B&W MM-1 multimedia speakers
Manufacturer: Bowers & Wilkins Group North America Part number: TX583VC/A
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- We found a lot to like about the B&W MM-1 multimedia speakers, but their $500 price tag gives us pause.
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CNET editors' review
B&W MM-1 multimedia speakers price range: $598.24
- Reviewed by: David Carnoy
- Edited by: John P. Falcone
- Reviewed on: 05/18/2010
The good: Slick, modernist design; well-balanced, detailed sound; punchy bass; remote control included; digital connection via USB to computer.
The bad: Extraordinarily expensive; audio quality isn't as good when you move out of the sweet spot (three feet away from speakers); sound is so detailed it makes MP3s and streaming audio of already iffy quality sound worse.
The bottom line: We found a lot to like about the B&W MM-1 multimedia speakers, but their $500 price tag gives us pause.
In recent years, Bowers & Wilkins, one of the legendary names in British hi-fi audio, has been branching out beyond its high-end speakers that have long appealed to audiophiles. It has created a line of uniquely styled Zeppelin iPod speaker systems and now it is offering the P5, a $300 pair of headphones as well as the $500 MM-1 multimedia speakers.
The first thing you're probably saying to yourself is: wow, $500 for a pair of PC speakers. What do I get for that?
For starters, these speakers are slick-looking with black cloth grilles and brush metal trim. For relatively compact speakers--they measure 6.7 inches high by 3.9 inches wide by 3.9 inches deep and have a 3-inch woofer and a 1-inch tweeter--the MM1s have a nice heft to them. The right speaker--which houses four 18-watt Class D amplifiers, two of which power the left speaker--weighs 2.1 pounds, while the left speaker comes in at 1.9 pounds. The amplifiers make the aluminum top on the right speaker warm to the point where we became concerned--maybe it's not quite warm enough to keep a cup of coffee hot, but pretty warm nevertheless. That said, the speakers worked fine during our tests--we left them on for a few hours straight without any problems.
In terms of setup, you connect the MM-1s to your computer via USB and it installs the drivers install automatically on Macs and Windows PCs. According to B&W, the USB connection is fed to an "audiophile" quality digital-to-analog converter that incorporates equalization to increase the 3-inch woofers bass output. Around the back of the right speaker is an auxiliary input for iPods and other audio devices as well as a headphone input. Both the USB and power cords plug into the bottom of that speaker, and some slots for cable management help keep everything aligned and hidden properly. The speakers come with a shiny black-and-chrome oval-shaped remote control that looks similar to the one B&W includes with its Zeppelin and Zeppelin Mini iPod speaker systems. The remote control--which is a fingerprint magnet and easy to misplace--controls the the speaker's power and volume, as well as play, pause, next, and previous track selection for iTunes. If you misplace the remote, there's a volume control on the side right speaker as well as a power button. The left speaker's blue LED flashes when you raise or lower the volume and turns red when you power off the speakers.
When CNET contributor Steve Guttenberg wrote his impressions of the MM-1s, he talked about how he didn't agree with B&W's claim that there was "no need to add a subwoofer" to these speakers. He pointed out that larger, less expensive systems such as Altec Lansing's Expressionist Ultra MX6021 PC speaker-subwoofer system ($200) "can produce dramatically more and very high-quality bass." While that's true, the MM-1 produces deep, punchy bass for a 2.0 speaker system and it offers very detailed, well-balanced sound.
What's interesting about these speakers is that they're truly optimized for a near-field listening experience and they sound their best when you're sitting about 3 feet away from them with the speakers spread about 30 inches to 36 inches apart. Not coincidentally, that distance equates to where you'd be in relation to your computer--and computer speakers--when sitting at a desk.
At that distance, these are some of the best-sounding computer speakers we've listened to--their strength lies in the amount of clarity they deliver. As such, they do better with well recorded and higher bit rate tracks (B&W encouraged us to test the speakers with lossless digital music or CDs). As Guttenberg noted, the "MM-1s all too clearly revealed marginal sounding MP3's shortcomings." Translation: If you put garbage in, it will sound like garbage coming out; there's no masking it.
Like Guttenberg, we also have a pair of Audioengine 2 speakers ($200) on hand for comparison, and we agree that the MM-1s offer clearer audio with more potent sound and better-defined bass. They are definitely a step up, particularly for those looking for a high-resolution computer speaker. But the Audioengine 2s cost less than half the price of the MM-1 and they are more laid back, so they don't make poorer-quality MP3s or streaming audio sound so harsh. They also are more flexible in terms of listening distance--you don't have to listen to them from 3 feet away to maximize your listening enjoyment.
