B&W 685 MY HOME CINEMA

[elephantarmy]

Heya - its hard to assess sound quality on my tinny laptop speakers! these are good, right?! I am into bass music, dubstep, female vocals, soul, hip hop, drum n bass, techno, ninja tunes type stuff, electronic... match would be nad c350 amp - are the 685s good for that kind of stuff?

[1DayAsADog]

I have to ask anyone with 685 that make poor recordings sound worse? mine do, they are broken in but not old either. I can hear light pops and cracking while watching TV. While playing music; some songs downloaded from Itunes will make the crackling sounds and popping at times its always the same songs so I know that its the recording but why amplify the bad.

[Monkey80llx]

why on earth are the speakers sitting on the same shelf as the dvd player???!!!!!!!! a wooden shelf would be bad enough but glass!!! Does the words vibrations and distortion mean anything to you? If people spent more time and money on learning about the importance and correct application of soundproofing/deadening they'd actually realise the full potential of even the most mediocre kit

[raymondleeleggs]

I cant go back to 2 channel after having 5.1 for so long, but I do need a better receiver to open my vintage sony speakers up!

[Frietpan]

@raymondleeleggs

i also used 5.1 for like forever. but now i have a new amp (with stereo direct) en new speakers and i change back to 2.0 everytime. (or 2.1 for harder music and hip hop/rap)

[31Orcas]

Great sound system man!

It drives me nuts when I see people say "That's not even music! You should be ashamed for playing such horrible garbage on B & W's (or any other hi-fi speaker for that matter)!"

Why on earth would that matter more than how much the owner is enjoying whatever music they're listening to? Thumbs up : ).

[WerdnaFaz]

Big Rave!! Where was it?

[swordfish103]

@WerdnaFaz

The movie is from the Qlimax DVD (I believe it's 2007).

This is a hardstyle party in the Gelredome, Arnhem.

[SmexyDarkzelda]

@swordfish103 Qlimax FTW <3 HARDSTYLE!

[xoxoleah1000]

@WerdnaFaz Holland :D i think amsterdam :)

[ARNEL1222]

home cinema in the bedroom????

[swordfish103]

@ARNEL1222

Yeah, I've had 2 different home-theater setups in my bedroom.

But I decided to go stereo and am currently playing 2.0 for music, and sometimes with movies or harder musicstyles I also turn on my new subwoofer.

[raymondleeleggs]

I want to upgrad my speakers after seeing this but I cant afford them!

[TheRAZZITEAK]

you cannot match different brands when it comes to speakers! you need to get a B&W center! then it will be 10 times better

[swordfish103]

@TheRAZZITEAK

You could not have been more right ;)

But as you could've read in some of my responses... I already swtich to a seperate Stereo and Seperate Surround setup..

Because indeed the speakers need to match, especially the center speaker (which is very underestimated imo)

[cedent1]

would love to go to qlimax or even sensation black it just looks epic. And nice speakers me personally i bought the b&w 602 s3 which are just as good. especially playing hardstyle

[KoneHead8]

crap music

[swordfish103]

@KoneHead8

Fortunately everybody has their own taste of music...

I can listen to pretty much any genre, from hardstyle to celtic rock and pop.

This video was to demonstrate the B&W 685 handling some bass-heavy musicstyles ;)

[KoneHead8]

@swordfish103 I change my mind... I must have been drunk or something

[c0rrupts3ct0r555]

the B&W are some nice looking speakers. Heard a set of them at a now closed audio store in Mishiwaka. Very clean sound. I wanted to buy a set until i saw the price tag. :( unfourtnatly i had not enough money to buy them. I now run paradigms for fronts. They are some nice sounding speakers. I want to get paradigm all the way around someday... Good video 5 stars

[portmoodybrad]

I want to buy these speakers soon what or how much do i need to spend on a amp. to get the full effect out of them? I was thinking of getting a harman Kardon Amp.  Maybe not?

[MisterMultimedia1]

You need:

A new receiver, a blu ray player and a full HD screen. The rest is ok ;)

[swordfish103]

Haha, Couldn't agree more.

