good highs and mids.

uncomfortablt size.

After owning 602 for more than one year,
I finally pair it with Denon 3300 and thus truely appreciate this nice speaker. While someone said the imaging is week, I doubt if he spend time in the placement excercise. Once properly placed on a good stand, the sound is much better. Good for both music and Home Theater.

Imaging,midrange detail, controll,price

Can use a GOOD sub-woofer, a little warm and foreward for some electronics.

These speakers(and the 601,for that matter)make a good show in virtually all aspects. They are transparent, have good dynamic range and extension, and paired with decent electronics will throw a convincing soundstage with depth and textures.But where they really shine is in resolving midrange/uppermid detail.This doesn't get much better until you head into the +grand$. They are a bit too forward though, but this is subjective quibbling. They are not floor standers, so can use a GOOD sub that delivers controlled bass, but are also satisfying on their own.
-SIDE NOTE- DON'T BUY STANDS. go to your local building supplier and get 4 cinderblocks.stack both verticly,(or one horizontally and one verticly to adjust height).you won't get better sounding for under 400$. you're on your own in the looks department, but this is about sound right? besides, now you have more coinage to put into your cables, electronics,or taking your significant other to dinner{if you would rather listen to them than your hi-fi,that is:)}.

-your milage may vary,ect,ect.

Similar Products Used:

several

When I test listened to the B & W 602's, I also considered the Polk RT7's; the NHT's and the Paradigm speakers. I went in with a bias, as I really wanted to purchase the Polks, which could be purchased at a good price with an entire home theater package. After test listening to all four, I reached the following conclusions: (A) Paradigm was a weak fourth; (B) NHT was ok, but not the sound I wanted; (C) the Polks were good, but....(D) the B & W 602's just absolutely blew me away. The clarity of sound particularly on the high and midrange sounds were completely breathtaking. When double blinded with the Paradigms, there was just no doubt at all. When compared to the B & W's, even the more expensive Paradigms sounded like there was a sandpaper screen over the tweeter. The Polks were a better match, but ultimately it was not even close. The B & W's just blew away the competition. The highs and midranges were open and clear. It seemed like the other speakers had a cold with a stuffed nose compared to the B & W. While perhaps the low end was a bit thin, at that price range, it held its own with the competition and then some. Because of the logistics of my room, I have to use a bookshelf speaker and cannot use a tower, so any speaker I get will be a little light on bass. However, my use for the speakers would be in a home theater/music setup with a subwoofer, which should more than compensate for any perceived shortcomings with the low end. Overall, the double blind testing convinced me without a doubt. The choice was simple and easily allowed me to overcome my bias towards Polk.

Clean midrange, tight bass, good imaging and soundstage

None for this type of speaker

I've owned these since Dec 1997. Recently upgraded my Receiver to a high current amp (Marantz SR8000) and also purchased a Marantz DVD 930 (which excells in reproduction of audio). Cardas interconnects and Audioquest speaker cable (CV-4) were also part of the upgrade.

I have always been impressed with these speakers, particularly with acoustic music. They image extremely well, particularly for a "bookshelf" style speaker. The soundstage is nice, somewhat constrained depending on the sytle of music.

Spending time with placement is critical, as is the selection of stands. Good stands are essential. I am using B&W stands, but after buying them I have seen better stands for less $$ on the market. Also, I strongly recommend bi-wiring them. Originally I bi-wired with some Monster XP.....and the speakers opened up tremendously. The soundstage came alive, more open and detailed. However, I am currently using a single wire with the AudioQuest CV-4. This is better cable, and Ive noticed a cleaner, tighter bass and smoother high end. I'm looking forward to bi-wiring again, after purchasing a second set of cables and having the ends re-terminated by AQ.

As with any speaker, garbage in, garbage out. The addition of a high current amp, excellent 96/24 audio capability from the DVD/CD player and good interconnects are now allowing the speaker to perform at it's best. Actually, the front end equipment is better than the speakers, so my next purchase will have to be better fronts...and the 602's will become outstanding rear speakers. Looking forward to that day!

If you are looking for speakers in the $500-600 range, I would be suprised if much better than the DM602's can be
found. However, this is a very large portion of the speaker market (the price range), so a huge amount of choices exist. Use your ears, and match the speakers to the type of equipment you are using on the front end.

Can't go wrong at all with the 602's.

versatility, musical quality

nothing

The 602s are a must for every home entertainment system. This workhorse adapts to every conceivable set-up; as fronts for a home theater system, or in plain stereo, without losing quality of sound. The wide range of frequency it handles makes the Terminator come crashing through your living room, or makes you float when Enya fills the air around. Metallica churns out at a blood curdling clarity that is sure to make your grandma move back to the farm.

Similar Products Used:

DM601

built quality, midrange, dynamic

good speakers in price range. Excellent in guitar sound, however, very confined ("boxy" sounding).

This is the first pair of B & W's that I have owned and let me tell you that I will stick to B & W's from now on. These speakers offer an audiophile build quality that is second to none in this price range. As for the sound, just as amazing. If properly placed, these jewels can offer a very wide and deep soundstage (on spiked stands) bi-wired to my two Harmon Kardon Signature series amps they are simply amazing. The midrange is smooth and detailed. The treble is a tad bright with some music, but overall it is clear and extended. These speakers offer the kind of 3-dimensionalism that I have heard from speakers like its more expensive B & W siblings and from others like Tannoy, Paradigm, KEF, Totem, and Vandersteen. For its size, this speaker can play very low frequencies, but not with as much kick as larger speakers. These speakers belong now to my "B" system that will soon include a Rotel Integrated Amp and HDCD CD Player.

I actually have the DM 601 but I think it has graet sound not a single problem I could say exelent sound!!!

As far as I can see, everyone likes this one. These speakers indeed sound great, and very *big*, but I prefer dm601. 601's have more control over the bass (and not so boomy), and more detail.
Tested with :

Musical Fidelity X-PRE/2x X-A50 amps, Yamaha AX-492 int.
Marantz CD-67SE CD Player
(dunno about the cables)

Bass Extension, Low Distortion, Clarity, Presence

Highs maybe a little bright, Soundstaging gets better

I've auditioned many speakers at high end audio vendors and heard few speakers that I thought sounded better in the <$1000 range. I have them powered by an NAD 317 and NAD C540 and they sound amazing after four years. Good amplification is critical, cheap receivers don't do them justice.
It is important that these speakers are put on good stands, don't even think about putting them on a bookshelf.
Keep in mind that B&W is an accomplished manufacturer that mass produces an excellent product, don't be fooled into thinking that low-production, high-end manufacturers make better speakers just because they make fewer.
Finally, the presence and live-sound of these speakers is amazing, set up correctly, they really are impressive in their sound reproduction. The DM602's really shine with clean, live recordings.

Similar Products Used:

Boston Acoustics, Infinity, Paradgim, Vienna Acoustics