In this review, we will be comparing HDI-1600 and BW 606, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from JBL and Bowers Wilkins. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL HDI-1600 and B&W 606 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the JBL HDI-1600 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the JBL HDI-1600 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 HDI-1600 and BW 606 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
JBL HDI-1600 |
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
|
HDI-1600 features a 1" Horn-Loaded Tweeter 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
HDI-1600 has a frequency range of 40-30k Hz whereas BW 606 has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the HDI-1600 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
HDI-1600 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 HDI-1600 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. HDI-1600 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 JBL HDI-1600, 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.
HDI-1600 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 HDI-1600.
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
Both HDI-1600 and BW 606 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
JBL HDI-1600's 5-way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
B&W 606's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both HDI-1600 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
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 JBL HDI-1600's and B&W 606's external dimensions. JBL HDI-1600 has external dimensions of 383.0 x 232.0 x 289.0mm ( 15-1/16 x 9-1/8 x 11-3/8inch) 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 42mm narrower and 38mm shorter than JBL HDI-1600 but it is also 35mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of JBL HDI-1600 and B&W 606 in scale.
Comparison image of JBL HDI-1600 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 JBL HDI-1600 is approximately 670.5cm2 / 103.9inch2 and base area of the B&W 606 is approximately 615.6cm2 / 95.4inch2. The HDI-1600 requires 9% more surface area than the BW 606 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 JBL HDI-1600 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 JBL HDI-1600 weighs 9.98kg / 22lbs and the B&W 606 weighs 6.90kg / 15.2lbs. This makes the HDI-1600 45% heavier than the BW 606.
Here is a comparison of how HDI-1600 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 JBL HDI-1600?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of HDI-1600:
Bookshelf loudspeaker
Grille
2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)
4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
Owner's Manual
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
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
52 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
30k 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
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Height |
345mm
vs
383mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
615cm2 (190x324mm)
vs
670cm2 (232x289mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
899USD
vs
1980USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
JBL HDI-1600 |
Bowers & Wilkins 606 |
| Brand |
JBL |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
15-200 watts |
30-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.7 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
40-30k 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 |
Horn-Loaded |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| 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 |
383.0mm (15.1") |
345.0mm (13.6") |
| Width |
232.0mm (9.1") |
190.0mm (7.5") |
| Depth |
289.0mm (11.4") |
324.0mm (12.8") |
| Weight |
9.98kg (22lbs) |
6.90kg (15.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Walnut,Black,Oak |
Black, White, Oak |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
22-26" |
24-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |