Bowers & Wilkins somehow makes PC speakers interesting with MM-1
By Darren Murph 
posted November 17th 2009 11:40AM
posted November 17th 2009 11:40AM
Update: We're hearing that these could cost $499 for the pair. Yikes.
posted November 17th 2009 11:40AM
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Yeah I think this has been the slowest day since I've been reading engadget.
I've always been skeptical of small speakers, though not of style (I have the formerly B&W Minipods are all). Even though B&W is very legit as speaker brand, I still wonder how good these get.
tiny bose speakers are frequently amazing.
@Paul
No, no they're not.
Wonder how these would compare to the AudioEngine A5s?
£300-£400 according to: http://www.trustedreviews.com/multimedia/news/2009/11/12/Bowers---Wilkins-Applies-Magic-to-Desktop-Speakers/p1
Your picture sums up my response perfectly.
The un-mentioned solution... buy a set of musicians powered monitors, like something from maudio.
I have the little KRK RP-5 v. 2's here at work and the Klipsch Promedia 2.1 system at home.
For entertainment purposes, I prefer the Klipsch system overall. $.02
Yeah, for the kind of money they want, get real equipment. Picked up a factory refurb HK stereo receiver from the factory eBay store, and a pair of gently-used Paradigm Monitor 3's for
Yup, I've got the Edirol ones, they were like $200. Sound brilliant.
I'm still using my 8-year-old Altec Lansing 2.1 system, and I don't really see a reason to change to anything else.
B&W loudspeakers in my theater = pure win
B&W computer speakers = skeptical
I'd also get some monitors, but these B&W do look great, and B&W SHOULD know how to make something that sounds good (though the size of this makes me sceptical, and it does look like it's form over function).
those are sexy as hell
i don't even care how they sound. WANT!
Yawwwwwwwwn, Logitech did it first over a year ago.
the z5 omni-directional speakers. Even a similar design.
[IMG]http://img693.imageshack.us/img693/7766/logitechz5270x336.jpg[/IMG]
http://img693.imageshack.us/img693/7766/logitechz5270x336.jpg
I'm going to bet that this is just B&W expanding the use of the same drivers they have in their M-1 surround sound set up. These drivers are in the multi-thousand dollar theater setup, the Zeppelin, the Zeppelin mini (fewer of them), and now these.
TBH, as a B&W owner, I kind of don't like seeing them turn into another "form over function"/lifestyle type of company - I'd prefer they stay "B&W, the makers of the Nautilus and the 802D," rather than "B&W, we want to be B&O."
I'm the same way. I heard the lower end models of B&W speakers are assembled in China now. I wasn't happy to hear that. But on the other hand, these speakers and that Zepplin are helping get B&W's name out there. There are still a lot of hi-end audio companies that many have never heard of.
Yeah - I wasn't particularly happy to find out that pretty much everything under the 800-series is Made in China these days, including my CM-5s (although my CM-1s were made in England. Go figure). To me, it's not really about where the speakers are made, per se, as much as I'd like to think that there are some brands that are driven at least as much by engineering as they are by marketing/chasing money. With multiple B&W iPod speakers, multimedia speakers, and headphones, I'm less sure about B&W now.
I hear you. I am actually an installer for a B & W dealer and I have seen exactly what you are talking about. With the Panorama, Zepplin mini and now these. Ass with the same remote BTW. It's almost as if they are going to turn it into a Beo4/5 thing...
Wow, that computer in the background looks awesome... I wonder what kind it could possibly be?
It's a MacBook Pro bro :)
Why do they always show these speakers without wires?
Why doesn't someone sell well-designed, reasonably-priced, high-quality wifi-enabled speakers!?
Personally, I like the 'design' of the Bang & Olufsen computer speakers. Right now, I have the Klipsch ProMedia GMX 2.1.
I would love to hear them and compare them to my BeoLab 4's. Could be a CHALLENGE! 140 watts for BL4, versus either 72 or 144 for the B&W. Ah, speakers. :)
B&W sold out. This yet another piece of evidence.
Aliasfox: They just plain sold out. There's a certain amount of pride in making your products in your home land. These people have lost their way. 800 series made in China? Terrible. Not at what they cost for one thing.
Yeah they are becoming another B&O and it disgusts me.
Oh well, I was leaning towards ATC myself, so this doesn't make much of a difference to me.
I think the 800 series is their only hi-fi speaker line that's wholly made in England, with most of the rest in China. That said, I'm under the impression that B&W drivers are still made in England.
As for 'pride' in making something in your home country, yes, I'm very much in agreement, but in the real-world economy, I'd rather have B&W engineering and quality assurance available with the country of manufacture being the only compromise.
I WANT!
The connection to the computer is a USB connection. The B&W website touts that it's entirely digital until processing is done in the speaker into analog. Does this mean that it's a virtual sound card or just a virtual output port? And since it's USB, will there be 32/64-bit Windows 7 drivers available that you will need to download?
Why do they always have to put a Macbook next to it? Put a Sony Vaio Z or Sr next to it and the picture is even more appealing. Really, the new black and silver Macbooks don't look that beautiful anymore compared with the old ones...
I found some great sounding, great looking, great-priced speakers from Genius! They're only $50 bucks and they're wooden w/ a sleek burnished black panel. Check them out here: http://www.geniusnet.com/