In this review, we will be comparing MartinLogan Foundation B2 and BW 606, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from MartinLogan and Bowers Wilkins. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of MartinLogan Foundation B2 and B&W 606 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
MartinLogan Foundation B2 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Folded Motion Ribbon Tweeter
- 6-1/2" Aluminum Woofer
- 42-23k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 5ohms
- Power Range:up to 100watts
- Weight:5.23kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 381.0" x 7-3/4" x 9-1/2"( 381.0 x 197.0 x 242.0mm )
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 MartinLogan Foundation B2 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* |
MartinLogan Foundation B2 |
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 MartinLogan Foundation B2 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 MartinLogan Foundation B2 and BW 606 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
MartinLogan Foundation B2 |
B&W 606 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6-1/2-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
MartinLogan Foundation B2 features a 1" Gen2 Obsidian Folded Motion Ribbon Tweeter and 1 x 6-1/2" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3800Hz. On the other hand, the BW 606 features a 1" Decoupled Carbon Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Continuum Woofer .
Frequency Response
MartinLogan Foundation B2 has a frequency range of 42-23k Hz whereas BW 606 has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the MartinLogan Foundation B2 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
MartinLogan Foundation B2
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
MartinLogan Foundation B2
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
MartinLogan Foundation B2 is a 5 ohms speaker compared to the BW 606 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. MartinLogan Foundation B2 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the BW 606's is rated at 88 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the MartinLogan Foundation B2 a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W 606, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
MartinLogan Foundation B2
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.
MartinLogan Foundation B2 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS from the amp the whereas MartinLogan Foundation B2 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. MartinLogan Foundation B2 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
MartinLogan Foundation B2's Binding post terminals
B&W 606's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both MartinLogan Foundation B2 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 MartinLogan Foundation B2's and B&W 606's external dimensions. MartinLogan Foundation B2 has external dimensions of 381.0 x 197.0 x 242.0mm ( 15inch x 7-3/4inch x 9-1/2inch ) 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 7mm narrower and 36mm shorter than MartinLogan Foundation B2 but it is also 82mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of MartinLogan Foundation B2 and B&W 606 in scale.
Comparison image of MartinLogan Foundation B2 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 MartinLogan Foundation B2 is approximately 476.7cm2 / 73.9inch2 and base area of the B&W 606 is approximately 615.6cm2 / 95.4inch2. The MartinLogan Foundation B2 requires 23% 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:
Size Comparison image of MartinLogan Foundation B2 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 MartinLogan Foundation B2 weighs 5.23kg / 11.5lbs and the B&W 606 weighs 6.90kg / 15.2lbs. This makes the BW 606 32% heavier than the MartinLogan Foundation B2.
Here is a comparison of how MartinLogan Foundation B2 and BW 606's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
MartinLogan Foundation B2
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