Features
| Warranty length | 5 Years |
|---|---|
| Brand | Bowers and Wilkins |
Tech Specs
- Technical features - Decoupled Double Dome Titanium tweeter Continuum™ cone bass / midrange Flowport™
- Description - 2-way vented-box system
- Drive units - 1x ø25mm (1 in) Titanium Dome high-frequency
- 1x ø165mm (6.5 in) Continuum cone bass / midrange
- Frequency range - -6dB 40Hz - 33kHz
- Frequency response - (+/-3dB from reference axis) - 52Hz - 28kHz ±3dB
- Sensitivity (on axis at 2.83Vrms at 1m) - 88dB
- Harmonic distortion - 2nd and 3rd harmonics (90dB, 1m on axis) - <1% 100Hz - 22kHz - <0.5% 150Hz - 12kHz
- Nominal impedance - 8Ω (minimum 3.7Ω)
- Recommended amplifier power - 30W - 120W into 8Ω on unclipped programme
- Max. recommended cable impedance - 0.1Ω
- Dimensions Height: 344 mm (13.6 in) cabinet only
- Width: 189 mm (7.4 in) cabinet only
- Depth: 300 mm (11.8 in) cabinet only
- Depth: 328 mm (12.9 in) including grille and terminals
- Net weight 7.05kg (15.5lbs)
- Finishes Cabinet:
- Black
- White
- Oak
- Grille:
- Black (Black and Red Cherry)
- Grey (White and Oak)
Product Description
The Bowers & Wilkins 606 S3 speakers are a larger alterantive to the 607 S3 and like the smaller model have also won a 2023 What Hi-Fi award for excellent performance.
They are roughly 14” high and are an ideal combination of size and performance. The bass goes deeper than the 607 S3. However, they use the same 25mm titanium dome tweeter and the renowned 165mm Continuum bass/midrange unit.
The maximum recommended amplifier power is 120 Watts. The bass-ported design also helps with low-frequency extension.
Titanium dome tweeter
A new 25mm Titanium cone tweeter is used by the Bowers & Wilkins 606 S3 speakers. This material resists breakups at high power levels, compared to silk or paper cones. Titanium also resists heat. As a result, the sound has exceptional resolution as well as musical insight and detail.
Also, the attractive grill is acoustically transparent. The grill design was originally used for the Signature series models. It also acts as a waveguide to help with high-frequency dispersion.
Composite bass midrange bass/midrange unit
Conversely, The bass and midrange cone of the Bowers & Wilkins 606 S3 Speaker is made of a composite material. The Continuum cone is specially designed to stop any abrupt transitions in the frequency response. This can happen with less-developed drivers.
As a result, the sound is precise with warm vocals and a smooth delivery. Notably, the design is bass reflex, not a sealed box. This extends the bass down to 52 Hz.
Upgraded speaker terminals
The speaker terminals of the Bowers & Wilkins 606 S3 Speaker can now be bi-wired. That is there are four terminals, one set for each of the drivers. Bi-wiring usually involves attaching two sets of cables from the same output on the amplifier. This is assumed to give a smother more even sound.
However, there is a built-in crossover so a single cable can be used. Notably, some active speakers actually use two separate amplifiers one for the high frequencies and the other for bass.
About crossovers
The crossover in a speaker is used to split the sound into bands. Basically with a two-way speaker a high pass filter is made out of inductors and capacitors. This output then feeds the tweeter. The components used need to be high quality as they have to last decades without becoming leaky or changing value.
Home cinema systems
The Bowers & Wilkins 606 S3 speakers can be used in a home cinema system. They can be sued as the from left and right channels as well as the side and rear channels and can be matched with the 600 series centre speaker which is voice matched to the 600 range. We also sell the 2023 award winning 607 S3 and 606 S3 5.1 package
