There are some speakers that grow on you - take weeks, maybe months to rise in rank among your collection, then there are those that immediately impress, surprise, astonish. . . you get the picture. These B&W DM640 speakers fall into that second, rare category. They are some of the smoothest, full-bodied speakers I've listened to. If it sounds like I'm describing a cup of coffee, I apologize - just poured myself a cup - ahhh. That "ahh" was for the speakers - the coffee isn't all that great this morning for some reason, but I digress.Let's talk about quality construction for a moment. Something often overlooked while gushing about the quality of speaker sound. These were on a flatbed cart being moved from a warehouse to my storage facility and I hit a crack in the pavement. I didn't stack them horizontally like my intuition told me, rather vertically. They toppled off the cart and slid down the ramp about six feet. I thought for sure the drivers would have come dislodged or the crossover would have snapped from its mount (this was a hard hit on cement). I was shocked and very relieved when I brought them home and found them to sound perfect. No rattling of any kind inside the cabinet and the drivers didn't budge a bit. Nice.
Nice artcle (.pdf) written about altering the crossovers on these to less the bass. Not sure why you'd want to do this, but the article also sites how similar these are to the higher-end B&W speakers.
If you have any photos or stories about your B&W DM640 speakers, please leave a comment or email me.
Want to hook up your iPod to your vintage stereo? Visit my Audio Accessory Store for some great values!
hi Mr. Collector
ReplyDeletei just happened to read your article and thought oh this must be for me. i owned a pair of dm 640 i a day ago and am trying to convince my self i did the right thing. your was a consolation. it sounds fantastic. just one tweeter burnt same day and i gave for rewinding. probably out of exitment i gave it a bit of power using my antique vincent dm 150 hybride. can the quality of the cd affect the speakers? i mean if track lines are not proper can it bur a speaker. i play things a bit louder. prefer if you could mail me on sanjeeew@gmail.com
hi Mr. Collector
ReplyDeletei just happened to read your article and thought oh this must be for me. i owned a pair of dm 640.
This is what I need to know to sale or to keep???
I know the sound is all in the person that is listining but, Am hungery for more so I was thinking of the jamo the s608 or the c 809s so Waht to do ??? Please tell me what you think the amp am runing is the Marantz pm 7200.. Thank you Dean dean_james33@yahoo.com
Hi, I also own a pair of DM640 since years and I fully agree with the description you make.
ReplyDeleteI have now a problem that raised since a couple of month and you might have an idea how to solve it. Despite the fact I never listened loud, both bass are now showing noticeable distorsion on both side, all 4 speakers...can it be the crossover? I already changed both the amp and CD and the problem stays the same...any hint?
Laurent - France
Check the wires on the Bass drivers.
ReplyDeleteMine were touching and caused distortion.
Simply move them apart
I got my 640 about 15 years ago and altered the crossovers. It did take away some base but with the other equipment I have, it sounds like a live concert. Friends and family listened to them before and after the alteration and are very impressed even today. The amp is a Threshhold and a Sony CD player that came out of a recording studio.
ReplyDeleteHi all,
ReplyDeleteI got a pair of DM640 and I really like them. Although I replaced like 6 tweeters already! I guess I have to try to keep the volume down a bit more. The HiFi shop I keep buying the tweeters from say it could be something to do with listening to MP3's: some sort of high frequency that overloads the tweeters. (I do use the audio-out jack from the laptop on one of the inputs of the amplifier DENON PMA-1315R). Anyone similar experience or do you know if there are filters available for blocking those high end frequency ranges?
You are more than likely blowing the tweeters because you are not pushing enough power to the speakers. I had a 70W/channel receiver and I blew 3 of them. I upgraded to 125W/ channel and never blew another one. I have had the speakers for 22 years. Love them still.
DeleteI bought mine back around 1994 and they still sound as fresh as when I unboxed them!
DeleteThey look nearly mint too and they have taken some abuse; kids, cats and a 200watt Pioneer amp.
Positioning is really important so take take doing that properly. Also, I have mine biwired with a good quality cable.
