BOWERS & WILKINS 606 S3, A BIG Step Up!
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- čas přidán 11. 09. 2023
- Bower & Wilkins' new 606 is a winner!
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Hi Steve! I enjoy your reviews everytime. Especially this one. I just bought the B&W 606 S3 and i paired them with the Naim Uniti Atom and i honestly like the sound. These speakers are great in a médium room and you are pin point by saying placement about 2 feets from the rear wall. Thanks for this review. From Québec Canada.
Yeah but you know ... Québec Canada. Two feets from the rear wall and all that. One thing I to remember is B&W 606 S3 is a 2-way and these in general, sound best with an amplifier designed to drive a 2-way speaker. You know there used to be a lie that salespeople told that a 2-way sounded better to the mind than a 3-way or a 4-way but as Nelson Pass would say, it really depends on what sounds best with anything and you know the harman/kardon A 402 (popular in Paris) was designed for a 3-way ported JBL L100 Century and if we use Pioneer CS-585 instead, it's good enough as a ported 3-way Pioneer. It's that simple.
@@keplermissionThere’s nothing simple about your comment. Are you high or just a weird audiophile troll reaching deep into opinions that you read on the internet? Let your ears be the judge and just enjoy the music! Isn’t that what this is about instead of some stupid intricacies about amplifiers designed for specific driver layouts or crossover points?
@@VintageVic93 Well you know what? Some people thought Bi-Wired speakers actually made a difference but I guess where you come from (Russia) there's only one thing you can buy and hey, there's a 7 year waiting list. Did you never yet figure out that different brands and models, well, actually sound different? Or did you never even own an Audio System? I mean you look young, like you're just out of school and steel, wet behind the ears.
@@keplermission I’m actually of the mindset that bi-wire was just a marketing ploy. I’m just pointing out that the original commenter only mentioned that he loves how the speakers pair well with his Naim and that’s it. Nothing complicated. Then you come in about amplifiers designed for 2-ways and 3-ways, which sounds like nonsense. Of course I understand that different amplifiers sound different. I focus on vintage gear and rotate between several different vintage amplifiers and receivers to power my Klipsch Forte’s or my JBL L100 Century’s. I appreciate the sonic differences. Actually, I’m 30 years old and have been into audio since my teens. Also, I’m not sure how you assumed that a 30 year old mexican-american living in the United States was somehow from Russia…
@@VintageVic93 Yeah but the Naim that Alain hooked up isn't just any old 'run of the mill' Naim, you know he did tell you it's a Naim Uniti Atom ... and ... just like a Teacher going through your comments and finding all your errors in judgement, the Uniti Atom is one of those 'all in one' systems that have a lack of power problem, so Alain used a 2-way speaker running only 4 x moving coils as a cone woofer with a dome tweeter. But as power is in short supply a 3-way would need to drive 6 x moving coils so that for 88dB overall SPL, a 3-way needs more power than a 2-way with the same SPL. But the amplifiers that actually sound good with some speakers don't with others and we have to find what does and what doesn't. A 3-way needs a higher D.F. than a 2-way.
What would we do without Steve Guttenberg your reviews are to the on point..not a winded review. Keep up the great work greatly appreciated 🙏 👍.
I've had the 606s2 for 3 years and used them in my bedroom system but recently I've integrated them into my main system. I find them too shrill on the top end if they are towed in but smooth out facing straight ahead playing through my Cambridge Audio CXA81 intigrated using Node 2i for streaming.
I currently have 3 pairs of B&W speakers. I've had my 805v's for more than 30 years and they still sound amazing and so do my CM10 S2's. Just great speakers.
Agree and nothing remotely close to their newer offerings. Yours are great, these are not.
Thank you for the deep knowledge and relentless passion. It keeps me educated, and entertained. Rock on!
Thanks!
