Bowers & Wilkins MM-1 Speakers

Bowers & Wilkins MM-1 Speakers

Customer Reviews and Ratings

4.5 out of 5 stars

Based on 91 reviews

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Superb!

    • Written by from Atlanta

    I have NEVER felt compelled to review anything, not even my car. That alone should tell you how strongly I feel about these. I do not consider myself an audiophile, but I like to think I have good taste. I've owned a number of Bose systems, Bang & Olufsen bookshelf speakers, and some AKG headphones.

    Initially, I steered away from these because of the size. I'd rather have something larger (with presumably better sound) for the same price. I went to an Apple store in Atlanta and listened to a set of these. The store (as usual) was packed, noisy, and horribly distracting.

    The first thing I noticed was the BASS. Yes, these have bass! No, it doesn't shake the walls, but it's there. It's tight, punchy, and distortion free even at higher volumes. The highs were clear and had much more definition then the competing Bose Companion 20 set I also listened to (which were good as well). They did get pretty loud, in my opinion. An Apple employee turned them up so high, that another employee there (from across the room), asked us to turn them down because he was trying to sell MacBooks!

    I bought them. At home, where it's (relatively) quiet, the above qualities were even more apparent. They look beautiful on my desk, and blend in nicely to any interior. Very tasteful. The speakers are also well made, and have a good heft to them.

    One last thing I was impressed by. Bowers & Wilkins website is superb! The support section is frequently updated, and they even had FIRMWARE UPDATES for these speakers, which were a breeze to install.

    Look beyond the price and listen to these yourself.

    4 of 4 people found this useful

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  • 3.0 out of 5 stars

    Nice, Not Bad, Great Looking, a Couple of Quirks...

    • Written by from Shelby Township

    1. Absence of BASS !!! Not quite enough for me.. not alone on this!

    2. Sound good when sitting, idle, right at center, in front of my iMac 27.

    As I type this... I am sitting in front of a set of speakers that currently have about 700 near perfect 5 star review rating... ant hey cost me $362 LESS than these... Klipsch 'Pro 2.1" Do Yourself a favor... Seriously!!!

    11 of 16 people found this useful

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Fantastic Sound

    • Written by from Toronto

    These speakers sound AWESOME!! I live in a condo and they are more than loud enough to fill the space with fantastic sound. Just a beautiful looking speaker with quality that booms!
    Expensive...yes, but they're worth the extra cost. When compared to the built-in speakers on my iMac it's night and day.
    Highly Recommended!!! I love em'!!

    8 of 8 people found this useful

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  • 4.0 out of 5 stars

    MM1 are great speakers

    • Written by from Las Vegas

    Yes, B&W make great speakers! Purchased them after listening to them at a retail Apple Store. They are very beautiful next to the 27 in Apple Cinema Display on my desk. I have read about white noise being a problem, but I can't really say I notice it. Maybe it will be more noticeable to me over time? The sound is very clear, crisp and well defined. I also have a Bose system on another Mac, and compared to that, MM1 speakers are more precise. There is enough base coming through B&W speakers, but not as much as the Bose that has a separate subwoofer. The volume is adequate, but I wouldn't say you can really blast it much. There is a software update, but I didn't perform it because it puts the speakers in standby when the computer is put to sleep or turned off. The remote is able to turn the speakers off, and when that is done while the computer is still on, it will default to the display speakers. Overall, I really like these speakers and only took off one star for the relatively high price and weaker bass.

    5 of 5 people found this useful

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Hands Down The Very Best Ipod Speakers On The Planet

    • Written by from Salem

    I recieved my Zeppelin as a gift last Christmas 2011. We set it up to recieve streaming music from my PC Itunes library. It also wroks flawlessly with my Ipad 2, Ipod Classic and my Itouch. Of course the very 1st music we listened to was Led Zeppelin. It was like having the boys play right in our living room. I also have a Bose Portable and the Kicker for Ipods. My Zeppelin leaves all of them in the dust. Not even a hint of distortion no matter how loud we play it. It is my pride and joy. I have a home theater starting with Klipsch Heresys with 2 subs, 1 Klipsch & 1 Velodyne. All of the surround speakers are Klipch. I would sooner part with my home theater speakers and replace them all with my Zeppelin. It is by far the best sound I have heard in a very long time. As a university student I previewed the JB Lansing Paragon speaker system. I like the clarity and definition of the Zeppelin Air, better. I'm in love with The Zeppelin Air !