Hi - Check to make sure your treble isn't cranked all the way up on whatever equalizer setting the Denon uses. Clean sound CAN blow your tweeters, but drivers are much more likely to be blown due to distortion from amplifier output or from the content being played. MP3s, especially those encoded at low bit-rates - 128 or less, can produce ringing or metallic sounds in the high frequencies. At high volumes, this could damage tweeters. Try switching amplifiers, listening to MP3s recorded at higher bit rates, or finding an amplifier with a high frequency filter that rolls off frequencies above 15 KHz. Hope this helps - let us know.
ReplyDeleteHi, I need new tweeters to my Dm-640i speakers, anyone who know where I can get them?
ReplyDeleteWe recently got a pair of these from a family member, plugged them in and noticed the tweeter not working. Seems to be a common problem! Currently at the shop being repaired. The one we have now though certainly sounds nice.
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI have a pair which I had from new, however I have always noticed some noise, it is apparently coming from one of the woofers, has anyone got an idea how to open/ replace or fix.
I too am an original owner and I had the same problem. Took them to the dealer and they used what appeared to be shoe goo to seal an edge between the center of the woofer and the outer ring, that dried out. It happened a second time, I saved $50 and redid their work, with a very think skin of very new shoe goo and it has not reoccurred. Of course, they are flexible so you could really mess them up with a heavy hand.
ReplyDeleteHi regarding blowing up tweeters ...
ReplyDeleteA more common cause of this is driving you amp into clipping. (In other words playing it so loud that the tops of the output signal is reaching the maximum output signal it can handle without distortion. While clipping, many amps tend to generate some DC current in the output signal, which is deadly for many tweeters.
Not all amplifiers are clipping in the same way. Some do it in a more gentle way.
Due to this DC component in the output of a clipping amp, more tweeters have died by a using a lower power amp than high power amps. Is is easier to blow up your tweeters in a DM640 with a 20W amp than with a high end 200W amp. Your speakers can handle clean 200W peaks during a few seconds, But they can't handle the dc current in any signal (even if would be only a few watts).
Hi...I bought a pair of DM640's and the 2 bass drivers sound muttled and buzzy...I took the driver's out and the crossover network out...it seems to be the crossover but the capacitors seem ok and nothing wrong but it seems like it's the crossover...any suggestions?????
ReplyDeleteHate to pass the buck, but there's not much I can do to diagnose this from here. I suggest taking the speakers to a qualified repair shop. Could be crossover, drivers... cabinet may have something loose inside.
ReplyDeleteI have had my Dm640's for over 15 years and just love them. The variable port option is amazing for tweaking any room. I also bought the matching plinths. Very "accurate" speakers and never want to get rid of them. Cudos B&W :)
ReplyDeleteHello everybody,
ReplyDeletemy DM640s celebrated their 20th birthday in 2012 - by extra-extensive playing diverse music styles from tape, record, CD and computer. Being powered by a Yamaha AX750 which got 20 years at the same time, and after dozens of removals, incl. overseas, they sound as great as on their very first day. I, too, never want to get rid of them because they are, in terms of sound, very flexibly fitting into all kind of interiors. Congrats to B&W for the great product (for an affordable price) and the outstanding quality!
Marko
Ciao a tutti , mi sono iscritto ora. Ho ereditato una coppia di B&W DM640 , non le ho ancora provate perchè ho 2 woofer ed 1 tweeter rotti . Non ci capisco niente di queste cose ma mi piace ascoltare musica , chiedo quanto mi possono costare i componenti rotti ? Specie il tweeter -
ReplyDeleteGrazie ciao
Rough translation: Hello everyone, I am writing now. I inherited a pair of B & W DM640, I did not even try because I have 2 woofers and 1 tweeter broken. I do not understand anything about these things but I like to listen to music, I wonder how much can cost components that are broken? Especially the tweeter -
DeleteHello thanks
hi there.....i own a pair from 1994,and work grate,until now!! only problem the tweeters if you overdose.
ReplyDeletebuilding quality and sound is grate. and they count 19 years on the back!!
change tweets with bigger one,with a patent to fit to look original.
amplifier TECHNICS SU A 800 with external cooling.
This thread may be dead but . . .
ReplyDeleteI invested in a brand new pair of B&W DM 640s, with the recommended plinths, back in 1992 or so. At that time I listened to a myriad of other speakers but these were clear winners. So many speakers are over bright which sounds great for a few minutes until your ears are hammered flat, but these are very realistic. To this day these speakers sound as amazing as they did when I first bought them. Guests still comment about hearing things in music they know well that they have never heard before. I have yet to hear speakers that tempted me into changing.