Steve,
Thanks for taking on this review! I've REALLY taken notice of Bowers and Wilkins lately, after a very generous coworker recently gifted me his ENTIRE music and Hi-Fi collection. Among the scrumptious goodies: a pair of B&W DM7 MkII's. Initially one of the woofs was frozen, voice coil jammed around magnet, and an E-bay replacement was found a year later. The friend praised these 1981 vintage loudspeakers, and I believed he was sincere, but.......I was not expecting the magic they'd emit. Truth be told, my "test session" upon fitting the replacement woofer began about 11 AM one morning and concluded shortly after midnight the next morning. Never did I expect a 42 year-old speaker would take the revered spot in my listening room. Polk LSi9's relegated to storage; Snell Type J's on standby awaiting the next B&W repair if it happens. B&W's powered by a rotation of amplifiers and receivers: SAE Two separates, Nakamichi AV1, and a Yamaha RXV 870. Yamaha just a WEE BIT more open and nuanced than the others. The common theme here is that good, serious manufacturers can and do produce a quality piece that can last generations. I eagerly await dedicated listening session with my gear, NONE of which is any newer then 29 years old. (Nakamichi MB2S CD player STILL going strong) Hoping the modern-day B&W's still hold up over time, as I'll certainly be auditioning their current offerings when these archaic gems give up.
Modern B&W is a different sound. The old ones were mostly accurate with a slightly warm midrange sound.
I love B&W! Ive owned 2 models over the years-early on. I also would not put much stock in bi- wiring as i really did not hear much difference with the various speakers i have had. However, i did bi- wire my current speakers and was suprised at the improvement that resulted. So i guess it pays to keep an open mind- to really get to know your speakers with regards to stands, placement, and even bi- wiring. As usual, Thank you.
Well bi-wiring ... you know isn't meant for a 2-channel stereo amplifier. Bi-wiring is for different channels whether on a 5.1, a 7.1 or on two identical stereo amplifier because otherwise, your treble might be faster or slower than low frequency signals. So we need a signal splitter or an amplifier that you know, splits the frequency bands. So maybe who did Bi-Wiring wrong in the past can try it again. I never liked it, I tried different amplifiers and never liked it enough to keep it up but Steve has got it all mastered, I guess.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I had a pair!!! Great speakers. I called them R2 and D2. In LA 1974-75. Thanks for the trip down memory lane Steve.
Thanks for sharing. Love the comparison.
My entry into hifi separates has been the B&W 707s2 without the plugs, and the Denon PMA- 800NE. Female singers sound amazing especially Bonnie Raitt’s collection tape played on my Sony TC- K620 player.
I've got the 707 s2 with powernode I'm happy with it
@@Birmingham_racing Yeah but you know I was happy for years with a Realistic Minimus-7 and its subwoofer the SUB-700. But compared to the Realistic Optimus X-100, you know, the same STA-2000 receiver doesn't sound as good through the Minimus-7, and the Denon PMA- 800NE was designed in a factory to run Denon T-50 speakers, not B&W 707 S2. You know what amplifier is the best one for B&W 707 S2? What is the absolute best amplifier for the 707 S2? Nobody knows.
Same here, started with the 707s2 in 2020 and just upgraded to the 705s2 a couple weeks ago.
Super happy with the upgrade! 😊
I still have my DM602 S2 on Atacama stands filled with sand (in a plastic bag).
They have sat on four big blobs of BluTak each and I don't think I'll ever change them.
Thanks Steve, appreciate you mention that they are ok when played quietly as this was something that put me off of the 705S3 as yours and some other reviews said they don't sound the same at low volumes.
We've had the 606 s2 for just over a year,Marantz receiver, Marantz cd player, we love these speakers, classic rock and some country
Great review! I have the 607 S2, running through a Topping D10S and the through a Hypex class-D (200w/ch), and I love em!! But for the price I might be very tempted 🎉
You are LEGEND sir! Thank you!
How about Steve with this brand new Audio? Well ... B&W always did sound good from new. I was always a tinkerer with you know the lowest of the low range, even though later I got a Realistic STA-2000 receiver, and Radio Shack Optimus X-100, it was just because of the standing of Radio Shack among the genius electronic engineers of the 1970s. I have cheap 3-way Pioneer speakers that I tinkered with and I really recommend these with the harman/kardon A 402. Pioneer made great speakers back in the day and these ones I have, use a strange acoustic lens that looks like a trim but actually creates an awesome 3D effect and for an 8 inch woofer, it's very impressive, you know almost an equal to the X-100.
