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B&W 606 vs JBL A120 Comparison

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B&W 606

Passive Bookshelf | 52-28k Hz

Bowers & Wilkins 606
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JBL A120

Passive Bookshelf | 60-40k Hz

JBL Stage A120
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B&W 606 B&W 606
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JBL A120 JBL A120
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B&W 606
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JBL A120
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B&W 606 vs JBL A120 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing BW 606 and A120, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Bowers Wilkins and JBL.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of B&W 606 and JBL A120 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

B&W 606 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
  • 6.5" Continuum Woofer
  • 52-28k Hz Frequency Response
  • 88 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:30-120watts
  • Weight:6.90kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 345.0" x 7-1/2" x 12-13/16"( 345.0 x 190.0 x 324.0mm )

JBL A120 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
  • 4.5" Polycellulose Woofer
  • 60-40k Hz Frequency Response
  • 86 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 6ohms
  • Power Range:20-125watts
  • Weight:3.82kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 286.0" x 6-3/4" x 7-7/16"( 286.0 x 172.0 x 189.0mm )

What size room are the B&W 606 and JBL A120 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 JBL A120
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.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the B&W 606 and JBL A120 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.


**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


Drivers

Both BW 606 and A120 are 2-way speakers.

Driver B&W 606 JBL A120
Driver Setup 2-way 2-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1-inch
Midrange - -
Woofer 1 x 6.5-inch 1 x 4.5-inch

BW 606 features a 1" Decoupled Carbon Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Continuum Woofer . On the other hand, the A120 features a 1" aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Polycellulose Woofer .

Frequency Response

BW 606 has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz whereas A120 has a frequency range of 60-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 52Hz, the BW 606 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the A120's min frequency of 60Hz.

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

BW 606
A120
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

B&W 606
JBL A120
Min
Average
Max

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

BW 606 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the A120 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.

These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. BW 606 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the A120's is rated at 86 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the B&W 606 a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL A120, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

BW 606
A120
Min
Average
Max

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.

BW 606 can handle a max power of 125 watts RMS from the amp the whereas BW 606 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS , 5 watts less than the A120.

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

BW 606 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. A120 has a 5-way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

B&W 606 Terminals
B&W 606's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

JBL A1205-way post Terminals
JBL A120's 5-way post terminals

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Both BW 606 and A120 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's and JBL A120's external dimensions. B&W 606 has external dimensions of 345.0 x 190.0 x 324.0mm ( 13.5 x 7.4 x 12.7inch) whereas JBL A120 has external dimensions of 286.0 x 172.0 x 189.0mm ( 11-1/4 x 6-3/4 x 7-7/16inch) .

B&W 606 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 18mm wider, 59mm taller and 135mm deeper than JBL A120.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of B&W 606 and JBL A120 in scale.

B&W 606 vs JBL A120 Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of B&W 606 and JBL A120 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 is approximately 615.6cm2 / 95.4inch2 and base area of the JBL A120 is approximately 325.1cm2 / 50.4inch2. The BW 606 requires 89% more surface area than the A120 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:

B&W 606 vs JBL A120 Size Comparison on a Media Console
Size Comparison image of B&W 606 and JBL A120 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 weighs 6.90kg / 15.2lbs and the JBL A120 weighs 3.82kg / 8.4lbs. This makes the BW 606 81% heavier than the A120.

Here is a comparison of how BW 606 and A120's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
B&W 606
JBL A120
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of B&W 606?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of BW 606:
  • 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 JBL A120?

    Here are the items that come with the A120:
  • 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
  • 2 Grilles
  • 2 Foam plugs
  • 4 Brackets
  • 8 Rubber feet
  • 8 Screws (M6 x 8mm)
  • Owner-feets Manual
  • Warranty Card

  • Reasons to choose Bowers & Wilkins 606 over JBL Stage A120
    Sensitivity 88 dB vs 86 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 4.5 inches Larger woofer
    Low Frequency Response 52 Hz vs 60 Hz Generates deeper bass
    Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring Yes vs No Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections

    Reasons to choose JBL Stage A120 over Bowers & Wilkins 606

    Max Input Power 125 watts vs 120 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    High Frequency Response 40k Hz vs 28k Hz Generates higher frequency
    Mounting Bracket Yes vs No Allows mounting on walls
    Height 286mm vs 345mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 325cm2 vs 615cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 250USD vs 899USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
    B&W 606 vs JBL A120 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General Bowers & Wilkins 606 JBL Stage A120
    Brand Bowers Wilkins JBL
    Speaker Type Bookshelf speakers Bookshelf speakers
    Power Range 30-120 watts 20-125 watts
    Sensitivity 88 dB 86 dB
    Impedance 8 ohms 6 ohms
    Impedance 3.7 ohms n/a
    Frequency Response 52-28k Hz 60-40k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 1
    Woofer Size 6.5" 4.5"
    Woofer Composition Continuum Polycellulose
    Woofer Surround Material Rubber Rubber
    Tweeter Size 1" 1"
    Tweeter Type Hard-Dome Hard-Dome
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver No No
    Firing Direction rear rear
    Suggested Break-in Period allow up to a week for the temperature effects to stabilise and 15 hours of average use for the parts to attain their intended design characteristics. n/a
    Physical Specs
    Height 345.0mm (13.6") 286.0mm (11.3")
    Width 190.0mm (7.5") 172.0mm (6.8")
    Depth 324.0mm (12.8") 189.0mm (7.4")
    Weight 6.90kg (15.2lbs) 3.82kg (8.4lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
    Finish MDF/Vinyl MDF, Vinyl
    Available Colors Black, White, Oak Black
    Mounting Bracket No Keyholes w/ bracket
    Recommended Stand Height 24-26" 26-28"
    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

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