2. speakers
  3. 1247250600

Dissapointed with my new speakers

So a couple of weeks ago I replaced my 2 year old Klipsch RB25 bookshelves with a pair of B&W DM603 S2 floorstanders. When I first auditioned them I fell in love with their resolution and clarity however having lived with them for two weeks now, I am very dissapointed in the low-end and to a much lesser extent, the midrange.

On most songs, the bottom end seems very lacking compared to the Klipsch bookshelves and simply pales in comparison to the Klipsch RF82s we have in the living room. In addition the mid-range seems a little over emphasized. I can probably get used to the mid-range however, the lack of low end impact I probably couldn't get used to. I was thinking about adding a subwoofer but a half-decent one would start around $250 and go up from there and the speakers themselves are worth around $450-500. This got me thinking, maybe I should just switch to a different pair of speakers instead of trying to make the current system sound better. What do you guys suggest?

P.S.-I'm in Hawai'i so while I'm open to used speakers, shipping here will usually run about $250+ for floorstanders so I'd only have about $500 for the speakers.
skyline889
mortsnets
42 posts
 
My experience is what impresses on an audition doesn't always satisfy long term. But since you bought used you can swap out without too much pain$.

But before you swap 'em try changing associated equipment.
Interconnects, speaker wire, borrow sources, amps... Maybe they are pickier than your previous speakers.

I recently got some Spendor BC-1s that sounded pretty bad in my system. I swapped amps - some improvement. Then I swapped speaker wire - BIG improvement.
ethanh
48 posts
 
FWIW, your criticism of the B&Ws mirrors my own experience with their little brothers, the DM602 S2. I played around with various tweaks like bi-wiring, placement, and tubes, but nothing did it for me until I eventually cut my losses and moved on to different speakers.

Good luck.
nick778
147 posts
 
I'd have your dealer come over, since he sold you the speakers and they sounded ok in his audition room and have him touble shoot what is 'not quite right' now that they are in your house.

That's how brick and mortar dealers stay in buiness...by helping their customers after the sale also.
maineiac
649 posts
 

Your instinct to cut and run with these speakers is your best bet.
dgaylin
255 posts
 
My experience with several models of B&W floor standers in this range is similar -- I found the bass just didn't sound right.
More to discover