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B & W fans

For those familiar with and love B & W products - this question is for you.
To be honest I am quite unfamiliar with the B & W line. We have just re-entered the B & W market here in Winnipeg. After a few years without the line a local shop has taken on the brand.

For a secondary system I was going to purchase the new Denon DRAN5 Network Music receiver and a pair of Monitor Audio Bronze BX2's.

Then I saw the new A7 by B & W - it's got a 6 inch sub, 2 mids and 2 Nautilus™ tube aluminium tweeters. Plus it has a built in DAC. But it is a self contained unit.

Their (B & W) Zeppelin Air has a good rep and has received very good reviews.

The price point between these 2 systems is comparable.

My question is - can a self contained unit like this actually sound as good or better than a separate receiver and speakers? Can it truthfully offer the same depth and breadth of sound?

Any thoughts?? Your advice is appreciated.

cat9
Good listening!
cat9

Showing 3 responses by realremo

realremo
460 posts
 
@ Cerrot: agree RE: 685s.
realremo
460 posts
 
Cat, IMHO, any all-in-one product has no chance against an integrated+bookshelf combo, so I'm glad we agree there, now the choice is, which speakers to mate with the Denon DRAN product? Can you audition it with the B&W 685s?
realremo
460 posts
 
I haven't listened to any of the gear you list, but i do have recent experience with both the b&w 685 and the monitor audio bx5. I can say that the mid range sound is very different when comparing the two. I had the 685s in my system first, then went to the Bx5s, and the mids sounded...thinner to me. Some would simply call this more neutral, but after upgrading to a pair of quads, i think I enjoyed the B&w speakers more, in retrospect.
Whether or not the DRAN 5 can drive the bx2s, whether or not the all-in-one design of the b&w is adequate, you will be faced with the same difference in mid range sonic character between the two brands. I personally found the more warm presentation of b&w easier to listen to,more enjoyable. I also think that two monitor speakers are a better bet than an all-in-one design, it is more versatile, you can swap sepakers out, try different cabels, even swap out the dran 5 if you want.
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