JBL 580 vs B&W CDM7

[JEarle]

I’m 99.9999% sure I already know the answer to this, but, I’m going to ask the question....

Someone has asked if I’d swap my JBL 580’s for their CDM7’s, pretty sure I’ll be saying no BUT am I missing something by not? Are the B&W’s a gem of a speaker or anything?

I have BMR’s in my living room and 708p’s in my basement and the 580’s are just sitting doing nothing, so slightly inclined to experiment but don’t want to swap something decent for a pig!

 

[73hadd]

CDM was from when B&W was doing a more neutral response curve (IMO). See the bookshelf version CDM1 that was reviewed and measured here by Stereophile:

https://www.stereophile.com/content/bw-compact-domestic-monitor-1-loudspeaker-measurements

I am not sure if the tower version followed the same philosophy/response.

See specs here:

https://www.bowerswilkins.com/sites/default/files/2019-03/ENG_FP10592_CDM7_info_sheet.pdf


You can find CDM7 on auction sites for around $700 a pair. It will vary on if they are CDM7, CDM7SE, CDM7NT etc.

hifishark used prices on JBL 580 seem to be comparable.

If quality speakers, made in England, does something for you, they are worth having. The CDM cast baskets look nice, see pics on ebay:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/B-W-BOWERS...563076?hash=item2afcc78ec4:g:cxEAAOSwa3BgCF5p

Yes, the 580 also appears to have cast baskets...

Will they sound better to you? I have listened to CDM7 and thought they sounded good, neutral, and imaged very precisely. Without spins it's hard to say actual dispersion but measurements looked good to me in that regard.

 

[Chrispy]

B&Ws just don't appeal to me generally. Maybe their upper end stuff, but its overpriced otoh. Curious, tuning in as I use 580s for surrounds....

 

[thewas]

CDM was from when B&W was doing a more neutral response curve (IMO). See the bookshelf version CDM1 that was reviewed and measured here by Stereophile:

https://www.stereophile.com/content/bw-compact-domestic-monitor-1-loudspeaker-measurements

I am not sure if the tower version followed the same philosophy/response.

Am sure it does like all B&Ws from that era, just keep in mind that the CDMs used ferrofluid in their tweeters which tends to dry up after many years and can influence its output.

 

[raindance]

If I remember correctly there were two versions of the CDM7 with one being far better than the other. I think it was a regular version and an SE version. I can't recall which is which; too lazy to research right now. But one of them was headless panther territory. I'd suggest keeping the JBLs though unless you're taken with the finish on the B&W.

 

[JEarle]

Thanks for the input everyone! I think that gives me my answer. Keeping the 580’s.