# my black friday audio purchase **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic\ **Created:** [December 4, 2009, 9:53am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-black-friday-audio-purchase/76876 "2009-12-04T09:53:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![theblue](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/theblue/32/5074_2.png) [@theblue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/theblue)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 9:53am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-black-friday-audio-purchase/76876/1 "2009-12-04T09:53:25Z")
I’ve wanted to upgrade forever, so I decided to man up and drop some coin. I decided to stay with B&W (Bowers and Wilkins) so that I now have a full 7.1 setup for a future basement built, my old fronts will become my new rears. I’m Bipowering them using a Marantz pre and a Rotel amp. before = 601 after = 683 The beauty of the 683 is that you get a lot of the components from much higher end B&Ws in a smaller / simpler / more affordable package. the day that I got them, before installing the base and spikes. ![http://www.nyssan.org/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2264&g2_serialNumber=4](http://www.nyssan.org/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2264&g2_serialNumber=4) a couple cool things about these speakers: Nautilus tube loaded aluminum dome tweeter ![http://assets.bowers-wilkins.com/med/Libraries/3/Nautilus-tapering-tubes_l2_w817_h328.jpg?dm=633022432065030000](http://assets.bowers-wilkins.com/med/Libraries/3/Nautilus-tapering-tubes_l2_w817_h328.jpg?dm=633022432065030000) Kevlar® brand fiber cone FST midrange ![http://assets.bowers-wilkins.com/med/Libraries/3/FST_l2_w817_h328.jpg?dm=633022431370370000](http://assets.bowers-wilkins.com/med/Libraries/3/FST_l2_w817_h328.jpg?dm=633022431370370000) more specs an info here: [http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/display.aspx?infid=2281&terid=2284](http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/display.aspx?infid=2281&terid=2284) a full review: [http://bwmedia.keycast.com/download/Libraries/3/683HI-FIChoice\_l8\_w0\_h0.pdf](http://bwmedia.keycast.com/download/Libraries/3/683HI-FIChoice_l8_w0_h0.pdf) :party2: ---
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 10:00am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-black-friday-audio-purchase/76876/2 "2009-12-04T10:00:30Z")
Out of curiosity, how much does something like that cost? ---
**Author:** ![theblue](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/theblue/32/5074_2.png) [@theblue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/theblue)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 10:08am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-black-friday-audio-purchase/76876/3 "2009-12-04T10:08:53Z")
MSRP on the speakers is around $1600 I think… you can normally haggle 10%-20% off with higher end audio stuff. but remember that you’ll need a receiver / amp combo (or integrated) that’s going to set you back $1500+ (or they’ll sound like crap), decent gauge speaker cable (regardless of if you believe in buying boutique brands or not) $200+, and so on… most people work their way up in stages unless you’re rolling in cash. stuff like this really is a hobby where ignorance is bliss… everything sounds great until you hear better, then you hate your current setup and want more. ---
**Author:** ![glitch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/0ea827/32.png) [@glitch](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/glitch)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 10:40am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-black-friday-audio-purchase/76876/4 "2009-12-04T10:40:43Z")
> [@theblue](#): > > stuff like this really is a hobby where ignorance is bliss… everything sounds great until you hear better, then you hate your current setup and want more. Tell me about it… I did tech support for a local high-end audio component manufactuer. Just the receivers cost 2-6 grand and I would help installers over the phone who were in the process of setting up $25,000+ home theatre systems. True audiophiles are something else and would be appauled at setups we think are siqq. ---
**Author:** ![JustinH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@JustinH](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JustinH)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 11:29am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-black-friday-audio-purchase/76876/5 "2009-12-04T11:29:51Z")
My cousin has the larger B&W’s with the diamond tweeters. It is stupid how good they sound. He runs each channel off a dedicated amp, they are very power hungry. ---
**Author:** ![theblue](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/theblue/32/5074_2.png) [@theblue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/theblue)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 11:39am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-black-friday-audio-purchase/76876/6 "2009-12-04T11:39:29Z")
when I was in the store they had a replacement diamond tweeter that I got a look at… a cool $2000 each (tweeter only) if something goes wrong outside of warranty. I like B&W, but at that price point I’ll switch to Martin Logan or something more exotic. now this is a speaker: ![http://www.martinlogan.com/images/trim/speaker/clx25_black_aluminum.jpg](http://www.martinlogan.com/images/trim/speaker/clx25_black_aluminum.jpg) > **[CLX: 25th Anniversary](https://www.martinlogan.com/en/product/clx25)** > > The World's Finest Full-Range Electrostatic Line Source Loudspeaker. ---
**Author:** ![cfrat1](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/cfrat1/32/5315_2.png) [@cfrat1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/cfrat1)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 11:40am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-black-friday-audio-purchase/76876/7 "2009-12-04T11:40:29Z")
Nice f’ing speakers. Probably some of the sweetest sounds I’ve ever heard have come from B&W. ---
