In this review, we will be comparing Gold 50 6G and 606 S2 AE, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Monitor Audio and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G and B&W 606 S2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Tweeter
- 6" HDT C-CAM Woofer
- 55 Hz - 60 kHz Frequency Response
- 85 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:up to 150watts
- Weight:8.52kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 321.0" x 7-5/16" x 11-15/16"( 186.0 x 321.0 x 304.0mm )
B&W 606 S2 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Decoupled Double 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): 347.0" x 7-1/2" x 12-13/16"( 347.0 x 191.0 x 326.0mm )
What size room are the Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G and B&W 606 S2 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* |
Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G |
B&W 606 S2 |
| 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G and B&W 606 S2 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 Gold 50 6G and 606 S2 AE are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G |
B&W 606 S2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Gold 50 6G features a 1" MPD III Tweeter and 1 x 6" HDT C-CAM Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2.5 kHz. On the other hand, the 606 S2 AE features a 1" Aluminum Decoupled Double Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Continuum Woofer .
Frequency Response
Gold 50 6G has a frequency range of 55 Hz - 60 kHz whereas 606 S2 AE has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 52Hz, the 606 S2 AE can go slightly deeper then the Gold 50 6G's min frequency of 55Hz.
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
Gold 50 6G is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the 606 S2 AE 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 Gold 50 6G can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Gold 50 6G sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the 606 S2 AE's is rated at 88 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the B&W 606 S2 a more sensitive speaker compared to Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G, 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.
Gold 50 6G can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas 606 S2 AE has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the Gold 50 6G.
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 Gold 50 6G and 606 S2 AE features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
B&W 606 S2's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
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 Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G's and B&W 606 S2's external dimensions. Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G has external dimensions of 186.0 x 321.0 x 304.0mm ( 7-5/16 x 12-5/8 x 11-15/16) whereas B&W 606 S2 has external dimensions of 347.0 x 191.0 x 326.0mm ( 13-5/8 x 7-1/2 x 12-13/16inch) .
B&W 606 S2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 5mm wider, 26mm taller and 22mm deeper than Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G and B&W 606 S2 in scale.
Comparison image of Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G and B&W 606 S2 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 Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G is approximately 975.8cm2 / 151.2inch2 and base area of the B&W 606 S2 is approximately 622.7cm2 / 96.5inch2. The Gold 50 6G requires 57% more surface area than the 606 S2 AE 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 Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G and B&W 606 S2 on a Media Console