Manage updates with the Download AppB&W MM-1 multimedia speakers
Manufacturer: Bowers & Wilkins 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.
Read more
Where to buy
| store | customer rating | inventory | tax & shipping | price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  | In stock Get free shipping on orders over $25! | Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price | as of 05/14/2013 |
 "Your customer service is the best I have ever encountered' | | In stock Buy this item and earn up to 500 Rewards points. | as of 05/13/2013 | |
 Savings, Selection & Service since 1971 | | In stock FREE SHIPPING! Authorized Bowers & Wilkins Dealer | as of 05/14/2013 |
CNET editors' review
B&W MM-1 multimedia speakers price range: $480.00 - $500.99
- Reviewed by: David Carnoy
- Edited by: John 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.
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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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.1 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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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 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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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
- 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
- Speaker type PC multimedia speakers
- Speaker type Right/left channel speaker
- Speakers included 2 speakers
- Dimensions (WxDxH) 3.9 in x 3.9 in x 6.7 in
- Enclosure material ABS plastic
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
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 ) Details
- Driver details Right/left channel speaker : 1 x Tweeter driver - 1 in - Nautilus,
Right/left channel speaker : 1 x Mid/woofer driver - 3 in
Compatibility | Accessories
- Cables included Audio cable,
USB cable - Remote control Remote control
Power
- Power device Power adapter - External
- Power AC 120/230 V
PC Speakers (Extended Specs)
- Weight 1.9 lbs
- Power consumption operational 12 Watt
- Cable(s) Included Audio cable,
USB cable - Cables type Audio cable,
USB cable - Depth 3.9 in
- Height 6.7 in
- Power device form factor External
- Power device type [Feb 24, 2011 from CDS: Power Device] Power adapter
- Width 3.9 in
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Bowers & Wilkins products on Shopper.com
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- Manufacturer:Bowers & Wilkins
- Address:
54 Concord St., North Reading, MA 01864 - Phone: 1-978-664-2870
- Email: marketing@bwgroupusa.com
- Fax: 1-978-664-4109