I already upgraded my setyup quite a lot of times (trying to find the right match between speakers and amplifier. As well as my room-acoustic and personal taste ;)

Stereo Setup at the moment:

AMP: Advance Acoustic MAP305-DAII

CD: MHZS CD33 Tube CD-player (modded)

Stands: Atacama Nexus (filled with atabytes)

Sub: BK Gemini II (10" driver, closed enclosure)

Cable: W&M LS-01

PS3 also connected (as well as my PC)

Haven't had time for a new vid yet :$

[MisterMultimedia1]

Oh yes the problem with the money. Most of us know this ;)

[Barabumba]

your tv suckssss...

what the fuck is it???? Tatung??? WTF???

[swordfish103]

@Barabumba

Well, that is because this is my bedroom setup. I bought this tv when the LCD tv's were just being introduced onto the European market. This TV offered quite a lot of bang for your buck ;) Tatung is already popular in Asian countries...

And I'll keep it this way, untill the TV breaks down. The TV exactly colourmatches my new amplifier and CD-Player :P

In my home-cinema set-up nowadays stands a 50" plasma. Which does it's job quite well ;)

[ChadusHD]

ale napierdala hehe Bowers&Wilkins rządzi i Harman też :P :)

[swordfish103]

@ChadusHD

I truly don't understand a word you're saying :$

English, Dutch or German please?

[ykliu1995]

You shouldn't buy the harman kardon amp.

[swordfish103]

@ykliu1995 That is exactly why I already sold the Harman Kardon.

The B&W 685 are many times better on a strong stereo-amplifier!

I still had the H/K in this video because of my surround setup ;)

[djbazzmaster]

btw ..waarom de keuze voor ''hoedenplank / rear speakers'' als front speakers !??

[swordfish103]

Het zijn boekenplank luidsprekers. En van een aardig formaat ook nog.

Als je een beetje op internet rondkijkt, zie je dat deze met de juiste versterking erg goed uit de bus komen op stereo-gebied.

Bovendien zit ik in een compacte ruimte waar vloerstaanders niet goed passen en qua geluid geen meerwaarde leveren.

Wel heb ik een compacte gesloten subwoofer (BK Gemini) voor het echte laag. Deze staat met muziek maar heel minimaal aan.

[swordfish103]

EDIT: Ik heb momenteel trouwens geen home-cinema setup meer, gebruik puur stereo!

[Pommbaer84]

everyone in NL is Hardstyle-Nerd ...

[djbazzmaster]

stfu

[Rexxxon]

Congrats for being a hardstyle fan!

[TobiasVkn94]

Heb je die speakers gewoon rechtstreeks in je harman kardon gedaan of zit er nog iets tussen?

[swordfish103]

Ja, de B&W 685 zaten rechtstreeks op mijn Harman Kardon receiver. Dit werkte op zich prima, maar de HK is aan 6.1 receiver.

Inmiddels staan de 685 op atacama stands, zijn er meerdere versterkers getest; mosfet, hybride, buizen, pre- eindcombo. Momenteel speel ik met een Advance Acoustic MAP305DAII...

Een stereo-versterker is aan te raden, de 685 houden dan een veel strakkere bassweergave en klinken 'ruimtelijker'...

Probeer maar eens verschillende combinaties te luisteren ;)

[raymondleeleggs]

THUMP THUMP THUMP!!

[Velasquez459]

nice amigo listen how u put yerr flat tv on ready desk

[swordfish103]

You mean How I put my TV into the desk/furniture?

This is a glass-desk with an aluminum stand for fitting a LCD-screen with a max of 42".

The LCD-screen is also turnable now, and all the cables are in the aluminum stand...

Spectral and Atacama also have a lot of furniture like this one ;)

[vuurverkrach]

non bass:P

[swordfish103]

The B&W 685 definately have a lot of bass for a bookshelf-speaker!

However, it is quite hard to capture bass-sounds with my camcorder ;)

[ViEt3o3Boi]

Klipsch!

[swordfish103]

No Klipsch audio in this vid...

I did listen to some Klipsch speakers and subwoofers. Even though they offer good quality equipment with affordable pricetags, I decided to buy myself a BK electronic subwoofer. With a closed enclosure, 12" driver... BK is comparable with REL, but imo even better, but cheaper ;)

[Mensaj3Productionz]

did u record this in standard def and converted it with windows movie maker? or 1280 by 720? what type of file is it?

