Razr Posted June 10, 2007 Share Posted June 10, 2007 Hi all, I'm wondering if anyone's heard or seen of the new B&W 600 series (AKA the 68 series, or 600 series 4) in Oz yet? I'm particuarly interested in comparing the CM1's to the new 686's - on paper they are identical other than the crossover and of course the cabinet finish, so if they can get close to the CM1 performance at half the price (using the US MSRP as a base - $900/pr vs $450/pr) they could be just the speaker bargain I'm looking for! More info here: http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/display.aspx?infid=2311 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhans111503561342 Posted June 10, 2007 Share Posted June 10, 2007 cnet.com.au has a news item on the 685 and prices for the smallest theatre package which comes to $3500 for 686/685/htm62/asw608. haven't found prices for other releases in oz. e-hifi.com.au is the distributor and hasn't posted the series on their website yet. if the cnet prices are correct then it is cheaper than the previous 600 series which quadrupled the british price. the british prices for the new speakers are higher but we seem to be paying the same or less. not bad but the floorstand speakers could be expensive. main B&W 686 2-way standmount $800 B&W 685 2-way standmount $1000 B&W 684 2.5-way floorstander ? B&W 683 3-way floorstander ? Centre HTM62 2-way centre $700 HTM61 3-way centre ? Subwoofer ASW608 2-way centre $1000 ASW610 2-way centre ? ASW610XP 2-way centre ? Surround DS3 Dipole/monopole surround ? how much is the new cm series in australia? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Razr Posted June 10, 2007 Author Share Posted June 10, 2007 Thanks for the heads-up Jhans, although they're still outrageously priced on Oz, at least it's not as bad as the previous series. As for prices on the floorstanders, here's the US MSRP to base some guesstimates off: Model, USD, AUD 686, $450, $800 685, $600, $1000 684, $1000, ? 683, $1400, ? HTM61, $600, ? HTM62, $400, $700 ASW608, $450, $1000 ASW610, $600, ? ASW610XP, $1000, ? The ASW608 active sub immediately seems overpriced in Oz, but then again it's *all* overpriced in Oz.. Still interested in how the 686's stack up to the CM1's.. Time will tell I guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilco1503560275 Posted June 11, 2007 Share Posted June 11, 2007 or if u happen to go 2 singapore for a holiday, u will find they will be selling it cheaper, just make sure u carry the baby back by hand, and not check it in lol. a mate of mine made moderate savings with his 602 purchase in singapore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrfreeze Posted June 11, 2007 Share Posted June 11, 2007 The new 600 series is slowly coming into the country over the next couple of months. Current 600 series range nearly sold out by Convoy, so some stores who did not stock up will be left without any for awhile. RRP has been set for the range, will try to remember to look at the list when I get back to work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moochy1503560064 Posted June 12, 2007 Share Posted June 12, 2007 thanks Mr Freeze thats good news. i heard a rumour that the new range were to be made in china. great to see the FST driver make it into the range this time but to me (pureley based on pictures ive seen) the 600 series are aestheticly better but i expect the new series to sound better Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilco1503560275 Posted June 12, 2007 Share Posted June 12, 2007 thanks Mr Freeze thats good news. i heard a rumour that the new range were to be made in china. great to see the FST driver make it into the range this time but to me (pureley based on pictures ive seen) the 600 series are aestheticly better but i expect the new series to sound better not that it matter that its made in china...but r u serious? that can only benefit the company 1 way, more profits. if they chucked more important components in the new range, then i guess made in china would be ok, but...yea...theyve always made them in eng, why change! besides the silver cover @ the tweeter, the front same black plastic surround of the 685 looks too much like the wharfedale 8diamonds though, esp in beech colour their made in china too! hehe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrfreeze Posted June 12, 2007 Share Posted June 12, 2007 main B&W 686 $799 B&W 685 $999 B&W 684 $1999 B&W 683 $2699 Centre HTM62 $699 HTM61 $999 Subwoofer ASW608 $999 ASW610 $1199 ASW610XP $1899 Surround DS3 $1499 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Razr Posted June 12, 2007 Author Share Posted June 12, 2007 Thanks for the info MrFreeze. When you look at these compared to the US MSRP prices, it's pretty obvious someone's making a little extra margin.. main B&W 686 $799 (USD$450 = ~AUD$540) B&W 685 $999 (USD$600 = ~AUD$720) B&W 684 $1999 (USD$1000 = ~AUD$1200) B&W 683 $2699 (USD$1400 = ~AUD$1680) Centre HTM62 $699 (USD$400 = ~AUD$480) HTM61 $999 (USD$600 = ~AUD$720) Subwoofer ASW608 $999 (USD$450 = ~AUD$540) ASW610 $1199 (USD$600 = ~AUD$720) ASW610XP $1899 (USD$1000 = ~AUD$1200) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilco1503560275 Posted June 12, 2007 Share Posted June 12, 2007 its a real shame they dont have the studio monitor range between the 999 and 1999 price bracket... