B&W MT-20

Publicado pela revista Inglesa What Hi-Fi

Preço na Europa: £ 975

Avaliação: * * * * * 5 estrelas (de cinco)

Classy and competent, the B&W MT-20 is the benchmark in its market sector

For
Looks great, sounds great and seems built to last an age

Against
Could be provoked into brightness by ill-matched electronics

The B&W MT-20 is available in silver, black and white finishes and it looks lustrous, well built and decorative in all three styles.

Wiring speaker cable to the speakers is less straightforward than it could be, but at least each speaker is supplied with the necessary Allen keys. And, once set up (with the crossover point between the M-1 satellites and the AS2 subwoofer dictated by your surround amp), the MT-20 goes about stating its case in an uncompromising manner.

A tense, claustrophobic film like the Blu-ray version of Oldboy offers plenty of scope for a system to show off its ability to build tension and its dynamic potential: the MT-20 positively revels in the opportunity. Transients are dispatched effortlessly: the sudden dynamic shifts that every horror movie worth its salt indulges in are delivered with razor-sharp timing and bags of potency.

Switch to something less bombastic, like Sunshine, and the mannered dialogue is front-and-centre, alive with nuance. The MT-20 can create a convincing soundstage and lock every performance within it without fuss; the AS2 subwoofer may not be the heaviest hitter around, but it’s alert to tempo considerations and integrates smoothly with the satellites.

Great with music too

Used as a package for multichannel music, the MT-20 lacks nothing where timing and speed are concerned. Real low-frequency stuff can lack a bit of authority and impact, but there’s no fundamental reason why a prospective customer shouldn’t consider the B&W as an everyday music system.

However, playing music, both stereo and multichannel, does emphasise (more forcibly than playing movies) the one reservation we have about the MT-20. It’s a small one, but nonetheless, worth mentioning.

And that is? Under normal conditions, there’s very little to complain about, but under the most testing of circumstances, there’s a tiny suggestion of brightness at the top end. In essence, then, the B&W can sound a little strident if poorly partnered.

But that kind of error is easy to avoid (choose an Arcam or Yamaha receiver) and, in spite of it, the MT-20 represents staggering value for money.

Also consider:

KEF KHT3005SE
£1000
Pontuação: * * * * *
Superlative performance, living-room-friendly looks and decent value for money