B&W CDM7NT Speakers

Products Used:

KEF reference 3, reference 4, B&W CDM9nt.

STRENGTH:Amazing clarity, detail, soundstage.

WEAKNESS:Light bass, sometimes too bright.

I auditioned a lot of speakers before choosing these, and these were the cheapest of them all: Kef Ref. 3, Paradgime Sudio 100, Cambridge Towers, Snell, and a few others. I actually had all these speakers in my home at the same time (on loan), and hooked them all up via a switch box. The amp was an old Dynaco 150–not the best, but good enough to hear the differences.

Amazing detail, especially for acoustic guitar music. Each instrument is clearly revealed in a precise soundstage. I don’t know how they do that, but they do it. The other speakers couldn’t match that level of transparency. The Cdm7’s don’t have oo much bass mass, but you do hear every note.

Since buying these, I also have bought the CDM9nt for a different system, and the Kef Reference 4 (outstanding jazz speakers, if not as detailed as the BWs). While these CDM7nt speakers can go a bit bright (the B & W sound), you learn to live with it and enjoy hearing every sound in the recording, including a pin dropping down the hall and around the corner from the recording studio. The big Kefs can’t do that.

Customer Service

I had a blown tweeter at one time, and it was replaced under warrenty. No problems other than that.

Similar Products Used:

see above

STRENGTH:lightning speed, liquid mid range, highly detailed , accurate sound stage and gorgeous.

WEAKNESS:cant think of any obvious weakness other than minor reservations on punchiness on rock material and lack of brightness when tube driven but thats probably just with my sysytem.

as stated by others , these speakers have fantastic mid range and when tube driven give a liquid mid range and simply beautiful vocals. Try some India Arie, Joss Stone, Corrine Baley Rae etc and the hairs will stand up on your neck.
Speed and timing are lightning quick and bass is tight and extended but not possibly not as punchy perhaps as some rockers would like. In my opinion this seems quite source dependant. Dynamic material (anything by electro disco group Yello – especially “tied up ” ) on vinyl is punchy enough and speed and timing of these speakers is amply demonstated- just fantastic.
With tubes amps the top end brightness is tamed and if anything maybe a tad too much. I have been listening without the tweeter covers and think its a little brighter without them. These speakers replaced “a pair of wardrobes” otherwise known as SD acoustics SD 1’s which had more front thn my other half could tolerate. Some reviewers rate the NT tweeters very highly and they are very good but it was hard act to follow after the ribbon tweaters n the SD1’s.
i have a HT set up with these and a REL sub integrates well with the neutric connector and gives worthwhile extension.
Overall delighted especially as they please even when not in use.