Bowers & Wilkins 606 is a 2-way Passive Bass Reflex Bookshelf speaker by Bowers Wilkins. It features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Continuum Woofer. The speaker has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz and a sensitivity of 88 dB. B&W 606 has an MSRP of 899$ per pair.
Room Size Suitability
The size of the room where you plan to use the B&W 606 is a crucial factor in your decision. We have assessed its suitability for various room sizes based on its dimensions and maximum power output:
| Listening Environment* |
Suitability |
| Near-field | Poor |
| Small Room | Average |
| Mid-size Room | Good |
| Large Room | Average |
| Very Large Room | 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.)
Bowers Wilkins later replaced BW 606 with 606 S2 AE. Follow the link to read our in-depth comparison of these speakers:
Compare B&W 606 vs B&W 606 S2
Bowers Wilkins's 600 Series of Loudspeakers
BW 606 is a member of Bowers Wilkins's 600 series of Passive speakers. Below you can see the main specs of these speakers.
Bowers Wilkins 600 Series Speakers
**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.
Frequency Response of the B&W 606 Speaker
B&W 606 has a Frequency response range of 52-28k Hz at ±3dB and Power Range of 30-120 watts. With a minimum frequency of 52 Hz, BW 606 delivers moderate bass depth so depending on your use case, you might want to consider adding a subwoofer to your system.
To focus on the subwoofers that are in a similar price range with B&W 606, check out the Powered Subwoofers under $1000. Alternatively, find the Full list of Powered Subwoofers regardless of the price.
Here we have a comparison of how BW 606's Low and High frequency values compare with the average, max and min Low and High frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Impedance and Sensitivity
B&W 606's nominal impedance level is
8 ohms but can go down to as low as
3.7 ohms, and has a sensitivity of
88 dB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
8 Ohms is pretty much the standard nominal impedance amongst stereo speakers and amplifiers so Bowers & Wilkins 606 is not considered a difficult to drive speaker from nominal Impedance perspective.
Sensitivity
88dB of the Bowers & Wilkins 606 is an average sensitivity for stereo speaker so it is neither easy nor difficult to drive Sensitivity wise.
Minimum Impedance of the B&W 606
Even though the nominal impedance of the BW 606 is 8 ohms, the minimum impedance level of this speaker according to Bowers Wilkins is 3.7 ohms Bowers & Wilkins 606 so while choosing an amplifier, you should ideally check if the unit you are considering can provide this impedance level.
Check the amplifiers that are in a similar price range to the B&W 606:
Input Type
BW 606 has Post type connectors and lets bi-amping/bi-wiring. Bi-wiring can enhance the overall transparency of your loudspeakers by using separate speaker wires for the low and high-frequency drivers from a single amplifier. Bi-amping, on the other hand, involves using separate amplifiers for the high and low-frequency drivers, potentially resulting in a greater dynamic range and reduced distortion.
B&W 606 Back View
Recommended Break In
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. .
B&W 606 External Dimensions and Weight
B&W 606 has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 13.5 x 7.4 x 12.7inch (345.0 x 190.0 x 324.0mm ).
Base Surface Area
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base area of B&W 606 is approximately 615.6cm2 / 95.4inch2.
To get a better perspective on the real life size of B&W 606, let's compare it with a standard size Compact Disc which has a diameter of 4.7inch (120mm).
B&W 606 Speaker Size Compared to a Compact Disc
Here we place the B&W 606 virtually next to a standard width amplifier and turntable on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet to get a better idea about the size.
B&W 606 Speaker next to an amplifier and turntable
WeightThe B&W 606 weighs 6.90kg / 15.2lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how BW 606's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Weight
Bookshelf Speakers under $1000
How does the B&W 606 compare to the Bowers Wilkins 606 S2 Anniversary Edition?
One of the natural alternative to the B&W 606 is the 606 S2 AE which is located one step higher in Bowers Wilkins's Passive Bookshelf selection.
Here is a scaled size comparison of these two speakers to give you an idea how their external dimensions compare:
Comparison image of B&W 606 and B&W 606 S2 Size and External Dimensions
Check the Detailed Comparison of B&W 606 vs 606 S2 AE for more details.
Cabinet type and Materials
B&W 606 has a
Bass Reflex type cabinet and a MDF/Vinyl finish. Bass Reflex type loudspeakers (aka Ported, Vented or Reflex Port) have enclosures that uses a port, hole or vent cut into the cabinet. Ported designs are generally more efficient than the Sealed designs.
Speaker Feet
B&W 606 comes with
8 Self-adhesive rubber feet which you can use to secure your loudspeaker on the surface that you are putting on. It is always recommended to use some kind of feet under all types of speakers. Besides limiting the movement of the speakers, it also compensates for non-flat surfaces and limits the contact surface area of the speaker. Rubber based feet also help isolating the vibrations within certain frequency ranges.
Port Position
B&W 606 is a rear-firing port speaker so you have to make sure you leave enough space between the back of the speaker and wall or bookshelf so that it has room to breathe. BW 606 comes with
2 Two-piece foam port plugs so if you don't have any choice but place the speakers too close to the walls or other surfaces, you can use these plugs in order to avoid boomy or too much bass.
Available colors
B&W 606 is available in Black, White and Oak.
Wall Mounting
BW 606 doesn't sport any built-in mounting bracket, so you need an external structure to mount it on walls.
Speaker Stands
Bowers Wilkins sells a dedicated speaker stand for the BW 606 with a model name
Bower Wilkins STAV24. You can check the latest price and availability of these stands at
B&H PHOTO and
Amazon.
Bower Wilkins STAV24 Speaker Stands for B&W 606
Does the B&W 606 come with a Grille?
BW 606 comes with magnetic grilles in Black and Gray color choices. The purpose of the grille is to protect the delicate driver elements from external impacts while still allowing the sound to pass as clearly as possible. Since the included grille of the BW 606 is magnetic type, it is very easy to put it on and off.
What's in the Box of B&W 606?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of BW 606:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers2 Grilles2 Two-piece foam port plugs8 Self-adhesive rubber feet4 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)ManualBowers & Wilkins brochureWarranty Information
Recommended Accessories
Here is a list of accessories that we think you may need for the Bowers & Wilkins 606.
- Speaker Cable and Connectors
- Vibration Isolators: IsoAcoustics isolators more affordable options too.
- Acoustic Panels and Treatments: Your room is as important as your stereo equipment so acoustic treatments goes a long way in improving the overall performance.
- Speaker Stands: Stands bring your bookshelf speakers to ideal height (rule of thumb is to have the tweeter level with your ear in your listening position), helps stability and acoustical isolation.
User's Manual
For more information about how to setup, use and maintain the Bowers & Wilkins 606, use the direct link below to download the official manual document:
Download User Manual for B&W 606
Official Brochure
Here is a link to download the official brochure for the Bowers & Wilkins 606 speaker:
Official Brochure for B&W 606
Official Product Page
Official manufacturer's product page for the Bowers & Wilkins 606 speaker can be found below:
Official Product Page for B&W 606
Warranty
5 Years of parts warranty and 5 Years of labor warranty is generally provided by the manufacturer.