In this review, we will be comparing 606 S2 AE and Premier 200B, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Bowers Wilkins and Paradigm.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of B&W 606 S2 and Paradigm 200B first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | B&W 606 S2 | Paradigm 200B |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Decoupled Double Dome | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Continuum | 6.5" Carbon-Infused Polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 52-28k Hz | 55-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-120 watts | 15-130 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.90kg / 15.2lbs | 8.18kg / 18lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13-5/8" x 7-1/2" x 12-13/16"
347.0 x 191.0 x 326.0mm | 13-7/16" x 7-13/16" x 12-7/8"
342.0 x 199.0 x 328.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the B&W 606 S2 and Paradigm 200B 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 |
Paradigm 200B |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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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Drivers
Both 606 S2 AE and Premier 200B are 2-way speakers.
B&W 606 S2Paradigm 200B
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
B&W 606 S2 |
Paradigm 200B |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
606 S2 AE features a 1" Aluminum Decoupled Double Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Continuum Woofer. On the other hand, the Premier 200B features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Carbon-Infused Polypropylene Woofer.
Frequency Response
606 S2 AE has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz whereas Premier 200B has a frequency range of 55-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 52Hz, the 606 S2 AE can go slightly deeper then the Premier 200B's min frequency of 55Hz.
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
606 S2 AE and Premier 200B 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 Premier 200B's is at 90 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Paradigm 200B a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W 606 S2, 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.
Premier 200B can handle a max power of 130 watts RMS, whereas 606 S2 AE has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 10 watts less than the Premier 200B.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
606 S2 AE features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Premier 200B has a Posts which doesn't feature bi-amping/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 Premier 200B 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 B&W 606 S2's and Paradigm 200B'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 Paradigm 200B has external dimensions of 342.0 x 199.0 x 328.0mm (13-7/16 x 7-13/16 x 12-7/8inch).
B&W 606 S2 is 8mm narrower and 2mm less deeper than Paradigm 200B but it is also 5mm taller.
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 Paradigm 200B is approximately 652.7cm2 / 101.2inch2. The 606 S2 AE requires 5% less surface area than the Premier 200B 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 B&W 606 S2 weighs 6.90kg / 15.2lbs and the Paradigm 200B weighs 8.18kg / 18lbs. This makes the Premier 200B 19% heavier than the 606 S2 AE.
Here is a comparison of how 606 S2 AE and Premier 200B'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 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 Paradigm 200B?
Here are the items that come with the Premier 200B:
- Bookshelf loudspeaker
- Grille
- Owner's Manual
- Online Registration Card
 Low Frequency Response |
52 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Base Surface Area |
622cm2
vs
652cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
999USD
vs
1000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
130 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Height |
342mm
vs
347mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2 Anniversary Edition |
Paradigm Premier 200B |
| Brand |
Bowers Wilkins |
Paradigm |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-120 watts |
15-130 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.7 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
52-28k Hz |
55-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Continuum |
Carbon-Infused Polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Decoupled Double Dome |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
347.0mm (13.7") |
342.0mm (13.5") |
| Width |
191.0mm (7.5") |
199.0mm (7.8") |
| Depth |
326.0mm (12.8") |
328.0mm (12.9") |
| Weight |
6.90kg (15.2lbs) |
8.18kg (18lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Matte Black, Matte White, Oak, Red Cherry |
Gloss white,Espresso,Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-26" |
24-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
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 |
B&W 606 S2 digs deeper - 52Hz against 55Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs |
B |
Paradigm 200B is more sensitive (90dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom |
evenly matched |
Similar power handling (120W vs 130W). |
| Size |
depends |
Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability |
depends |
B&W 606 S2: bi-amping. Paradigm 200B sits in a wider range (12 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price |
evenly matched |
Much the same money ($999 vs $1,000 a pair). |
A B&W 606 S2
B Paradigm 200B
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Paradigm 200B is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.