[swordfish103]

Correct,

Becuase I didn't want to edit the movie much. I chose the easy way; WMM.

It is recorded with a Sony SD- digital camcorder. I believe it is the DCR-SR50.

It still does the job for me. I chose to buy myself a nice Canon EOS450D and some objectives ;)

[ViEt3o3Boi]

In my opinion i like Klipsch better than B&W.

its just me...

[swordfish103]

That's why sound is, just as many other things, a matter of taste.

I like both brands, but I like several other speakerbrands and types as well.

I was just looking for a setup which is affordable, and sounds good in my opinion (ears).

[ViEt3o3Boi]

Yea no doubt, your setup is awesome!

[kimboslice223]

OMG NAME OF THAT SONG AHHH HOLY SHIT

sick bnw lol!!!

[Wariious]

Which one of the songs?

[kjellieboy]

mooi man echt een mooie setup!

[powerhouse2112]

Who is the Fat guy at 3:19

[swordfish103]

The fat guy at 3:19?? No fat guy there :P

At 4:19 MC DV-8 is announced, but he is no fat guy either :P

[titus41]

Qlimax :)

[domokrat]

great ... and you know what to watch ;)

[Stantwente]

qlimax op de aachtergrond;d

[antennebuis]

good sound ,but the B&W s are better for classical music,take for the music Altec L. or JBL

[swordfish103]

I know.... but that's why I stated in the video: "I play this music to show the B&W 685 can be used with any kind of music". Although I wrote it in Dutch :P

I listen to all sorts of music, but Hardstyle is something I can always listen to ;)

[vamp1re]

i dont like the b&w 685 they look like the kinda speakers u get included in a midi hifi at argos for £200

[swordfish103]

Well, I'm happy everyone has a different taste ;)

But those speakers definately don't sound like the one in Micro-sets...

But why this kind of post? Apparently you were interested in the speakers ;) The most important point is the sound quality, did you ever had the chance to listen to those speakers?

[TBRoy1]

Do you download your movies?

[swordfish103]

I don't really see the relevance. But in this video it is the original DVD.

But I also download some movies yes. I changed my setup completely.. Will post a new vid within 2 months (still a bit busy at the moment :P)

I hooked up my tv to my pc.. so ideal for streaming.

[TBRoy1]

Ok, that's nice!

[butrokr]

sweet

[motherfuckingliri]

I have two of the B&W685s =)

I can confirm that this is without a subwoofer.

I've invited my friend and turnd on music.

After some seconds he said...

Turn off the Sub. :D But he was still off x)

The little speakers are awesome =)

Test it ;)

[lordofthespoons123]

why would he say "turn off the subs" There not that bassy. The bass isnt overpowering - Or at least shouldent be if you have your amp setup correctly.

[nformby]

I seriously can't believe that your subwoofer was turned off in this video! :D Them B&W 685s are some of the best speakers I have ever seen! The harmon-kardons are some really nice pieces of kit too! I feel sorry for you because you're gonna have to be buying an HD DVD player if you want to keep up! lol (Obviously not HDDVD though, Blu-Ray of course!)

[swordfish103]

Well, I'm not going to buy a Blu-Ray player yet....

Although there are some very nice items available ;)

For now I connected my PC with DVI-cable to my LCD. Which is great for HD-movies. On a 32" screen you will hardly see the difference between HD-Ready and FULL HD...

And the sub was really off...

BEcause the Sub that comes in the JBL scs 200 series is quite annoying, especially in my (fairly small) bedroom it boooooms. --> not pleasant.

[lukeslandspeeder]

yes the camera and compression thing sucks lol. it prob sounds more amazing in person.

[lukeslandspeeder]

nice.. but 50" or no less here. dam too much treble. was the same on another guys same speakers. still blends nice though.

[swordfish103]

Well, this is my bedroom setup, so no room for a 50" plasma here at the moment.

I can't agree with you on the treble of the speakers. The B&W 685 use the neodyum tweeters alswo used in the B&W 8-series. Perhaps it is because of the handycam mic, unfortunately I don't have an external mic.

Always hard to judge sound on youtube, also becuase of the compression Youtube applies.

