The great ability to reproduce classical- and Jazz music.

None for the price.

Firstly I would like to say that I think it is to easy for everyone to write a review in here, and just give a product 1 or 5 stars! Everyone who wants to write a review should have a username and password, and if they couldn’t find out how to write a review they should be thrown out of the system.

I have read a review somewhere, that says: “B&W is living off their “old” name, when you purchase B&W you are helping support their marketing directors much more than their speaker design.” You find this review under the old DM604.

Well everyone out there who doubts B&W for being a money machine, hire is some background information:

What started with modification of existing speakers to friends and good customers, lead to the formation of B&W electronics in 1966. Together with Peter Hayward, John Bowers could make his first speaker the P1. From the start John Bowers always reinvested the profit from the sale of speakers, and that made sure that B&W had the necessary capital to the most important side of B&W: research and development. Therefore B&W has sad many milestones in the history of speakers. The revolutionary material Kevlar was first introduced by B&W in 1979. John Bowers always had a close attachment to production- and recording technicians from the professional world. John Bowers therefore got inside in the professional worlds big demands for validity and true music reproduction. A result from the co-operate lead to B&W’s famous 801. Which today is used in over 80% of the world’s classical recording studios. In 1982 B&W invested the profit from the 801 success in Steyning Research Center, B&W’s own research facility. Already from the beginning Steyning Research Center was known as the worlds most advanced loudspeaker research facility. Today it employs 30 fulltime researchers.

The new nautilus tweeter, which the B&W DM604S2 uses, is also a result of many years research.

Well other brands can get far by fine-tuning others development, but to make a big improvement in the speaker world, you simply need brands like B&W. Other brands also tried to copy the tube loaded tweeter but without luck.

With the DM604S2, you can really hear that B&W has had a really close co-operate with the professional world. The 604S2 is really one of the best in its price range remember I did not say THE best, but it is very good. I also like Paradigm’s monitor series.

DM604S2 is perfect for home theatre to, together with a B&W LCR6S2, a pair of B&W DM603S2 rears and a B&W ASW3000 you will have a very very good system.

You may wonder why I know so much about B&W? Well I have bin I the professional audio world for nearly seven years now, so I know what I am talking about!

If you buy the B&W DM604S2, I don’t think that you will ever regret, that is my professional opinion.

Similar Products Used:

Paradigm Monitor series!

Very good detail, low distortion level at high volume

none so far

When I went to my local dealer to have a listen at these speakers I could not understand why most people liked these speakers. There was no focus, no dynamics, they sounded muffled. Inquiry with the salesperson revealed that he just put them in the listeningroom. After correcting the phase(!!)of one of them, things got in the right direction. After some 45 minutes of listening they really opened up.
Bass was low and controlled. mids were clear and natural,
highs were detailed and free of harshness.
I also auditioned the 602S2's, apart from the obvious difference in bass they sounded harsher, more distorted.
I picked the 604's up today and I could not be happier. They even sound better at home than at the dealer's.
I hear things I have never heard before. even my center (LCR6S2) seems to sound better.
This speaker could have one flaw after all: it plays loud without you even noticing it, except when somebody in the room is trying to speak; only then you will notice you have turned the volume up higher. The distortion level is very low.

My equipment:

Receiver: sony STR-DA50ES
Front : B&W DM604S2
Center : B&W LCR6S2
Rear : Eltax HT2 Dipole
Sub : homebuilt 200W bandpass
DVD : Panasonic 350
Cables : vd Hul CS122

Similar Products Used:

DM602S2, LCR6S2

everything

none

first i want to say that im a complete novice at this hi end stereo thing. i have no right or true claim to a qualified opinion since i don't work in the industry nor am i a musician but i do love my music clear and full of body.
I made my purchased of the 604s2 after listening to the herbie hancocks 'chameleon' and 'watermelon man' that was muscled through the Sony str-da555es receiver and some Sony es dvd player. there is a bass intro to chameleon that sold me at the very start. the bass guitar was no longer just bass like sounds but I heard the actual bass player plucking each string. next was the watermelon man track and the intro to it is a flute or some wind type instrument. the 604s let you hear the wind instrument with crystal clarity and placement as the sounds move from left to right, there was no edge or more commonly quoted harshness. I did listen to a couple of hip hop tracks from common and the roots along with a couple of main stream jazz tracks larry carlton and bob james. but I was sold after herbie's first intro.
the system I have at home is the Sony str de835 and a Sony 5 disc changer. I do plan to replace the 835 with the str da555es. for the time, im listening with the "sub standard" 835. it sounds good to me so far. I did go with bi-wired technique, perhaps that helps. I listen to hip-hop and jazz, in that order. I have not noticed anything that sounds, "boxed in". I have not watched any movies yet, but I know they will do great there as well.
the only problem im having is placement. any where in the room the hi's and mid's and undeniably perfect but getting the bass in the sweet spot for my main listening chair is tough.
I loved listening to the nht 2.5 but perhaps it was the listening room at the dealer but I feel like I have better range from hi to lo with the 604s. I do think the nht may have done a better on looks. the black

