Never listen to speakers that so amazing like them before. The vokal is so pure and the tweeter is so clear. I had NHT superone before, after listening the CDM-1, I just traded them to the shop...............Compare with the price...the sound that I listen to is more EXPENSIVE

The cdm1 are the best surround speakers for AC-3 (rear large)in combination with the 801 matrix and the HTM centre.
Bad thing about CDM1 is the need for a powerfull amp to keep them in
concert, an unstable (cheap?) amp will destroy the full picture that
can be drawn , for fun I detached the concrete "heads" of the 801
and replaced them it with a CDM1.............. No that didn't do it !
And again my true love was obvious for those marvellous 801 speaker.
The nice thing of the CDM1 in combination with 801's is the fact that
the total surround picture seems to melt to a whole clean dynamic soundfield.
Thus I love them for their clean picture and dynamics.
Arthur

I had a couple of chances to listen to these in stores. My impression is just that they are dark speakers, with a moderate bass-boom problem. They were well out from the wall, being run with compatibly-priced equipment in both cases. For their size, they get a great deal of bass, but it is uncontrolled and too loud. Don't expect airiness or crispness out of them. They are fairly pleasant-sounding apart from that, but I think that for the price, if you're not looking for lots of bass, you can do much better. Just for your reference, my dream speakers are really big Magepans :)

One of the best speakers I have ever heard! They look nice too!

Very natural and smooth sound

Limited bass extension

I bought my pair 8 months ago for $700.00 used, the best $700 I have ever spent. The speaker is very warm and natural sounding. I think it gives the music depth and it sounds so smooth. The only drawback is it does not have exceptional bass extension, however it is a wonderful little speaker with a exceptional build quality. A great deal at $1,100 a steal if you find a nice used pair for around $700. A 4.5 rating would be fair but you cannot do that so I will give it a 5 because it is definitly deserves more than a 4.

Similar Products Used:

B&W DM 602
Energy C-2

I have read all the reviews with great interest. I am also the proud owner of the CDM1SE. Had them for 6 months - they are run in. They are wonderful and I like the detail they reproduce. I think the electronics driving mine is not bad, being AudioLab 8000S, 8000P and the Marantz 63 Signature. I enjoy listening late at night and the music I listen to is classical and blues. I am also the proud owner of Paradigm Monitor 7 speakers and here is the catch. Every time I place the Monitors 7's in place, I immediately loose 25% detail, but can they sing. Sometimes I think the boxes are working harder in making music than the actual speakers themselves. When I place the CDM's in place, I again enjoy their detail and accurate presentation. Maybe that is why you get Audiophiles and Audio Enthusiasts ?
My wife don't care about sound stage, detail or the beautifull looking CDM's. I notice her feet tapping non stop with Paradigms, and not so much with the CDM's

Oh the choices! I recently auditioned the CDM 1 SE and am comparing it to the NHT 1.5s, which are nearly half the price. Goal is to use these eventually as fronts for home theater with a sub, so bass isn't driving this decision. The CDM's have the edge - but not by much (better imaging and soundstage), but the NHT's have crisper highs. Quite frankly, the CDM 2's appear to be the better buy but as a rear ported speaker you need to be careful about placement. Looking for recommendations. By the way, Uncle's doesn't sell B&W's anymore and you can find NHT's at Netmarket for under 500.

3 years ago I bought these speakers along with an audiolab 8000s and a marantz cd63-kis player and I could say with confidence that I was impressed by the result. These speakers are used in a space of around 40 square meters and even that the space is relatively big for a pair of 120watt speakers driven by a 60 watt amp, the result is great. At first audition, I was a bit dissapointed by the bass but as I then found out this was my fault since I had placed them in a corner too close to the wall. After putting them in a pair of Atacama SE 24 filled with sand and a bit furrther from the wall, the result was much much better but again not peerfect. Last move was to use the sponges provided to seal the bass reflex hole and that was it. Bass is clearer than ever and you can sit at a distance and enjoy whatever kind of music you like. Bass is perfect and the tweeters are capable of producing an amazing result and always clear. I have never reached the limit of these speakers with my amp so I am not capable of saying how far they can go but they are perfect for the space. A small disadvantage that might be my fault as well is that I have changed the tweeter of my left speaker twice until now. First time the tweeter coil was cut, I decided to replace it myself so I just got a new one and I did not add any coolant fluid that was in the original, so that might be the reason for burnng it again.
Anyway, I would suggest anyone feeling like purchasing these pair of speakers to go for it without thinking twice. I have not heard of the new cdm1NT range but I am pretty sure that they will be at least as good and probabbly better. B&W offers great quality for money, this is for sure!

