I can't comment on the Dunlavy or Revel models that you've mentioned because I haven't heard them, but I can comment on the B&W CDM 9NT.
The 9NT is an excellent all-round performer and offers musicality combined with an exceptional level of focus and inner detail. The balance and transition of lows to mids to highs is very competent. Plus, it is non-critical of listening position, providing very high quality sound just about anywhere in the listening room. That is one area where it clearly betters my InnerSound Eros speakers, which tend to sound excellent in the sweet spot but not as consistently good off axis and in other areas of the room.
In my view, the 9NTs offer extremely high bang for the buck. My InnerSound ESLs are marginally better in some (but not all) aspects of performance, but they cost twice as much. Bass is tight and punchy to below 40 Hz, so a sub may be needed to reinforce bass frequencies below that point for HT applications, or for those that require that last audible foundation-challenging octave.
The only minor flaws seem to be a slight thickening of the area between the mid and upper bass (euphonic in nature), and a slight emphasis somewhere in the lower treble that is audible with some material, but is largely benign and is certainly less bothersome than the more overt tizziness I hear from some other highly-rated competing models.
The 9NT is an excellent all-round performer and offers musicality combined with an exceptional level of focus and inner detail. The balance and transition of lows to mids to highs is very competent. Plus, it is non-critical of listening position, providing very high quality sound just about anywhere in the listening room. That is one area where it clearly betters my InnerSound Eros speakers, which tend to sound excellent in the sweet spot but not as consistently good off axis and in other areas of the room.
In my view, the 9NTs offer extremely high bang for the buck. My InnerSound ESLs are marginally better in some (but not all) aspects of performance, but they cost twice as much. Bass is tight and punchy to below 40 Hz, so a sub may be needed to reinforce bass frequencies below that point for HT applications, or for those that require that last audible foundation-challenging octave.
The only minor flaws seem to be a slight thickening of the area between the mid and upper bass (euphonic in nature), and a slight emphasis somewhere in the lower treble that is audible with some material, but is largely benign and is certainly less bothersome than the more overt tizziness I hear from some other highly-rated competing models.