Bowers and Wilkins CM8 Floorstanding Speaker System Review

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Updated: August 2, 2012
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Performance:
4.5 stars (4.5 out of 5)

Value:
4 stars (4 out of 5)

B&W is certainly a well-known name in audio, with a reputation for excellent engineering and superb built quality earned from decades of top-level accomplishment. Our review focuses on their new CM8 three-way floorstanding speaker. The B&W CM8s earned my ultimate respect for sounding quite excellent within their stated design claims. My listening tests revealed them to be a clean, honest reproducer of sound providing a fully satisfying listening experience. B&W’s reputation brings with it a commensurately high level of expectation for all their products, and I am happy to report the CM8’s live up to expectations. Living with the speakers day in and day out for an extended time revealed many hoped-for and expected strengths and a few surprises. Speakers are impossible to predict “by the numbers,” and this B&W is no exception. But….it is every bit a worthy addition to their lore.

Read full review @ Audioholics

Pros

  • Smooth, natural sound from a compact floorstander
  • Can play very loud without audibly objectionable distortion
  • Exceptionally silky high frequencies

Cons

  • Slightly nasal character to midrange
  • Foam plugs to “seal” port do not improve sound
  • “Satin White” finish looks like counter-top Formica

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