    0 of 4 people found this useful

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Awesome speaker!

    • Written by from Vancouver

    if you prefer product with great design and quality
    if you like compact designed stuff or your room has little space
    then go with this one!
    I am not a high end HiFi guy, but for event like listening mp3 music, watching movies, playing games, the sound is clear, rich and vivid, and you can't believe the bass is coming from those little ones. Simply amazing!

    If you looking for flaws, I think 1st one is that the cloth cover, it gets dusty easily and not that easy to clean; 2nd one is I think the design of the remote does not fit the design of the speaker, more like remote for Zeppelin; 3rd flaw is that the power button on the speaker is a bit difficult to use, every time I try to turn off the speaker with the power button, I ended up mute the speaker, so I have to try press hard and hold it again to turn it off or most of the time I go find the remote and turn off with it.

    Well those flaws are not very significant, so you can probably ignore them.

    Highly recommend this! Or if you want even smaller ones you can go with the Bose monitor, but that pair doesn't look as good as this and the sound is too crispy sometimes I find irritating my ears.

    10 of 11 people found this useful

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Worth Every Penny, Pence, or Red Cent.

    • Written by from Daly City

    I have owned many speakers for my computers over the years. These Bowers and Wilkins MM-1 speakers are clearly the best. I am impressed that such a full and well-rounded sound is produced by these little guys. Whether you are listening to a low quality MP3 or a top notch WAV track you will find yourself impressed by the wall of sound generated. I have listened to everything from symphonies to rock to rap to jazz on these over the last three weeks and continue to be amazed. My only question is why did I wait so long to buy them. Give your ears a gift and get them sooner rather than later.

    8 of 9 people found this useful

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  • 4.0 out of 5 stars

    good quality

    • Written by from Annapolis

    Easy to install. Quality Sound!!! Not too impressed with the design of the remote control (i.e., flimsy;and intermittent IR contact when pointing the remote to the speakers at certain angles). The top portion of the right speaker gets very hot but from reading other reviews, it appears to be normal.

    11 of 13 people found this useful

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    clean your ears

    • Written by from LOS ANGELES

    clean ..quiet ....as B&W do all the time ..
    one of the best speakers

    2 of 4 people found this useful

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  • 4.0 out of 5 stars

    impressed for what they are

    • Written by from Berlin

    these speakers need no further introduction.
    they do sound impressive. bear in mind that good sound quality greatly depends on the speakers position. people complaining about a "hiss" i can confirm that BUT listening to them via USB will never be noise free since there is a macbook or macpro attached making a lot more noise all the time. setup was simple, system settings audio output mm1.

    4 of 5 people found this useful

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  • 4.0 out of 5 stars

    Great speakers for their intended use

    • Written by from Bethesda

    I purchased the MM-1s to supplement the built-in speakers on my ACD, and they are fantastic for that purpose in a beautiful form factor. There is no question that their price demands incredible performance, but they deliver when listening to music in front of the computer at reasonable volumes. Full and rich, but very defined and detailed. They are not designed to replace your stereo speakers or fill a room with sound or bass, and if that's what you want, purchase something else (Bose Companion 20s or Audessey LES). Two issues: (1) The MM-1s do not shut down automatically, and the right speaker will stay quite hot even if just sitting there. So you have to treat them like a real mini-stereo system and turn them off when not in use. (For me, not a huge deal as the ACD speakers automatically switch on when the MM-1s are off, which is a nice feature of the USB connection.) (2) The MM-1s produce a faint hiss when on. You need to be in a very quite room to hear it, but it's there and will only go away if you mute the speakers or turn them off. If I had more room, I likely would have gone with something else, but there's no 2.0 speaker set up out there that gives this level of performance in such a small size. If that's what you want, the cost can be justified (barely...).

    7 of 8 people found this useful

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Outstanding

    • Written by from Rapid City

    This has been one of the best computer-related purchases I have ever made. I've owned my B&W MM-1s for about 2 months now and have enjoyed listening to them every day. Sound is incredible and bass response is definitely sufficient. I think the sound actually rivals that which my B&W 704 Floor Speakers produce. Are the MM-1s pricey? Not for the sound they put out. Go for it. Apple is to be commended for selling such a great product that otherwise is available only through select audio dealerships.

