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Key Features
The Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2 Anniversary Edition Speaker is the lead stand-mount model from the 600 Series. Now in its seventh generation, the 606 S2 is an iconic addition to B&W's catalogue, with advancements to ensure lively, responsive and more accurate music and sound. This is guaranteed by the premium Continuum cones, an innovation first developed for the reference 800 series—the speakers favoured by sound engineers at Abbey Road Recording Studios for their precision and accuracy. A derivative of this initial design is now used in the 606 S2 in combination with a completely upgraded crossover section and Decouple Double Dome tweeters, producing a much more musical response than ever before. Bowers & Wilkins are a renowned British loudspeaker company, responsible for a class of speaker that even now, 25 years on, is still a standard for domestic HiFi audio.
Product Ref: 228320
2022 - Best standmount speaker £500-£750
"Still our ultimate choice at this size and price"
"The original 606 are fine speakers, but this new version is obviously better across the board. Considering the relatively minor engineering changes that’s a real surprise – but a thoroughly pleasant one."
“You will kick yourself if you forget to add the 606 to your shopping list. These speakers are energetic performers that deliver dynamics better than their form may suggest. The same goes for the excellently-weighted bass.”
Accumulating more than half a century of industry knowledge since their founding in the late 1960s with 25 years of persistent development since the release of the 600 Series, Bowers & Wilkins has celebrated the tremendous milestone by unveiling the seventh generation of the classic model. Implementing technologies originally reserved for the reference 800 Series Diamond range—the speakers installed at the world-famous Abbey Road Studios in London—experience why Bowers & Wilkins are the favourite of so many.
Although at first glance the design may seem minimalistic, the finely-tuned engineering of the Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2 cannot be understated. Perhaps most importantly to performance, the crossover circuitry has been completely upgraded, with superior mid and high-frequency capacitors—originally used in the 700 Series Signature range speakers. This critical addition renders these bookshelf speakers with optimised transparency, able to exhibit a smoother harmonic performance, whilst still being available at a more accessible level.
If you need a centrepiece for your HiFi or compact home cinema system, Bowers & Wilkins are ready to deliver. Whilst only 19cm wide, comparatively slim for the larger bookshelf speaker of a range, the 606 S2 is deep. This makes for a bigger, harder-hitting sound than the 607 S2 and with room to breathe, a great choice if you’re looking for a dynamic sound system. The trim lines and uniform angles of the cabinet also help the speaker to blend in with a wide range of environments, with three neutral finishes: Black, Oak and White.
A through-line of the 600 Series is its Decoupled Double Dome tweeter. Through analysis of speaker performance and stress, B&W has implemented key reinforcements at weak points in the dome using lightweight materials such as aluminium. The tweeter is decoupled from the cabinet by a gel-like band, fundamentally separating it from cabinet reverberations. The result is a breakup frequency pushed as high as 38kHz, as well as greater accuracy.
An eye-catching feature of the 606 S2 Anniversary Edition is its 6.5” midrange driver, but it's not just looks that make this such an appealing piece of technology. Originally developed for their reference level 800 Series speakers, Bowers & Wilkins use exclusive Continuum™ drivers to deliver a sense of consistent, coherent performance. FST™ (Fixed Suspension Transducers) are also reactive, with higher resistance to external vibrations.
The Bowers & Wilkins Flowport™ is another key feature of the 600 Series, with a pattern that’s far more than just a propensity for polka dots. With similar principles to golf ball design, the dimples help to reduce drag as air is forced from the cabinet. This bolsters bass response as well as diminishes the effect of turbulence on the 606. You can also use the included double cylindrical port bung to tighten bass to your liking.
Cabinet Dimensions (W x D x H) | 190 x 300 x 345mm |
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Depth (including protrusions) | With grille and terminals: 324mm |
Net weight | 6.9kg |
Technical features | Decoupled Double Dome aluminium tweeterContinuum™ coneFST™ midrangeFlowport™ |
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Description | 2-way vented-box system |
Drive units | 1x Ø25 mm (1 in) Aluminium dome high-frequency1x Ø165mm (6.5 in) Continuum™ cone bass / midrange |
Frequency range | -6dB at 40Hz and 33kHz |
Frequency response | 52Hz - 28kHz ±3dB |
Sensitivity | 88dB spl (2.83V, 1m) |
Harmonic distortion | 2nd and 3rd harmonics (90dB, 1m)<1% 100Hz - 22kHz<0.5% 150Hz - 20kHz |
Nominal impedance | 8Ω (minimum 3.7Ω) |
Recommended amplifier power | 30W - 120W into 8Ω on unclipped programme |
Product code | FP42617 |
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Available finishes | Black (with black grille)White (with grey grille)Oak (with grey grille) |