★ *REVIEWING: **bit.ly/3luDii7** & **bit.ly/3ww4QbE* ★ *ADDITIONAL INFO IN THE DESCRIPTION⬆︎* ★ *COMMENT RULES: Please be respectful. No outside links, URLs, email addresses, etc. Violations are automatically deleted.*
I wonder if the tower in this series would sound the same to you, or separating the lows and mids entirely would somehow help the highs. Balance them out if you will. I have the 603 S2s paired with Rotel RA-1592. Never fatigued by them at all. But great review, thank you guys!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews can you inform me why no one ever reviews the speakers made by a company called, nht, now hear this?. They're "super zero" speaker can easily stand up to anything I've ever seen you review. So.............
If reviewers actually had to spend their own money to buy the products they review, you might actually see more "negative" reviews. Much respect for Andrew telling his personal experience.
I personally appreciate the honesty you have shown here. As a product manager for products outside this industry, this kind of reviews hurt, however, it does give us product designers a feel for where we stand and where we need to go. That is better than not knowing at all or being misled. Honesty is always the best policy. Sound United would be fools to not leverage your input and knowledge in the future. As a follower of your channel, as well as others, we must remember that sometimes we just have to hear it for ourselves. God bless. Keep up the good work.
HI Scott. Your comment here are right on point! Totally agree. To me, these type of reviews are an opportunity for companies to improve their products. As a former purchaser for a hardware company, I often wondered why we had high returns on certain products. These type of reviews would have helped us improve and make changes to products and improve the quality.
You won me for life for saying that you recognize that your negative review could put you outside of the free/early access from B&W’s marketing team. As a marketer, I know the background game of incentives and access used to put pressure on reviewers. And B&W are GIANTs in the industry. To put that relationship in jeopardy, and to let people in on what happens behind the curtain, truly shows the depth of your character. Something that I, as a viewer, rarely trust in online “personalities.”
Not just B&W, but keep in mind that we are talking about Sound United here, that is much bigger than just B&W. I also applaud the honesty here and hope you continue to receive products from Sound United in the future.
This is why I come here. No BS. Though it sucks for you, it’s a wonderful tool for us. I live (by choice) out in small town America and we just can’t drive over to the local hifi shop to audition gear. Nice to be able to come here and get some straight shooting.
You say no BS, but Andew hates all the B&W products he reviews, and loves all the Yamaha AS line of amplifiers, which I personally think sound average to good so you might be getting no BS but you are getting a load of BiaS.
The "our employees love them" was a classic passive aggressive "What the F is wrong with you" statement from a company that is full of themselves. On a side note: As an audio engineer for 40 years I am surprised that audiophiles do not employ the strongest tool in an engineer's arsenal, graphic/parametric EQ. This is how we adapt systems to changing rooms and conditions to get the absolute best sound possible yet audiophiles seem to prefer to spend thousands on different amps and speakers trying to find a pairing that fits their listening space.
Thank you!!! As an audiophile I have always been flabbergasted that people will spend thousands of dollars on cables, and amps, and stands and all kinds of crazy shit to try and eke out a small change in sound when they ignore the 5 gorillas in the room…the actual room. For most of we consumer level audiophiles I believe the answer is software like DIRAC. Help tame the room and you can add or subtract frequency response of your system to suit your taste.
I respect your opinion on the 606 S2, though I disagree with it. I auditioned the Elac Debut Reference, the Kef LS 50 Meta, and the Klipsch RP 600M before settling on the B&W 606 S2. My subjective impression's were: the Elac's sounded dull and lifeless, the LS50's imaged like no tomorrow, but had weak midrange and bass, and the Klipsch sounded harsh and analytical. I thought the 606 sounded the most well rounded of that group, so I bought them. I have listened to my 606's for hours at a time, with no fatigue. The last music I listened to was Junior Brown's greatest hits on CD and Miles Davis Kind Of Blue on 45rpm Mofi vinyl. Very different music and sources, but the B&W's sounded great to me. It might be as you said, my 59 year old ears can't compete with yours in discernment and sensitivity. To all that have commented that they will now avoid the 606 S2 based on this review, I say, this is just one man's subjective opinion, and I respect it. But, listen to these for yourself and make your decision based on personal experience. I use reviews like this as a guide, not a blueprint.
I respect and appreciate your thoughtful comment, Robert. I share your thoughts with the Elac speakers and very much liked the KEF Metas. I was not a huge fan of the 600M despite being a lover of the klipsch sound. In the end, I 100% agree that anyone considering these should listen to them for themselves and make their up their own minds. Thank you so much for sharing your own personal experience.
I’m late to the game and just picked these up as an affordable upgrade to a hifi turntable system and I gotta say these speakers are legit! It works for all kinds of music. Loud rock, soft folk, blues, jazz, all of it. Any volume and honestly any placement. I do have sensitive hearing and don’t like anything shrill. There’s nothing shrill about these speakers. Smooth and clear and full! I did biwire with 12g new wire. I hooked them up to A and B channels on a Marantz pm6007 and my source is a new Technics SL 1500c. Couldn’t be happier!
