In this review, we will be comparing BW 606 and S15, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Bowers Wilkins and Polk Audio. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of B&W 606 and Polk S15 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the B&W 606 and Polk S15 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 and Polk S15 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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Drivers
Both BW 606 and S15 are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
B&W 606 |
Polk S15 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
BW 606 features a 1" Decoupled Carbon Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Continuum Woofer . On the other hand, the S15 features a 1" Terylene Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
BW 606 has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz whereas S15 has a frequency range of 50-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the S15 can go slightly deeper then the BW 606's min frequency of 52Hz.
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
BW 606 and S15 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 88 dB.
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.
BW 606 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS from the amp the whereas S15 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the BW 606.
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. S15 has a Pair of Binding Posts - Gold Plated which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both BW 606 and S15 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 Polk S15'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 Polk S15 has external dimensions of 304.8 x 190.0 x 260.4mm ( 12.0 x 7.4 x 10.2inch) .
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 Polk S15 is approximately 494.8cm2 / 76.7inch2. The BW 606 requires 24% more surface area than the S15 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 weighs 6.90kg / 15.2lbs and the Polk S15 weighs 5.90kg / 13lbs. This makes the BW 606 17% heavier than the S15.
Here is a comparison of how BW 606 and S15'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?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of BW 606:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers2 Grilles2 Two-piece foam port plugs8 Self-adhesive rubber feet4 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)ManualBowers & Wilkins brochureWarranty Information
What's in the Box of Polk S15?
Here are the items that come with the S15:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers2 Grille (attached)8 Self-adhesive rubber feetWall-mount templateOwners ManualOnline Product Registration
Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
52 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
Height |
304mm
vs
345mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
494cm2 (190x260mm)
vs
615cm2 (190x324mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
259USD
vs
899USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
General |
Bowers & Wilkins 606 |
Polk Audio Signature S15 |
Brand |
Bowers Wilkins |
Polk Audio |
Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
Power Range |
30-120 watts |
20-100 watts |
Sensitivity |
88 dB |
88 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
Impedance |
3.7 ohms |
n/a |
Frequency Response |
52-28k Hz |
50-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
Woofer Composition |
Continuum |
Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Butyl rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2500Hz |
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") |
304.8mm (12") |
Width |
190.0mm (7.5") |
190.0mm (7.5") |
Depth |
324.0mm (12.8") |
260.4mm (10.3") |
Weight |
6.90kg (15.2lbs) |
5.90kg (13lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
Meddite MDF |
Available Colors |
Black, White, Oak |
Black, Walnut, Brown Walnut |
Mounting Bracket |
No |
Keyhole |
Recommended Stand Height |
24-26" |
24-30" |
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 |