B&W 606 S2 vs B&W 707 S2 Comparison

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B&W 606 S2

Passive Bookshelf | 52-28k Hz

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B&W 707 S2

Passive Bookshelf | 50-28k Hz

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B&W 606 S2

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B&W 707 S2

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B&W 606 S2

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B&W 707 S2

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B&W 606 S2 vs B&W 707 S2 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing 606 S2 AE and 707 S2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Bowers Wilkins

Let's have a brief look at the main features of B&W 606 S2 and B&W 707 S2 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

B&W 606 S2 Key Specs

2-way Design

1" Decoupled Double Dome Tweeter

6.5" Continuum Woofer

52-28k Hz Frequency Response

88 dB Sensitivity

Impedance: 8ohms

Power Range:30-120watts

Weight:6.90kg

Dimensions (H x W x D): 347.0" x 7-1/2" x 12-13/16"( 347.0 x 191.0 x 326.0mm )

B&W 707 S2 Key Specs

2-way Design

1" Decoupled Soft-Dome Tweeter

5" Continuum Woofer

50-28k Hz Frequency Response

84 dB Sensitivity

Impedance: 8ohms

Power Range:30-100watts

Weight:6.00kg

Dimensions (H x W x D): 280.0" x 6.5" x 10.9"( 280.0 x 165.0 x 276.0mm )

What size room are the B&W 606 S2 and B&W 707 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*	B&W 606 S2	B&W 707 S2
Near-field	Poor	Average
Small Room	Average	Good
Mid-size Room	Good	Average
Large Room	Average	Poor
Very Large Room	Poor	Bad

(* 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.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the B&W 606 S2 and B&W 707 S2 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.

**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Drivers

Both 606 S2 AE and 707 S2 are 2-way speakers.

Driver	B&W 606 S2	B&W 707 S2
Driver Setup	2-way	2-way
Tweeter	1-inch	1-inch
Midrange	-	-
Woofer	1 x 6.5-inch	1 x 5-inch

606 S2 AE features a 1" Aluminum Decoupled Double Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Continuum Woofer . On the other hand, the 707 S2 features a 1" Decoupled Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Continuum Woofer .

Frequency Response

606 S2 AE has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz whereas 707 S2 has a frequency range of 50-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the 707 S2 can go slightly deeper then the 606 S2 AE's min frequency of 52Hz.

Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.

Low Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

606 S2 AE

707 S2

Min

Average

Max

High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

B&W 606 S2

B&W 707 S2

Min

Average

Max

None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.

Impedance and Sensitivity

606 S2 AE and 707 S2 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. 606 S2 AE sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the 707 S2's is at 84 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the B&W 606 S2 a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W 707 S2, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

606 S2 AE

707 S2

Min

Average

Max

Power Range

Power range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.

606 S2 AE can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS from the amp the whereas 707 S2 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the 606 S2 AE.

Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.

Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring

Both 606 S2 AE and 707 S2 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.

B&W 606 S2's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Both 606 S2 AE and 707 S2 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

Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare B&W 606 S2's and B&W 707 S2's external dimensions. 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) whereas B&W 707 S2 has external dimensions of 280.0 x 165.0 x 276.0mm ( 11-inch x 6.5-inch x 10.9-inch) .

B&W 606 S2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 26mm wider, 67mm taller and 50mm deeper than B&W 707 S2.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of B&W 606 S2 and B&W 707 S2 in scale.

Comparison image of B&W 606 S2 and B&W 707 S2 Size and External Dimensions

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 B&W 606 S2 is approximately 622.7cm² / 96.5inch² and base area of the B&W 707 S2 is approximately 455.4cm² / 70.6inch². The 606 S2 AE requires 37% more surface area than the 707 S2 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.

Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:

Size Comparison image of B&W 606 S2 and B&W 707 S2 on a Media Console

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 B&W 606 S2 weighs 6.90kg / 15.2lbs and the B&W 707 S2 weighs 6.00kg / 13.2lbs. This makes the 606 S2 AE 15% heavier than the 707 S2.

Here is a comparison of how 606 S2 AE and 707 S2's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers

B&W 606 S2

B&W 707 S2

Min

Average

Max

What's in the Box of B&W 606 S2?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of 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

What's in the Box of B&W 707 S2?

Here are the items that come with the 707 S2:

2 Bookshelf loudspeakers

2 Grilles

2 Two-piece foam port plugs

8 Self-adhesive rubber feet

4 Jumper-straps

Manual

Bowers & Wilkins brochure

Warranty Information

Reasons to choose Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2 Anniversary Edition over Bowers & Wilkins 707 S2

Max Input Power	120 watts vs 100 watts	Handle more power from your amplifier
Sensitivity	88 dB vs 84 dB	Play louder with same amount of amplification power
Woofer Size	6.5 inches vs 5 inches	Larger woofer
Price per pair*	999USD vs 1599USD	costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

Reasons to choose Bowers & Wilkins 707 S2 over Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2 Anniversary Edition

Minimum Impedance	4.0 ohms vs 3.7 ohms	Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier
Low Frequency Response	50 Hz vs 52 Hz	Generates deeper bass
Height	280mm vs 347mm	Easier to fit in smaller spaces
Base Surface Area	455cm² vs 622cm²	Takes less floor space

B&W 606 S2 vs B&W 707 S2 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2 Anniversary Edition	Bowers & Wilkins 707 S2
Brand	Bowers Wilkins	Bowers Wilkins
Speaker Type	Bookshelf speakers	Bookshelf speakers
Power Range	30-120 watts	30-100 watts
Sensitivity	88 dB	84 dB
Impedance	8 ohms	8 ohms
Impedance	3.7 ohms	4.0 ohms
Frequency Response	52-28k Hz	50-28k Hz
Drivers
Woofer Quantity	1	1
Woofer Size	6.5"	5"
Woofer Composition	Continuum	Continuum
Woofer Surround Material	Rubber	Rubber
Tweeter Size	1"	1"
Tweeter Type	Decoupled Double Dome	Decoupled Soft-Dome
Aimable Tweeter	No	No
Midrange Driver	No	No
Firing Direction	rear	rear
Physical Specs
Height	347.0mm (13.7")	280.0mm (11")
Width	191.0mm (7.5")	165.0mm (6.5")
Depth	326.0mm (12.8")	276.0mm (10.9")
Weight	6.90kg (15.2lbs)	6.00kg (13.2lbs)
Enclosure	Bass Reflex	Bass Reflex
Finish	MDF/Vinyl	MDF/Wood Veneer
Available Colors	Matte Black, Matte White, Oak, Red Cherry	Rosewood, Gloss Black, Satin White
Mounting Bracket	No	No
Recommended Stand Height	24-26"	24-26"
Grille	Yes	Yes
Moisture Resistancy	No	No
Connections
Biamp Inputs	Yes	Yes
Other
Parts Warranty	5 Years	5 Years
Labor Warranty	5 Years	5 Years