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KEF LS50 vs B&W 606 Comparison

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KEF LS50

Passive Bookshelf | 79-28k Hz

KEF LS50
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B&W 606

Passive Bookshelf | 52-28k Hz

Bowers & Wilkins 606
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KEF LS50 KEF LS50
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B&W 606 B&W 606
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KEF LS50
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B&W 606
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KEF LS50 vs B&W 606 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing LS50 and BW 606, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from KEF and Bowers Wilkins.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of KEF LS50 and B&W 606 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

KEF LS50 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 11th Generation Uni-Q Driver
  • 1" Vented dome Tweeter
  • 5.25" Magnesium/aluminum alloy Woofer
  • 79-28k Hz Frequency Response
  • 85 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:25-100watts
  • Weight:7.20kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 302.0" x 7.8" x 10.9"( 302.0 x 200.0 x 278.0mm )

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 KEF LS50 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* KEF LS50 B&W 606
Near-field Average Poor
Small Room Good Average
Mid-size Room Average Good
Large Room Poor Average
Very Large Room Bad 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 KEF LS50 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 LS50 and BW 606 are 2-way speakers.

Driver KEF LS50 B&W 606
Driver Setup 2-way 2-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1-inch
Midrange - -
Woofer 1 x 5.25-inch 1 x 6.5-inch

LS50 features a 1" Aluminum Vented dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Magnesium/aluminum alloy 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

LS50 has a frequency range of 79-28k Hz whereas BW 606 has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 52Hz, the BW 606 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the LS50's min frequency of 79Hz.

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

LS50
BW 606
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

KEF LS50
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

LS50 and BW 606 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. LS50 sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the BW 606's is at 88 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the B&W 606 a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF LS50, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

LS50
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.

LS50 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS from the amp the whereas LS50 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS , 20 watts less than the BW 606.

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. LS50 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

KEF LS50 Terminals
KEF LS50's Post terminals

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

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Both LS50 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 KEF LS50's and B&W 606's external dimensions. KEF LS50 has external dimensions of 302.0 x 200.0 x 278.0mm ( 11.8 x 7.8 x 10.9inch) whereas B&W 606 has external dimensions of 345.0 x 190.0 x 324.0mm ( 13.5 x 7.4 x 12.7inch) .

KEF LS50 is 43mm shorter and 46mm less deeper than B&W 606 but it is also 10mm wider.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of KEF LS50 and B&W 606 in scale.

KEF LS50 vs B&W 606 Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of KEF LS50 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 KEF LS50 is approximately 556.0cm2 / 86.2inch2 and base area of the B&W 606 is approximately 615.6cm2 / 95.4inch2. The LS50 requires 10% 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:

KEF LS50 vs B&W 606 Size Comparison on a Media Console
Size Comparison image of KEF LS50 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 KEF LS50 weighs 7.20kg / 15.8lbs and the B&W 606 weighs 6.90kg / 15.2lbs. This makes the LS50 4% heavier than the BW 606.

Here is a comparison of how LS50 and BW 606's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
KEF LS50
B&W 606
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of KEF LS50?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of LS50:
  • 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
  • 2 Foam port plugs
  • 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
  • Owner's Manual
  • Warranty Registration Card
  • 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 KEF LS50 over Bowers & Wilkins 606
    Height 302mm vs 345mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 556cm2 vs 615cm2 Takes less floor space

    Reasons to choose Bowers & Wilkins 606 over KEF LS50

    Max Input Power 120 watts vs 100 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    Sensitivity 88 dB vs 85 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Minimum Impedance 3.7 ohms vs 3.2 ohms Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier
    Woofer Size 6.5 inches vs 5.25 inches Larger woofer
    Low Frequency Response 52 Hz vs 79 Hz Generates deeper bass
    Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring Yes vs No Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections
    KEF LS50 vs B&W 606 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General KEF LS50 Bowers & Wilkins 606
    Brand KEF Bowers Wilkins
    Speaker Type Bookshelf speakers Bookshelf speakers
    Power Range 25-100 watts 30-120 watts
    Sensitivity 85 dB 88 dB
    Impedance 8 ohms 8 ohms
    Impedance 3.2 ohms 3.7 ohms
    Frequency Response 79-28k Hz 52-28k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 1
    Woofer Size 5.25" 6.5"
    Woofer Composition Magnesium/aluminum alloy Continuum
    Woofer Surround Material Rubber Rubber
    Tweeter Size 1" 1"
    Tweeter Type Vented dome Hard-Dome
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver No No
    Crossover Frequency 2200Hz 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 302.0mm (11.9") 345.0mm (13.6")
    Width 200.0mm (7.9") 190.0mm (7.5")
    Depth 278.0mm (10.9") 324.0mm (12.8")
    Weight 7.20kg (15.8lbs) 6.90kg (15.2lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
    Finish Polymer/Lacquer MDF/Vinyl
    Available Colors Black, High Gloss Piano Black, High Gloss Piano White Black, White, Oak
    Mounting Bracket No No
    Recommended Stand Height 18-28" 24-26"
    Grille n/a Yes
    Moisture Resistancy No No
    Connections
    Biamp Inputs No Yes
    Other
    Parts Warranty 5 Years 5 Years
    Labor Warranty 5 Years 5 Years

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