In this review, we will be comparing 606 S2 AE and SS-CS5, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Bowers Wilkins and Sony. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of B&W 606 S2 and Sony SS-CS5 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the B&W 606 S2 and Sony SS-CS5 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the B&W 606 S2 and Sony SS-CS5 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that 606 S2 AE is a 2-way design whereas the SS-CS5 is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
Driver |
B&W 606 S2 |
Sony SS-CS5 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
Super Tweeter
|
- |
0.75-inch |
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-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 SS-CS5 features a 1" polyester fiber Soft-Dome Tweeter , a 0.75" Supertweeter and 1 x 5.25" Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) Woofer .
Frequency Response
606 S2 AE has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz whereas SS-CS5 has a frequency range of 53-50k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 52Hz, the 606 S2 AE can go slightly deeper then the SS-CS5's min frequency of 53Hz.
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 SS-CS5 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. 606 S2 AE sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the SS-CS5's is rated at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the B&W 606 S2 a more sensitive speaker compared to Sony SS-CS5, 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 SS-CS5 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
606 S2 AE features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. SS-CS5 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both 606 S2 AE and SS-CS5 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 Sony SS-CS5'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 Sony SS-CS5 has external dimensions of 335.0 x 178.0 x 220.0mm ( 13.1 x 7.0 x 8.6inch) .
B&W 606 S2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 13mm wider, 12mm taller and 106mm deeper than Sony SS-CS5.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of B&W 606 S2 and Sony SS-CS5 in scale.
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 Sony SS-CS5 is approximately 391.6cm2 / 60.7inch2. The 606 S2 AE requires 59% more surface area than the SS-CS5 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:
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 Sony SS-CS5 weighs 4.50kg / 9.9lbs. This makes the 606 S2 AE 53% heavier than the SS-CS5.
Here is a comparison of how 606 S2 AE and SS-CS5'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
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
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
52 Hz
vs
53 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
High Frequency Response |
50k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Height |
335mm
vs
347mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
391cm2 (178x220mm)
vs
622cm2 (191x326mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
148USD
vs
999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
General |
Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2 Anniversary Edition |
Sony SS-CS5 |
Brand |
Bowers Wilkins |
Sony |
Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
Power Range |
30-120 watts |
up to 100 watts |
Sensitivity |
88 dB |
87 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
Impedance |
3.7 ohms |
n/a |
Frequency Response |
52-28k Hz |
53-50k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
Woofer Composition |
Continuum |
Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
Decoupled Double Dome |
Soft-Dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
347.0mm (13.7") |
335.0mm (13.2") |
Width |
191.0mm (7.5") |
178.0mm (7") |
Depth |
326.0mm (12.8") |
220.0mm (8.7") |
Weight |
6.90kg (15.2lbs) |
4.50kg (9.9lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
Available Colors |
Matte Black, Matte White, Oak, Red Cherry |
Black |
Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
Recommended Stand Height |
24-26" |
n/a |
Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
2 years |
Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
2 years |