Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: B&W DM12 Speakers by Belgarchi

Model:	DM12
Category:	Speakers
Suggested Retail Price:	$???
Description:	Two-ways bookshelf, closed enclosure, ~1980
Manufacturer URL:	B&W

Review by Belgarchi on April 24, 2010 at 09:04:28
IP Address: 216.80.143.3 Add Your Review
for the DM12

These speakers were absolutely exceptional for their time (~1980), and would still be 'above average' today.
The closed enclosure was very well made, with thick chipboard panels impregnated with tar. The bottom and the front are thicker.
The bass-mid, 6" cast frame, is equipped with a Bextrene cone.
The tweeter is a soft dome, 1" diameter.
The crossover is a Butterworth 3rd order, a favorite type of B&W at the time. The tweeter is electronically protected. The components are of very high quality (polyprop caps, etc.)
The only thing I upgraded (highly recommended) is the terminals, a spring-clip affair for small diameter cables only.
How do they sound? Well, first of all, their efficiency is low, and they require a powerful amplifier. 2x60W (RMS 8 ohms) is a minimum, 2x100W is better.
With an adequate amp, they go amazingly low in the bass range, they have a good, deep soundstage, their highs are smooth, non-aggressive, and their level of distortion is subjectively very low.
Compared to high-end 2010 bookshelves, their main weakness is a lack of detail in the mid and upper mid range.
Last word: in average, I keep hi-fi equipment 5 years. I listened to these B&W DM12 in a second system during... ~20 years!

Product Weakness:	Terminals (easy to replace), not very detailed upper-mids, low efficiency
Product Strengths:	Built quality, bass for their size

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Bryston B60R, Denon PMA-560, Quad 405
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): None
Sources (CDP/Turntable): NAD 5100
Speakers: see review
Cables/Interconnects: 14 awg
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Various
Room Size (LxWxH): 18 x 16 x 9
Room Comments/Treatments: Neutral
Time Period/Length of Audition: ~20 years
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Rotel RLC-900
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner

Amplifier:	Bryston B60R, Denon PMA-560, Quad 405
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	None
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	NAD 5100
Speakers:	see review
Cables/Interconnects:	14 awg
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Various
Room Size (LxWxH):	18 x 16 x 9
Room Comments/Treatments:	Neutral
Time Period/Length of Audition:	~20 years
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Rotel RLC-900
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner