Bowers & Wilkins 606 S3 is a 2-way Passive Bass Reflex Bookshelf speaker by Bowers Wilkins. It was released in August 2023. It features a 1" Decoupled Double Dome Titanium 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 S3 has an MSRP of 1100$ per pair.
Room Size Suitability
The size of the room where you plan to use the B&W 606 S3 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 replaced the older 606 S2 AE with this model. Follow the link to read our detailed comparison of these models:
Compare B&W 606 S3 vs B&W 606 S2
B&W 606 S3 Lifestyle
Bowers Wilkins's 600 S3 Series of Loudspeakers
606 S3 is a member of Bowers Wilkins's 600 S3 series of Passive speakers. The 600 S3 is the latest generation of B&W's entry 600 Series, adopting a decoupled Continuum tweeter and revised drivers from the pricier ranges. Below you can see the main specs of these speakers.
See all 4 Bowers Wilkins 600 S3 models compared »
Bowers Wilkins 600 S3 Series Speakers
Bowers Wilkins 600 S3 Series Speakers
**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Frequency Response of the B&W 606 S3 Speaker
B&W 606 S3 has a Frequency response range of 52-28k Hz and Power Range of 30-120 watts. With a minimum frequency of 52 Hz, 606 S3 delivers moderate bass depth so depending on your use case, you might want to consider adding a subwoofer to your system.
Here we have a comparison of how 606 S3's Low frequency value compares with the average, max and min Low frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Thinking about a subwoofer for the B&W 606 S3?
B&W 606 S3's Continuum Woofer
B&W 606 S3's Titanium Decoupled Double Dome Titanium Tweeter
B&W 606 S3 Crossover
Impedance and Sensitivity
B&W 606 S3'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 S3 is not considered a difficult to drive speaker from nominal Impedance perspective.
Sensitivity
88dB of the Bowers & Wilkins 606 S3 is an average sensitivity for stereo speaker so it is neither easy nor difficult to drive Sensitivity wise. Work out how loud the B&W 606 S3 plays in your room →
Minimum Impedance of the B&W 606 S3
Even though the nominal impedance of the 606 S3 is 8 ohms, the minimum impedance level of this speaker according to Bowers Wilkins is 3.7 ohms Bowers & Wilkins 606 S3 so while choosing an amplifier, you should ideally check if the unit you are considering can provide this impedance level.
What amplifier does the B&W 606 S3 need?
At normal listening levels in a medium room, about
12–120 W
per channel into 8 ohms.
Set your own conditions and we will rank every amplifier we cover.
Prefer to browse? Integrated amplifiers under $1,500, or every amplifier we cover.
Input Type
606 S3 has Binding 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.
Work out what gauge speaker cable this run needs →
B&W 606 S3 Back View
B&W 606 S3's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
B&W 606 S3 External Dimensions and Weight
B&W 606 S3 has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 13.6 x 7.4 x 12.9inch (344.0 x 189.0 x 328.0mm ).
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 S3 is approximately 619.9cm2 / 96.1inch2.
To get a better perspective on the real life size of B&W 606 S3, let's compare it with a standard size Compact Disc which has a diameter of 4.7inch (120mm).
B&W 606 S3 Speaker Size Compared to a Compact Disc
Here we place the B&W 606 S3 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 S3 Speaker next to an amplifier and turntable
Find speakers that fit your shelf or alcove → · Work out where they should sit in the room →
WeightThe B&W 606 S3 weighs 7.05kg / 15.5lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how 606 S3's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Weight
Bookshelf Speakers under $1500
Cabinet type and Materials
B&W 606 S3 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 S3 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 S3 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. 606 S3 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 S3 is available in Matte Black, Matte White, Oak and Red Cherry.
Wall Mounting
606 S3 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 606 S3 with a model name
Bower Wilkins FS-600 S3. You can check the latest price and availability of these stands at
B&H PHOTO and
Amazon.
Bower Wilkins FS-600 S3 Speaker Stands for B&W 606 S3
Does the B&W 606 S3 come with a Grille?
606 S3 comes with magnetic grilles in Black and Grey 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 606 S3 is magnetic type, it is very easy to put it on and off.
What's in the Box of B&W 606 S3?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 606 S3:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 2 Two-piece foam port plugs
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- 4 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)
- Manual
- Bowers & Wilkins brochure
- Warranty Information
Recommended Accessories
Here is a list of accessories that we think you may need for the Bowers & Wilkins 606 S3.
- Speaker Cable and Connectors
- Vibration Isolators: IsoAcoustics isolators are our favorite isolators but you may find 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 S3, use the direct link below to download the official manual document:
Download User Manual for B&W 606 S3
Official Brochure
Here is a link to download the official brochure for the Bowers & Wilkins 606 S3 speaker:
Official Brochure for B&W 606 S3
Official Product Page
Official manufacturer's product page for the Bowers & Wilkins 606 S3 speaker can be found below:
Official Product Page for B&W 606 S3
Warranty
5 Years of parts warranty and 5 Years of labor warranty is generally provided by the manufacturer.