Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion The Water Cooler B&W trauma

As most of you know, I had a bad experience with a pair of B&W 602s3 bookshelf speakers. I had spent months auditioning speakers in brick and mortars and these were the best sounding bookshelves I found. They were, until I brought them home. I could not believe how horrible they sounded. I ordered my m22ti's as a desparate leap of faith. I am happy with them, but I am still scratching my head over my B&W moment. I was stunned when I heard how poor they sounded in my living room and I think I am slightly traumatized by the experience. I just couldn't beleve what I was not hearing and I still can't make sense of it.

Whenever I read other audio forums regarding these speakers, most of the reviewers rave about them, which makes me think there must be something wrong with my other gear, or I must have a hive of moths in my ears. I better go to the doctor and have them suckers flushed out of there.

I also don't understand the facination with B&Ws. I also auditioned several B&Ws in the B&M stores including the 602s. I heard great resoultion from them but they also sounded cold and distant and not much of that "you are there" feeling I get with the Axioms and more so with the Maggies(IMHO).

In reply to:

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Whenever I read other audio forums regarding these speakers, most of the reviewers rave about them

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I think they are raving about them because, for them, it is what sounds right. I think it's just a matter of taste as to which speakers sound "right" to all of us and we all have different ideas about what sounds truest.

Were you able to return the B&Ws for a refund?

When you were auditoning speakers, did you have a chance to listen to the Cantons. Anyone else heard the Cantons? They are not a brand you hear much about but the ones I heard sounded very good.

P.S: Its really not a bad Idea to have an ear check up. I do it every few years.

I demo'd the B&W 600 series before I bought my M22's and was REALLY disapointed in them. They weren't clear at all. Very muddy. Bleck... I've heard higher end B&W's and they sounded very nice, but they're also VERY expensive.

The lower end lines may be dissapointing but when you hear some of the high end ones, you definetly wont be dissapointed.

That's exactly what I said.

The 600 series sucked, but their higher end stuff sounded nice. (It's just REALLY expensive!)

I've heard the 602's quite a bit - one of my friends has a pair of 602's and we always have arguements over which is better and why. I really dislike how muddy they seem (at least to me).

I did however also hear the nautilus 801's (that another friend's brother has) coupled with a nautilus htm1 center and nautilus 805 rears with 2 Adire Tumult drivers in a DIY enclosure (all using Mark Levinson equipment, except for the subs; I am unsure as to their amplifier), and that simply blew my socks off. It beat the clarity of some of the 'stats I've heard before but it had such a great depth to it.

I heard the Signature 800's powered by Mcintosh amp, Mcintosh pre, Some Linn CDP

Amazing.!

I returned them the same day I purchased them for a full refund. I knew within the first hour that this was not a good idea, moths or no moths.

I heard some B&Ws that were $2200 each (don't know the model #). I wasn't overly impressed. I think my M60s sound better. If I was going to spend big bucks I think I'd opt for those Veritas 2.4s.

B&W does make some excellent speakers. But IMO, in order to get a decent sounding pair, you really have to go as high as the 802 and above. Anything below are unimpressive to my ears, as compared to the much less expensive Axioms, for example.

This is a bit twisted analogy, but B&W kind of reminds me of some of the big-name Californian wineries -- make a small quantity of excellent (but expensive) product to obtain a brand recognition and reputation, and then sell tons of cheap, mediocre products using the name.

Are you thinking of Mondavi and Kendall-Jackson, perchance?

Bwahahaha... No comment!

Sushi,

Thanks for the reply and welcome back. We missed you, man. It just wasn't the same place in your absence.