B&W 685 Theatre Set Up

[admin_exported]

Hello, i already own the B&W 685's with my naim set-up, but am looking to get the home cinema speaker package (B&W 685 Theatre Package). What size room roughly would i have to have to house this set up?

becuase i know with my stereo pair that they need room to breathe when performing

 

[Big Chris]

Sorry. I just need to clarify something. Are you talking about buying a whole new 685 HT package in addition to your existing 685s, or are you gonna get a centre, a sub and a pair of 686s for surrounds to add to your existing 685s?

You could always get the matching centre speaker and if space 'round the back is tight, a pair of M1s from the MT-30 system (The M1s are available separately).

 

[Anonymous]

im going to be buying a whole new set for another room

 

[Big Chris]

Gotcha.

I guess the same rules apply. keep the 685s for the front, get the matching centre and if the 686s are too much for the rears, try the M1s.

I think (not sure mind), that the 686s can be wall mounted, not sure what it'll sound like though.

As long as your room isn't teeny-tiny you should be fine. It just means you won't have to crank the volume so much! Don't forget that the surround speakers do the least work of any speaker in a surround set-up.

 

[avnut]

i have the 685 fronts and centre but went with m1s as rears (space) but upgraded the sub to the pv1 (purely on big chris's recomendation) try it you might like it its awesome, thanks chris

 

[Anonymous]

thanks peeps 🙂

 

[Gozaradio]

avnut:i have the 685 fronts and centre but went with m1s as rears (space) but upgraded the sub to the pv1 (purely on big chris's recomendation) try it you might like it its awesome, thanks chris

This is pretty much what I have been planning to do except that I just can't bring myself to buy a PV1 at the amount they cost. Don't get me wrong, I've heard it and it's awesome but at around £950, I just can't!

Out of interest avnut; how do you find the M1's with the 685's? I've heard them together and I worry that the sound is a little uneven but space means the 686's would be too intrusive. I need another audition really but just curious how you have found them together?

 

[professorhat]

I have the same setup and have found the M1s work very well with the 685s. My problem was, I don't have room far behind my sofa to position the 686s, so they had to be very close to the listening position and I was worried they would overwhelm in this position i.e. virtually in line with the ears. On the other hand, the M1s I could position further back due to their smaller size. I did listen to both setups at Sevenoaks before I purchased and, at the correct distance, the 686s were definitely better. However, switching to the M1s, the difference was only slight I thought. Once I positioned the 686s where I would have to put them in my front room, the M1s did then sound better - the 686s just seemed to be too intrusive (and yes we did adjust the levels!).
So I think if you can fit the 686s in, they would be your best bet, but if you can't, the M1s are an excellent compromise and there's hardly anything between the two.

 

[Big Chris]

Of course (and I'm not disputing the 685 HC package's abilities in any way here), but you might want to try the full MT-30 system. Far more discreet option than the 685s if that's of any importance at all.

I can honestly state, hand on heart, that I have not for one minute regretted buying the MT-30 over traditional speaker packages. Especially if you're thinking of 7.1, the MT-30 makes even more sense.

 

[professorhat]

But then if he already owns the 685s, it seems silly not to take advantage of them. The M1s are good, but there's no way there'll outperform the 685s, espeically for frontal duties. And I don't think running an M1 centre would be a good idea with the 685s, so it makes sense to get the HTM62 centre and then just the M1 rears...

 

[Big Chris]

Aha. He already has the 685s in one room for Hi-Fi, but is buying a full package for a different room for A/V.

 

[professorhat]

Oh yeah - doh, missed that post!
Ahem, as you were...

 

[avnut]

yes im fully aware the pv1 is a serious investment at £950 but if your in the position where you want to buy a sub then you must consider the pv1 but if your going to buy the 685 package at £1250 that breaks down to £900 speakers £350 for sub so the pv1 upgrade doesnt seem a bad deal you could also go for the mt30 setup for £250 more and that includes the pv1.as for pairing the 685s with m1s in my room layout it works in a perfect way and the 686 would just be too much as they would be to close to my listening posistion