I am still driving these speakers with the B&K CS 117 pre-amp and ST 202+ amp I bought at the same time I bought the speakers (after much research and sampling). The only thing that has changed over the years is the source equipment. Not because I haven't had the itch for something new and better, but because whenever I've gotten that itch I have yet to find better sounding equipment in a price range that is reasonable to me.
Hi Mr Collector,
ReplyDeleteI bought B&W640i speakers in 1993 and they still sound perfect. Due to lack of space I can't use them anymore. Could you please tell me what price I can ask for these speakers?
Hi Mr Collector,
ReplyDeleteI bought B&W640i speakers in 1993 and they still sound perfect. Due to lack of space I can't use them anymore. Could you please tell me what price I can ask for these speakers?
Dennis, if the speakers are in excellent condition, then I'd say $500 is a fair price. Value drops sharply with minor cabinet or driver blemishes. Post photos, description and a price on our HiFiCollector.com Facebook page when ready. www.facebook.com/hificollector
ReplyDeleteI have had set of dm630, ehich I liked, but when I saw a second hand dm640i, I went out and bought them. Played with them on Teac, Musical Fidelity, BOW and Copland. I use TaraLabs Air1 connectors, and I am still blown away, even today, some 9 years later. They seem to grow on the equipment they are connected to. So, I treated them to 4 layers of high gloss Black paint, stuck some straws into the bass port, made some small holes in the back of the bass spiders, glued some thick round Wood Sticks inside the cabinet, and dampened all of the internals with asphalt mats (from car World). Sound is now lifted a class more. Totally satisfied. Some frinds say:: hey, it's just a pair of old school b&w's, but when they play their preferred music, they get silent, and then they begin to tap the feet and smile from ear to ear.
ReplyDeleteThat's like it B&W.
Thanks.
Jacques.
I have a set of dm640's a set of dm620's a jamo 200 centre speaker a jamo a3 active sub woofer and a pair of b&w solids dor sale if anyone is interested all in original working order and very good condition. Craig 07766396477
ReplyDeleteAlmost 2017 and still using my DM640i. Unmodified, sounding great. Exchange them in 2010 for a 2-bay NAS.... Feeding the with a Dynavox VR-307 Hybrid.
ReplyDeleteAndo
I would love to hear how they compare to the CDM 9NT that you have.
ReplyDeleteI bought my B&W DM640i new back in 1994. I used and abused them with underpowered receivers throughout the years until they became basically speaker stands for my PSB bookshelf speakers.
ReplyDeleteForward ahead to 2018 and I got the audiophile itch and started shopping around for new “improved” tower speakers. I listened to Klipsch, Advents, Vandersteen, Polk, and other high fidelity speakers. None sounded as sweet and precise as my B&Ws when they were new. They didn’t seem to have the soul of the English made loudspeakers. They had loudness, but many lacked in realism.
Well only one thing to do; Restore my 25 year old speakers with new factory crossovers and drivers.
Approximately $800 and 7 months later my B&Ws were restored to their full glory. They even sound better than they did when I first purchased them. Powered by Fisher RS-Z1 Professional Digital Reference 150wpc , they really sing. Easily played up to 110 dB, theses speakers sound better than speakers sounding 5 times as much. I’m very happy with my choice to restore these underrated B&Ws. I’ve listened to some of the B&W Matrix speakers and I still prefer the sound of the DM640i.
I was looking for these loudspeakers for some time and today I managed to bring them home. Put them next to my 2 pairs of Yamaha ns 1000, which I love. The sound of the 640 is softer on the midrange but has a good bass extension. The medium has an incredible sound, and in general although different can be compared to Yamaha for the high sound quality. I am very happy, although old was a great combination of B&W. Highly recommended
ReplyDeleteHowdy!..just wanna pile on board the B & W express and sing along with y'all. I was perusing one of my familiar haunts yesterday ( a Charitable Hospice not for profit Society ).. Just as i was about to leave with trinkets in hand I wheeled around to see one of fhe senior volunteers struggle to maneuver a B&W DM-640 speaker through the doorway. " Here let me help you with that" I smiled.
