In this review, we will be comparing 606 S3 and Motion B10, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Bowers Wilkins and MartinLogan.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of B&W 606 S3 and MartinLogan Motion B10 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | B&W 606 S3 | MartinLogan Motion B10 |
|---|
| Brand | Bowers Wilkins
United Kingdom · founded 1966 | MartinLogan
United States · founded 1982 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Decoupled Double Dome Titanium | 1.0 x 1.4" Folded Motion Ribbon |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Continuum | 5.25" Woven Fiberglass |
|---|
| Frequency response | 52-28k Hz | 56-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 92 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 5 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-120 watts | 20-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.05kg / 15.5lbs | 6.60kg / 14.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13.6" x 7.4" x 12.9"
344.0 x 189.0 x 328.0mm | 12-1/2" x 7" x 9-3/4"
318 x 178 x 248mm |
|---|
What size room are the B&W 606 S3 and MartinLogan Motion B10 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 |
MartinLogan Motion B10 |
| 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.
Drivers
Both 606 S3 and Motion B10 are 2-way speakers.
B&W 606 S3MartinLogan Motion B10
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 |
MartinLogan Motion B10 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.0 x 1.4-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
606 S3 features a 1" Titanium Decoupled Double Dome Titanium Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Continuum Woofer. On the other hand, the Motion B10 features a 1.0 x 1.4" Folded Motion Ribbon Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Woven Fiberglass Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2370Hz.
Frequency Response
606 S3 has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz whereas Motion B10 has a frequency range of 56-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 52Hz, the 606 S3 can go slightly deeper then the Motion B10'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 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Motion B10 which has a nominal impedance of 5 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. 606 S3 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Motion B10's is rated at 92 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the MartinLogan Motion B10 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.
Motion B10 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas 606 S3 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 80 watts less than the Motion B10.
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 S3 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Motion B10 has a Custom 5-way binding posts which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
B&W 606 S3's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
MartinLogan Motion B10's Custom 5-way binding posts terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both 606 S3 and Motion B10 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 S3's and MartinLogan Motion B10'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 MartinLogan Motion B10 has external dimensions of 318 x 178 x 248mm (12-1/2inch x 7inch x 9-3/4inch).
B&W 606 S3 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 11mm wider, 26mm taller and 80mm deeper than MartinLogan Motion B10.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of B&W 606 S3 and MartinLogan Motion B10 in scale.
Comparison image of B&W 606 S3 and MartinLogan Motion B10 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 S3 is approximately 619.9cm2 / 96.1inch2 and base area of the MartinLogan Motion B10 is approximately 441.4cm2 / 68.4inch2. The 606 S3 requires 40% more surface area than the Motion B10 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is 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 S3 and MartinLogan Motion B10 on a Media Console
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 MartinLogan Motion B10 weighs 6.60kg / 14.5lbs. This makes the 606 S3 7% heavier than the Motion B10.
Here is a comparison of how 606 S3 and Motion B10'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
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
5 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
52 Hz
vs
56 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 |
 Price per pair* |
1100USD
vs
1198USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Height |
318mm
vs
344mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
441cm2
vs
619cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Bowers & Wilkins 606 S3 |
MartinLogan Motion® B10 |
| Brand |
Bowers Wilkins |
MartinLogan |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-120 watts |
20-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
92 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
5 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.7 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
52-28k Hz |
56-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Continuum |
Woven Fiberglass |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.0 x 1.4" |
| Tweeter Type |
Decoupled Double Dome Titanium |
Folded Motion Ribbon |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2370Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
| Suggested Break-in Period |
n/a |
Allow 72 hours of break-in |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
344.0mm (13.5") |
318.0mm (12.5") |
| Width |
189.0mm (7.4") |
178.0mm (7") |
| Depth |
328.0mm (12.9") |
248.0mm (9.8") |
| Weight |
7.05kg (15.5lbs) |
6.60kg (14.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Matte Black, Matte White, Oak, Red Cherry |
Gloss Black, Walnut, and Satin White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-26" |
24-28" |
| 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 S3 digs deeper - 52Hz against 56Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | MartinLogan Motion B10 is more sensitive (92dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | B&W 606 S3 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | B | MartinLogan Motion B10 takes more power (200W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | MartinLogan Motion B10 is easier to place; B&W 606 S3 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| 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 MartinLogan Motion B10
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system 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. In a large or open-plan room, B&W 606 S3 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, MartinLogan Motion B10 is the easier speaker to get right. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, MartinLogan Motion B10 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.