In this review, we will be comparing Synchrony B600 and 706 S2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from PSB and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of PSB Synchrony B600 and B&W 706 S2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | PSB Synchrony B600 | B&W 706 S2 |
|---|
| Brand | PSB
Canada · founded 1972 | Bowers Wilkins
United Kingdom · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" Decoupled Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Carbon fiber | 6.5" Continuum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-20k Hz | 50-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 15-150 watts | 30-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 10.45kg / 23lbs | 8.05kg / 17.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 15-13/16" x 9-1/8" x 13-9/16"
402.0 x 232.0 x 345.0mm | 13.5" x 7.8" x 11.9"
340.0 x 200.0 x 301.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the PSB Synchrony B600 and B&W 706 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* |
PSB Synchrony B600 |
B&W 706 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Synchrony B600 and 706 S2 are 2-way speakers.
PSB Synchrony B600B&W 706 S2
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
PSB Synchrony B600 |
B&W 706 S2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Synchrony B600 features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Carbon fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200Hz. On the other hand, the 706 S2 features a 1" Decoupled Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Continuum Woofer.
Frequency Response
Synchrony B600 has a frequency range of 55-20k Hz whereas 706 S2 has a frequency range of 50-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the 706 S2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Synchrony B600's min frequency of 55Hz.
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
Synchrony B600 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the 706 S2 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 88 dBdB.
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.
Synchrony B600 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas 706 S2 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the Synchrony B600.
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
Both Synchrony B600 and 706 S2 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
PSB Synchrony B600's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Synchrony B600 and 706 S2 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 PSB Synchrony B600's and B&W 706 S2's external dimensions. PSB Synchrony B600 has external dimensions of 402.0 x 232.0 x 345.0mm (15-13/16 x 9-1/8 x 13-9/16inch) whereas B&W 706 S2 has external dimensions of 340.0 x 200.0 x 301.0mm (13.5-inch x 7.8-inch x 11.-inch).
PSB Synchrony B600 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 32mm wider, 62mm taller and 44mm deeper than B&W 706 S2.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of PSB Synchrony B600 and B&W 706 S2 in scale.
Comparison image of PSB Synchrony B600 and B&W 706 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 PSB Synchrony B600 is approximately 800.4cm2 / 124.1inch2 and base area of the B&W 706 S2 is approximately 602.0cm2 / 93.3inch2. The Synchrony B600 requires 33% more surface area than the 706 S2 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 PSB Synchrony B600 and B&W 706 S2 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 PSB Synchrony B600 weighs 10.45kg / 23lbs and the B&W 706 S2 weighs 8.05kg / 17.7lbs. This makes the Synchrony B600 30% heavier than the 706 S2.
Here is a comparison of how Synchrony B600 and 706 S2's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of PSB Synchrony B600?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Synchrony B600:
- Bookshelf loudspeakr
- Grille
- 2 Binding-post jumpers (pre-installed)
- Owners Manual
- Warranty Card
What's in the Box of B&W 706 S2?
Here are the items that come with the 706 S2:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 2 Two-piece foam port plugs
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- 4 Jumper-straps
- Manual
- Bowers & Wilkins brochure
- Warranty Information
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Minimum Impedance |
4 ohms
vs
3.7 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
340mm
vs
402mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
602cm2
vs
800cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1999USD
vs
2500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
PSB Synchrony B600 |
Bowers & Wilkins 706 S2 |
| Brand |
PSB |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
15-150 watts |
30-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
3.7 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55-20k Hz |
50-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Carbon fiber |
Continuum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Decoupled Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2200Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
402.0mm (15.8") |
340.0mm (13.4") |
| Width |
232.0mm (9.1") |
200.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
345.0mm (13.6") |
301.0mm (11.9") |
| Weight |
10.45kg (23lbs) |
8.05kg (17.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black, Satin Walnut |
Rosewood, Gloss Black, Satin White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-26" |
24-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: PSB Synchrony B600 is the newer design, against a 2017 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | B&W 706 S2 digs deeper - 50Hz against 55Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (88dB vs 88dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | B&W 706 S2 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | A | PSB Synchrony B600 takes more power (150W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | B&W 706 S2 is easier to place; PSB Synchrony B600 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | PSB Synchrony B600: bi-amping; B&W 706 S2: bi-amping. B&W 706 S2 sits in a wider range (8 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | B&W 706 S2 is cheaper - $1,999 against $2,500, about 20% less. |
A PSB Synchrony B600 B B&W 706 S2
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?
B&W 706 S2 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 55Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, PSB Synchrony B600 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, B&W 706 S2 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.