What should I do, if I don’t have the space for getting the speakers into the room and have 2m distance to the wall? In my case there is a 10cm gap :-/ not more
Thanks for the review, I was wondering if they were a big improvement over the S2's. I'll save up for the seven's with the tweeter on top. BTW I took 3 semesters of German in college, it's "Gooten Berg" as in "Boo" for the "U" in Guten.
Great video Steve ❤. I'm interested in reviewing these versus the Polk R200 reserve.
I really need to try A new age B&W so bad !! 606s3 Thanks Steve 'Personally I love the bi amping capability ' because I own to many Amps 😆
Thoughts on these vs the Focal Theva No1? Currently looking at these two.
I like this guy; he reminds me of my Grandfather! Like my Grandpa, he rambles on and on to get to some small distant point! OMG Like all reviewers Steve just loves Tube amps....I think they must all get allot of 'paybacks' for commenting on any obscure little AMP made in the far Eastern area of Tibet/ or someplace! I like all your stories about the 60's and 70's.....Thanks MR. Steve keep up the good work....... CCC /TX🤪
Strikes me that tiny Tibetan tube amp manufacturers may not have a massive budget for bribing CZcams reviewers. Large Western companies may be in a different position.
@@jimfarrell4635 Has to be said that such products definitely generate clicks and start a conversation though.
I have just had my dad’s old Quad 405-2 amp and AR turntable restored - would the 606s pair well with this amp in your opinion?
10Khz are +5dB from the rest of frequencies. There is a dip in mid bass, so the lower bass are a bit separated from mid frequencies.
I don't mind some B&W speakers. Often they need loads of power and current with a smooth tonal balance to sound good. Helps if you can control the treble. I've had DM 110 and 220s and DM4s. Of course heard the 800 series at hifi shows on Halcro and Other high end amps like Krells. I'm a vintage JBL Altec and EV guy. If I had the bucks I would go for Gryphon or PBN or ATC speakers. If you need to sell your speakers B@Ws are desirable. Like that you review all sorts of gear Steve.
An interesting review thanks
I love the Acid Eaters cd also very much.
Cant wait for your next emotiva review. Im considering that new dac/Preamp
Great review. Always good to hear a review from somebody who just loves music. 606 S2 owner here and a huge fan. Tempted to audition these new versions.
Well, I looked up what amplifier B&W reckons to run with a 606 S2 and they have a Rotel A12 Mk.2 and you know that is the ONLY one that gives best results. You know ... somebody used a (low down) Naim Uniti Atom but they're meant to run with Monitor Audio Bronze 50. You know these are the speakers designed to run with each of these two amplifiers. I found loads of Steve's viewers buy the cheapest thing they can run, if the best one is 60 watt ... Heck then let us buy the cheapest 60 watt out there. But there's more to amplifiers that rated power output.
I want this speakers but i want to know which amp would be a good match? Thanks
Great review Steve - will have to check out that Ramones cover album.
I still have (and LOVE) my 685 S1s. I think it’s awesome they made the tweeters childproof on these new models 😂
Love my 685”s front ported killer speakers
Just not ear bleed proof
No they're not childproof orst the woofer would have one of those disco basket grilles. The tweeter mesh improves dispersion but over the years countless deceased people assumed that tweeter mesh was you know, to protect the tweeters from children but no, you're one of the ones that you know, just made things up and looked foolish.
I have 685s2..amazing
Another informative review Steve. Would anyone care to comment on whether these 606 S3 speakers are worth the money if played at moderate to low levels 95% of the time ? In other words do they lose bass or clarity or definition at low volume levels ? I live in a mobile home park with close neighbors.
The last pre-D B&W 805 is the one set of speakers that I regretted selling. What a great set... If only it was a bit easier to drive...
I love my dynaudios but always enjoy speaker reviews
Yeah Dynaudios are ... Dynaudios are ... easy on the ear. Some thought the big woofer Dynaudio actually beat the KEF B139, a cleaner low frequency. But Dynaudios are really studio monitors and it might be said that Hi-Fi speakers are you know, described as different.
excellent!
Woo Hoo. a hot tuna mention. might be the loudest band I ever heard. or Mountain....
There is mesh sticking out from the tweeter assembly.
Yes but its a magic mesh a special mesh lol.
