B&W CDM7 Vintage speaker discussion and review

My overview of the B&W CDM 7 vintage speakers from the 90's.
Link: • B&W CDM7 Vintage speak...
Email: [e-mail]
The gear I am currently using are as follows:
McIntosh MC2105 amplifier
Pioneer Elite C-90 preamp
Pioneer Elite DV-46AV CD player
Mitsubishi LT-30 turntable

[@raycimbalnik5159]

I love speakers from the mid to late 90s. I have a pair of Monitor Audio silver 5i's from 99 that I absolutely love. For a small tower speaker they sound amazing. They remind me of the look of these B&Ws

[@stereoniche]

I think there were quite a few great speakers from the 90's, but unfortunately, most media coverage was shifting to HT at the time and they were overlooked.

[@cymaz100]

I love mine, had them about 20 years, got them bi-amped. Bass is stunning. I use a sub and it improves everything

[@stereoniche]

Right on!

[@mikecampbell5856]

Thanks for bringing us another piece of audio history. I had never heard of these so this was great. As far as audio channel rants go, they are usually spewed by somebody because another person dared to disagree with their opinion. The thing about audio that is so cool is that we all like something different and there is something for every body. I love Klipsch speakers, some people hate Klipsch speakers. More Klipsch for me!

[@stereoniche]

Here, here. I honestly don't get the thin skinned rants, quite odd. Why expose yourself on the world stage of KZbin if you cannot handle some friendly disagreement? LOL

[@mrcarpentersc]

I have the CDM7 SE'S and it's a great speaker. Sounded better than my Klipsh Heritage 2's, on par with my Kef 104/2's. I toggle between the SE's and and my SVS Ultra Towers. I hear that the SE versions have a update and improved crossovers and i see the woofer is different as well. Great job on the video!

[@williamcampbell3868]

With the arrival of the new retro look in speakers and the resurgence of vinyl along with old names like KLH, Warfdale, and others, I think the Advents look as up to date as ever.

[@sidesup8286]

Good video Scott..B&W speakers were made in England. Can anyone think of a big USA company who are also known as B&W? With B&W speakers of 1980s and 1990s vintage, you didn't get a speaker that sounded exciting and live. At the top of the line you got the 801 series in it's various incarnations. The first time I heard an 801 was in the mid 1980s. It was also the first time I heard a Mark Levinson amp; which was driving it. I thought it was pure sounding but lacked openness and didn't have an exciting sound. The next time I heard an 801 was around 1990. It was a new version. The sound was more like it. The bass was maybe still just a tad loose, but it was generous and I liked the bass. The mids & highs sounded refined and had more spaciousness than the earlier model 801 that I heard long before. Still not a speaker you'd choose if looking for a live sound, but one you could really appreciate. Stereophile reviewed the newer corca 1990 B&W 801 model and they described a rare moment. They said all the reviewers in the room were dead silent throughout the audition; that had never happened before. They were mighty impressed. The 802 model wasn't near as good. Studios were often using 801s as their monitors. As far as owning, I've only had experience with their bookshelf models. They both had a very clear midrange, helped by one of the brightest tweeters I ever heard. They need subwoofing though, as without a sub they had a whitish sound. Bright and thin.

[@stereoniche]

The 801. Quite the iconic statement piece. I hope to get a set one day to add to my collection. Some time ago, I recall seeing a picture of a set of "stacked" 801s that were done so with a rather impressive stand that inverted the top mounted speaker.

[@sidesup8286]

The stand must have completely suspended the heavy weight of the top speaker, as the 801 doesn't have a flat top, it's a tiny out of the cabinet tweeter on top. Stacking rectangular shaped cabinet speakers is more feasible, and it has become common knowledge to stack the top speaker upside down, with tweeter end of cabinet resting on the top of the bottom speaker. Doing it that way may have an advantage, but also a disadvantage. It raises the woofer of the top speaker further off the floor of the room, and there is less bass with the woofer that high in the air. Try both ways I say if stacking. With small bookshelf speakers I don't think the distance between tweeters is really an audible problem. More theory than problem. Decades ago B&W came out with a Prism 302 speaker which is partially open on the back of the cabinet to release internal cabinet resonances. It had a honeycomb design on back. Not the worst speaker; or the best. I had two pairs stacked, and they sounded less strained stacked. One older B&W speaker, the 805, has a 12 db peak somewhere, according to someone. Some of their speakers get a little too far away from accurate. The V201 that I had, used a tweeter so hot you could fry an egg on it. The brightest tweeter I ever heard. But their higher up models have been highly respected; and the circa early 1990s version of their 801 model, has a place in my mind as one of the top dozen speakers I've ever heard. In the Stereophile review when a group of their writers were auditioning the 801 for the review, as I mentioned, they said it was the first time ever that they listened to a complete side in utter silence, with no one saying a word. A lot of people took that to mean it must be the most riveting, jaw dropping speaker on the market. It sounded real good with Threshold electronics. Which back then was one of the few solid state amps that sounded near totally without an electronic signature.

[@skonopik]

In the second paragraph of your comment you wrote "the newer corca 1990 b&w...." Did you mean "circa" 1990?

[@roberts.4261]

I bought B&W CDM 7 SE in 1999 and they are still in my room today. I've thought about getting something new many times, but what if I'm so happy with them. But I admit that I don't know exactly what the difference is with CDM 7 without SE. My CDM 7 SE's looks the same as those in video.

[@stereoniche]

If they make you happy, no need to change them! :-)

[@bartkonev]

There are some differences. Tweeters are the same. Mids are different - SE's have cone phase correction plugs, while CDM have just a dust caps. Lows have different dust caps - cone vs round. There are also some minor differences in crossover design.

[@gdwlaw5549]

When loudspeakers were made in country of origin (?) and you got real wood veneer 😊

[@grumpy9478]

your rantless manner is to be commended. SN may indeed be a niche having less chance of creating buzz (aka distortion), but a calm treatment focused upon classic vintage audio components will always have a place. the trick is being true to your own intent - see where that goes.

[@stereoniche]

Planning on doing just that, there is so much great vintage audio to share. Years and years of future videos just waiting to be made, stay tuned. :-)

[@armanddimeo6575]

I prefer B and Ws from this era over the current ones, which have somewhat harsh highs. I would rate these somewhat higher than the Advents, maybe in the mid to high 80s on your scale. Even the "New Advent" that came out in the late 70s is at least 5 points better than the original. I would take the ADS speakers you reviewed over these or the Advents.

[@stereoniche]

Since the aDs rated higher, I would take them over the Advents too if I had to choose only one. :-)

[@COLLYD420]

I have a shot to get them for 500$ should I get em?

[@stereoniche]

That would be a good buy if they are all working and in good shape.

[@COLLYD420]

They’re in the box

[@COLLYD420]

Brand new. 😊

[@antoniomiguelcabrileslocci7862]

@@COLLYD420 get them ASAP

[@adaboy4z]

There is a pair of BW 801 for sale in my area $500. Have thoughts on those?

[@stereoniche]

I have not owned them prior, but it is a lot of speaker in that price range. I was looking into a set several years ago and from what I recall they need to be rebuilt at this point, so do some research and then ask the seller about their current condition and any repairs done or needed.

[@scottlowell493]

That seems incredibly cheap for 801's.

[@stereoniche]

@@scottlowell493 Agree, which makes me think they need repair(s)

[@adaboy4z]

@@scottlowell493 he said he needs the money

[@witchmonkey8745]

​@@stereoniche.. maybe they don't know what they have? The Matrix series was a real sweet spot in B&W history.