In this review, we will be comparing Elysian 2 and BW 606, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and Bowers Wilkins. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale Elysian 2 and B&W 606 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Wharfedale Elysian 2 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 Wharfedale Elysian 2 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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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Elysian 2 is a 3-way design whereas the BW 606 is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
Wharfedale Elysian 2 |
B&W 606 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
27x90mm-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 8.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Elysian 2 features a 27x90mm" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 1 x 8.5" Coated Fiberglass Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 360Hz and 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
Elysian 2 has a frequency range of 35-22k Hz whereas BW 606 has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 35Hz, the Elysian 2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to 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
Elysian 2 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the BW 606 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Elysian 2 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Elysian 2 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the BW 606's is rated at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Elysian 2 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.
Elysian 2 can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas BW 606 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 130 watts less than the Elysian 2.
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
Both Elysian 2 and BW 606 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Wharfedale Elysian 2's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
B&W 606's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Elysian 2 has a bottom firing port whereas BW 606 has a rear firing ports. Wharfedale Elysian 2's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to B&W 606 with its rear-firing port.
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 Wharfedale Elysian 2's and B&W 606's external dimensions. Wharfedale Elysian 2 has external dimensions of 700.0 x 334.0 x 462.0mm ( 27.5 x 13.1 x 18.1inch) whereas B&W 606 has external dimensions of 345.0 x 190.0 x 324.0mm ( 13.5 x 7.4 x 12.7inch) .
Wharfedale Elysian 2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 144mm wider, 355mm taller and 138mm deeper than B&W 606.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale Elysian 2 and B&W 606 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale Elysian 2 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 Wharfedale Elysian 2 is approximately 1543.1cm2 / 239.2inch2 and base area of the B&W 606 is approximately 615.6cm2 / 95.4inch2. The Elysian 2 requires 151% more surface area than the BW 606 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Wharfedale Elysian 2 weighs 30.50kg / 67.1lbs and the B&W 606 weighs 6.90kg / 15.2lbs. This makes the Elysian 2 342% heavier than the BW 606.
Here is a comparison of how Elysian 2 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 Wharfedale Elysian 2?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Elysian 2:
Stand-mount loudspeaker Grille 2 Terminal-jumpers (pre-installed) 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
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
8.5 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
35 Hz
vs
52 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
345mm
vs
700mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
615cm2 (190x324mm)
vs
1543cm2 (334x462mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
899USD
vs
6996USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wharfedale Elysian 2 |
Bowers & Wilkins 606 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-250 watts |
30-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.7 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
35-22k Hz |
52-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Coated Fiberglass |
Continuum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Foamed Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
27x90mm" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
AMT (Ribbon) |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6" |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
360Hz and 2900Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
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 |
700.0mm (27.6") |
345.0mm (13.6") |
| Width |
334.0mm (13.1") |
190.0mm (7.5") |
| Depth |
462.0mm (18.2") |
324.0mm (12.8") |
| Weight |
30.50kg (67.1lbs) |
6.90kg (15.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Piano Black, Piano Walnut,White |
Black, White, Oak |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
16-22" |
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 |