In this review, we will be comparing 606 S2 AE and L52 Classic, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Bowers Wilkins and JBL.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of B&W 606 S2 and JBL L52 Classic 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 )
JBL L52 Classic Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 0.75" Dome Tweeter
- 5.25" Pulp Woofer
- 47-24k Hz Frequency Response
- 85 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:10-75watts
- Weight:5.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 332.0" x 7-13/16" x 8-11/16"( 332.0 x 199.0 x 221.0mm )
What size room are the B&W 606 S2 and JBL L52 Classic 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 |
JBL L52 Classic |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Good |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
No way |
(* 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 JBL L52 Classic compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both 606 S2 AE and L52 Classic are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
B&W 606 S2 |
JBL L52 Classic |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
606 S2 AE features a 1" Aluminum Decoupled Double Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Continuum Woofer . On the other hand, the L52 Classic features a 0.75" Titanium Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Pulp Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz.
Frequency Response
606 S2 AE has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz whereas L52 Classic has a frequency range of 47-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 47Hz, the L52 Classic can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to 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
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
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 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the L52 Classic which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the L52 Classic can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. 606 S2 AE sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the L52 Classic's is rated at 85 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the B&W 606 S2 a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL L52 Classic, 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. 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 L52 Classic has a max power handling value of 75 watts RMS, 45 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
606 S2 AE features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. L52 Classic has a Five-way gold-plated binding posts which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
B&W 606 S2's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
JBL L52 Classic's Five-way gold-plated binding posts terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
606 S2 AE has a rear firing port whereas L52 Classic has a front firing ports. JBL L52 Classic's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to B&W 606 S2 with its rear-firing port.
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 JBL L52 Classic'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 JBL L52 Classic has external dimensions of 332.0 x 199.0 x 221.0mm ( 13-1/16 x 7-13/16 x 8-11/16inch) .
JBL L52 Classic is 15mm shorter and 105mm less deeper than B&W 606 S2 but it is also 8mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of B&W 606 S2 and JBL L52 Classic in scale.
Comparison image of B&W 606 S2 and JBL L52 Classic 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 JBL L52 Classic is approximately 439.8cm2 / 68.2inch2. The 606 S2 AE requires 42% more surface area than the L52 Classic 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 JBL L52 Classic on a Media Console