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.
| Key Specs | B&W 606 S3 | Focal Vestia No1 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Decoupled Double Dome Titanium | 1" inverted dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Continuum | 6.5" Slatefiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 52-28k Hz | 56-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 89.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-120 watts | 25-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.05kg / 15.5lbs | 7.00kg / 15.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13.6" x 7.4" x 12.9"
344.0 x 189.0 x 328.0mm | 15-1/4" x 8-5/8" x 10-1/4"
388.0 x 220.0 x 261.0mm |
|---|
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:
| Listening Environment* |
B&W 606 S3 |
Focal Vestia No1 |
| 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 S3 and Vestia No1 are 2-way speakers.
B&W 606 S3Focal Vestia No1
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 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.
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 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Both handle the same maximum of 120 watts RMS, though 606 S3 is rated 30-120 watts and Vestia No1 25-120 watts.
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.
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
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 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
vs
619cm2
|
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 |
|
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 S3 digs deeper - 52Hz against 56Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs |
B |
Focal Vestia No1 is more sensitive (90dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom |
evenly matched |
Similar power handling (120W vs 120W). |
| Size |
depends |
Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability |
A |
B&W 606 S3: bi-amping. |
| Price |
evenly matched |
Much the same money ($1,100 vs $1,198 a pair). |
A B&W 606 S3
B Focal Vestia No1
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?
B&W 606 S3 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Focal Vestia No1 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.