Bowers & Wilkins has announced a high-performance compact home cinema system called Mini Theatre. Available in three different system configurations - distinguished by three subwoofer options - each system provides levels of detail resolution and clarity not previously seen in this product category.

Common to all Mini Theatre systems is a new satellite speaker called M-1. Although diminutive in size, the M-1 has been engineered with the same design attributes and ethos as B&W’s larger ranges. Perhaps the most striking thing about the M-1 is the weight and strength of its curved aluminium cabinet. This is combined with a strong, glass-loaded ABS front baffle. Together they provide an excellent cabinet: the curved aluminium is stiff and the ABS offers excellent and appropriate damping characteristics.

The M-1’s drive units were developed by B&W specifically for the design. The 1” metal dome tweeter benefits from refinements developed for the new B&W 800 Series and includes Nautilus™ tube loading and neodymium magnets (-6db at 50kHz). The 4” glass fibre bass/midrange cone’s ability to absorb standing waves has been further enhanced by the inclusion of five strategically placed resin filled slots that further minimise bell modes.

The result of this detailed cabinet and drive unit engineering has allowed B&W’s engineers to borrow another feature from the new 800 Series and utilise the simplest of electronic equalisation in the M-1’s crossover. Each of the M-1’s drive units is fed by only a single, carefully selected component. B&W believes that this approach to crossover design, although painstaking as it relies on optimising all of the physical components in a design, is crucial in achieving its aim of neither adding to nor subtracting from the original signal.

Mini Theatre System Configurations

MT-10 uses the well-established AS1 subwoofer and is suitable for small to medium size listening rooms. An MT-10 system retails for £850.

MT-20 uses a new subwoofer called AS2. The AS2 is a closed-box design using a 10” mica cone and 150-watt amplifier in a thick panelled MDF cabinet. An MT-20 system offers much higher performance levels and output capability and retails for £975.

MT-30 uses the award-winning, spherical PV-1 and demonstrates the full potential of the M-1 satellite. An MT-30 system retails for £1575.

Mini Theatre is available in three colour schemes: black, silver and white (white not available on AS1/AS2). The M-1 comes supplied with both a pedestal stand and an adjustable bracket for wall mounting. An M-1 floor stand is also available at an additional cost of £150 per pair.