1
INTRODUCTION
Thank you for purchasing the B&W CDM™1NT
speakers.
Founded in 1966, B&W has always striven for
perfect sound reproduction in its products. To this
end, the company has invested heavily in
research and development in order to maintain
its position at the forefront of acoustic design.
Through the years, B&W has introduced many
advanced features and techniques. Although
many of these have been developed initially for
the more expensive models, our “waterfall”
design policy has seen them incorporated,
wherever possible, elsewhere in the product
range.
Features to be found in the CDM™NT Series
include cabinets with contoured edges to reduce
sound diffraction (the radiation of sound waves
from sharp edges that interfere with and blur the
direct sound from the drive units). An integral
part of the CDM™NT range is the use of
Kevlar® cone bass/midrange drive units for
lowest coloration and maximum definition. The
treble units incorporate Nautilus™ tube
technology, which eliminates resonances behind
the dome diaphragm.
It is important to spend time setting up the
speakers, as care spent on the installation
process will reap the reward of many hours of
listening pleasure. Reading this manual fully will
help you obtain the best from your audio system.
B&W distributes to over 65 countries worldwide
and maintains a network of dedicated
distributors who will be able to help should you
have any problems your dealer cannot resolve.
Their mailing addresses can be found on the
web site or by calling B&W direct.
UNPACKING
(Figure 1)
• Fold the carton flaps right back and invert the
carton and contents.
• Lift the carton clear of the contents.
• Remove the inner packing from the product.
We suggest you retain the packing for future use.
Check in the carton for:
• 2 Foam bungs.
• 8 Self-adhesive rubber pads
• 1 International warranty booklet.
POSITIONING
(Figure 2a)
Mount the speakers on firm dedicated stands that
place the tweeters approximately at ear level.
Bookshelf mounting is possible but alows less
opportunity for optimising the sound. The shelf or
stand used will affect the sound quality of the
speaker. The B&W FS-CDM stand is designed to
fit the CDM™1NT and is recommended.
As an initial guide:
• Position the speakers and the centre of the
listening area approximately at the corners of
an equilateral triangle.
• Keep the speakers at least 1.5m apart to
maintain left-right separation.
Stray magnetic fields
The speaker drive units create stray magnetic
fields that extend beyond the boundaries of the
cabinet. We recommend you keep magnetically
sensitive articles (television and computer
screens, computer discs, audio and video tapes,
swipe cards and the like) at least 0.5m from the
speaker.
CONNECTIONS
(Figure 3)
All connections should be made with the
equipment switched off.
There are 2 pairs of terminals at the back of the
speaker which permit bi-wiring if desired. On
delivery, the separate pairs are connected
together with high-quality links for use with a
single 2-core cable. For single cable connection,
leave the links in place and use either pair of
terminals on the speaker.
Ensure the positive terminal on the speaker
( and coloured red) is connected to the
positive output terminal of the amplifier and
negative (marked – and coloured black) to
negative. Incorrect connection can result in poor
imaging and loss of bass.
To bi-wire, remove the links by loosening the
terminal caps and use a separate 2-core cable
from the amplifier to each pair of terminals. This
can improve the resolution of low-frequency
detail. Observe the correct polarity as before.
When bi-wiring, incorrect connection can also
impair the frequency response.
Ask your dealer for advice when choosing
cable. Keep the total impedance below the
maximum recommended in the specification and
use a low inductance cable to avoid attenuation
of the highest frequencies.
FINE TUNING
Before fine tuning, make sure that all the
connections in the installation are correct and
secure.
Moving the speakers further from the walls will
reduce the general level of bass. Space behind
the speakers also helps to create an impression
of depth. Conversely, moving the speakers closer
to the walls will increase the level of bass.
If you want to reduce the bass level without
moving the speakers further from the wall, fit the
foam bungs in the port tubes.
(Figure 4)
If the bass is uneven with frequency it is usually
due to the excitation of resonance modes in the
room. Even small changes in the position of the
speakers or the listeners can have a profound
effect on how these resonances affect the sound.
Try mounting the speakers along a different wall.
Even large pieces of furniture can have an effect.
If the central image is poor, try moving the
speakers closer together or toeing them in so
they point just in front of the listeners.
(Figure 2b)
If the sound is too harsh, increase the amount of
soft furnishings in the room (for example use
heavier curtains), or reduce it if the sound is dull
and lifeless.
Test for flutter echoes by clapping your hands
and listening for rapid repetitions. Reduce them
by the use of irregular shaped surfaces such as
bookshelves and large pieces of furniture.
Ensure the speaker stands are firm on the floor. If
you have a carpet, use carpet-piercing spikes
and adjust them to take up any unevenness in
the floor.
RUNNING-IN PERIOD
The performance of the speaker will change
subtly during the initial listening period. If the
speaker has been stored in a cold environment,
the damping compounds and suspension
materials of the drive units will take some time to
recover their correct mechanical properties. The
drive unit suspensions will also loosen up during
the first hours of use. The time taken for the
speaker to achieve its intended performance will
vary depending on previous storage conditions
and how it is used. As a guide, allow up to a
week for the temperature effects to stabilise and
15 hours of average use for the mechanical
parts to attain their intended design
characteristics.
AFTERCARE
The cabinet surface usually only requires dusting.
If you wish to use an aerosol cleaner, remove the
grille first buy gently pulling it away from the
cabinet. Spray onto the cleaning cloth, not
directly onto the cabinet. The grille fabric may
be cleaned with a normal clothes brush whilst
the grille is detached from the cabinet.
Avoid touching the drive units, especially the
tweeter, as damage may result.