Any view on how they would compare to dynaudio contour 1.3mkii
Like your style, energy and passion, man. 👍
Thanks a lot!
I use 800 and 600 series tweeters for my car I know nuts but I use far tweeters you should hear my wilson convergent tweeters in my car hooked up to a Mcintosh mx5000 gz ultimateA amp zr midrangesdyneaudio 6.5 hooked up to a 9038ess pro dac
Is it a night and day difference?
Great review!
Steve. It’s been my experience that these speakers are bright. What do you think
Pirate radio legs nostalgic n all but not selling me on them.
Question guys. Would you pick the LS50 meta over these speaker? Here in UK the metas are £250 more expensive. Paired with audiolab 7000A or 9000A
Absolutely. They are in a different league, regardless of the BS Steve is spewing here.
The LS50 may be better but as an LS 50 owner I.keep them boxed up cause frankly I don't like them.
@hmmmmmm69 They are not the same price, in UK LS50 meta are £999 and B&W 606 S3 are £749
Both needs power to excel in performance. Having heard both, the ls50 take less power better than the 606. The 606 needs a high current amp to make them sing. The ls50 meta still sounds good with 45watts but the 606 sound ear screaming. On a higher current amp, ill take the 606 over the meta but if you already have an amp to pair, the safe choice is the meta.
This is the reason why so many think that b&w sucks because its not being powered well. You can run metas with 20 watts and still sound good.
Do you hate the LS50 like a good percentage of the people who hear them? Do you have a subwoofer? If no and yes respectively, get the Metas I guess.
I bought my 707 s2 for £500 I'm happy with them
Steve, have you heard the 706 S2? What are your thoughts vs the 606 S3 if the price is exactly the same?
Steve, you are being very feisty in your replies to the comments today. I like it ! You cant change closed minds.
I've only ever had 1 pair of B&W speakers. The CDM1. I bought them in 1997 and I still use them today. Thanks for the video.
These pale in comparison to yours.
@@ralex3697 You mean they make mine pale in comparison?
@@ralex3697 Do you mean these make mine pale in comparison?
So Steve (or anybody out there), Klipsch horn tweeter or B&W tweeter?
ps If we can edit Keanu and Winona from Dracula...
I am going to buy these in white flavour. Thank you for your advice. BUT my wife does not like the grey or black stand. Could you tell me the reference of that white tripod you are using?
Thanks for watching, the white stand is made by Buchardt. The legs are made of wood. It is a available in different finishes.
Did you get them? How do you like the sound?
I decided to buy them in black with black stand. I do not regret buying them. Even at low volumes they sound great to me. Analytic and spacious and neutral. I love them
What’s the Best Value Wall mountable bookshelf speakers and Center channel for Home theater and Music for hours of listening enjoyment with a Natural easy on ears sound yet true audio imaging ( Dolby Digital, THX ) capable audio quality.
I wonder how they would sound paired with the audiolab 7000A or 9000A
Flat
@@ralex3697 have you paid the two product?
Michael Jackson's Voice (!), is a prime example of the phrase Oxymoron.
How do these compare to the Nautilus?
Just kidding that would be a ridiculous comparison, it would be like comparing a Ford pinto to a McLaren F1 car.
Curious Steve, why don’t you do affiliate links? I believe Crutchfield is paying 15%.
Crutchfield charges so much they can afford to pay 15% lol
Links are a little sleazy don't you think? Making money from sending buyers who just watched a review. I'm not comfortable with that.
You’re above reproach @steveguttenburg
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac You’re a good man, Steve; too bad there aren’t enough of them.
@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac
Well, if they're buying a product based off your review and you get a piece of the sale... is that sleazy? ... I don't think so. Just don't be pushy about it and put a note being honest.
I'm not really interested in speaker reviews since I got my Zu DW6 speakers, knowing these are possibly my last and I'm very happy with them.
Good for you, enjoy!!!
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac
Thanks Steve, I bought 'em because of you!
Steve are you familiar with old Adcom?
Steve are you familiar with old Adcom?
Steve are you familiar with old Adcom?
