Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2 £599
Bowers & Wilkins’ 600 range turned 25 years old in 2020. To mark the anniversary, B&W decided to upgrade the core models. B&W’S original 606 standmounters walked off with What Hi-fi?’s top speaker Award two years ago, because they offered the best performance per pound ratio of any speaker we tested that year. Now we have revisions that, on paper, felt as though they may be a little underwhelming.
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.
Given the modest nature of the engineering changes, then, we really weren’t expecting much of a difference in the sound. We’re happy to say that that was most definitely an error. The 606 S2 Anniversary Editions prove significantly more capable than their predecessors.
The biggest differences are in the bass. The new version is so much more precise and controlled in this region. Move up the frequency range and the steps up in articulation and clarity are striking. The Series 2 offers a clearer view of the recording and sounds more balanced overall.
Their presentation is tauter, and a little more forward than the originals, but also sounds more natural and transparent. Along with improved muscle, we find it easier to track lowlevel instrumental strands and pick up on fine detail. 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 this new version is obviously better across the board. Those minor changes have made a surprisingly big difference, and the 606 S2s are now the speakers to beat at this level.