In this review, we will be comparing Performa4 M145 and 606 S3, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Revel and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Revel Performa4 M145 and B&W 606 S3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Revel Performa4 M145 | B&W 606 S3 |
|---|
| Brand | Revel
United States · founded 1996 | Bowers Wilkins
United Kingdom · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" Decoupled Double Dome Titanium |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Micro Ceramic Composite (MCC) | 6.5" Continuum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 54-40k Hz | 52-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 15-150 watts | 30-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.82kg / 15lbs | 7.05kg / 15.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11-5/8" x 7-15/16" x 9-5/8"
296.0 x 202.0 x 245.0mm | 13.6" x 7.4" x 12.9"
344.0 x 189.0 x 328.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Performa4 M145 and 606 S3 are 2-way speakers.
Revel Performa4 M145B&W 606 S3
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Revel Performa4 M145 |
B&W 606 S3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Performa4 M145 features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Micro Ceramic Composite (MCC) Woofer. On the other hand, the 606 S3 features a 1" Titanium Decoupled Double Dome Titanium Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Continuum Woofer.
Frequency Response
Performa4 M145 has a frequency range of 54-40k Hz whereas 606 S3 has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 52Hz, the 606 S3 can go slightly deeper then the Performa4 M145's min frequency of 54Hz.
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
Performa4 M145 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the 606 S3 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Performa4 M145 sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the 606 S3's is rated at 88 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the B&W 606 S3 a more sensitive speaker compared to Revel Performa4 M145, 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.
Performa4 M145 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas 606 S3 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the Performa4 M145.
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
606 S3 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Performa4 M145 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
B&W 606 S3's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
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 Revel Performa4 M145's and B&W 606 S3's external dimensions. Revel Performa4 M145 has external dimensions of 296.0 x 202.0 x 245.0mm (11-5/8inch x 7-15/16inch x 9-5/8inch) whereas B&W 606 S3 has external dimensions of 344.0 x 189.0 x 328.0mm (13.6 x 7.4 x 12.9inch).
Revel Performa4 M145 is 48mm shorter and 83mm less deeper than B&W 606 S3 but it is also 13mm wider.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
B&W 606 S3 needs about 25% more floor or shelf area. B&W 606 S3 is 83mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. B&W 606 S3 is 48mm taller.
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 Revel Performa4 M145 is approximately 494.9cm2 / 76.7inch2 and base area of the B&W 606 S3 is approximately 619.9cm2 / 96.1inch2. The Performa4 M145 requires 20% less surface area than the 606 S3 which gives it a small advantage 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 Revel Performa4 M145 weighs 6.82kg / 15lbs and the B&W 606 S3 weighs 7.05kg / 15.5lbs. This makes the 606 S3 3% heavier than the Performa4 M145.
Here is a comparison of how Performa4 M145 and 606 S3's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Revel Performa4 M145?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Performa4 M145:
- 2 Bookshlef loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Self-adhesive feet
- 2 Port plugs
- Quick Start Guide
What's in the Box of B&W 606 S3?
Here are the items that come with the 606 S3:
- 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 |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
296mm
vs
344mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
494cm2
vs
619cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
52 Hz
vs
54 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Price per pair* |
1100USD
vs
1999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Revel Performa4 M145 |
Bowers & Wilkins 606 S3 |
| Brand |
Revel |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
15-150 watts |
30-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.7 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
54-40k Hz |
52-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Micro Ceramic Composite (MCC) |
Continuum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Decoupled Double Dome Titanium |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
296.0mm (11.7") |
344.0mm (13.5") |
| Width |
202.0mm (8") |
189.0mm (7.4") |
| Depth |
245.0mm (9.6") |
328.0mm (12.9") |
| Weight |
6.82kg (15lbs) |
7.05kg (15.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Matte Black, Matte White, Oak, Red Cherry |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
26-28" |
24-26" |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Revel Performa4 M145 costs roughly 1.8x what B&W 606 S3 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 | evenly matched | Much the same reach (54Hz vs 52Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | B | B&W 606 S3 is more sensitive (88dB vs 85dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | B&W 606 S3 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | A | Revel Performa4 M145 takes more power (150W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Revel Performa4 M145 is easier to place; B&W 606 S3 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | B&W 606 S3: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | B&W 606 S3 is cheaper - $1,100 against $1,999, about 45% less; arguably a different class. |
A Revel Performa4 M145 B B&W 606 S3
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 S3 is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Revel Performa4 M145 if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. In a large or open-plan room, B&W 606 S3 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Revel Performa4 M145 is the easier speaker to get right. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, B&W 606 S3 is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.