I have the 685 s2 speakers and they are hooked up to my old Adcom GFA 535 power amp and I’ve been happy with them. I was comparing them to my old vintage Polk audio monitor 4a stand mount last night. Using a well recorded jazz cd. The old polks are very bright compared to the bowers and Wilkins. Yet a lot of people complain about the bowers and Wilkins being bright and harsh. They definitely can take a lot of punishment and crank really loud and not be damaged.(so far) bowers and Wilkins are not the only good speakers out there. Any vintage Polk fans here?
Vintage Polks....not sure if the 2006 era qualifies, but I did purchase a pair of LSi9's new almost 20 years ago. Vintage ads with Matthew Polk pictured alongside various multi-driver stuffed cabinets ALMOST seduced me in the mid '80's. Having given the LSi9's an audition, I was really enamored by their presentation of acoustic and contemporary jazz. Built a pair of custom, #9 bird-shot filled stands for them. Along with 3 subs (just barely idling!) a pair of Miller and Kriesel v-125's in stereo on each side of the room and a Velodyne f-1200 on the front wall (all sealed cabinets) and the three tweaked carefully.....that speaker conglomeration had me drooling for years. The B&W DM7 Mk II just sweetened it a tad more than with the Polks. But the Polks aren't going anywhere!!! Maybe a second system in another room....
The Polk speakers I have are the monitor 4 and 5 b from the late 80s silver coil dome tweeter!
The Polk speakers I have are the monitor 4 and 5 b from the late 80s silver coil dome tweeter!
The cheap audio man just reviewed a new pair of bookshelf speakers from a German company called Heco. Similar in size to the new Bowers and Wilkins but at half the retail price at 450.00 He said they sound great.
ADCOM fan here, I Owen the GFA 555 MK2 the 545 MK2 and the GFP 565 preamplifier. I totally love them 💟@@bradleydurbin6784
Hey - Ho it's Steve - O! What's goin' on there Steve - O??
B&Ws suffer from being too bright. In addition they need a specific amplifier
I hope it's a huge step up or it'll still be crap.
The DM6 looks like it belongs in the Jawa's junk room in the Sandcrawler...
Elevated treble so people go 'The detail! The detail!"
You've heard them? Or you're basing your opinion on other B&Ws?
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac I've heard them and he is correct they are a little better than the previous model
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac Other B&W speakers and Andrew Robinson who also just reviewed these speakers (and likes them).
@@cremersalex Hoping you get to hear these yourself to see if the treble is really too much based on the actual recordings. I find that the B&W that I have used may be considered bright but not that analytical and sounded right on a variety or recordings using solid state amp biased into Class A.
Yet another box speaker, wish someone would come up w/ something new & different.
Oh please, you know very well the LS-50 Meta need a serious amp to bring out their best. This comparison, with a shitty amp, is useless. The KEF are in a different league.
Years ago, I thought the 602 was exciting
Years ago? Well years ago B&W 602 were outta my league. I'd Wharfedale Laser 80 that I'd used with the Radio Shack Realistic STA-2290 and you know, that was such a beautiful receiver, the bass shook the doors and the windows and it was awesome. There really was a 6dB peak overload transformer in there and it weighed an awesome amount, unlike the later Carver MXR-150. Laser 80 had 91.5dB SPL and they were 6 ohm but I remember that the JCPenny, Japanese speakers had 91.5dB at 8 ohms and they were louder, they were you know, much louder than 6 ohms. Back in those days we all wanted the Realistic Mach One, it was such a exciting product. But we had what we had I guess.
@@keplermission the 602s were probably out of my £ league too, but I thought they were cool. I remember them being something like £300. Ny first proper speakers were Mission 731s (c£130), then some Monitor Audio floorstanders (£400 in 96)
@@CheekyFest Wow ... Mission 731s, you were a star! Farad Azima founded Mission, he was Persian and yeah, they were designed to play that Iranian Rap that we get in NYC. Monitor Audio was founded by Mo Iqbal back around 1970 at Cambridge University but he moved to Essex around 1980 and started importing far eastern drivers that sounded good with the imported amplifier because, back then England couldn't get genuine Japanese speakers because they undercut the native product. But in NYC we could get the Japanese speakers.
