B&W 606 S2
Bowers & Wilkins’ 606s walked off with What Hi-fi?’s top speaker Award in 2019. The standmounters got the nod because they offered the best performance per pound ratio of any speaker we tested that year. So it came as something of a surprise that they were replaced so soon.
The 600 range turned 25 in 2020 and to mark the anniversary, B&W decided to upgrade the core models – the baby 607s, the floorstanding 603s, HTM6 centre and the 606s here.
If it ain’t broke...
The low-key nature of the revisions leaves us underwhelmed considering the significance of the anniversary. Cosmetically, there’s a smart new oak finish, and an inscription on the tweeter surround to mark the Anniversary status.
The only performance related change is an upgraded crossover that now features better-quality capacitors, some of which were originally seen in the more premium 700 Signature series.
Everything else remains unchanged from the previous generation; a check through the specs shows no technical changes at all – sensitivity, frequency response, power handling, all remain the same. Let’s be clear, that isn’t a bad thing, as testified by the 606’s 2019 Award win.
Capable and proven
While the front is fairly compact, this remains a pretty deep speaker at 30cm, so the smaller 607 model might be a better choice if you’re stuck for space.
The unchanged drive unit combination is hugely capable and well proven. The tweeter is a 25mm reinforced aluminium dome, here combined with a 165mm Continuum-coned mid/bass driver. There’s a rear-firing dimpled reflex port to tune the lows, though foam bungs are in place to block it if bass starts to dominate.
Ideally, you should place the speakers at least 50cm into the room, well away from side walls if possible. Use the bungs only if you have to, because things sound less natural and fluid with them inserted into the speakers. A slight angling towards the listening position helps to firm up the stereo image.
Any standmounter is heavily reliant on its support, so it pays to budget for sturdy stands. B&W makes a dedicated option called the STAV24 and it’s good value at £119.
We use the 606 S2s with a range of equipment, from our reference Naim ND555/555 PS DR streamer and Burmester 088/911 Mk3 amplifier, to Marantz’s more price appropriate CD6007/PM6007 combination, and the speakers work well with it all.
More punch
Given the modest engineering changes, we weren’t expecting much difference in sound. We were wrong. While retaining a broadly similar sonic character, the Anniversary Editions prove significantly more capable than their predecessors.
The biggest differences are heard in the bass. The new version is so much more precise and controlled in this region. On an initial listen it would be easy to conclude that the older model has more weight here, but given time it becomes clear that the S2s are cleaner, more insightful and have notably more punch.
Listening to The Scotts’ self-titled track the improvements are obvious, the new version delivering harder hitting, more layered lows. In comparison, the old 606s sound bloated and blurred. The extra control at low frequencies helps rhythmic drive and agility. Move up the frequency range and the steps up in articulation and clarity are striking. Voices come through with greater subtlety, and it’s easier to hear changes in intonation and phrasing. The S2 offers a clearer view of the recording and sounds more balanced.
The differences between the speakers are just as stark when we play The Road OST from Nick Cave and Warren Ellis. The title track has a sparse piano opening and we’re struck by how much more defined and open the new speakers sound.
Their presentation is tauter and a little more forward than the originals, but also sounds more natural and transparent. Tonally, there’s been a shift away from what now seems like a slightly overblown bass and overly rich lower midrange to something more neutral.
We change to Bizet’s Carmen and love the way the 606 S2s are so much more dynamic. They deliver a sound packed with authority, and don’t struggle in the face of large-scale crescendos. As the music builds, these speakers have the composure and organisation to keep things under control. They rarely sound flustered or stressed no matter how demanding things get.
We’re finding it easier to track low-level instrumental strands and pick up on fine detail too. The new model conveys instrumental textures with more skill and locates instruments within the soundstage with greater stability. The original 606s are fine speakers, but clearly the new version is better across the board.