In this review, we will be comparing 700 and BW 606, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Mission and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Mission 700 and B&W 606 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Mission 700 | B&W 606 |
|---|
| Brand | Mission
United Kingdom · founded 1977 | Bowers Wilkins
United Kingdom · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.25" Soft-Dome | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" mineral loaded polypropylene cone | 6.5" Continuum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 45-20,000 Hz | 52-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-150 watts | 30-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 12.80kg / 28.2lbs | 6.90kg / 15.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 20" x 10.2" x 10.6"
510.0 x 260.0 x 270.0mm | 13.6" x 7-1/2" x 12-13/16"
345.0 x 190.0 x 324.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Mission 700 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* |
Mission 700 |
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 700 and BW 606 are 2-way speakers.
Mission 700B&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 |
Mission 700 |
B&W 606 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.25-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
700 features a 1.25" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" mineral loaded polypropylene cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3000Hz. On the other hand, the BW 606 features a 1" Decoupled Carbon Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Continuum Woofer.
Frequency Response
700 has a frequency range of 45-20,000 Hz whereas BW 606 has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the 700 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
700 and BW 606 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. 700 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the BW 606's is at 88 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the B&W 606 a more sensitive speaker compared to Mission 700, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
700 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 700.
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. 700 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Mission 700's Post terminals
B&W 606's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
700 has a Front firing port whereas BW 606 has a rear firing ports.
Mission 700 Front Port
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 Mission 700's and B&W 606's external dimensions. Mission 700 has external dimensions of 510.0 x 260.0 x 270.0mm (20 x 10.2 x 10.6 inch) 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 70mm narrower and 165mm shorter than Mission 700 but it is also 54mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Mission 700 and B&W 606 in scale.
Comparison image of Mission 700 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 Mission 700 is approximately 702.0cm2 / 108.8inch2 and base area of the B&W 606 is approximately 615.6cm2 / 95.4inch2. The 700 requires 14% more surface area than the BW 606 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 Mission 700 weighs 12.80kg / 28.2lbs and the B&W 606 weighs 6.90kg / 15.2lbs. This makes the 700 86% heavier than the BW 606.
Here is a comparison of how 700 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 Mission 700?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 700:
- Mission M700 Speaker:
- 2 Stand-mount loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- User Manual
- Mission M700 Stand:
- 2 Top-plates
- 2 Bases
- 8 Upright posts
- 8 Spike feet
- Hardware
- Instructions
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 |
5.2 ohms
vs
3.7 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
52 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
345mm
vs
510mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
615cm2
vs
702cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
899USD
vs
1500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Mission 700 |
Bowers & Wilkins 606 |
| Brand |
Mission |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-150 watts |
30-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
5.2 ohms |
3.7 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
45-20,000 Hz |
52-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
mineral loaded polypropylene cone |
Continuum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
low-density nitrile |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.25" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
3000Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
Front |
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 |
510.0mm (20.1") |
345.0mm (13.6") |
| Width |
260.0mm (10.2") |
190.0mm (7.5") |
| Depth |
270.0mm (10.6") |
324.0mm (12.8") |
| Weight |
12.80kg (28.2lbs) |
6.90kg (15.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF, particle board, wood |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Walnut Pearl, Black Oak |
Black, White, Oak |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
24-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Mission 700 costs roughly 1.7x 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 | Mission 700 digs deeper - 45Hz against 52Hz. 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. |
| Headroom | A | Mission 700 takes more power (150W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | B&W 606 is easier to place; Mission 700 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 $1,500, about 40% less; arguably a different class. |
A Mission 700 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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. 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, Mission 700 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.