But still... Sound in general, just as music-taste is very subjective ;)

Thnx for viewing & replying

[mazdamclaren]

Very nice set up you have, and finally someone who puts a bit of bass through these things rather than just jazz lol Very well done :D

[motherfuckingliri]

Yes,

thank you for your impressions.

Audio-Pro Mondial S3 is also not bad :)

I will test some other subs, too.

[motherfuckingliri]

I want to buy the B&W 685 with the B&W 610 or 608 ;)

Is the bass great of the little speakers (685) ?

My room has 14m²

Does I need a subwoofer?

Or are the 685 so bassfull that i dont need a sub in my little room.

[swordfish103]

Well, I personally would NOT recommend using subwoofer for listening to music. Only for movies...

For a subwoofer I would look at for example Rel (or the BK Gemini, which is alsmot similar, but costs half the price of Rel)...

Smaller subwoofers (with closed box) sound better with music, but don't go as low as a ported box...

I recommend you to listen to different subwoofers in a hifi-store ;)

Perhaps they give you the oppurunity to test them at your own home...

[motherfuckingliri]

Which size has your room?

[swordfish103]

Well my bedroom is in a dormer...

So I have a quite long stretched room, about 6,5m.

But it's only about 2,5 meters deep...

And with the leaning roof, this gives me a non-symmetrical room. But because of those non-symmetrical dimensions, I don't have any annoying reflections from my speakers...

[dopeybck]

Awesome speakers i love my 685's, i would like to recommend putting them on a decent solid pair of stands to drive more from them, but as you correctly pointed out sound is personal.

[swordfish103]

I know, but in the setup I showed here, there is no room to fit speaker-stands.

Although I recently bought a new pair of Atacama Nexus 6 stands.

And as a spare I also had a pair DIY stands... But I sold those to a friend of mine...

[swordfish103]

Usually they only sell in authorised B&W dealer-stores.

Hoewever you canalso find a pair on eBay, new, or sometimes secondhand. But it's really hard to find a secondhand pair for a good price...

I was lucky to buy those speakers which were 1 day used as demo-speakers on a VAD-show. And payed €400,- for a pair.

Normal price = €600,- per pair.

Good luck with your search for online B&W 685 ;)

[TigerSupercatE1]

loads of bass if the sub was turned off in this vid

[swordfish103]

Definately...

The B&W 685 produce quite a lot of bass for bookshelf speakers.

At the moment I filmed this video, I diidn't have a subwoofer connected. I only used the centre speaker and rear-speakers...

The bass is also deeper (and a little less 'tight') because of my small room...

Greets, swordfish103

[EumlOriginal]

2,5mm² Oehlbach Kabel für B&W 685 ... lol sinnlos

2.5 mm² Oehlbach cables for B & W 685 ... lol pointless

[swordfish103]

No, cables CAN actually make a difference. But I don't believe in those €160,- per meter cables. That is the reason why I used normal (cheap) coppercables.

No silver cables, because than you'll lose a lot of bass, and the highs can become sharp...

But SOUND IS PERSONAL, it's SUBJECTIVE ;)

I've switched to different hardware now...

Hybrid Amp (Pre-amp = tubes), MHZS CD player (modified), and a BK Gemini is on the way. (Clone of REL Quake).

[EumlOriginal]

Cables have little impact on the sound! only if they are too thin are anything VooDoo is not physical because it is different and the sound is not measured only 0.05dB ... and hearing may be differences of 3dB NOT HEAR! about 280Hz to 8KHz and it will not even unendfindlicher ... mach-blind comparative

[swordfish103]

That's the same thing I meant...

There is a difference between a 0,5 mm cable and a 2,5mm cable...

But not between the 2,5mm copper cable, and a 24mm silver, oxygen-free cablwhich costs 200$/m. ;)

So I'm glad we share the same opinion...

[bryant16319]

dude that sounds real nice man wish mine sound like that

[hardcorefrokid]

I just bought myself a H/K AVR-254 7.1 channel receiver yesterday. And, with the Dolby True HD and DTS-HD Master Audio it's the best!

[raymondleeleggs]

I bet that sounds good! I always thought that you needed seperate setups for both music and movies although, I may try integrating as an experiment.

[swordfish103]

That's true in a certain way ;)

There are surround-receivers which are capable of producing good quality Stereo-sound. However they have a very expensive price-tag...