Comparing the MM-1s with the larger Audioengine 5s, which cost $350, isn't really fair since the 5s are bigger, bulkier, and far less sexy-looking speakers. That said, you're going to get better, bigger sound from the 5s since they can really fill a medium-size room. The MM-1s start to sound a little strained at higher volumes and really aren't designed to be muscular "party" speakers. They have a more refined quality to them.
As you can probably tell from our comments, we like the MM-1s a lot; however, we have some misgivings. We think that $500 computer speakers should offer more listening flexibility and shouldn't be so optimized for a near-field audio experience--they sound good from farther back, just not as good as they should for $500. But if you're someone who likes to kick back at your desk chair in your den or home office and listen to music, you are getting a great-looking and -sounding set of computer speakers.
Freelancer Steve Guttenberg contributed to this review.
User reviews
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Finally: the PC speakers I've always wanted
by Huubster_NL on December 29, 2010
Pros: Buy if you want pure, near-audiophile sound whilst sitting behind your PC, and you find good sound worthy $499
Cons: Don't buy if you want good sound filling bigger extents of your room (they only work optimal within a meter or so.) Don't buy if you play mp3's with a bitrate lower than 256, and don't buy if bass means the world to you.
Summary: I love music and I want it to sound right. For me this is perfectly possible in a room starting at roughly 2000$ for a setup (I hope this doesn'...
Summary: I love music and I want it to sound right. For me this is perfectly possible in a room starting at roughly 2000$ for a setup (I hope this doesn't make me a snob). However, a computer is never centrally located in a room and therefore a good listening experience has never been possible in the vicinity of my PC. I've been going through quite a lot of PC speaker sets and stuck with Bose for the past 4 years, them being an acceptable compromise for me. However, listened to B&W MM1 I knew it was time to move along. Obviously it is possible to have really good sounding PC speakers. Right now I am listening very happily to them as I type this. (Marillion's Marbles) Plenty of detail and individual instruments sound detached from each other instead of blurred in to one soup what is so often the case with PC speakers. Bass doesn't kick ass but is richer than I've ever heard from such small speakers and the whole range from low to high produces a balanced sound. Still, if I want to indulge in beautiful music I revert to the setup in my living room, hence not 5 but 4.5 stars.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Excellent for high-quality music.
by Osmiridium on December 29, 2010
Pros: Wonderful frequency response. High-quality DAC accessible via USB sets these apart from all most other offerings.
Cons: As noted by others, better near-field than far field imaging (but that is what they are designed for). Expensive (but you get what you pay for).
Summary: If you want inexpensive bass-heavy speakers for gaming, look elsewhere. These speakers are balanced for music and are orders of magnitude better balanced than the 2.1 systems mentioned by ...
Summary: If you want inexpensive bass-heavy speakers for gaming, look elsewhere. These speakers are balanced for music and are orders of magnitude better balanced than the 2.1 systems mentioned by others, which hid weak midrange responses with overbearing and effectively monotonic subwoofers and tweeters. My 20-year-old Cambridge Soundworks system is the only exception. If you want high-quality music from your computer, these are the just the ticket.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Make Sure You Think About the Kind of Customer Help
by Kooler1 on February 3, 2011
Pros: Sound is good
Cons: This may sound obvious, but every picture I saw of these speakers, the speakers had zero wire(s) showing. I guess this was an unconscious thing, but I thought they were wireless or had some way the wires could be wound-up under the speakers. Wires!!!
Summary: Think really carefully about the possibility of one day needing the manufacturer (Bowers & Wilkins) to help you with a problem, of any sort, with the speakers. I did not ...
Summary: Think really carefully about the possibility of one day needing the manufacturer (Bowers & Wilkins) to help you with a problem, of any sort, with the speakers. I did not think of this, getting really expensive speakers that had great ratings on Apple.com. the last thing I thought was needing help from the manufacturers. I filled out the warranty card. when I got the speakers and listened to them I contacted the US division and spoke to some lady who seemed very nice. I asked her if there was a problem down the road, within the warranty period would I be able to get help. There was no reason for me to believe I would come against a brick all when the sound failed and I could not figure it out. I was unable to reach the kind lady but got a man in the technology area. This guy was so rude, was not willing to offer me any help. I asked if he could forward my email the their office in the UK. He would not forward it and again offered me no help of any kind in trying to figure out why the sound from the MM1's had drastically gone so downhill.
After having these for the MacBook Pro, the quality of the sound has just gone down. Also when they are plugged in the laptop it is not possible to adjust balance or other sound adjustments you get from the Macs speakers. For the price you would think they would have it so the sound card could be updated (like Apple sends updates when they realize they left something out) by downloads. No way to adjust treble, bass, HQ, etc. If I had it all over to do again, I would have returned them to Apple within the time they give you to return speakers. My intuition about these speakers was right-on.