Similar Products Used:

nht 1.5 and 2.5, b&w 603s2, b&w 602s2 and signet

Breathtaking midrange, ultra clear treble

None as yet

I'm the happy owner of a pair of 604 for more than four moths. I bought them for $3000, and all I can say is that it is the ultimate all-round speaker for non Hi-End systems. I use bi-wire with cheap Cable Talk Talk 3 cables, and the sound is absolutely superb. But then, there is nothing wrong in not pretending to be a Hi-end speaker, nobody expects to buy a hi-end speaker for less than 10000 $. And, by the way, this must be one of the most elegant floorstanders around.
Currently, it works with Sony 920 Cd player, Pioneer A-400 amp (another favourite of mine- even if the control buttons are ready to pop out of the box- for normal speakers, it can be bettered only by some class A amps, like magnum Class A and the small Electro), Project 6.1/Ortofon MC-30 Supreme/Mitchell ISO phonostage-and it works fine with all sorts of music.

Similar Products Used:

nothing

I think the B&W DM604 are sounding great. Some people here don't think they are that good but that is because they comapre it with speaker 3 times more expensive. So please get real!

The 604's are one of the best speakers at this price level. And I am perfectly happy with them.

Ottima immagine, chiarezza elinearità; basso profondo-fermo armonicamente completo, timpricamente fedele; medio trasparentissimo e focalizzato nelle voci con dolcezza e pienezza; alti dolcissimi ed estremamente informativi.

nessuno

L'impianto utilizzato:
Finale: Musical Fidelity A-370II (by Tim Parravicini)
Pre: AM AUDIO A5
Lettore Cd: Marantz 63Kis modificato meccanicamente ed elettricamente
Giradischi: Thorens 166 VI, testima Sumiko Blue Point Special
Cavi: Van de hul

Similar Products Used:

B&W CDM 7 e CDM Nautilus 7 e 9, Sonus Faber Concerto Gran Piano, ...

Yabba, Dabba

No Doo

I agree completely with Semy's comments.

If you are looking for a speaker, which can handle demanding jobs, this is a true winner. The B&W DM604S2 handles everything, without losing control.

This product brings shame on all other speaker manufacturers.

These are supremely naturalistic sounding speakers. They can play loud, without your even noticing it. The ability to make you think that they are not as loud as they are is due to their realistic reproduction without distortion and comprehension. Already when you lift these speakers, you know they mean business nothing has been spared 28,2 kilos of true quality. How do they actually sound, read on:

My system:

Front: B&W DM604S2
Centre: B&W LCR6S2
Rear: B&W DM602S2
Speaker cable: TaraLabs Prism Bi-Wire
Receiver: marantz SR-7000
DVD-player: marantz DV-4100
Coaxial: TaraLabs Prism D1 Digital

What make the DM604 S2 different from many competitors at this price level are the high technical quality and the drivers. When B&W had to improve their already great selling and popular 604, they gave themselves a big assignment. The result of this assignment became the DM604 S2. Immediately there is no difference on the looks between the new model and the predecessor, but there are great improvements in sound.

To those of you who do not know this product let me give you some technical highlights.

The tweeter:
This model features B&W’s newly developed tweeters employing tapered tube, pioneered on the original Nautilus speaker. B&W believes that the tapered tube is the most effective and elegant way yet devised to absorb unwanted energy radiated from the rear of the tweeter diaphragm. The tapered tube technology is used in combination with the Nautilus 800 series derived flat ring suspension – replacing a conventional roll surround. This reduces distortion and gives a high-frequency response virtually free of coloration.

The midrange:
A die-cast aluminium chassis makes the frame for the mid/bass drivers. The advantage of the aluminium chassis is that it is not magnetically impressionable; all magnetic energy is therefore focused on the driver. The Kevlar driver therefore has the best working conditions, which to my ears ensures the unmistakable clean and uncoloured midrange, which B&W is known for world wide.

