In this review, we will be comparing Borea BR02 and BW 606, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Triangle and Bowers Wilkins. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Triangle Borea BR02 and B&W 606 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Triangle Borea BR02 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Triangle Borea BR02 and B&W 606 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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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Borea BR02 and BW 606 are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
Triangle Borea BR02 |
B&W 606 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Borea BR02 features a 1" silk Tweeter and 1 x 5" fiberglass Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2900Hz. On the other hand, the BW 606 features a 1" Decoupled Carbon Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Continuum Woofer .
Frequency Response
Borea BR02 has a frequency range of 51 - 22k Hz whereas BW 606 has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 51Hz, the Borea BR02 can go slightly deeper then the BW 606's min frequency of 52Hz.
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
Borea BR02 and BW 606 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Borea BR02 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the BW 606's is at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Triangle Borea BR02 a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W 606, 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.
Borea BR02 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Borea BR02 has a max power handling value of 80 watts RMS , 40 watts less than the BW 606.
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
BW 606 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Borea BR02 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Borea BR02 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
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 Triangle Borea BR02's and B&W 606's external dimensions. Triangle Borea BR02 has external dimensions of 310.0 x 176.0 x 274.0mm ( 12.2 x 6.9 x 10.7inch) 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 14mm wider, 35mm taller and 50mm deeper than Triangle Borea BR02.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Triangle Borea BR02 and B&W 606 in scale.
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 Triangle Borea BR02 is approximately 482.2cm2 / 74.7inch2 and base area of the B&W 606 is approximately 615.6cm2 / 95.4inch2. The Borea BR02 requires 22% less surface area than the BW 606 which gives it a small advantage 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:
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 Triangle Borea BR02 weighs 4.87kg / 10.7lbs and the B&W 606 weighs 6.90kg / 15.2lbs. This makes the BW 606 42% heavier than the Borea BR02.
Here is a comparison of how Borea BR02 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 Triangle Borea BR02?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Borea BR02:
2 x Borea speakers 2 x protections grids 8 x adhesive rubber plots 1 x user manual
What's in the Box of B&W 606?
Here are the items that come with the BW 606:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers2 Grilles2 Two-piece foam port plugs8 Self-adhesive rubber feet4 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)ManualBowers & Wilkins brochureWarranty Information
Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Low Frequency Response |
51 Hz
vs
52 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
Height |
310mm
vs
345mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
482cm2 (176x274mm)
vs
615cm2 (190x324mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
529USD
vs
899USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
80 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Minimum Impedance |
3.7 ohms
vs
3.6 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
General |
Triangle Borea BR02 |
Bowers & Wilkins 606 |
Brand |
Triangle |
Bowers Wilkins |
Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
Power Range |
up to 80 watts |
30-120 watts |
Sensitivity |
89 dB |
88 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
Impedance |
3.6 ohms |
3.7 ohms |
Frequency Response |
51 - 22k Hz |
52-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
5" |
6.5" |
Woofer Composition |
fiberglass |
Continuum |
Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Hard-Dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
2900Hz |
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 |
310.0mm (12.2") |
345.0mm (13.6") |
Width |
176.0mm (6.9") |
190.0mm (7.5") |
Depth |
274.0mm (10.8") |
324.0mm (12.8") |
Weight |
4.87kg (10.7lbs) |
6.90kg (15.2lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Vinyl |
Available Colors |
Light Oak, Walnut, Black, White |
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 |