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Boston Acoustic A-60 vs Cambridge Soundworks M60/M80


Guest cleaneduphippy

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Guest cleaneduphippy

Hey Guys,

First post here and hopefully y'all can help me. After many years of faithful service I getting to the point of maybe replacing my A-60's (already re-foamed them about 2 years ago, and yes, they still sound good). Always liked then, always liked how they were speakers that had a natural, balanced, honest sound to them (never tried to be anything they really weren't). Anyway, thinking of getting some new speakers (will be keeping the A-60's btw) but it seems that everything that I seem to like, cost more that I want to pay. Liked the B&W DM 602, and waiting for the Epos M-5 to come back in the store so I can audition them. Of course, for either one of them I'm going to be paying $650 plus, and that's a little more than I want to pay, especially with the fact that the speakers are going to be driven by an older Onkyo receiver (TX-840 - 60 watts per side). Anyway, heard of (but haven't really heard) of Cambridge Soundworks and it seems that their Newton series M60 or M80 might suit my needs and budget. So was curious if any of you have heard these speakers and if so, what your thoughts are, especially since all of you are already familiar with what BA's speakers sound like and how alike and different the Cambridge's may be from the BA's.

btw, don't know if this of any help but my music interest vary from blues/rock (Allmans, Little Feat, BBKing, Eagles, ect) to country/bluegrass (Willie Nelson. Allison Krauss, Del McCourey, ect) and listening area is typical 16 x 22 living room (wall to wall carpeting, typical furnishings, ect).

Anyway, appreciate whatever advise or opinions offered.

Thanks,

Fred B.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I've got some Cambridge Newton M50s that I use as shielded computer speakers (driven my a Yamaha CR-1020). They compare very nicely to my BA A40s, soundwise. Great construction and very good looking. It's a Chinese speaker, but then, it's the 21st Century and we don't make much in the USA anymore.

I imagine the M60 and the A60 would compare nicely...but if you've already got the A60s, why bother with such a similar speaker?

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Guest cleaneduphippy

Good to hear that your M50's compare well with the BA A-40's. I'm assuming that the Cambridge design still embraces some on it's "New England" sound heritage.

As far my A-60's, I'll still be keeping them, but true be told, I'm thinging of upgrading my system and retiring the "a-60's" to a 2nd bedroom system. As such I'm thinking the best upgrade speaker wise would be the CSW M80's. Was going to listen to BA CR-85 bookshelf, but unfortunately, that line has been discontinued with nothing to replace it. All the others CR's bookshelf sound good, but are definely being designed for the HT crowd and all seem to require the use of a sub-woofer. As it is, the only bookshelf that I found so far in the $600 and below catagory that gives me (to my ears, anyway) a decent full-range, natural, balanced sound is the B&W DM602's.

Also down the line I'm thinking of maybe getting into tubes amplification. From what I've heard, Jolida and Cayin makes some nice affordable tube equipment. Hmmmm, maybe the best thing is marry the old a-60's with a tube amp like a Jolida. I wonder if anyone around here as done that and how it sounds?

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Guest cleaneduphippy

Well on the quest to listening to speakers I ran into a salesman that worked several years with Cambridge Soundworks and even has a set of their M-50's. His thoughts on the M-80 were that the M-60 sounded much better. His opinion was that their two-way designs worked better than the M-80's three way design. So guess I'll stick with my A-60s. Did quite a bit of listening yesterday and quickly came to the conclusion that I've heard nothing yet that will touch them for less than $600 a pair. Sure other speakers might do this or that (soundstaging, for instance) better, but from an overall musical perspective they more than hold their own. Anyway, perhaps I'll update my interconnects and speaker wires (right now, it's a pair of AR interconnects that I got at CC some times back and some orginal Monster speaker wire that I got when I bought my A-60s orginally) and see what that does. Suggestions appreciated. In addition, I'm seriously thinking of going the tube route. Again any thoughts appreciated, especially from those who have "been there, and done it".

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Guest denmarkdrivers

I had a simular exp with BW dm 220 vs 630.

The 220's are a 2 way design made in the late 1980s

The 630s are a 3 way design made in the 1990s.

630's provide more range in the highs and mids but sound harsh overall compared to the 220s.

The sales people dont agree with me but i thought in good working order the 220s sounded better, finding parts for the 220 is not easy though.

Maybe its just harder to make a good 3 way speaker under 1500 bucks then a 2 way ?

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