Bowers & Wilkins has some pretty looking (and sounding!) products in its lineup. Instead of trying to collect them piece by piece, the company is making it easy to score a nice set of speakers with one of its new Mini Theater packages.
Both the MT-50 and MT-60D are 5.1 packages, anchored by five of the M-1 satellites. If that product name sounds a little familiar, it's because it first launched six years ago. Despite raking in all of the awards and accolades, however, B&W has tweaked it a bit, making the M-1 new -- and on a whole new level.
While the outside of the M-1 seems similar, B&W says that what's going on inside is anything but a repeat. There are new drive units, including an in-house designed tweeter, as well as a bass/mid-range driver with the Anti-Resonance Plug first seen on the company's PM1 loudspeaker. Other new features include better speaker cable terminations and a better connection to the stands. There's a choice of those, too. The systems come packing tabletop stands and wall brackets, with a floor stand sold separately for $150 each.
The MT-50 is sold with five of the M-1 speakers and the ASW608 subwoofer. That sub is pretty much the only thing that hasn't received an upgrade, but it is now available in a matte white finish to match the M-1 speakers.
For a little more power, the MT-60D adds in the new PV1D subwoofer. This updated sub keeps the "pressure vessel" structurally inert shape with opposed balanced drivers cancelling cabinet resonance, but now has a digital platform and includes a dynamic EQ circuit. Promising a +/-3db specification of 7.5Hz, the DB1 also has a new OLED display and touch-button array, as well as presets, tuning options, and SubApp PC software set-up software.
While no exact release date has been announced, B&W says to expect both systems in early 2012. The MT-50 will be priced at $1750, with the MT-60D listed at $2950. The M-1s, the ASW608 and the PV1D can also be purchased individually. The speakers are $250 each, with the subs priced at $500 and $1700, respectively.
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