A pair of speakers that deserves to be called “Beauty.”
First Impression

I have not seen many pairs of speakers that was as beautiful as a pair of CDM1, a new Compact Digital Monitor from B&W.
I happen to test both black ash finish and red ash finish, which did not make any sonic difference. The red ash one was more
visually appealing to me, matching very nicely with the light yellow Kevlar woofer. (Guess which finish I bought?:)

Sound Quality

I was fascinated. I fell in love. ‘Nuff said? :)

It reproduced a very nice midrange - very neutral and honest but with a little style and richness. It was not coloured, but it was
not boring. It had a quite true midrange, but I could feel its own style a little. It was like meeting an elegant-looking and very
well-educated lady. She talks very politely and well-mannered, she sings very beautifully, but she was not boring; she was very
attractive. I wanted to be with her without knowing why. I have not felt this way for such a long time. While it was not a
powerful and big man who would make me feel very stunned (in a good way), and show all the power he got, I must confess
that I loved meeting this lady. Although I succesfully managed to suppress the urge to replace my reference speakers for
bookshelf speakers (B&W 805 Matrix and ProAc Response 1s) with CDM1, I bought this speakers for another reference for
bookshelf speakers AND FOR MYSELF. Oh joy.

Imaging was very nice. With either of amplifier I tested, this speaker truly knew how to sing, reproducing a very realistic stage.

Bass was not bad. I was actually quite impressed with the bass it reproduced. Considering that CDM1 was a bookshelf
speaker that costs about $1,100 (or 600 pounds) per pair, the bass was rather tight and honest while not punchy. A good
selection of speaker stands would be very critical. Also, a good subwoofer could make a very nice full-range system. There
were a pair of bungs that came with the speakers so that a listener can use this pair of speakers either as a pair of sealed-box
speakers or as reflex-loading speakers. In my experience, the CDM1 sounded better without the bungs, as reflex-loading
speakers. However, the preference may vary. There is another preference that may vary: bi-wiring. I am using my CDM1
bi-wired, but some people may prefer not to bi-wire. One thing: Try for yourself and decide. (This is true for whenever a
person is choosing/evaluating hi-fi equipment.)


Also, while CDM1 was not hard to drive rating 88db at 8ohm, careful matching in accordance with the listener’s preference of
music, of course, is strongly recommended to drive this beauty to its maximum potential.

Final Verdict

I can finish this in a word: A+ :)
Or in two words: Absolutely beautiful
Maybe three words: I bought this.
Lastly, four words: Who wouldn’t love this?

System Tested
Amplifier 1: Audiolab 8000s
Amplifier 2: Krell KAV-300i
Speakers: B&W CDM1
CD Player 1: Marantz CD-63 MkII K.I.Signature
CD Player 1: Pioneer PD-65
CD Player 2: Audiolab 8000CD
Speaker Cable: MITerminator 2
Interconnects: MITerminator 2
Speaker Stands: Sanus Systems Reference Foundations

Listened to these using CD Audio, Laserdisc DTS Jurrasic Park 2, The 5th Element and a few other movies. I basically thought they sounded superb. I compared them to Monitors, Tannoys, Energys, and Paradigms. Its a real hard choice when these speakers are just a couple hundred more them the above competitors but perform so well. Personally I see it as follows:Monitors - Didn't spend much time here. I'm sure there good just wasn't real interested.
Tannoys (I think M2s) - Best Value for Music, all though better then Take 5 for HT, it's hard to say the value compared to $400 Take 5 System.
Take 5 (What I bought) - Best Value for HT
Paradigm (Either Studio 20 or Reference 20, not sure) - Good all around speaker.
BMW (CDM1) - In my opinion they edged out the Tannoys, but I'd probably save a few bucks and go with the Tannoys for Music.

The BMWs had a controlled Bass, Treble was crisp and clear and generally sounded outstanding. 5 Stars