In this review, we will be comparing Reva 1 and BW 606, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale Reva 1 and B&W 606 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Wharfedale Reva 1 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Dome Tweeter
- 4.5" Woven Glass Fiber Woofer
- 52-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-60watts
- Weight:5.64kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 318.0" x 6-13/16" x 11-3/16"( 318.0 x 174.0 x 285.0mm )
B&W 606 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Hard-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): 345.0" x 7-1/2" x 12-13/16"( 345.0 x 190.0 x 324.0mm )
What size room are the Wharfedale Reva 1 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* |
Wharfedale Reva 1 |
B&W 606 |
| Near-field |
Good |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
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 Wharfedale Reva 1 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.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Reva 1 and BW 606 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Wharfedale Reva 1 |
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
|
Reva 1 features a 1" woven textile Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Woven Glass Fiber Woofer . On the other hand, the BW 606 features a 1" Decoupled Carbon Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Continuum Woofer .
Frequency Response
Reva 1 has a frequency range of 52-20k Hz whereas BW 606 has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz.
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
Reva 1 and BW 606 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Reva 1 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the BW 606's is at 88 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the B&W 606 a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale Reva 1, 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.
Reva 1 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Reva 1 has a max power handling value of 60 watts RMS , 60 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
Both Reva 1 and BW 606 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Wharfedale Reva 1'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
Reva 1 has a bottom firing port whereas BW 606 has a rear firing ports. Wharfedale Reva 1'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 Reva 1's and B&W 606's external dimensions. Wharfedale Reva 1 has external dimensions of 318.0 x 174.0 x 285.0mm ( 12-1/2 x 6-13/16 x 11-3/16inch) 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 16mm wider, 27mm taller and 39mm deeper than Wharfedale Reva 1.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale Reva 1 and B&W 606 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale Reva 1 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 Reva 1 is approximately 495.9cm2 / 76.9inch2 and base area of the B&W 606 is approximately 615.6cm2 / 95.4inch2. The Reva 1 requires 19% 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:
Size Comparison image of Wharfedale Reva 1 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 Wharfedale Reva 1 weighs 5.64kg / 12.4lbs and the B&W 606 weighs 6.90kg / 15.2lbs. This makes the BW 606 22% heavier than the Reva 1.
Here is a comparison of how Reva 1 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 Reva 1?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Reva 1:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers2 Grilles (pre-installed)8 Self-adhesive rubber feet4 Jumper bars (pre-installed)Pair of white glovesUser-feets 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
 Height |
318mm
vs
345mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
495cm2
vs
615cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
60 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| General |
Wharfedale Reva 1 |
Bowers & Wilkins 606 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-60 watts |
30-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.7 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
52-20k Hz |
52-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Glass Fiber |
Continuum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| 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 |
318.0mm (12.5") |
345.0mm (13.6") |
| Width |
174.0mm (6.9") |
190.0mm (7.5") |
| Depth |
285.0mm (11.2") |
324.0mm (12.8") |
| Weight |
5.64kg (12.4lbs) |
6.90kg (15.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Wood composite laminate |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Walnut |
Black, White, Oak |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
28-30" |
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 |