Have your say & ask the experts

Clare Newsome:

Well Frank Harvey Hi-fi isn't a B&W stockist, for starters

Hello. 

I wouldn't, (and didn't!), buy either of these, and I'm not that demanding.

I agree with some other posts on here that there are other packages better than the B&Ws and KEFs, and really hope people look at the other options on offer.

I auditioned various style packages, and found the 3005SE low on detail, and poor with music, mainly due to the sub. The B&Ws were better with music due to the improved sub, and had a nice sound, but I found high frequency missing against the KEFs, (same amp, direct comparison), noticeably, especially in some music tracks. (Store just said "you won't find speakers good with all music"). Overall with films, I didn't notice any real improvement with the B&Ws either.

The KEF5005 was good, and had good detail, but again the sub let it down, especially with music. Tried the 3005SEs and 5005SEs with the PV1, and there was an improvement.

However, the (full) Tannoy Arena beat all of these, packages and combinations with both film and music. Better detail, great with films, (only speakers I thought really were home cinema and not just surround sound), and much better with music, particularly the tight bass, which was better than the B&W in my opinion. The only package that had no weaknesses for me, and that was worth the asking price.

Even in What Hi-Fi reviews, (5 star), this package ran the B&W MT-30 very close, but only the Arena Lite seems to get a review these days, which is more an MT-20 equivalent.

Full Arena now available for £1050 with stands, no haggling needed. And comes with the TS300 sub from the Arena highline 300, (not really any performance improvement, but looks better IMO).

Didn't review loads of amplifiers, as I got offered a Marantz SR6001 for similar price to an Onkyo 606. It knocked spots of an Onkyo 605, especially for music. Much fuller sound, with more detail.

Hope this helps. At least have a listen to the Arena and Marantz stuff.

Clare Newsome:

Well Frank Harvey Hi-fi isn't a B&W stockist, for starters

There are some people for which the PV1 is perfect (everything has it's place in the market), especially if space is a premium. I suspect that many who have compared the PV1 to other similarly sized (and especially similarly priced) subs have chosen the performance route. All I'm saying is that the PV1 at £950 has a lot to live up to, and many other subs do the job they're designed to do far better at the price point.

And yes, I have heard the PV1 many times as I have worked for 3 dealers who stocked them. Most people chose a sub from B&W's 700 series for the same price or something from the M&K range.

kinda:

Hello. 

I wouldn't, (and didn't!), buy either of these, and I'm not that demanding.

I agree with some other posts on here that there are other packages better than the B&Ws and KEFs, and really hope people look at the other options on offer.

I auditioned various style packages, and found the 3005SE low on detail, and poor with music, mainly due to the sub. The B&Ws were better with music due to the improved sub, and had a nice sound, but I found high frequency missing against the KEFs, (same amp, direct comparison), noticeably, especially in some music tracks. (Store just said "you won't find speakers good with all music"). Overall with films, I didn't notice any real improvement with the B&Ws either.

The KEF5005 was good, and had good detail, but again the sub let it down, especially with music. Tried the 3005SEs and 5005SEs with the PV1, and there was an improvement.

However, the (full) Tannoy Arena beat all of these, packages and combinations with both film and music. Better detail, great with films, (only speakers I thought really were home cinema and not just surround sound), and much better with music, particularly the tight bass, which was better than the B&W in my opinion. The only package that had no weaknesses for me, and that was worth the asking price.

Even in What Hi-Fi reviews, (5 star), this package ran the B&W MT-30 very close, but only the Arena Lite seems to get a review these days, which is more an MT-20 equivalent.

Full Arena now available for £1050 with stands, no haggling needed. And comes with the TS300 sub from the Arena highline 300, (not really any performance improvement, but looks better IMO).

Didn't review loads of amplifiers, as I got offered a Marantz SR6001 for similar price to an Onkyo 606. It knocked spots of an Onkyo 605, especially for music. Much fuller sound, with more detail.

Hope this helps. At least have a listen to the Arena and Marantz stuff.

Thank you very much for your input! I've recently purchased the Arena package (will arrive next week I hope) and I'm currently looking at possible AV-receivers that vcan bring 'em to life with movies AND music!

The contestans are the Onkyo 606, Denon AVR-2808 & the Harman Kardon AVR-255.

HK seems to be the odd one here, since it doesn't really gets mentioned at all! Ironically it's not mentioned in the mag in tests or reviews often...just wondering

Greetings from The Netherlands,

Wilco

professorhat:

Clare Newsome:

Well Frank Harvey Hi-fi isn't a B&W stockist, for starters

Ah, I see! Probably not the best place for me to go for an audition then!

Big Chris:

If you live near N.W Kent, you can come demo mine.

Hi Chris,

 I'm looking to get the MT30's. Can you let me know (or point me in the right direction) as to where people have got these for 1150 GBP??

I've tried most places on the web and phoned various stockists and the best I can get is 1350 GBP.

 Many thanks

Vin