Young's "Cowgirl in the Sand", over which I gush. It's one of my favorite songs. It's at that point I tell him...cut over. And then it happened. about 30 seconds into it, I point to the larger 685's and say...
"I'll take those."
And not only was I taking those - they were going in the main setup. These sounded far too nice to go anywhere else. I don't know why the decision was so easy, but it was. I guess my priorities have shifted dramatically - but quietly.
And so it is done. I packed up child and speakers, and elated, drove home. I told my wife that the win for her is the 5 speakers are going bye-bye. (Needless to say she rolled her eyes at me, stating it was just a matter of time before I went back.) She might be right. Who knows.
I hook up the B&W's, reposition the Fathom, flatten the adjustments (I haven't even recalibrated yet, and STILL...so good) - and all I can say is - pure bliss. SACD's DO make a difference! How 'bout that! These speakers, mated with the Fathom, are simply the most wonderful additions I have ever made to my setup. I know I gave something up, but what I received in return...it was a no brainer. I know people around here have spent a lot more money than $700/pr for speakers. I quite frankly can't beleive how good these sound for that price. I guess that's why I took the leap.
I highly recommend the 685's for anyone thinking about a entry-mid-level 2 channel setup especially when mated with a good sub.
Now what to do with all this extra equipment...