In this review, we will be comparing 5010 and BW 606, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Q Acoustics and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Q Acoustics 5010 and B&W 606 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Q Acoustics 5010 | B&W 606 |
|---|
| Brand | Q Acoustics
United Kingdom · founded 2006 | Bowers Wilkins
United Kingdom · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-dome | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4.5" Continuous Curved Cone | 6.5" Continuum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 56-30k Hz | 52-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86.3 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 15-90 watts | 30-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.59kg / 12.3lbs | 6.90kg / 15.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10-7/16" x 6-5/16" x 10-7/16"
266.0 x 161.0 x 266.0mm | 13.6" x 7-1/2" x 12-13/16"
345.0 x 190.0 x 324.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Q Acoustics 5010 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* |
Q Acoustics 5010 |
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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both 5010 and BW 606 are 2-way speakers.
Q Acoustics 5010B&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 |
Q Acoustics 5010 |
B&W 606 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
5010 features a 1" Soft-dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Continuous Curved Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500 Hz. On the other hand, the BW 606 features a 1" Decoupled Carbon Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Continuum Woofer.
Frequency Response
5010 has a frequency range of 56-30k Hz whereas BW 606 has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 52Hz, the BW 606 can go slightly deeper then the 5010's min frequency of 56Hz.
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
5010 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the BW 606 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. 5010 sensitivity is rated at 86.3 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 Q Acoustics 5010, 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.
BW 606 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas 5010 has a max power handling value of 90 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the BW 606.
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. 5010 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Q Acoustics 5010's Binding post terminals
B&W 606's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both 5010 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 Q Acoustics 5010's and B&W 606's external dimensions. Q Acoustics 5010 has external dimensions of 266.0 x 161.0 x 266.0mm (10-7/16inch x 6-5/16inch x 10-7/16inch) 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 29mm wider, 79mm taller and 58mm deeper than Q Acoustics 5010.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Q Acoustics 5010 and B&W 606 in scale.
Comparison image of Q Acoustics 5010 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 Q Acoustics 5010 is approximately 428.3cm2 / 66.4inch2 and base area of the B&W 606 is approximately 615.6cm2 / 95.4inch2. The 5010 requires 30% 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 Q Acoustics 5010 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 Q Acoustics 5010 weighs 5.59kg / 12.3lbs and the B&W 606 weighs 6.90kg / 15.2lbs. This makes the BW 606 23% heavier than the 5010.
Here is a comparison of how 5010 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 Q Acoustics 5010?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 5010:
- 2x 5010 loudspeaker
- 1x Owners manual
- 2x Foam bung
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
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
266mm
vs
345mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
428cm2
vs
615cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
749USD
vs
899USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
90 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
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Minimum Impedance |
3.7 ohms
vs
3.3 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
52 Hz
vs
56 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
| General |
Q Acoustics 5010 |
Bowers & Wilkins 606 |
| Brand |
Q Acoustics |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
15-90 watts |
30-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86.3 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.3 ohms |
3.7 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
56-30k Hz |
52-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Continuous Curved Cone |
Continuum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-dome |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2500 Hz |
n/a |
| 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 |
266.0mm (10.5") |
345.0mm (13.6") |
| Width |
161.0mm (6.3") |
190.0mm (7.5") |
| Depth |
266.0mm (10.5") |
324.0mm (12.8") |
| Weight |
5.59kg (12.3lbs) |
6.90kg (15.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Relfex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Holme Oak,Satin Black,Satin White,Santos Rosewood |
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 |
5 years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: Q Acoustics 5010 is the newer design, against a 2019 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 606 digs deeper - 52Hz against 56Hz. 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. |
| Headroom | B | B&W 606 takes more power (120W vs 90W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Q Acoustics 5010 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 | Q Acoustics 5010 is cheaper - $749 against $899, about 17% less. |
A Q Acoustics 5010 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?
B&W 606 leads across most of the measured areas for a fairly modest premium, which makes it the easier pick if the budget stretches. Q Acoustics 5010 is the one to take if it does not. Match it to your room: we rate Q Acoustics 5010 the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and B&W 606 for a mid-size room and a large room. In a large or open-plan room, B&W 606 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Q Acoustics 5010 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.