B&w dm2 or dm4??

[karma67]

Hello,hello!
starting to get used to my MS pageants 2's and im looking at either the above speakers.
how would they rate against the pageants? who's heard both? what are they like?
all opinions welcome!
J.

[The Barbarian]

I prefer the MS had both those models you mention, still have my old 'Pageant' boxed away

[karma67]

hmm i had a idea the pageants would be up with them.
cheers.

[walpurgis]

I'd sooner have the DM2 or DM2a than the DM4 anyday. The original B&W D5 is very underrated and a better speaker than the DM4. The Pageant 2 is an excellent speaker too.

[karma67]

i cant believe actually that for the money ie around £50 and under (ebay) the pageants are that good,but they are!

[The Barbarian]

Yes Geoff the 'D5' are my fav Vintage B&W..

[Xapito]

I have the MS and had both the D5 and the DM4, to be honest my opinion is that the Pageant 2 wipe the floor with the B&W's... no contest really, specially in the bass and stereo imaging. One of the few I can't see myself selling despite being a bit bigger than I'd like.

[DSJR]

Pageants are much more coloured and rough than the DM2 and DM4, but somehow the MS speakers 'communicate' in a nice and direct way you'll fight hard to get as well in the B&W's IME.

The DM2 and 2a could have a slightly indistinct bass and the 4 doesn't go very loud if I remember correctly and neither is in the Spendor BC1 class (!), even taking the BC1's 'woofy' bass into account.

My choice (but not everybody's) would be for some KEF 104ab's, as these are very good on modern sources and don't scream like the pre 'ab' version could and did. Despite or because of the passive radiator, the bass is excellent as long as any vinyl source isn't bass-wobbly like a Linn used to be!

[Xapito]

I've got to say that I've recapped my MS with Mundorf E-caps and most of that coloration is gone, they are just wonderful, really! To the point I have my L20t's and Grundig Box 500 in the closet.

[The Barbarian]

Well the MS X-Overs. They do need totally replacing & i mean everything.

[karma67]

been chatting to paul (RFC) about getting mine recapped,i think im gonna go for it.

[The Barbarian]

Jamie honestly it needs completely replacing. Istari James will say the same..

[karma67]

Jamie honestly it needs completely replacing. Istari James will say the same..

cheers,i will have a chat to him,can you elaborate please.

[Xapito]

I means the replacement of the coils aswell. I might do that some day but I'm kind noob when it comes to coils and their orientation on the pcb.

[karma67]

yes i new he meant the inductors,i just wondered why the lot is pants?

[DSJR]

Cost - and these were cheap speakers at the time, although a huge invasion of even cheaper classic models was just around the corner - Mission 700, Heybrook HB1, KEF Celeste III and IV for example, all by then under-cutting the Pageants.

By the way, I always ran the Pageants with mid turned up and treble turned down on the rear switches. Totally re-working the crossovers may change the balance anyway, but worth trying befor

[karma67]

ah i see, that's how i have mine set too mate by the way. i wonder just how much better you could get them with re-worked x-overs?