Introduction

Bowers and Wilkins (B&W) recently made the bold move to sell their products through Magnolia and Best Buy. Adding big box retailers in addition to specialty retailers is quite a step from a brand surround by “audiophile” credentials. Few speakers have as much universal respect as B&W speakers. With this move to a wider distribution network (a welcome move in my book, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find good dealers, even in Los Angeles where I live) I wanted to listen to the new baby tower in the CM range. The CM8 is just the right size for many of us urban dwellers living in smaller spaces. Small towers promise the imaging of a good stand mount with better bass extension and a smaller foot print compared to a sub and monitor combo.