ReplyDeleteOnce I paired the mate alongside i lifted my hand to reveal the price. The tag read " checked by Ken- working condition $ 50.00. I could hardly contain my snickering as I slowly and methodically carried them out and back their new home!.. i paired them to a GFA 7000 with a NAD 3150 pre and my favourite CD player a Pioneer PD -59. With trembling fingers pushed play on the deck. I had Hiroshima's East as my first choice with a stack of about 15 more digital recordings. The sound started, I closed my eyes and attuned my ears...and i think a tear moistened my eye..such encredible soundstage flowed from those pristine cabinets..WOW!! spent the next 4 hours on that couch, in that room with the 640's. My wife came down the stairs three times, rolled her eyes at the sight of things and left. "Perfect" I thought..she never even asked about the new members to my stable..All in all it was such a perfect way to spend an afternoon with my Hobby.. I did manage to take the dog for a long walk so it wasn't a complete waste of time lol!.. thanks for indulging me friends...ttyl
I've had my 640's since new in 1990. I've always loved them. 30 years on and I think they just get better. I also have a pair of 802's series 3 and I like the 640's as much. Classical, Jazz and vintage rock for me! Sonic Frontiers all tube and Linn turntable. As good as I will ever have!
ReplyDeleteBought my D640's in the early nineties, 1991 I believe, I always loved them. Now Powered by a Sonic Frontiers Power 1 and Pre 1 with a Linn turntable. They never failed me and have never had any problems. Listen to Classical, Jazz and classic rock. I think they cost about $1600 new. Also have a pair of 802's from that era. Those listed at $4,000.but the 640's are in my main two channel setup.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know how it sounds if the capacitors in the crossover needs changing? One of my 640´s kind of sounds like something is missing in the sound spectrum and if I change the speakers boxes around the fault follows, so it´s definately a speaker problem.
ReplyDeleteSearching for a DM640i bass unit - the 8 inch woofer. The part number is ZZ8915 or ZZ08915.
ReplyDeleteMuch appreciated, thanks! Message me on reddit here https://www.reddit.com/user/gotmilksnow/ - I don't want to drop my email here.
I am the 2nd owner of my pair bought with a bunch of records and an old B&O stereo system. I came out like a bandit on the deal. Old guy at work retiring and downsizing and just wanted it all gone.
ReplyDeleteThat was about 7yrs ago. They were my 1st ever pair of real quality speakers. They blew my mind then and still do now. I've had other vintage speakers I've tried since then but nothing compares.
I've had the pleasure of owning the DM640 I picked up at a resale shop in 2005. They were still carefully packaged in their original boxes with papers and packing material. I considered them a bargain at $550 for the pair, so I couldn't resist. I already had a pair of DM603 S2 I picked up in 1999 from the original owner and loved them.
ReplyDeleteThe DM640 have become my main room 5.1 home theater and music system speakers. It is a large room, 10 foot ceiling and open on one long side and one short side measuring 15 by 22 feet. Seating is at the long 16 foot open side of the room which connects with another 16 by 16 foot dining area off of a kitchen.
The DM640s fill this area with wonderful smooth, detailed sound that never fatigues and continues to impress even after all the years.
The system I use it with is a Boston AVR7120 [150w/ch], Technics SL-1710MK2 Nagaoka MP150, and Sony CDP-C735 CD player.
Loving this thread! I too have early 90's 640's with the Van Alstine mod to tame the bass...still my favorite speaker of all time when set up in the right room. What I would do to have that room again! I still have the speakers and though they are too big for my small place, I couldn't bear to part with them! Thank you for the memories!
ReplyDeleteFrom Frank Van Alstine - Dec. 1990 Audio Basics " The new B&W DM640 loudspeaker has the
ReplyDeletepotential for being a truly magnificent val-
ue. It essentially has all the driver compo-
nents of the $4500/pair Matrix 802 – the
metal dome tweeter, the Kevlar mid-range,
and two Cobex diaphragm woofers mount-
ed in a lower cost but much larger volume
cabinet at one-third the price of the 802,
just $1500/pair list. Only the free air mount-
ing of the tweeter and the fancy real wood
finish are missing. Unfortunately, B&W
made a compromised design judgement in
our opinion regarding the overall sonic
balance of the speaker. While we have
never liked the Matrix 802 because it had
too little bass response (too small a woofer
cabinet for its price range), the DM640 has
the opposite problem - too much bass." These are great speakers.