In this review, we will be comparing Kanta No.1 and BW 606, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Focal and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Kanta No.1 and B&W 606 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Focal Kanta No.1 | B&W 606 |
|---|
| Brand | Focal
France · founded 1979 | Bowers Wilkins
United Kingdom · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" Hard-Dome | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Flax | 6.5" Continuum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 46-40k Hz | 52-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-150 watts | 30-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 13.05kg / 28.7lbs | 6.90kg / 15.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 24-28" x 9-1/4" x 15-7/16"
609.6 x 228.6 x 393.0mm | 13.6" x 7-1/2" x 12-13/16"
345.0 x 190.0 x 324.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Focal Kanta No.1 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* |
Focal Kanta No.1 |
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.
Drivers
Both Kanta No.1 and BW 606 are 2-way speakers.
Focal Kanta No.1B&W 606
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Focal Kanta No.1 |
B&W 606 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Kanta No.1 features a 1.1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Flax Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2400 Hz. On the other hand, the BW 606 features a 1" Decoupled Carbon Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Continuum Woofer.
Frequency Response
Kanta No.1 has a frequency range of 46-40k Hz whereas BW 606 has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the Kanta No.1 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
Kanta No.1 and BW 606 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Kanta No.1 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas BW 606 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the Kanta No.1.
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
BW 606 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Kanta No.1 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Focal Kanta No.1's Binding post terminals
B&W 606's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Kanta No.1 and BW 606 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
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 Focal Kanta No.1's and B&W 606's external dimensions. Focal Kanta No.1 has external dimensions of 609.6 x 228.6 x 393.0mm (24-28inch x 9-1/4inch x 15-7/16inch) whereas B&W 606 has external dimensions of 345.0 x 190.0 x 324.0mm (13.5 x 7.4 x 12.7inch).
Focal Kanta No.1 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 38.6mm wider, 264.6mm taller and 69mm deeper than B&W 606.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Focal Kanta No.1 and B&W 606 in scale.
Comparison image of Focal Kanta No.1 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 Focal Kanta No.1 is approximately 898.4cm2 / 139.3inch2 and base area of the B&W 606 is approximately 615.6cm2 / 95.4inch2. The Kanta No.1 requires 46% 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 Focal Kanta No.1 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 Focal Kanta No.1 weighs 13.05kg / 28.7lbs and the B&W 606 weighs 6.90kg / 15.2lbs. This makes the Kanta No.1 89% heavier than the BW 606.
Here is a comparison of how Kanta No.1 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 Focal Kanta No.1?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Kanta No.1:
- Bookshelf loudspeaker
- Grille
- Port plug
- 4 Slicone pads
- User Manual
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 |
150 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Minimum Impedance |
3.9 ohms
vs
3.7 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
52 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
345mm
vs
609mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
615cm2
vs
898cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
899USD
vs
7998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Focal Kanta No.1 |
Bowers & Wilkins 606 |
| Brand |
Focal |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-150 watts |
30-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.9 ohms |
3.7 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
46-40k Hz |
52-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Flax |
Continuum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2400 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
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 |
609.6mm (24") |
345.0mm (13.6") |
| Width |
228.6mm (9") |
190.0mm (7.5") |
| Depth |
393.0mm (15.5") |
324.0mm (12.8") |
| Weight |
13.05kg (28.7lbs) |
6.90kg (15.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Multi-ply/Polymer/Veneer |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
High-Gloss Carrara White, High-Gloss Black/Deep Black, Matte Walnut/Dark Grey,Matte Walnut/Ivory |
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 |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Focal Kanta No.1 costs roughly 8.9x what B&W 606 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Focal Kanta No.1 digs deeper - 46Hz against 52Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (88dB vs 88dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | A | Focal Kanta No.1 takes more power (150W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | B&W 606 is easier to place; Focal Kanta No.1 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | B&W 606: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | B&W 606 is cheaper - $899 against $7,998, about 89% less; arguably a different class. |
A Focal Kanta No.1 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?
Focal Kanta No.1 is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 8.9x the price. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - B&W 606 looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the Focal Kanta No.1 appeals to you. 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. In a large or open-plan room, Focal Kanta No.1 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, B&W 606 is the easier speaker to get right.
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.