I am now using a MHZS CD33E (not yet modified) CD-player and a Yaqin VK2100 hybrid (tubes as pre-amp combined with a transistor amp) amplifier... What a great sound, especially for the chinese prices :D

Full tubes is lovely as well, but sounds a bit too warm with my B&W 685...

[jwamd]

what is the song on 4:18min???

[swordfish103]

That is Showtek feat. MC DV8 - Shout Out

A very uncommon song with the easy, slow song in between... But a very good song. I like this type of hardstyle ;)

However this video was just to show the 685 can handle any type of music. I also use it to listen to Lisa Gerrard, Enya, Metallica S&M, Alicia Keys unplugged, OneRepublic and many more...

I occasionally listen to hardstyle... Feel the (kick) bass, and adrenaline-rush :P

Best regards, Swordfish103

[FinTraveller]

Today I Harman/ Kardon AVR 255, B&W ASW600 and 2 B&W 685s... Later on I'm gonna buy center speaker, 2 B&W 685s for sides and to the front B&W's CM series floor speakers...

[FinTraveller]

I ment I bought*

[swordfish103]

I just bougth myself an older Rotel pre- and poweramp... this is a much better stereo quality!

In the future there will come a tube amplifier. And for movies I will make my own sub.

I'm not a great fan of the B&W subs, nor any other sub (lot of money, for average performance).

Surround isn't really working in my room...

To use 685's for rear is a bit overrated I think. They'll only 'display' some special effects. No large speaker needed for that ;)

Best regards ;)

[FinTraveller]

Well these are actually my first HiFi systems so I don't know actually very much yet about these things... But anyways mostly I'm using these speakers for listening music. I really like the clear sound of 685's also the look is not that bad either :D.

[jasonsony735]

Hi ya dude iv got these speakers but cant get the bass from them like you have , Im using Cinema Receiver denon 1507 , Could this be my problem ? If not advise me on what to do to get more Bass, Cheers

[swordfish103]

Did you connect the speakers the right way.

So use your front left- and right speakeroutputs at the back of your Denon to the HI-Input terminals of the B&W 685...

The Denon receiver has a less bass-sound than my Harman Kardon. But still it should be able to produce a very nice bass. B&W speakers are quiet full of bass, combined with my HK receiver it produces a very warm, bass sound.

You should also check if you set-up your receiver the right way: LARGE front speakers, Stereo, No Sub...

[jasonsony735]

It all seems to be setup ok , What about the FEQ thing , should it be set a 80 MHZ ?......

Iv set speakers to Large and everything else off ect , Sub off, I dont have it connected up to CD player only PS3 and Sky HD , It just doesnt sound that bassey , I have the speakers on stands. iv set the listening to around 2.5 Meters as this is where i sit. Im thinking about getting the New Denon 1909 , but hope it sounds better..

[slickpickle24]

you can never go wrong with Harman Kardon + JBL

[swordfish103]

But I didn't like the sound of the satellite-speakers only, so without the subwoofer. That's why I currently only got the B&W 685 speakers. I sold the entire JBL set, and I'm going to build my own 12" sub.

[jasonsony735]

They sound well good :) I want them . What song is this mate ? or program on the TV

[swordfish103]

This is a live registration of the Qlimax event in the Netherlands...

All hardstyle and some hardcore at the end ;)

[jasonsony735]

What song is this ? its well good

[raymondleeleggs]

Sick bass for bookshelf speakers!

[flavourinjector]

yeah,what they said...

[e2theric]

Hoi

Even een onbeleefde vraag wat kost zo un setje als dit nou ongeveer dan ben je van me af :)

[swordfish103]

Speakers: €600.- per 2 stuks

Receiver: €400.- (Kostte toen meer)

DVD-Speler: €125.- (Toen: €220.-)

TV: €650.-

Kabels: Normaal: €6,50 per meter, maar ik heb voor ruim 50 meter maar €35.- betaald.

Overige kabels heb ik ook een stuk goedkoper...

Totaalprijs van wat het nu kost ligt ongeveer op €2000.-

[e2theric]

Thanx :)

[e2theric]

Heel mooi setje :D

Maar klinkt het nou echt zo geweldig met Hardcore en al die dingen? :O

[swordfish103]

Qlimax = hardstyle, maar dat terzijde ;)

De speaker klinken werkelijk met elke muzieksoort geweldig. Het zal je verbazen hoeveel midlaag en bass er uit deze relatief kleine speaker komt. (ook al is die voor een monitor speaker aardig aan de maat).

