In this review, we will be comparing 606 S3 and Lumina II, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Bowers Wilkins and Sonus faber.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of B&W 606 S3 and Sonus Lumina II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | B&W 606 S3 | Sonus Lumina II |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Decoupled Double Dome Titanium | 1.15" high definition DAD |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Continuum | 6" paper cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 52-28k Hz | 55-24k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-120 watts | 30-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.05kg / 15.5lbs | 5.65kg / 12.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13.6" x 7.4" x 12.9"
344.0 x 189.0 x 328.0mm | 12" x 7.1" x 10.3"
304.0 x 180.0 x 263.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the B&W 606 S3 and Sonus Lumina II 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 |
Sonus Lumina II |
| 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 Lumina II are 2-way speakers.
B&W 606 S3Sonus Lumina II
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 |
Sonus Lumina II |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.15-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6-inch
|
606 S3 features a 1" Titanium Decoupled Double Dome Titanium Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Continuum Woofer. On the other hand, the Lumina II features a 1.15" high definition DAD Tweeter and 1 x 6" paper cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1800Hz.
Frequency Response
606 S3 has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz whereas Lumina II has a frequency range of 55-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 52Hz, the 606 S3 can go slightly deeper then the Lumina II'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 S3 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Lumina II which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Lumina II can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. 606 S3 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Lumina II's is rated at 86 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the B&W 606 S3 a more sensitive speaker compared to Sonus Lumina II, 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.
Lumina II can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas 606 S3 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the Lumina II.
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
Both 606 S3 and Lumina II features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
B&W 606 S3's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Sonus Lumina II's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
606 S3 has a rear firing port whereas Lumina II has a front firing ports. Sonus Lumina II'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 Sonus Lumina II'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 Sonus Lumina II has external dimensions of 304.0 x 180.0 x 263.0mm (12 x 7.1 x 10.3inch).
B&W 606 S3 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 9mm wider, 40mm taller and 65mm deeper than Sonus Lumina II.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of B&W 606 S3 and Sonus Lumina II in scale.
Comparison image of B&W 606 S3 and Sonus Lumina II 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 Sonus Lumina II is approximately 473.4cm2 / 73.4inch2. The 606 S3 requires 31% more surface area than the Lumina II 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 Sonus Lumina II 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 Sonus Lumina II weighs 5.65kg / 12.4lbs. This makes the 606 S3 25% heavier than the Lumina II.
Here is a comparison of how 606 S3 and Lumina II'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
What's in the Box of Sonus Lumina II?
Here are the items that come with the Lumina II:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 1 Manual
- 2 Jumpers
- 2 Grilles
- 2 Fabric dust guards
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
52 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
1100USD
vs
1199USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Height |
304mm
vs
344mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
473cm2
vs
619cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Bowers & Wilkins 606 S3 |
Sonus Faber Lumina II |
| Brand |
Bowers Wilkins |
Sonus faber |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-120 watts |
30-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.7 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
52-28k Hz |
55-24k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6" |
| Woofer Composition |
Continuum |
paper cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.15" |
| Tweeter Type |
Decoupled Double Dome Titanium |
high definition DAD |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
1800Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
344.0mm (13.5") |
304.0mm (12") |
| Width |
189.0mm (7.4") |
180.0mm (7.1") |
| Depth |
328.0mm (12.9") |
263.0mm (10.4") |
| Weight |
7.05kg (15.5lbs) |
5.65kg (12.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
real multilayer wood |
| Available Colors |
Matte Black, Matte White, Oak, Red Cherry |
Black, Wenge, Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
|
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-26" |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
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 55Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs |
A |
B&W 606 S3 is more sensitive (88dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match |
A |
B&W 606 S3 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom |
B |
Sonus Lumina II takes more power (150W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size |
depends |
Sonus Lumina II is easier to place; B&W 606 S3 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability |
depends |
B&W 606 S3: bi-amping; Sonus Lumina II: bi-amping. Sonus Lumina II sits in a wider range (7 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price |
evenly matched |
Much the same money ($1,100 vs $1,199 a pair). |
A B&W 606 S3
B Sonus Lumina II
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. 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, Sonus Lumina II is the easier speaker to get right. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, B&W 606 S3 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.