I was shocked that a major company that charges fairly high prices and seems to sell decent audio equipment would not help me at all. Had I known that I would run into this, I would have never purchased thee speakers from this manufacturer. I was even considering on getting the Zeppelin, but after this experience I would not be out of my mind and purchase anything else from this company..
Just something to think about.
Updated on Apr 7, 20121 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Hits the bullseye on it's target
by oldguitar on June 5, 2010
Pros: An exceptional near field loud speaker. These speakers are designed singularly as computer loudspeakers. When used as intended (placed on either side of the display) with the listener centered 2-3 feet from each speaker, the sound is spectacular.
Cons: Not very good for other than personal use. Limited power handling and dispersion. But since I'm listening from two feet, who cares?
Summary: A plug and play system where set up and usage are extremely simple. Looks elegant on the desk top, sounds better to the ears. If FLAC or other hi rez ...
Summary: A plug and play system where set up and usage are extremely simple. Looks elegant on the desk top, sounds better to the ears. If FLAC or other hi rez sources are important to you, these are the speakers to use. If you are only playing MP3 sources, other less expensive options are probably better, as the sound produced by the MM-1s is extremely revealing. Before I started using the MM-1s, it was hard to tell that XM radio internet service was better than MP3. With the MM-1s, the difference is stunning.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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The best choice for 2 channel audiophile quality sound
by 335blues on February 26, 2012
Pros: 1. Excellent sound for classic rock and jazz
2. Beautiful design
3. Top rated brand
4. Excellent desktop bass response
5. Stereo separation and sound stage
6. Excellent sound at low volume.Cons: 1. Unable to reproduce "processed" surround sound.
2. Expensive (but worth it!)
3. Remote pales in comparison to the Bose control discSummary: I bought the Bose Companion 5 system two weeks ago. While it may be high rated in the eyes of many, for me it was the typical BOSE brand name ...
Summary: I bought the Bose Companion 5 system two weeks ago. While it may be high rated in the eyes of many, for me it was the typical BOSE brand name fiasco. Highs were harsh and strident at low and medium volume, and the clarity of individual instruments was lacking. The 5's surround sound is very good, but you cannot turn it off to revert to typical 2 channel reproduction, which was a deal killer for me. I like surround sound on some types of material (I use Winamp with DFX 9 for processing), but find surround to be somewhat fatiguing to listen to over long periods, so I must be able to turn it off.
The MM1 system produces great sound, period. Better than anything else I've heard for the PC. With a bit of tweaking for tone using DFX 9, I can listen to Tull, Stones, Al Dimeola, Roland Kirk, Jazz, Blues, etc. with a smile on my face...
For best results, I find that the sound is better with the Winamp EQ OFF. Mst EQ presets cause a decrease in clarity.
If you like surround sound, forget the MM1s. They cannot produce processed sound well...
So.... The Companion 5s go back to Best Buy today, and the MM1s have a permanent place on my desktop. -
Unbelievable clarity for a desktop/laptop pair
by ara_xman on August 5, 2011
Pros: 1. Vocals will bring artists to your desk. Unbelievable clarity for a desktop/laptop pair. Bass is punchy. Thanks to DSP. True Hi-fi speakers as they say :-)
2. Compact, light-weight gorgeous looking pair ;)
3. Features High quality headphone outCons: 1. Since it lacks a sub-woofer, it is not great for some music and games.
2. Features only 16-bit DAC. Would've loved more if it has 24-bit DAC. -
Outstanding Sound Quality
by pnoble on February 26, 2011
Pros: Great sound quality and product design.
Cons: Awful manual.
Summary: Best in class.
Summary: Best in class.
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Excellence with a big price-tag
by TheSilentPlayer on February 8, 2011
Pros: Amazing sound quality
Cons: Top of right speaker tends to be worryingly hot
Summary: I invested a large sum of money in these pair of B&W MM-1 speakers after reading tons of review and personally testing it. Till this date, i do ...
Summary: I invested a large sum of money in these pair of B&W MM-1 speakers after reading tons of review and personally testing it. Till this date, i do not regret making this decision. Sure they cost alot (SGP $800), but for me, they were the little joys in my life after a long hard day of school. I may not be an audiophile and give you hard data on the highs, mids and lows or the frequency response etc, but i can tell you that among all the other speakers i have tested, these B&W has given me the greatest satisfaction.
