Bowers & Wilkins CM7 manual Verdict, Sound Quality, Sound 85%, Build 87%, Value 86%

B&W CM7 loudspeaker [ Review ]

“At the same time, the CM7 offers clear advantages over smaller two-way designs, through the delicacy of its mid and top end.”

does so evenly, and delivers a well balanced all-round performance in every respect.

One might wish for more of the dynamic drama and smoothness that larger and more costly speakers provide. But you’ll be wishing for the same from any speaker at the CM7’s price. At the same time, the CM7 offers clear

Helping to keep the cabinet slim, the CM7’s FST midrange driver is smaller than the versions used in B&W’s more upmarket models, though its Kevlar cone still has the same 120mm diameter as the paper cone used in the nominally larger bass unit.

Twin terminal pairs offer the bi-wire/bi-amp option, and a generous flared Flowport at the rear reflex-loads the enclosure. A hollow foam port sleeve offers an interesting port tuning option. Floor coupling is achieved via 6mm spikes (with a rubber foot option), and these fit directly into the base. While the speaker feels stable enough, one can’t help feeling that a separate plinth, for aesthetic as well as stability reasons, ought to be part of a £1,000 package.

SOUND QUALITY

Work started with the speakers located clear of walls, and connected up to a system using a Naim CDS 555 CD player, Rega P9/Naim ARO/Rega Apheta record player, Magnum Dynalab MD106T FM tuner and Naim NAC552/NAP 500 amplification, plus Vertex AQ and Naim cables.

Having spent the previous day listening to a pair of B&W’s massive and costly 800Ds, it was hardly surprising that the first impression of the CM7 was a little disappointing. This much more modest model lacks the scale, authority and also the subtlety of its big brother – but such a comparison is distinctly unfair, given the 13:1 difference in price.

A few hours acclimatisation usually allows one to adjust to the inevitable shifts in tonal balance that occurs when changing speakers.

But by the following day, the CM7s still weren’t getting this reviewer excited. The top end seemed sweet and encouraging enough, but the music as a whole was sounding thick.

The in-room measurements provided the clue, as the whole bass region, especially around the 45Hz port-tuning frequency, was clearly dominant over the midband. Happily, the solution – inserting those hollow bungs – turned out to be simplicity itself. These not only damp the port output somewhat, they also shift its tuned frequency downward to around 30Hz. This has a dramatic effect on both the measured and the perceived tonal balance of the speaker, and the effect is totally positive.

The complete removal of that bass heaviness and thickening immediately brought a natural tonality to orchestral music, and made it much easier to hear the impressive qualities of that special midrange driver. Male voices no longer had a thick and chesty quality and the speaker as a whole seemed altogether more transparent, with much improved stereo image perspectives. Initial fears that B&W had got this one wrong were entirely laid at rest.

The CM7 has its limitations, for sure. But that’s true of any £1,000 loudspeaker...

otherwise there’d be no sense in making an 800D. The CM7 falls short of ultimate performance, but the crucial point is that it

advantages over smaller two-way designs, through the delicacy of its mid and top end, and a bass delivery that’s deep and crisp and even. Indeed, with bungs in place the bass extension is a creditable 24Hz for -6dB under our in-room far-field conditions, alongside decent 88dB sensitivity, even if the load has a four-ohm minimum at 140Hz.

The bottom line is that the CM7 is a fine all-rounder in both appearance and sonic performance. But don’t ignore those clever hollow bungs, as inserting them made all the difference under our conditions. HFC

Paul Messenger

	VERDICT
SOUND >> 85%		R PRO
		A fine all-round performer,
		with good dynamic range, a
EASE OF DRIVE >> 80%		sweet top end, low enclosure
		coloration and an expressive
		midband. An easy speaker to
		like, physically and sonically.
BUILD >> 87%
		S CON
		Sounds small and lacking in
		scale, weight and dynamic
VALUE >> 86%		expression. Real-wood finish
		lacks conviction, and the need
		for a proper plinth is obvious.

CONCLUSION

With the clever bungs in place, the CM7 delivers a fine overall balance with good dynamic range and a sweet top end, from an attractively compact unit. The sound could perhaps have more scale and expression, but at the price it’s a good all-rounder.

OVERALL SCORE >> 86%

REPRINTED FROM november 2006