Bowers & Wilkins MM-1 Review
When I picked up the Bowers & Wilkins MM-1 speakers, I have to admit I was a bit nervous about shelling out $500 for 2.0 speaker set. Even after listening to them in the Apple store for a while, it was difficult to tell whether or not these speakers could live up to their steep price tag. Nonetheless, I bought them for my birthday and I do not regret it. These are amazing speakers. They produce crisp and clear sound. The highs, mids, and lows are excellent.
The MM-1 have a very balanced sound, they are not what you would call overpowering in any particular area. They’re just right. Even as a 2.0 set these speakers produce some nice bass. However, I should note if you are looking for some kicking bass, check out the Klipsch Pro Media 2.1 speakers (which I also own). The B&W MM-1’s are USB powered and have a built-in amplifier in the right (master) speaker. The right speaker also has the headphone and AUX jacks as well as the power button and volume controls which are conveniently placed on both sides.
One thing of note, due to the placement of the amplifier, the top of the right speaker seems to get hot even after normal usage. Not the end of the world, just something to be aware of. The MM-1’s sport a sleek and pretty compact design. Which is to be expected coming from Bowers & Wilkins. These speakers really shine when using higher quality audio formats such as FLAC or any other lossless audio formats. While you can play lossy formats, such as, MP3/AAC, I would definitely recommend sticking with higher bitrates (if possible) for the best experience.
The speakers also come with a remote which allows you to power the speakers on/off, control the volume, change tracks, play/pause, and mute. I have found myself using the remote much more often then I expected. It’s just easier than having to reach over to the speaker and adjusting the volume.
Overall, the Bowers & Wilkins MM-1 2.0 speakers are just what you would expect (and more) for $500. If you have the money and are in the market for pair of speakers, these should be on your list of possibilities. They can out perform most 2.1 sets out there and absolutely are the best 2.0 set available right now.