In this review, we will be comparing YU Passive 4-inch and BW 606, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Kanto and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Kanto YU Passive 4-inch and B&W 606 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Kanto YU Passive 4-inch | B&W 606 |
|---|
| Brand | Kanto
Canada · founded 2007 | Bowers Wilkins
United Kingdom · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4" Kevlar | 6.5" Continuum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 60-20k Hz | 52-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | — | 30-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 2.50kg / 5.5lbs | 6.90kg / 15.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 8.7" x 5.5" x 7.5"
220.0 x 140.0 x 190.0mm | 13.6" x 7-1/2" x 12-13/16"
345.0 x 190.0 x 324.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Kanto YU Passive 4-inch 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* |
Kanto YU Passive 4-inch |
B&W 606 |
| Near-field |
Good |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
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 YU Passive 4-inch and BW 606 are 2-way speakers.
Kanto YU Passive 4-inchB&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 |
Kanto YU Passive 4-inch |
B&W 606 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
YU Passive 4-inch features a 1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Kevlar 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
YU Passive 4-inch has a frequency range of 60-20k 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 YU Passive 4-inch's min frequency of 60Hz.
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
YU Passive 4-inch 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 YU Passive 4-inch can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. YU Passive 4-inch sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the BW 606's is rated at 88 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the B&W 606 a more sensitive speaker compared to Kanto YU Passive 4-inch, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
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. YU Passive 4-inch has a post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
B&W 606's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both YU Passive 4-inch 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 Kanto YU Passive 4-inch's and B&W 606's external dimensions. Kanto YU Passive 4-inch has external dimensions of 220.0 x 140.0 x 190.0mm (8.7 x 5.5 x 7.5inch) 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 clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 50mm wider, 125mm taller and 134mm deeper than Kanto YU Passive 4-inch.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Kanto YU Passive 4-inch and B&W 606 in scale.
Comparison image of Kanto YU Passive 4-inch 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 Kanto YU Passive 4-inch is approximately 266.0cm2 / 41.2inch2 and base area of the B&W 606 is approximately 615.6cm2 / 95.4inch2. The YU Passive 4-inch requires 57% less surface area than the BW 606 which gives it a small advantage 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 Kanto YU Passive 4-inch 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 Kanto YU Passive 4-inch weighs 2.50kg / 5.5lbs and the B&W 606 weighs 6.90kg / 15.2lbs. This makes the BW 606 176% heavier than the YU Passive 4-inch.
Here is a comparison of how YU Passive 4-inch 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 Kanto YU Passive 4-inch?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of YU Passive 4-inch:
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
 Height |
220mm
vs
345mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
266cm2
vs
615cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
200USD
vs
899USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
70 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
52 Hz
vs
60 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| General |
Kanto YU Passive 4-inch |
Bowers & Wilkins 606 |
| Brand |
Kanto |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.7 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
60-20k Hz |
52-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Kevlar |
Continuum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
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 |
220.0mm (8.7") |
345.0mm (13.6") |
| Width |
140.0mm (5.5") |
190.0mm (7.5") |
| Depth |
190.0mm (7.5") |
324.0mm (12.8") |
| Weight |
2.50kg (5.5lbs) |
6.90kg (15.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
bass reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black,White |
Black, White, Oak |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
24-26" |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
2 years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - B&W 606 costs roughly 4.5x what Kanto YU Passive 4-inch 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 | B | B&W 606 digs deeper - 52Hz against 60Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | B&W 606 is more sensitive (88dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | B&W 606 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | B | B&W 606 takes more power (120W vs 70W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Kanto YU Passive 4-inch is easier to place; B&W 606 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | B&W 606: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Kanto YU Passive 4-inch is cheaper - $200 against $899, about 78% less; arguably a different class. |
A Kanto YU Passive 4-inch 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?
The usual trade-off: B&W 606 measures better, Kanto YU Passive 4-inch costs about about 4.5x the price% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 60Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Kanto YU Passive 4-inch much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Kanto YU Passive 4-inch the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and B&W 606 for a mid-size room and a large room.
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.