    4 of 4 people found this useful

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  • 2.0 out of 5 stars

    White noise

    • Written by from Lachine

    I can't really understand why such expensive and quality speakers are doing white noise when no media or music are playing. It is know that mostly all speakers have their level of low white noise when plugged, but the MM-1 can be hear from 3 feet away very easily in quiet room. Something that I find not acceptable.

    The thing to keep it mind also is that the speakers are constantly powered and there is stand-by mode, so the white noise is constant even if your computer is off.

    I was not sure if I was alone after searching on the net (MM-1 white noise) I did found out that many others are having the exact same issue, and after many replacement, still have the same problem. After speaking with the engineers of Bowers & Wilkins in UK, they consider this to be a normal behavior! For a $500 I cannot find it acceptable.

    I did return the speakers.

    22 of 33 people found this useful

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  • 4.0 out of 5 stars

    Best Computer Monitor Speakers!

    • Written by from Regina

    B and W always make great speakers! These speakers are awesome in sound quality. They are quite HI-Fi standard! Just remember when you install them via USB to re-boot your Mac!Initially the sound was all bassy and no treble but on rebooting this all corrected. Also poor quality songs (MP3) will sound poor! There is no software to download. Also the remote is not necessary if you are using the USb interface.
    Just use your Mac keyboard or volume icon at the top!

    4 of 4 people found this useful

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  • 1.0 out of 5 stars

    Refund please

    • Written by from Mason

    First challenge twisting back off from remote. Very tough to do. Secondly instrux never tell you that you have to download software. Even then couldn't get sound to come out, but remote worked wonderfully for Mac speakers! Don't need a $500 remote.

    14 of 59 people found this useful

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  • 4.0 out of 5 stars

    Beautiful sound and imaging.

    • Written by from Boston

    Pros:
    -Unbelievable sound for guitar, piano, and especially vocals. They come alive.
    -Imaging is the best I've heard.
    -Gorgeous, non-intrusive design.

    Cons:
    -Not great for electronica, dubstep, ambient, or house music.
    -Truly desk monitors. You need to sit right in front of the speakers to get proper sound. Sound quality quickly deteriorates as you move farther away or off center.
    -Do not work well in large rooms.
    -Price.

    Note: These speakers are so precise that they will make poor quality audio (mp3, youtube, etc.) sound even worse. Highly recommended for audiophiles who have the majority of their digital collection in 256kbps AAC or Apple Lossless.

    19 of 19 people found this useful

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    UNFRIGGINBELIEVABLE!

    • Written by from HAMDEN

    Say all the wonderful things you want to about the sound, but the imaging just blows me away! It's so much more than left or right. It's all just there, beautifully laid out in front of you! It's such a treat to hear and see your music!

    11 of 12 people found this useful

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Run, don't walk

    • Written by from Scottsdale

    Wait a year for the R11 to go on sale and head to Apple store now. Yes, the bass is magnificent for a speaker this small but the coloring of the mids and the crisp high end is stunning.

    You wallet will have serious indigestion but when you find yourself enjoying talk radio podcasts or OK Computer and you have not reached for the remote to your main stereo system your wallet will find comfort.

    Then start saving for the P5s for travel.

    Cheers.

    8 of 11 people found this useful

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    AMAZING!

    • Written by from Brookline

    I've had these speakers for about 5 month, and they have not failed me with any types of music i have (hiphop, jazz, classical) the bass is powerful but not too muddy, the mids and highs are clear and wonderful. it is def. worth the $500 and today i realize they sound even better if lie on my bed which is about 4 steps behind my chair. they can be really loud without messing up they sound quality. totally worth saving up for!!!!

    10 of 13 people found this useful

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Amazing sound

    • Written by from Simi Valley

    I finally made the decision to purchase these speakers because I am an audiophile and love high quality sound. What'll you'll notice when you listen to these speakers is the amazing clarity of the music. Even though I have a hearing loss I am hearing things I never heard before in the music I have on my Mac. The remote that comes with the product is great and the bass is also amazing for such small speakers. The question you need to ask yourself is "how important is sound quality when listening to music on your Mac and how much listening do you do at your Mac". If you answer very important and listen a lot then this is a sound investment that will repay dividends every you listen to music

    11 of 12 people found this useful

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