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ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 vs B&W 606 Comparison

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Speaker to replace
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ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2

Passive Bookshelf | 44-35k Hz

ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
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B&W 606

Passive Bookshelf | 52-28k Hz

Bowers & Wilkins 606
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ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
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B&W 606 B&W 606
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ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
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B&W 606
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ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 vs B&W 606 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Debut 2.0 B6.2 and BW 606, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from ELAC and Bowers Wilkins.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 and B&W 606 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
  • 6.5" Woven Aramid-Fiber Woofer
  • 44-35k Hz Frequency Response
  • 87 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 6ohms
  • Power Range:up to 120watts
  • Weight:7.40kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 375.0" x 7-3/4" x 11-5/16"( 375.0 x 195.0 x 268.0mm )

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 ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 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* ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 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 ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 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.


**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 Debut 2.0 B6.2 and BW 606 are 2-way speakers.

Driver ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 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

Debut 2.0 B6.2 features a 1" Cloth Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Woven Aramid-Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200Hz. On the other hand, the BW 606 features a 1" Decoupled Carbon Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Continuum Woofer .

Frequency Response

Debut 2.0 B6.2 has a frequency range of 44-35k Hz whereas BW 606 has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the Debut 2.0 B6.2 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

Debut 2.0 B6.2
BW 606
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
B&W 606
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

Debut 2.0 B6.2 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the BW 606 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.

These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Debut 2.0 B6.2 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the BW 606's is rated at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the B&W 606 a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

Debut 2.0 B6.2
BW 606
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.

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. Debut 2.0 B6.2 has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 Terminals
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2's 5-Way post terminals

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

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Debut 2.0 B6.2 has a front firing port whereas BW 606 has a rear firing ports. ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to B&W 606 with its rear-firing port.

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 ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2's and B&W 606's external dimensions. ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 has external dimensions of 375.0 x 195.0 x 268.0mm ( 14.7 x 7.6 x 10.5inch) whereas B&W 606 has external dimensions of 345.0 x 190.0 x 324.0mm ( 13.5 x 7.4 x 12.7inch) .

B&W 606 is 5mm narrower and 30mm shorter than ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 but it is also 56mm deeper.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 and B&W 606 in scale.

ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 vs B&W 606 Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 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 ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 is approximately 522.6cm2 / 81.0inch2 and base area of the B&W 606 is approximately 615.6cm2 / 95.4inch2. The Debut 2.0 B6.2 requires 15% 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:

ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 vs B&W 606 Size Comparison on a Media Console
Size Comparison image of ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 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 ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 weighs 7.40kg / 16.3lbs and the B&W 606 weighs 6.90kg / 15.2lbs. This makes the Debut 2.0 B6.2 7% heavier than the BW 606.

Here is a comparison of how Debut 2.0 B6.2 and BW 606's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
B&W 606
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of Debut 2.0 B6.2:
  • 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
  • 2 Grilles
  • Operating Instructions
  • What's in the Box of B&W 606?

    Here are the items that come with the 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

  • Reasons to choose ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 over Bowers & Wilkins 606
    Low Frequency Response 44 Hz vs 52 Hz Generates deeper bass
    High Frequency Response 35k Hz vs 28k Hz Generates higher frequency
    Port Position Front vs Rear Gives more flexibility placing close to walls
    Base Surface Area 522cm2 vs 615cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 400USD vs 899USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

    Reasons to choose Bowers & Wilkins 606 over ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2

    Sensitivity 88 dB vs 87 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Nominal Impedance 8 ohms vs 6 ohms Less selective with amplifiers
    Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring Yes vs No Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections
    Height 345mm vs 375mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 vs B&W 606 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 Bowers & Wilkins 606
    Brand ELAC Bowers Wilkins
    Speaker Type Bookshelf speakers Bookshelf speakers
    Power Range up to 120 watts 30-120 watts
    Sensitivity 87 dB 88 dB
    Impedance 6 ohms 8 ohms
    Impedance n/a 3.7 ohms
    Frequency Response 44-35k Hz 52-28k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 1
    Woofer Size 6.5" 6.5"
    Woofer Composition Woven Aramid-Fiber Continuum
    Woofer Surround Material Rubber Rubber
    Tweeter Size 1" 1"
    Tweeter Type Soft-Dome Hard-Dome
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver No No
    Crossover Frequency 2200Hz n/a
    Firing Direction front rear
    Suggested Break-in Period n/a 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.
    Physical Specs
    Height 375.0mm (14.8") 345.0mm (13.6")
    Width 195.0mm (7.7") 190.0mm (7.5")
    Depth 268.0mm (10.6") 324.0mm (12.8")
    Weight 7.40kg (16.3lbs) 6.90kg (15.2lbs)
    Enclosure Ported Bass Reflex
    Finish MDF/Vinyl MDF/Vinyl
    Available Colors Black Black, White, Oak
    Mounting Bracket No No
    Recommended Stand Height 24-28" 24-26"
    Grille Yes Yes
    Moisture Resistancy No No
    Connections
    Biamp Inputs No Yes
    Other
    Parts Warranty 3 Years 5 Years
    Labor Warranty 3 Years 5 Years

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