My speakers are getting restored

organ

Man, the wait is killing me. My B&W DM6 are currently in a specialty shop getting restored.
I thought my friend's matrix 802 series 80 were the best speakers I've ever heard. Kept an eye on the used market but never came across a pair. If I did, they already sold.
So my patience ran out. When I saw the DM6, I decided to give them a shot and was so surprised I prefer them over the 802 Matrix. Everything I like about the 802 Matrix is there with the DM6 plus a few bonuses. They are slightly warmer overall while the 802's sound a little more sterile in comparison. The DM6 has much better bass, IMO. No need for a sub at all.
They're doing a lot of work on it and so far they say, the earliest it will be ready is this coming Saturday. I'm so pumped and looking forward to hearing them again.
I will post some pics once they're back home again playing some tunes.

drumminman

Inquiring minds want to know: what mods are they doing?

boston1450

Hope they come out NICE---- IS IT SATURDAY YETTTT i think weve all been there lol
.................

organ

Hi drumminman,
No mods. Just restoration. Here's a list from my copy of the paperwork:
-Remove Woofers, Kits + Repair Coils (The glue holding the surrounds are beginning to dry and pull away from the woofer edges causing a misalignment in the voice coil)
-Test all speakers with audio generator
-Treat Mid-range around perimeter (the previous owner took the grilles off and on a lot without being very careful. Part of the grille rubbed up against the side of the mid driver causing some wear on the surround's rubber where it meets the driver edges. Nothing bad, and should be easy to repair he says)
-Clean tweeter diaphragms
-Replace crossover parts
-Check fuse holder for air leaks (one of the fuse holder has a small crack. So he'll probably patch it up because speaker is a sealed design.
-Replace internal wiring.

They also offer cabinet re-finish. The finish on my cabs still look very good so he didn't recommend a re-finish.

The man sure knows a lot and I saw some high end stuff in the shop.

I really can't wait to hear them again up to specs. These speakers started the legendary B&W 801. A review of the 801 on Stereophile had the reviewer preferring the DM6 because he found it a little warmer and more musical. They're known as the pregnant penguins.

They're over 30 years old. So this restoration will really bring them back to life. I thought they looked ugly in pictures until I got mine. Mine will basically look very close to mint after a new grille fabric and something to bring back the shine on the finish.

Boston,
LOL. I don't want to get too excited yet because he said the earliest would be this coming Sat. I only have time to pick them up on Saturdays because it's a long drive and I have to have my friend help me as he owns a delivery van and the speakers are heavy.
So if they're done on Mon, I can't get them until the following Sat :-(.

RamZet

Awesome speakers.
Are you the original owner of them? Have you had them for all these years?

organ

Hi RamZet,
I'm not the original owner. I got them from my audio dealer (he sells used gear also). But the previous owner did take very good care of them. If the grille fabric didn't have small tears at the corners, they pretty much look brand new. The DM6 are very rare now. First time I've come across a pair. I was also keeping my eyes open for a used pair of 802 but now, I don't feel like I need them.
So I've only had them for about a month now. I already planned to get them restored when I got them. Listened a few times after after I purchased them and I couldn't believe how good they sound. Once they're back up to spec, it's gonna be sweet.

RamZet

organ wrote: »

Hi RamZet,
I'm not the original owner. I got them from my audio dealer (he sells used gear also). But the previous owner did take very good care of them. If the grille fabric didn't have small tears at the corners, they pretty much look brand new. The DM6 are very rare now. First time I've come across a pair. I was also keeping my eyes open for a used pair of 802 but now, I don't feel like I need them.
So I've only had them for about a month now. I already planned to get them restored when I got them. Listened a few times after after I purchased them and I couldn't believe how good they sound. Once they're back up to spec, it's gonna be sweet.

Why did you go for a older pair of speakers over a new pair?

I can tell you from the part of the country I am from that most high end speakers sit in a summer house and almost never get used for years even decades.
We had a client who had the matrix 802 as rear speakers in his Den. They looked brand new until last year after his house flooded.

organ

I had no intentions of using them in a serious set up when I first got them. Thought I'd get them restored and enjoy them until I come across a pair of 802 or 801 because the DM6 was B&W's flagship speakers before the 801 came out.. The deal was too good to pass up. My google searches on them came up with some very positive results. There are still a lot of people who prefer the DM6 to the newer stuff. I see that there are basically two groups of B&W fans. The ones that like the old school sound and those who like the new stuff. After hearing them briefly, I know I won't be looking for any of the 800 series anymore. The DM6 has everything I like about the 802 matrix but the bass extension and dynamics of the DM6 walks all over the 802 matrix. The added warmth is a bonus too.
As far as sound quality, this is the best audio deal I've ever run into.

If they were in bad shape, believe me, I wouldn't have gotten them. I already knew some work was in order due to their age. So after the restoration they'll pretty much be brand new again.

It's too bad about your client's 802. They're fantastic sounding speakers. Hopefully the mains survived.

RamZet

yeah he replaced his rears with the 803D, I dont feel bad for him at all.

one speaker was shot and the other worked, it just got water damage to the cabinet. They were tossed into the trash and replace by the 803D.

organ

803D. The man sure has $. Too bad he trashed the working speaker. Quite a bit of 802 fans out there looking for spare parts, driver, etc.

Just looked at your sig. How do you like the sound of Rotel with the CM9? I know B&W used to use Rotel for demos. Not sure what they use now, I think it's Classe. Have you tried any other amps with them?

Goldenboy72206

i love bmw

RamZet

I love the CM9. They are just awesome speaker for music and HT. Anything good that can said about a speaker is what I would say about the CM9. They are like giant CM5s.

I was at Cedia visiting our Reps last year and B&W still has a strong partnership with Rotel and Classe (Classe is Rotel). They are all part of the "B&W Group", thats what they call themselves.