In this review, we will be comparing E50 and BW 606, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Buchardt and Bowers Wilkins. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Buchardt E50 and B&W 606 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Buchardt E50 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" waveguide Tweeter
- 6.5" PURIFI Extended Stroke Woofer
- 36-30k HZ Frequency Response
- 85 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:60-200watts
- Weight:8.60kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 395.0" x 7.5" x 11.1"( 395 x 190 x 284 mm )
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 )
What size room are the Buchardt E50 and B&W 606 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* |
Buchardt E50 |
B&W 606 |
| 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 Buchardt E50 and B&W 606 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 E50 and BW 606 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Buchardt E50 |
B&W 606 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
E50 features a 1" Custom Scanspeak textile dome waveguide Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" PURIFI Extended Stroke Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz. On the other hand, the BW 606 features a 1" Decoupled Carbon Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Continuum Woofer .
Frequency Response
E50 has a frequency range of 36-30k HZ whereas BW 606 has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 36Hz, the E50 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to 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
E50 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the BW 606 which has a nominal impedance of 8 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 E50 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. E50 sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the BW 606's is rated at 88 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the B&W 606 a more sensitive speaker compared to Buchardt E50, 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. 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.
E50 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas BW 606 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 80 watts less than the E50.
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.
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 Buchardt E50's and B&W 606's external dimensions. Buchardt E50 has external dimensions of 395 x 190 x 284 mm ( 15.5 x 7.5 x 11.1 inch) whereas B&W 606 has external dimensions of 345.0 x 190.0 x 324.0mm ( 13.5 x 7.4 x 12.7inch) .
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Buchardt E50 and B&W 606 in scale.
Comparison image of Buchardt E50 and B&W 606 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 Buchardt E50 is approximately 539.6cm2 / 83.6inch2 and base area of the B&W 606 is approximately 615.6cm2 / 95.4inch2. The E50 requires 12% less surface area than the BW 606 which gives it a small advantage 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:
Size Comparison image of Buchardt E50 and B&W 606 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 Buchardt E50 weighs 8.60kg / 18.9lbs and the B&W 606 weighs 6.90kg / 15.2lbs. This makes the E50 25% heavier than the BW 606.
Here is a comparison of how E50 and BW 606'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 come with the BW 606:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers2 Grilles2 Two-piece foam port plugs8 Self-adhesive rubber feet4 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)ManualBowers & Wilkins brochureWarranty Information