Thread: New B & W 683 Surround Speaker

NEW B & W 683 SURROUND SPEAKER, lacs on the B&W 683 Theatre system and no-one - not you, the proud owner, nor any of your guests-will be in any doubt as to where the money went. The 683 Theatre is a substantial system, and it requires a spacious room to house it. The front three speakers, especially - 683 floorstanders either side of the HTM61 centre channel-look purposeful, doubly so wi th their grilles removed and their variously sized drivers exposed. In this company, the ASW6JOXP subwoofer looks quite discreet, while the DS3 dipole rear speakers can be easily wall-mounted to further reduce the impression of bulk. But if you're the one who unpacked and installed this speaker system, you'll know the 683Theatre feels just as robust as it looks, the rear speakers' ratherplasticky finish and an ill-fitting tweeter plate on one of our 683S aside.



The sound the package makes when dealing with a movie clistinct, well-rounded dialogue with plenty of detail and character, and the rear speakers are deft and delicate. In the dread calm before the inevitable storm, the B&W develops tension as effectively as any system on test here. It's the arrival of the storm that reveals the B&W's major shortcoming. Despite having ample dynamic thrust on tap and being more than eager to deliver anti-social volumes, the 683Theatre package is noticeabl y Jess engaging and enthusiastic than some of its rivals. When the going gets rowdy, the B& W goes good and loud.