In this review, we will be comparing AE500 and 606 S2 AE, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Acoustic Energy and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of AE500 and B&W 606 S2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | AE500 | B&W 606 S2 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" dome with waveguide | 1" Decoupled Double Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" carbon fibre cone | 6.5" Continuum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 45Hz - 28kHz | 52-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 120 watts | 30-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.00kg / 17.6lbs | 6.90kg / 15.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12.2" x 7.3" x 10.2"
310.0 x 185.0 x 260.0mm | 13-5/8" x 7-1/2" x 12-13/16"
347.0 x 191.0 x 326.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the AE500 and B&W 606 S2 speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
AE500 |
B&W 606 S2 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
Poor |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
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through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both AE500 and 606 S2 AE are 2-way speakers.
AE500B&W 606 S2
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
AE500 |
B&W 606 S2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
AE500 features a 1" carbon fibre dome with waveguide Tweeter and 1 x 5" carbon fibre cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz. On the other hand, the 606 S2 AE features a 1" Aluminum Decoupled Double Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Continuum Woofer.
Frequency Response
AE500 has a frequency range of 45Hz - 28kHz whereas 606 S2 AE has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the AE500 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 606 S2 AE's min frequency of 52Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
AE500 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the 606 S2 AE which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. AE500 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the 606 S2 AE's is rated at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the B&W 606 S2 a more sensitive speaker compared to AE500, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
606 S2 AE can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas AE500 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the 606 S2 AE.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier — change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both AE500 and 606 S2 AE have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare AE500's and B&W 606 S2's external dimensions. AE500 has external dimensions of 310.0 x 185.0 x 260.0mm (12.2 x 7.3 x 10.2inch) whereas B&W 606 S2 has external dimensions of 347.0 x 191.0 x 326.0mm (13-5/8 x 7-1/2 x 12-13/16inch).
B&W 606 S2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 6mm wider, 37mm taller and 66mm deeper than AE500.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the AE500 is approximately 481.0cm2 / 74.6inch2 and base area of the B&W 606 S2 is approximately 622.7cm2 / 96.5inch2. The AE500 requires 23% less surface area than the 606 S2 AE which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The AE500 weighs 8.00kg / 17.6lbs and the B&W 606 S2 weighs 6.90kg / 15.2lbs. This makes the AE500 16% heavier than the 606 S2 AE.
Here is a comparison of how AE500 and 606 S2 AE's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of B&W 606 S2?
Here are the items that come with the 606 S2 AE:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 2 Two-piece foam port plugs
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- 4 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)
- Manual
- Bowers & Wilkins brochure
- Warranty Information
 Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
52 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
310mm
vs
347mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
481cm2
vs
622cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Price per pair* |
999USD
vs
1499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Acoustic Energy AE500 |
Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2 Anniversary Edition |
| Brand |
Acoustic Energy |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
up to 120 watts |
30-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.7 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
45Hz - 28kHz |
52-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
carbon fibre cone |
Continuum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
dome with waveguide |
Decoupled Double Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2800Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
310.0mm (12.2") |
347.0mm (13.7") |
| Width |
185.0mm (7.3") |
191.0mm (7.5") |
| Depth |
260.0mm (10.2") |
326.0mm (12.8") |
| Weight |
8.00kg (17.6lbs) |
6.90kg (15.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Resonance Suppression Composite (RSC) |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Piano Gloss Black, Piano Gloss White, American Walnut wood veneer |
Matte Black, Matte White, Oak, Red Cherry |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
24-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass |
A |
AE500 digs deeper - 45Hz against 52Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs |
evenly matched |
Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 88dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match |
B |
B&W 606 S2 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom |
evenly matched |
Similar power handling (100W vs 120W). |
| Size |
depends |
AE500 is easier to place; B&W 606 S2 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability |
B |
B&W 606 S2: bi-amping. |
| Price |
B |
B&W 606 S2 is cheaper - $999 against $1,499, about 33% less. |
A AE500
B B&W 606 S2
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement or how you will use them.
Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
B&W 606 S2 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 52Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper B&W 606 S2 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate AE500 the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and B&W 606 S2 for a mid-size room and a large room.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.