I personally do not like heavy bass, but i want it there and the B&W has check all my requirements. The bass is not too heavy as to dampen the other parts of the music. I feel it has a warm feeling that does not get you heart racing or your spine tingling, just a nice warm feeling. xD
However on the downside, the top metal bit of the right speakers does tend to get very hot after a while of use. it still worries me, but it still works, so i guess its part of the design? but i do feel it contradicts with what it said in the specs. given that the B&W MM-1 is a class D speakers, it should theorectially divert 100% of the electrical input into sound energy and not heat. so my only concern in this case is, where is this heat coming from?... apart from that despite the fact that the website or pamphlets show that these speakers are clean and simple, which they are, do note that it has thick cables that run from the left speaker to the right speaker and back to the computer, furthermore, in singapore the B&W comes with a rather ugly power adapter which clearly spoils the entire clean and sleek image i had in my mind.
In conclusion, if you want a pair of good sounding speakers and have some cash to burn, i would strongly recommend these pair of speakers. However if you want a pair of bass heavy speakers that can thump of heart out, i would suggest the Audioengine series... -
Worth every dollar
by ander580 on November 24, 2010
Pros: I think the built-in DAC adds significantly to the sound quality. You will notice a difference between the aux in jack vs. the USB. I also own the Bose Companion 3 speakers, which are fabulous. However, the B&Ws offer far superior detail.
Cons: These B&W speakers cost me $499
Summary: If you have an ear for quality, you will appreciate them.
Summary: If you have an ear for quality, you will appreciate them.
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Amazing sound in the right sized package
by mrengaswamy on November 22, 2010
Pros: Clarity, Depth, Processing, Style
Cons: Wish it was a tad cheaper
Summary: I have come to become a B&W fan. Had the Bose Companion 3 for the longest time, but it got old. Too much bass, wanted something different. Of ...
Summary: I have come to become a B&W fan. Had the Bose Companion 3 for the longest time, but it got old. Too much bass, wanted something different. Of course I could've gone audiophile and spent the same amount of money and gotten something very interesting.
MM-1's are a sweet little pair to accompany a Mac. With the USB connection, you get better audio quality, little to no loss. The anti-magnetic features means you can keep this right next to the comp and there is no distortion effect.
It looks really cool and completes the set up if that is important. For me, the sound did me in .. I tried everything from Andrea Bocelli to Aimee Allen to LSO. Even a cappella sounds exciting. Try listening to anything with a double bass .. you'll know why these speakers are awesome.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Bowers & Wilkins Group North America
- Part number: TX583VC/A
- Description: Some headphone makers like to mess around with sound. With P5, the sound you hear is completely natural - as close to the sound of the original recording as Bowers & Wilkins can possibly take you. Bowers & Wilkins call it true sound. You'll know it as soon as you hear it. Behind P5's natural sound is some of the most advanced technology ever to be put into a set of headphones. Specially developed ultra-linear neodymium magnets and highly optimized Mylar diaphragms keep music sounding rich, pure and incredibly detailed, with no need for artificial adjustments. The P5's high-quality sound and luxury materials are supported by smart design and user-friendly features. The made for iPod cable allows easy control of an iPod, and the microphone facilitates calls on an iPhone. The leather earpads are magnetically attached, and can be quickly removed to swap the supplied cables. Get closer to your favorite music wherever you are with the P5 noise-isolating headphones. They provide remarkably natural and highly detailed sound on the move, with a luxuriously comfortable fit.
General
- Product Type PC multimedia speakers
- Speakers included 2 speakers
- Enclosure Material ABS plastic
- Grille Color Black
Speaker Features
- Speaker Type Active
- Woofer size (inches) 1 in,
3 in - Nominal Output Power (Total) 72 Watt
- Response Bandwidth 57 - 22000 Hz
- Audio Amplifier Integrated
- Connectivity Technology Wired
- Interface Type USB
Speaker Details
- Features 2 x Right/left channel speaker - 2-way - 36 Watt - 57 - 22000 Hz - Wired
- Driver Details Right/left channel speaker : 1 x Tweeter driver - 1 in - Nautilus,
Right/left channel speaker : 1 x Mid/woofer driver - 3 in Connections
- Connector Type 1 x Audio line-in ( Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm ),
1 x Headphones ( Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm ),
1 x USB 2.0 ( Mini-USB Type B )
PC Speakers (Extended Specs)
- Width 3.9 in
- Depth 3.9 in
- Height 6.7 in
- Weight 1.9 lbs
- Power Consumption Operational 12 Watt
- Cable(s) Included Audio cable,
USB cable - Cables type Audio cable,
USB cable - Power device form factor External
- Power device type Power adapter
Miscellaneous
- Cables Included Audio cable,
USB cable - Remote Control Remote control
Power
- Power Device Power adapter - External
- Power AC 120/230 V
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Bowers & Wilkins Group North America products on Shopper.com
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- Manufacturer:Bowers & Wilkins Group North America
- Address:
54 Concord St., North Reading, MA 01864 - Phone: 1-978-664-2870
- Email: marketing@bwgroupusa.com
- Fax: 1-978-664-4109