Er zitten ook schuimproppen bij om de bassweergave beter te regelen. door ze dicht op een achterwand te plaatsen neemt ook de bass toe (wordt die wel minder strak)...

Voor het echt zware werk is een sub handig, maar deze overheersen te snel.

[e2theric]

Toff ik bedank u voor deze informatie :D

Ik heb zelf een marantz 4600 versterker met een philips dvd speler 6.1 surround een magnat subwoofer Kappa infinity 400 en 200 luidspreakers en ik moet toe geven dat mij oude stereo verterker (harman/kardon 9650r) veel mooier klinkt dan een surround versterker.

Maar ik ben ook zeer tevreden met mijn setje

nogmaals bedankt voor de info.

[swordfish103]

Hiervoor had ik ook een Marantz (SR650 als ik mij niet vergis..) Iets ouder model, wel 5.1 receiver. Maar de Harman Kardon spullen spreken mij enorm aan qua design. De nieuwere serie vind ik dan ook niet mooi :P

Er komt bij mij na de vakantie nog een Yaqin MC 5881a buizenversteker (vanzelfsprekend stereo) bij voor muziekweergave...

Op dit moment gebruik ik geen surround i.v.m. de vorm van mijn kamer.

[e2theric]

Ik vindt die nieuwwe serie geweldig ondanks de zeer dunne kleine luidspreakers.... kosten bedragen geloof ik 1700,- en het iets ouderen model is nu te koop voor 1300,-

en de iets te zwarten en over dreven zwarten kleur waar je gewoon te snel stof enzo op ziet Geheh ben zelf niet zo een die iederedag met doekjes over de luidspreakers heen gaat i.v.m krassen etc.

[swordfish103]

Ik maak gebruik van een doorzichtig glazen meubel (veiligheidsglas, 8mm). Maar hierop vallen de krassen gelukkig nog mee. Stof is een ander verhaal...

Ik heb mijn luidsprekerkabels aan de achterrand van het glas vastgeplakt, zodat je ze niet ziet.

De boxen en apparatuur trekken echter wel een enorme bende stof aan. Elke 2 dagen micro-vezel doekje eroverheen halen -_-

PS: Ik had het hierboven over de nieuwe receivers. Luidsprekersets zijn wel goed te doen ;)

[e2theric]

Is inderdaad wel te doen :)

En een zeer mooi meubel vindt ik dat je hebt echt super mooi ^^

Wat kost een beetje meubel nu nog?

[swordfish103]

Dit meubel komt van Medion vandaan, wordt ook regelmatig bij de Aldi verkocht.

Ik ben echt ontzettend tevreden over de kwaliteit... En voor de prijs van Euro 160.- was het echt een koopje.

Soortgelijke meubels kosten bij andere merken al snel het 3 voudige!

Mijn meubel is zelfs geschikt t/m 50" lcd's en plasma's. Het is mogelijk om je tv 45 graden naar beide kanten te draaien, erg handig dus ;)

Bij mij is was het niet mogelijk om tv aan de muur te hangen, vandaar...

[e2theric]

Dat scheeld inderdaad een smak geld :)

[swordfish103]

A lot of you wouldn't understand why these speakers are used with type of 'music'. However: this does show the almost unlimited capabilities and the excellent qualitity of the B&W 685... They can be used with almost any type of music.

For movies a subwoofer is necessary for the 'wow-effect' and the below 30Hz frequencies.

Thanks for watching!

I will answer any comments, if there will be any :P

Best regards ;)

[swordfish103]

In this video you'll see my 'home-theater' set in my bedroom as it was about 4 years ago, and how it looks now.

I started with an old-school Sony amplifier, hereafter I bought myself a Marantz SR670-receiver, which also has an outstanding performance.

Then I bought myself a new Harman Kardon AVR135 and DVD22.

I also got a new 6.1 JBL Set, which is good for watching movies...

For music I bought the pair of brandnew Bowers and Wilkins 685 Monitor Speakers in Black ash.

PLEASURE FOR THE EARS!