In this review, we will be comparing UBR62 and BW 606, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from ELAC and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62 and B&W 606 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62 | B&W 606 |
|---|
| Brand | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 | Bowers Wilkins
United Kingdom · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" soft dome | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 4" | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Aluminum | 6.5" Continuum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 41-35k Hz | 52-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 140 watts | 30-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 10.70kg / 23.5lbs | 6.90kg / 15.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14-1/8" x 8-1/4" x 13-1/16"
359.0 x 210.0 x 332.0mm | 13.6" x 7-1/2" x 12-13/16"
345.0 x 190.0 x 324.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62 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 Uni-Fi Ref UBR62 |
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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that UBR62 is a 3-way design whereas the BW 606 is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62B&W 606
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62 |
B&W 606 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
UBR62 features a 1" soft dome Tweeter, a 4" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer. On the other hand, the BW 606 features a 1" Decoupled Carbon Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Continuum Woofer.
Frequency Response
UBR62 has a frequency range of 41-35k Hz whereas BW 606 has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 41Hz, the UBR62 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the BW 606's min frequency of 52Hz.
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
UBR62 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. UBR62 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 ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62, 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.
UBR62 can handle a max power of 140 watts RMS, whereas BW 606 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the UBR62.
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 UBR62 and BW 606 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
B&W 606's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
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 ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62's and B&W 606's external dimensions. ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62 has external dimensions of 359.0 x 210.0 x 332.0mm (14-1/8 x 8-1/4 x 13-1/16inch) whereas B&W 606 has external dimensions of 345.0 x 190.0 x 324.0mm (13.5 x 7.4 x 12.7inch).
ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 20mm wider, 14mm taller and 8mm deeper than B&W 606.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62 and B&W 606 in scale.
Comparison image of ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62 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 Uni-Fi Ref UBR62 is approximately 697.2cm2 / 108.1inch2 and base area of the B&W 606 is approximately 615.6cm2 / 95.4inch2. The UBR62 requires 13% more surface area than the BW 606 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 ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62 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 Uni-Fi Ref UBR62 weighs 10.70kg / 23.5lbs and the B&W 606 weighs 6.90kg / 15.2lbs. This makes the UBR62 55% heavier than the BW 606.
Here is a comparison of how UBR62 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 ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of UBR62:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Jumper-bars (pre-installed)
- 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
 Max Input Power |
140 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Low Frequency Response |
41 Hz
vs
52 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Height |
345mm
vs
359mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
615cm2
vs
697cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
899USD
vs
1200USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62 |
Bowers & Wilkins 606 |
| Brand |
ELAC |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
up to 140 watts |
30-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.7 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
41-35k Hz |
52-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Continuum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
soft dome |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
4" |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
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 |
359.0mm (14.1") |
345.0mm (13.6") |
| Width |
210.0mm (8.3") |
190.0mm (7.5") |
| Depth |
332.0mm (13.1") |
324.0mm (12.8") |
| Weight |
10.70kg (23.5lbs) |
6.90kg (15.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Satin Black with Walnut Sides, Satin White with Oak Sides |
Black, White, Oak |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
22-24" |
24-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
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 | ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62 digs deeper - 41Hz against 52Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | B&W 606 is more sensitive (88dB vs 85dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | B&W 606 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (140W vs 120W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62: bi-amping; B&W 606: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | B&W 606 is cheaper - $899 against $1,200, about 25% less. |
A ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62 B B&W 606
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system 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 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 52Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper B&W 606 much easier to justify. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, B&W 606 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.