In this review, we will be comparing 606 S3 and Vestia No1, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Bowers Wilkins and Focal. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of B&W 606 S3 and Focal Vestia No1 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the B&W 606 S3 and Focal Vestia No1 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 S3 and Focal Vestia No1 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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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both 606 S3 and Vestia No1 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
B&W 606 S3 |
Focal Vestia No1 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
606 S3 features a 1" Titanium Decoupled Double Dome Titanium Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Continuum Woofer . On the other hand, the Vestia No1 features a 1" Al/Mg inverted dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Slatefiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz.
Frequency Response
606 S3 has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz whereas Vestia No1 has a frequency range of 56-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 52Hz, the 606 S3 can go slightly deeper then the Vestia No1's min frequency of 56Hz.
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 S3 and Vestia No1 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. 606 S3 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Vestia No1's is at 89.5 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Focal Vestia No1 a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W 606 S3, 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.
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.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
606 S3 has a rear firing port whereas Vestia No1 has a front firing ports. Focal Vestia No1's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to B&W 606 S3 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 S3's and Focal Vestia No1's external dimensions. B&W 606 S3 has external dimensions of 344.0 x 189.0 x 328.0mm ( 13.6 x 7.4 x 12.9inch) whereas Focal Vestia No1 has external dimensions of 388.0 x 220.0 x 261.0mm ( 15-1/4-inch x 8-5/8-inch x 10-1/4-inch) .
B&W 606 S3 is 31mm narrower and 44mm shorter than Focal Vestia No1 but it is also 67mm deeper.
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 S3 is approximately 619.9cm2 / 96.1inch2 and base area of the Focal Vestia No1 is approximately 574.2cm2 / 89.0inch2. The 606 S3 requires 8% more surface area than the Vestia No1 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 S3 weighs 7.05kg / 15.5lbs and the Focal Vestia No1 weighs 7.00kg / 15.4lbs. This makes the 606 S3 1% heavier than the Vestia No1.
Here is a comparison of how 606 S3 and Vestia No1'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 S3?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 606 S3:
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 |
52 Hz
vs
56 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
344mm
vs
388mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
1100USD
vs
1198USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Minimum Impedance |
4.5 ohms
vs
3.7 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Base Surface Area |
574cm2 (220x261mm)
vs
619cm2 (189x328mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Bowers & Wilkins 606 S3 |
Focal Vestia No1 |
| Brand |
Bowers Wilkins |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-120 watts |
25-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
89.5 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.7 ohms |
4.5 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
52-28k Hz |
56-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Continuum |
Slatefiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Decoupled Double Dome Titanium |
inverted dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2800Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
344.0mm (13.5") |
388.0mm (15.3") |
| Width |
189.0mm (7.4") |
220.0mm (8.7") |
| Depth |
328.0mm (12.9") |
261.0mm (10.3") |
| Weight |
7.05kg (15.5lbs) |
7.00kg (15.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
MDF |
| Available Colors |
Matte Black, Matte White, Oak, Red Cherry |
Black High Gloss, Dark Wood, Light Wood |
| Mounting Bracket |
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 |
|
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
|