B&W CM1, A luxury mini-monitor

• B&W achieves large-scale sound from an enclosure with a capacity of just 6.5 l. It's the CM1.

• Price: €800

• Specialists' rating: 5

• Text: Ramon Sendra

When some of us think of monitor-type speakers, we do so simply because we don't have enough space in our living room, study or wherever to place a pair of floorstanders. We are attracted by the idea of installing a stereo system with class, but not all monitors have the sophistication one demands to achieve excellent sound quality. Even so, there are very capable designs (not only from B&W), some of which have already passed through these pages with extraordinary results. This British manufacturer even has in its catalog an accurate monitor called the 805s which, even now, seduces with its quality and performance. But can you imagine an enclosure even more compact than the 805s that keeps its sonic qualities at a high level? It exists, and it is called the CM1. In fact, the monitor we bring to these pages is an evolution of the 805s, but in a cabinet of barely 6.5 l. So it is no surprise to find a 25 mm aluminum-dome treble unit (or tweeter) or the well-known 130 mm Kevlar-cone mid/bass driver characteristic of B&W designs. Nor can I forget the rear Flowport, of unique design and recognizable by its golf-ball-like finish.

The company's engineers have spared no resources in designing this CM1. Both drivers have been optimized so that their inductance is as linear as possible, which allows them to offer tonal coherence regardless of volume level. Even the crossover, set at 4 kHz, is the result of a greater effort, which we were already able to applaud with the launch of its excellent 800 series. All the crossover components, the drivers and the enclosure itself have been designed solely and specifically for this model. On the back we find a dual set of good-quality binding posts on each cabinet, accepting anything from a heavy-gauge cable to a bi-wired installation.



TESTED



I connected our guest to a Dared MP5 tube stereo amplifier and an Arcam DIVA CD192 CD-Audio player.

Its 6.5 l are no obstacle to very good bass reproduction, ideal for dedicated music listening with no need to look for any additional bass reinforcement. The 4,000 Hz crossover ensures perfect reproduction, above all of voices, without the midrange suffering from a change of tonality in the upper spectrum. Thus, the body of the voice and of certain instruments is reproduced with extreme fidelity, finding in the tweeter an excellent ally for achieving a stable sound.

Our guest offers tonally well-balanced sound reproduction across all its bands, highlighting a controlled, very refined treble, far removed from any harshness. Although perhaps this treble could do with a little more definition, which would help, to some extent, to noticeably improve an already good stereo image. Small, but with very good results overall.

At low listening volumes bass reproduction holds up quite well and, at the other extreme, when we raise the volume to almost deafening levels, a certain lack of bass control appears, although nothing critical (and I insist on the word "deafening"). They offer very well controlled dynamics, managing to reproduce even the most critical passages, such as complex orchestrations, without any frequency band momentarily disappearing, while proving subtle and effective with intimate and acoustic music. They are very versatile across the different musical styles that exist. The stereo image focuses the front soundstage very well, although it perhaps neglects its horizontal width a little. In depth, they also convince.

If you have space problems, or want to install a small but excellent stereo system, you will get a superb result with these B&W CM1s. Their musical versatility makes them suitable for almost any music lover, from the classics to the most modern pop, rock and electronica.

I therefore recommend an audition to discover what these small speakers can offer you, and I am sure they will not disappoint you.

B&W CM1, A luxury mini-monitor

Specifications

Description: 2-way with bass reflex port. Drivers: 1 x 25 mm (1") aluminum dome tweeter and one 130 mm (5") Kevlar-cone driver for low and mid frequencies. Frequency response: 55 Hz to 22 kHz (+/- 3 dB). Dispersion: 60º in the horizontal plane, 10º in the vertical plane. Nominal impedance:

8 ohms (minimum 5.1 ohms). Crossover frequency: 4 kHz. Recommended amplifier power:

30 W to 100 W into 8 ohms. Maximum recommended cable impedance:

0.1 ohms. Weight: 6.7 kg.

Available finishes: Wenge, Rosenut and Maple.

Distributor: B&W Spain (935894722).

Price: €800