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mquin1503560492 Posted June 30, 2007 Share Posted June 30, 2007 anyone know if these will be available in the Calvados finish ? Any opinion on how tonally matched these will be to the 600s3 series ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon Posted June 30, 2007 Share Posted June 30, 2007 Anybody who needs to complete a 5.1 or 7.1 setup with the S3 series had better act fast as their are only a limited range of models left in Perth with almost all the black finish gone and the bookself models are almost all gone as well. One dealer was selling them at basically full retail whereas West Coast Hi Fi are doing good prices if you ask . New models are not all going to be available to start with and are still a month or so away at least I was told today. I took the oportunity to upgrade my LCR60 center to a LCR 600. Brendon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mquin1503560492 Posted July 1, 2007 Share Posted July 1, 2007 my problem is that I actually need new Fronts Left and Right. Have the LCR600 as the centre with DM602's as my current Front L&R. I was considering getting the 603s3 as new fronts and moving the 602s to reear duties ..... but will now probably wait for the new s4 series floor mount speakers as I think the specs are much much better. Won't have tonal matching but I can always upgrade my centre to the s4 series at some stage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moochy1503560064 Posted July 1, 2007 Share Posted July 1, 2007 for your $ the best speaker in that entire range is the HTM61 @ $999 grab 2, 3 or 5 (all the way around) then invest in some small stands. the FST driver at that price point is astonishing value. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dantan Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 Apparently, Surround Sounds in Nedlands will be obtaining some new 600 series by week's end, so, ring them up late this week and just confirm, and an audition should not be a drama. The new 600 series sure appears superb value; its largest floorstanding loudspeakers retail at AUD$2,699.00 per pair and are a 3-way loudspeaker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mquin1503560492 Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 I was told by West Coast Hi Fi on the weekend that the new range would be about 20 to 30% more expensive than the old range, which seems to contradict this price of $2,699. They also said that they should have then within a week or so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dantan Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 If anything, RRP for the new 600 series appears CHEAPER than the series 3 600 series they replace. Check out the website of official distributor of B&W in Australia: http://www.e-hifi.com.au Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fawlty99 Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 Mr Freeze prices above would be actual - before bargaining of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dantan Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 Apparently, B&W is not one to offer reasonable discounts for its loudspeakers. Generally, it is easy to get 10%-15% off RRP for loudspeakers, but getting a 5% discount off B&W loudspeakers, apparently, is about the best you're going to get. However, I must admit the new 600 series do look tremendously good - on paper, at least. I am sure to audition them this weekend, if they are available in Perth retail stores. I am not purchasing any, as I've only recently got my Neuphonix, but it's good to listen to other loudspeakers out there, plus my brother-in-law is looking to upgrade his 8 or 9 year old Euphonix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moochy1503560064 Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 the biggest winner in the whole series is the top of the range 683 $2699 Vs $3499 for its predecessor the 604 S3 all the other speakers in the range look to be on par with the old series pricing. still very curious to find out where these are made. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dantan Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 Cabinet-work is almost sure to be sourced from China, I would guess. Nothing wrong with Chinese-sourced cabinets, though. The 683 is the one that I am most eager to audition, not for myself, but for people whom I may be able to recommend them to. Stunning price for a B&W proper 3-way floorstanding loudspeaker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adman454 Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 Of course the prices in America are going to be cheaper then here. Umm last time I checked over 300 million ppl vs over 21 million is a pretty big difference in terms of the HT market. The 600 series have always represented great value, now that is even more so. I think the pricing is justified. Can't wait to audition them myself!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dantan Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 I can't even think of another true 3-way medium to large floorstanding loudspeaker from a world-reknowned brand that retails at under $3,000.00! I reckon the new B&W 683 will be a large volume seller. I listened to the B&W 703 last Saturday (the largest of the floorstanding 700 series, anyway. I think it's called the 703) and they are really good, but at $5,500.00 unfortunately out of the budgets of most of us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alfalfa Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 Of course the prices in America are going to be cheaper then here. Umm last time I checked over 300 million ppl vs over 21 million is a pretty big difference in terms of the HT market.The 600 series have always represented great value, now that is even more so. I think the pricing is justified. I found the old 600 series were overpriced in Australia compared with canadian speakers from paradigm and energy. Hopefully the new series will represent better value. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrfish Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 Anyone found out where to audition in Syd, please post here. THanks:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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