@@keplermission I've still got the MA's but they're not being used. I upgraded to some Focal Aria 926s 9 years ago - which are now not being used because of my living situation (at dads); I recently treated myself to some Hifiman Arya Organic headphones
Turn down that brightness! ☀️
Just another B&W I’ll never want to buy. Unless they’ve fixed the listener fatigue problem that seems to be common with B&W.
Just another comment I'll never look at again.
I have never understood how they have stayed in business producing such dross
Why is your reviews just talking and no sound demo ? I skip thru and no sound clip ?
well, because I do not believe that anyone can accurately record the sound of speakers playing in a room with microphones. When I've listened to demos like that of speakers that I know, I know how far off the recording is. You can't hear one pair of speakers over another pair of speakers.
🙉
2:09 "New titanium tweeter two piece dome," yup if you don't know what it means prior to posting the review, maybe worth a note or call to B&W themselves? I come here to hear your wisdom Steve so if it confuses YOU it will DEFINITELY confuse US LOL. I'd love to know what kind of new design they've implemented and why. Just a suggestion...I'm never satisfied with an "I don't know why they did this" answer...I'd like to find out the reason.
Ah, but Steve is a ‘subjective’ reviewer. That would be too much work and bum his high man. 😂
Too much information is sleazy?
I agree with the original poster...now I want to know the reason they designed it that way too...
@@tommysshinebox1661 Found it! Per the Audioholics review of the 600 S3's, sep 18 2023..."The biggest change in the 600 Series S3 is an all-new tweeter featuring a titanium dome. Previous versions of the 600 Series used an aluminum dome. Why the switch? During a live-streamed press event several weeks before the official launch, Andy Kerr, Director of Product Marketing & Communications for Bowers & Wilkins, explained that the titanium dome used in the 600 Series S3 is both better damped and stiffer than the aluminum dome it replaces."
There it is! Phew! Now I can sleep better knowing the answer from my engineering mind...never satisfied with an "I don't know..." either....😆😆😆
ANd thank you Steve for feeding our curiosity!
@@PorshaHomeTheater awesome thanks for finding that out!
Look nice but sound terrible
Their older lines were excellent. Made In England
Can I comment on suggesting 2 foot away from a wall, in all reality the average home in the uk is 12ft x 15ft & nearly all speakers are suggested to be a couple of feet from a wall. Its time to end these stupid suggestions, most folk live in real but not massive room sized homes. I found the b&w 607 s2 perform great.
OK, YOU can't do two feet, OK, but other people can!
It's not a stupid suggestion at all. If you can't do it you have the information you require to buy a different speaker, front or bottom ported, that you can put up against a wall, like the Fyne F500.
It's not a question of if they sound good, it's a question of how to make them sound their best.
Hmmmm .... I really don't understand why these speakers get so much praise. They are like a cheap car model from a reputable brand, overrated IMHO
$1100 isn't really "cheap" for a pair of bookshelf speakers.
@@BookClubDisaster agree, i.e. not great speakers, and overpriced.
I am just baffled that Hifi magazines and reviewers seem to like them. I don't.
@@BookClubDisaster exactly! both not that great and not cheap. So why are these speakers getting so much praise 🤷
I totally agree. It’s getting fatiguing just watching these reviews of high end audio that’s way beyond most peoples budgets. Especially in these trying times. I have the Bowers and Wilkins 685 s2 speakers and they sound good but I also have some vintage polks and they sound just as good.
B&W are very overpriced for what you actually get today
Everything is, but that's why you wait for a sale or buy the previous model. B&W speakers themselves sound great IMO.
@@ld4974 no that's absolutely not true you just haven't done your research or heard a truly well built speaker
Everything but the top of the line stuff is all Chinese now.
B&W speakers are trash in general. Screeching ear-bleeding machines
804 D4 owner here, can not say anything about this specific speaker, but I can share my thoughts about the B&W value proposition. Apparently, they sell more speakers than just about any other speaker manufacturer. That's not why I bought the 804s, but obviously, many hifi buyers disagree with your assessment. As for the value proposition vis a vis other manufacturers, B&W is large enough to really benefit customers by leveraging its scale - build and parts quality in particular. A 5 year warranty and a huge dealer and service network are also clear benefits. It is very much like the experience you get when you buy a BMW. It's not for everyone, but the formula works for most who can afford it.