CM10 First Impression
Bowers and Wilkins CM10 speakers breathes new life into the CM series. The new CM10s take the top spot formerly held by the venerable CM9 speakers.
Bowers and Wilkins releases the CM10 speakers in August. For now, we give you our first impressions of what these speakers have to offer.
Bowers and Wilkins CM10 pre-review
Right off the bat, you’ll notice the CM10’s tweeter placement bears striking resemblance to its bigger siblings, the 800 Diamond series speakers. The top-mounted tweeter technology utilized by 800 Diamond speakers gives you two distinct advantages over normal speaker cabinet construction:
- Top mounting prevents sound waves from re-radiating along sharp cabinet edges which interfere with the original timing of the sound waves you actually want to hear.
- Top mounting also allows fine adjustment of the time-alignment with the midrange driver for perfect phasing through the crossover region.
This is huge! Again, this is technology previously unavailable below the 800 series.
Another benefit to the top-mounted tweeter gives room for a third bass driver in the CM10 without making the cabinet significantly larger than the CM9. In fact, without the tweeter on top, the CM10’s cabinet is the same height as the CM9’s at 990mm. The third bass driver allows for extended bass response and less distortion at any volume level.
Of course, the CM10 speakers contain Bowers and Wilkins signature woven Kevlar® midrange driver. The same material that stops bullets also produces better sound compared to its counterparts. Since 1974, Bowers and Wilkins pioneered the use of Kevlar® in its speakers. Kevlar® benefits your speakers by producing more constant sound dispersion at all frequencies and less time-smearing.
For a more detailed analysis of Kevlar® as a speaker material, click here.
In addition, the CM10 features Bowers and Wilkins’ FST mid range driver technology, allowing for greater cone response times and sound integrity. You’ll find FST mid ranges in 800 Diamond series, CM9, and 683 speakers. However, the CM10 is the first speaker outside of the 800 Diamond series to feature decoupled FST driver with gel mountings compressed via a tensioning rod to the back panel.
Find out more about Bowers and Wilkins FST drivers.
A Bowers and Wilkins Flowport reduces air flow turbulance in the CM10 for less compression at high volumes.
Bowers and Wilkins CM10 specifications
Here are the CM10 specifications. You can find them on Bowers and Wilkins site here.
| Model | CM10 |
| Description | 3-way vented-box system |
| Technical features | Free-mounted dual layer aluminium dome tweeter with Nautilus™ tube loading Kevlar® brand fibre cone FST midrange Decoupled midrange and tweeter units Flowport™ |
| Drive units | 1x ø25mm (1 in) dual layer aluminium dome high-frequency 1x ø150mm (6 in) woven Kevlar® cone FST midrange 3x ø165mm (6.5 in) paper/Kevlar® cone bass |
| Frequency range | -6dB at 28Hz and 50kHz |
| Frequency response | 45Hz – 28kHz ±3dB on reference axis |
| Dispersion | Within 2dB of reference response Horizontal: over 60º arc Vertical: over 10º arc |
| Sensitivity | 90dB spl (2.83V, 1m) |
| Harmonic distortion | 2nd and 3rd harmonics (90dB, 1m) <1% 86Hz – 28kHz <0.5% 110Hz – 20kHz |
| Nominal impedance | 8Ω (minimum 3.1Ω) |
| Crossover frequency | 350Hz, 4kHz |
| Recommended amplifier power | 30W – 300W into 8V on unclipped programme |
| Max. recommended | 0.1Ω |
| Dimensions | |
| Height | 990mm (39 in) (cabinet only) 1087mm (42.8 in) (including tweeter and plinth but not feet) |
| Width | 200mm (7.9 in) (cabinet only) 366mm (14.4 in) (including plinth) |
| Depth | 337mm (13.3 in) (cabinet only) 364mm (14.3 in) inc. grilles and terminals but not plinth 414mm (16.3 in) including plinth) |
| Net weight | 33.5kg (73.7 lb) |
| Finishes | |
| Cabinet: Real wood veneers | Rosenut Wengé |
| Cabinet: Painted finish | Gloss Black |
| Grille | Black |
CM10 Overall
Bowers and Wilkins has outdone themselves with the CM10 speaker. It steps perfectly between the CM9 and the 800 Diamond Series. The blending of technology between the CM and 800 Diamond series in the CM10 further cements its solid position.
In Hi-Fi News’ Bowers and Wilkins CM10 review, Steve Harris writes:
“Thanks to its pod-mounted tweeter and FST mid driver, the CM10 offers a beautifully clean, detailed midrange and treble, with a big, open and impressive soundstage. I would have liked to discover a more organic quality in the bass, though, and it needs a capable amp to give of its best. But, while facing stiff competition at this price point, the CM10 is a worthy stepping-stone to B&W’s fl agship 800 Series.”
Bowers and Wilkins’ CM10 speaker simply sounds amazing. August can’t come soon enough!
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