**Author:** ![Dex](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/dex/32/7210_2.png) [@Dex](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Dex)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 12:03pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-black-friday-audio-purchase/76876/8 "2009-12-04T12:03:11Z")
if those speakers had a wet hole i’d stick my dick in them. congrats. and i’m with you on the martin logans. i’ve never heard the CLX’s in person, but i’d love to. just a couple weeks ago i was at a martin logan training and i listened to the vantages and was floored by them. i’m hoping this summer a series of potential events will happen and i’ll be able to tour the martin logan factory in kansas. ---
**Author:** ![theblue](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/theblue/32/5074_2.png) [@theblue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/theblue)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 12:17pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-black-friday-audio-purchase/76876/9 "2009-12-04T12:17:14Z")
I just got a personal tour of the Martin Logan factory on tuesday. If you ever find yourself in the Kansas City area then call them up and request a tour. They don’t show one on the website, but if you call they’ll try to accommodate you. ---
**Author:** ![Dex](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/dex/32/7210_2.png) [@Dex](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Dex)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 2:07pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-black-friday-audio-purchase/76876/10 "2009-12-04T14:07:35Z")
> [@theblue](#): > > I just got a personal tour of the Martin Logan factory on tuesday. If you ever find yourself in the Kansas City area then call them up and request a tour. They don’t show one on the website, but if you call they’ll try to accommodate you. that’s awesome. yeah when i was talking with a guy that was doing their training he was saying call and get a tour anytime. i’d love to do it. ---
**Author:** ![LXIFLYBY](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/lxiflyby/32/7399_2.png) [@LXIFLYBY](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LXIFLYBY)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2009, 9:23am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-black-friday-audio-purchase/76876/11 "2009-12-05T09:23:43Z")
martin logans require ALOT of power, I really like B&W, very nice esp for the price. What model marantz and rotel are you using? ---
**Author:** ![theblue](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/theblue/32/5074_2.png) [@theblue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/theblue)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2009, 9:43am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-black-friday-audio-purchase/76876/12 "2009-12-05T09:43:40Z")
I have a Marantz SR5002 (amp not being used currently, will be for the surrounds) and a rotel RB-985 THX (4 channels for the mains, 1 for my center) ---
**Author:** ![Treads4Heads](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/treads4heads/32/7416_2.png) [@Treads4Heads](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Treads4Heads)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2009, 9:55am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-black-friday-audio-purchase/76876/13 "2009-12-05T09:55:59Z")
:tup: for people in here having good audio equipment taste ---
**Author:** ![theblue](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/theblue/32/5074_2.png) [@theblue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/theblue)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 1:21pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-black-friday-audio-purchase/76876/14 "2010-06-25T13:21:46Z")
BUMP! upgraded my center channel to a B&W CDM CNT! It’s older than my previous center (that I just put up for sale), but it’s much higher model. ![http://www.nyssan.org/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12473&g2_serialNumber=2](http://www.nyssan.org/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12473&g2_serialNumber=2) ![http://www.nyssan.org/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12486&g2_serialNumber=2](http://www.nyssan.org/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12486&g2_serialNumber=2) ---
**Author:** ![OfficerK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4da419/32.png) [@OfficerK](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/OfficerK)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 1:27pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-black-friday-audio-purchase/76876/15 "2010-06-25T13:27:26Z")
I am sure the sound is beyond amazing, but man…aesthetically the setup is lacking ---
**Author:** ![theblue](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/theblue/32/5074_2.png) [@theblue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/theblue)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 1:28pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-black-friday-audio-purchase/76876/16 "2010-06-25T13:28:35Z")
it’s all a little temporary until I build a home theater in my basement (hopefully this coming winter). ---
**Author:** ![MaximaSE98](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/maximase98/32/7600_2.png) [@MaximaSE98](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/MaximaSE98)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 1:30pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-black-friday-audio-purchase/76876/17 "2010-06-25T13:30:16Z")
> [@OfficerK](#): > > I am sure the sound is beyond amazing, but man…aesthetically the setup is lacking i was going to say the same thing…but then he answered