Bowers & Wilkins has announced a new model in its CM Series line up of speakers. The CM8 is a slim floorstander that shares many of the acoustic benefits of the series’ multi-award-winning flagship CM9, but is significantly smaller in stature.

Occupying a similar footprint to the diminutive CM1 bookshelf model, the hi-fi loudspeaker is a three-way design, with twin dedicated bass drivers providing low-frequency extension and power. It also utilises Bowers & Wilkins’ FS Kevlar midrange drive unit, which adds precision and clarity to the vital midrange performance.

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B&W CM8 in White

The CM8 has been honed down to its core essentials, using minimalist crossovers of remarkable simplicity and clarity, so that what you hear is that much closer to the sound of the original recording. It also benefits from longervoice coils and larger magnets than the 600 Series that sits below it. This provides the speakers with more punch and attack, but also cuts down on distortion.

Standing only 960mm tall and with a width of a mere 165mm, it is a modestly proportioned loudspeaker, which can be used where space is tight, but great hi-fi sound is required. It features a 25mm aluminium dome tweeter, which utilises Bowers & Wilkins Nautilus tube-loaded technology. A single 130mm woven Kevlar cone FST midrange unit handles the crucial mid band, while a pair of 130mm paper/Kevlar cone bass units deliver controlled and extended low frequencies.

The CM8 replaces the company’s CM7 which was designed for critical audiophile listening, but it can also act as the main speakers in a multi-channel theatre system at home when partnered with the CM Centre and CM1’s at the rear, and either the matching ASW10CM subwoofer or the multi-award winning PV1 subwoofer.

The Bowers & Wilkins CM8 is available from selected Bowers & Wilkins stockists from December, with a recommend price of $2799 per pair.