In this review, we will be comparing Concept 30 and 606 S2 AE, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Q Acoustics and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Q Acoustics Concept 30 and B&W 606 S2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Q Acoustics Concept 30 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Dome Tweeter
- 5" Paper composite Woofer
- 54-30k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:25-100watts
- Weight:7.90kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 11-3/16" x 7-1/16" x 12-9/16" ( 284.0 x 180.0 x 319.0mm )
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): 13-5/8" x 7-1/2" x 12-13/16" ( 347.0 x 191.0 x 326.0mm )
What size room are the Q Acoustics Concept 30 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* |
Q Acoustics Concept 30 |
B&W 606 S2 |
| 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 Q Acoustics Concept 30 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 Concept 30 and 606 S2 AE are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Q Acoustics Concept 30 |
B&W 606 S2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Concept 30 features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Paper composite Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2400Hz. 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
Concept 30 has a frequency range of 54-30k Hz 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 Concept 30's min frequency of 54Hz.
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
Concept 30 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the 606 S2 AE which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Concept 30 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the 606 S2 AE's is rated at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the B&W 606 S2 a more sensitive speaker compared to Q Acoustics Concept 30, 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.
Concept 30 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Concept 30 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS , 20 watts less than the 606 S2 AE.
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
606 S2 AE features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Concept 30 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
B&W 606 S2's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Concept 30 and 606 S2 AE 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 Q Acoustics Concept 30's and B&W 606 S2's external dimensions. Q Acoustics Concept 30 has external dimensions of 284.0 x 180.0 x 319.0mm ( 11-3/16 x 7-1/16 x 12-9/16inch) 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 11mm wider, 63mm taller and 7mm deeper than Q Acoustics Concept 30.
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 Concept 30 is approximately 574.2cm2 / 89.0inch2 and base area of the B&W 606 S2 is approximately 622.7cm2 / 96.5inch2. The Concept 30 requires 8% less surface area than the 606 S2 AE which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.