B&W 685
The B&W 685 is the company's latest budget-level loudspeaker and uses some of the technologies developed for the flagship 800 series.
Home theatre electronics are in a constant state of flux, and most components are on the shelves for only 12 months at a time -- sometimes as little as six! But when it comes to speakers, things move much more slowly. After five years, the venerable DM600 S3 series from B&W has earned an update.
The new 600 series is a bit of a departure from the previous range, not only is the naming convention different (eg the numbers counter-intuitively count down as you move up the range) but the speakers have been redesigned from the ground up.
Another interesting development is that the 300 series seems to have disappeared from the 2007 B&W line-up, making the 600 series now the budget range.
Upside
B&W have always believed in "trickle-down" technology, and techniques which were incorporated into the flagship 800 series have wound up here. Firstly, the 6.5-inch woofer features a new fixed phase-plug (the conical plug in the middle of the speaker cone), a new rubber surround for a smoother midrange response and a copper-clad pole piece for better tweeter integration.
Secondly, the famed 25mm aluminium dome tweeter has been improved to become what B&W claims is the most technologically advanced the company has ever offered in an entry-level product.
Downside
The improvements B&W have made seem to imply the speakers are mellower in tone, and while this may please jazz and classical fans, rock enthusiasts may come away disappointed.
The styling may also not be to everyone's taste. It's certainly more industrial-looking and minimalist than any other speaker they've released.
Outlook