The Bass
The DM604S2 has, as the other floor-standing models, dedicated bass drivers using Kevlar reinforced paper cone technology, originally developed for the Nautilus 800 series. Kevlar reinforcement of the cone is combined with a large diameter dustcap, gives the same advantages as it is known from the bullet-shaped dustcap in midrange drivers. New air-cored inductors have made major improvements to the presentation of subtle details and reduced distortion and compression, while all tweeter filter sections now use plastic film capacitors to preserve optimum signal quality.

All these technical features may sound impressive, but remember when you buy loudspeakers it is not for the technology, but the sound. When a company like B&W tells what their technology should do to the sound and then show performance, it can impress indeed.

Buying the speaker
Before I went to my local High-End dealer, I already knew what kind of speaker I was looking for. It should be my front speaker in my new Home Theatre and also my stereo speakers. The sound of the speaker should be natural, airy, detailed and controlled. It should also be capable of producing powerful sound pressures even in the deepest bass.

When I had explained to the dealer what was up, he immediately showed me the B&W DM604S2. I heard a system identical to the one I own now. After hearing some scenes from: Saving Private Ryan, South Park (Bigger, Longer, Uncut) and The Matrix I was convinced. The sound from this speaker, was something I had never anticipated to find, at all, at this price. This speaker really has it all, clear and uncoloured tweeter, fabulous open and clean midrange with a very high level of details. The bass was deep and tight, perfect for action in a Home Theatre, and it reacted very very fast and precise on the musical highlights, thanks to the nautilus technology the bass is without distortion. I would say that the character of the sound is similar to the B&W Nautilus 804. With the B&W’s you really get the “right there feeling” as if you are part of the movie. The 604S2 takes a lot of power from even very big surround receivers and amplifiers, like my marantz SR-7000. B&W DM604S2 handles the great demands for power handling from Dolby (AC-3) and DTS, without any problems. After I decided to buy this speaker, I heard many others, listed in the top. None of them could compete with the B&W DM604S2.

Conclusion:
This is by far the best speaker I have ever owned. The top-to-bottom coherence is very good. The new drivers are equal in speed and resolution, which gives a very united front. It can be used for any purpose, and I find it equally good for stereo as for Home Cinema! The price you can get these audiophile speakers at, is just as impressive as they sound! If you have comments or questions feel free and e-m@il me. My final remark: B&W rules!!!

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Dali 6006, Dali 8008, Dali Suite 2.5, Dali Evidence 870, Cerwin-Vega AL-1000 MKII, JBL LX10, Jamo Classic 10, Jamo X3M 10, QlN 606, System Audio 1270.......

Wide sound production, Sound detail, Natural sound, Bass production, excellent prize/quality ratio.

None so far

It's always a difficult task to find all the aspects you search for in a pair of main speakers. I'm sure all you guys out there agree with me on that part. As usual, I visited every dealer in the area. Particular every dealer had it's own vision and feelings towards there set of speakers they stood for. I've seen and offcoarse heared many brands; Mission 774 , Quadral Ascent 850, JBL XTi 80,etc
They all sound excellent and good, obviously since these are all fine brands...
I did not realy knew witch direction to go, untill a friend told me to listen to B&W series. I thought to myself, pfff jesus the prize range B&W uses...sadly out of my league! This reaction came from the fact that had listened many times to the B&W Nautilis 800 serie he ownes and enjoyed secretly every nanosecond of it.
Magicly my eyes felt on the B&W 600 series and I automatically visited a specialized B&W dealer....
I'm gonna make a long story short (since my intro is slow starting, sorry guys) :
By the time I was leaving the dealer my mind was setup : It had to be B&W's...it was that simple ! The line , the design, the technology, and especially the pure natural sound these baby's produced at this prize range was superb.
Believe me I'm very picky and very presize . I spend a couple of hours just positioning the surround speakers at the same isometric ratio from my listening position.

My system :

Front: B&W DM604S2 (2)
Center: B&W LCR6S2 (1)
Rear: B&W DM601S2 (2)
Subwoofer: B&W ASW500
Speaker cable: Monster Cable XP-HP
A/V Receiver: Onkyo TX-DS 787
DVD-player: Rotel RVD985
Optical stream: Monster Cable Interconnect

One tip : follow the only thing that gives you the best judgement and advice : Y O U R E A R S !!

I know I did and never had such audio quality at my very own livingroom (read = private cinema) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Similar Products Used:

Mission 774 , Quadral Ascent 850