In this review, we will be comparing NS-600A and 805 D5, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Yamaha and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Yamaha NS-600A and Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Yamaha NS-600A | Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5 |
|---|
| Brand | Yamaha
Japan · founded 1887 | Bowers Wilkins
United Kingdom · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.25" Dome | 1" Diamond dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.125" Cone | 6.5" Continuum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 47-65k Hz | 42-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85.5 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 40-120 watts | 50-1000 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 9.89kg / 21.8lbs | 16.40kg / 36.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 15.125" x 8.125" x 13"
384.2 x 206.4 x 330.2mm | 17-5/16" x 9-1/2" x 14-5/16"
439.0 x 241.0 x 363.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Yamaha NS-600A and Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5 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* |
Yamaha NS-600A |
Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5 |
| 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both NS-600A and 805 D5 are 2-way speakers.
Yamaha NS-600ABowers & Wilkins 805 D5
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Yamaha NS-600A |
Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.25-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.125-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
NS-600A features a 1.25" Dome Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.125" Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2.6 kHz. On the other hand, the 805 D5 features a 1" Diamond Diamond dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Continuum Woofer.
Frequency Response
NS-600A has a frequency range of 47-65k Hz whereas 805 D5 has a frequency range of 42-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the 805 D5 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the NS-600A's min frequency of 47Hz.
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
NS-600A is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the 805 D5 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. NS-600A sensitivity is rated at 85.5 dB and the 805 D5's is rated at 88 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5 a more sensitive speaker compared to Yamaha NS-600A, 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.
805 D5 can handle a max power of 1000 watts RMS, whereas NS-600A has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 880 watts less than the 805 D5.
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
805 D5 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. NS-600A has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/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 Yamaha NS-600A's and Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5's external dimensions. Yamaha NS-600A has external dimensions of 384.2 x 206.4 x 330.2mm (15.125 x 8.125 x 13inch) whereas Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5 has external dimensions of 439.0 x 241.0 x 363.0mm (17-5/16 x 9-1/2 x 14-5/16inch).
Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 34.6mm wider, 54.8mm taller and 32.8mm deeper than Yamaha NS-600A.
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.
Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5 needs about 28% more floor or shelf area. Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5 is 33mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5 is 55mm 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 Yamaha NS-600A is approximately 681.5cm2 / 105.6inch2 and base area of the Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5 is approximately 874.8cm2 / 135.6inch2. The NS-600A requires 22% less surface area than the 805 D5 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 Yamaha NS-600A weighs 9.89kg / 21.8lbs and the Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5 weighs 16.40kg / 36.1lbs. This makes the 805 D5 66% heavier than the NS-600A.
Here is a comparison of how NS-600A and 805 D5's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
 High Frequency Response |
65k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
384mm
vs
439mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
681cm2
vs
874cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
3200USD
vs
15000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
1000 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Minimum Impedance |
4.6 ohms
vs
3.6 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.125 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
42 Hz
vs
47 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
| General |
Yamaha NS-600A |
Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5 |
| Brand |
Yamaha |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
40-120 watts |
50-1000 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85.5 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.6 ohms |
4.6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
47-65k Hz |
42-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.125" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cone |
Continuum |
| Tweeter Size |
1.25" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Diamond dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2.6 kHz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
384.2mm (15.1") |
439.0mm (17.3") |
| Width |
206.4mm (8.1") |
241.0mm (9.5") |
| Depth |
330.2mm (13") |
363.0mm (14.3") |
| Weight |
9.89kg (21.8lbs) |
16.40kg (36.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
|
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5 costs roughly 4.7x what Yamaha NS-600A 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 | B | Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5 digs deeper - 42Hz against 47Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5 is more sensitive (88dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | B | Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5 takes more power (1000W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Yamaha NS-600A is easier to place; Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5: bi-amping. Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5 sits in a wider range (7 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Yamaha NS-600A is cheaper - $3,200 against $15,000, about 79% less; arguably a different class. |
A Yamaha NS-600A B Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5
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?
The usual trade-off: Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5 measures better, Yamaha NS-600A costs about about 4.7x the price% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 47Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Yamaha NS-600A much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Yamaha NS-600A the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5 for a mid-size room and a large room.
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.