I'm over 55 with 15% hearing loss in my L ear 5% in the right. I've had the 606 for about 2 years (among other brands new and old). I pair the 606s with a Yamaha 801 and for me I really like the fact I can now hear things I've never heard before. Usually I run both channels/4 speakers of different makes and models and add a sub. I appreciate the tone controls on the Yamaha because sometimes the brightness is even too much for me. Its crazy how we all don't like the same things. And with that I thank you for your channels honesty.
Everyone, Good evening (or morning)! First, let me just say that I appreciate you all watching and for all your comments and support, even if you disagree with my views or approach to this review. I am writing to address a comment I've seen more than once on this video. With respect to "break-in", it is no secret that I think a lot of lip service is paid to the concept of break-in. To be clear, I believe both pairs of loudspeakers we had purchased for this review were appropriately "broken in." I think it is appropriate for loudspeaker drivers to be given time to loosen up, stretch their legs so to speak, but no, I did not let them play for hundreds upon hundreds of hours before listening. Here is the issue with the break-in argument from MY perspective. I've said this in a prior video, but I feel it is more likely that one gets "used to" the sound of their new speakers rather than the new speaker miraculously knowing just how to "change" so that the outcome is (always) positive. The larger question I have surrounding break-in is this; why is it that no speaker seems to get worse with break-in? So while I do not personally believe in break-in, I do believe in giving a speaker time to loosen up and that time was given to each of these speakers repeatedly. We also used these speakers with a barrage of electronics, all of which we've mostly had for a year or more and that I am intimately familiar with. So while I will likely never convince you of my views having to do with break-in, know that you will most assuredly not change my mind to yours either. So, let's be respectful, and just agree to disagree. But I hope this helps answer any questions surrounding the issue going forward. Thanks everyone and I appreciate you watching! Be well! -Andrew
Yeah if someone can tell me how to measure any difference after "break-in" I would accept it as fact. I always tell people I'd be glad to wager $1,000 if you can show me some evidence of any sonic difference (especially with the ludicrous hundreds of hours proposed). No one has ever taken me up on it... Hmmmm I wonder why?
I agree with your points about speakers “break-in”. It got so ludicrous that there was a whole cottage industry to break-in speakers. If there was anything positive about the 2007 financial meltdown was that it eliminated some of the snake oils. That break-in argument is a cop out by the manufacturers and a pass by the reviewers. On a more serious matter, can you comment on how much time were given to break in the speaker cables? 😁
I think break in is very real, noticed that my self when i got b&w 702 s2 as listen everyday i can easily spot of their is a difference the most difference is most noticeable with bass after run in
@@Pete.across.the.street while their character will stay the same no matter of its run in or not, but behavior change on the speaker after burn in, my 702 e.x was agressive and thin sounding, but they calm down eventully after some weeks
Greatly appreciate your Honor, Courage, and Commitment to Excellence and Integrity! Your Core Values and standards reflect the very reason I seek your opinions and reviews! Thank you. Very respectfully, Billy P. Martin
Thank you for your honest content. Almost every manufacturer has something a reviewer can praise, but jot with every product. 4 times over the last 20 years I’ve done everything I could to try to buy b&w, but simply couldn’t get them to easily create the timbre, timing and soundstage I desired. As gut wrenching as this review seemed to be for you two, I applaud your heart and honesty. Thank you.
I absolutely love my pair. To be honest what you described is exactly what I experienced before burn in. Its only after a few weeks of listening where the 606s came to life.
I appreciate the honesty and I know that in your position this can be a difficult thing to do. In the end you're the customer. They're your speakers and everyone gets to have their unique experience and opinions. I've actually tried to get a pair of these in and haven't had any luck. My experience with much higher end B/W's left me a bit curious about their more affordable offerings. As always, great job and thanks for your candor. I'm a bit treble sensitive and it would appear that these probably wouldn't be the speaker for me.
Thanks Randy. I have been a fan and customer of the brand for years, and while I have noticed changes over the years, nothing prepared me for this. If you're treble sensitive or like Audioslave (I know you do) avoid this speaker.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews it’s funny. I actually pulled out that record on the my Andover video that went up today. I’m really sensitive around the 2k-4K ranges and when Kristi mentioned Alanis and sibilance I know exactly what you were hearing. Some of her recordings lean that way anyway but if a speaker is prone to that then it will definitely be on display.
As a long time B&W fan with the 600 's in my home. I love hearing a honest review. You have the amazing position of testing and listening many different builds. I just realized why my wife is always telling me to turn the B&Ws down . When she even loves to listen to loud music. It all makes sense now! THANK YOU!
Not necessarily negative, but unbias honesty. Ever manufacturer needs to prove why their product is worth our money. Even if we enjoy the products they've produced in the past. So if that's what you meant then yes.
I think you handled the review perfectly. Buying 2 pair of speakers and contacting the manufacturer directly to discuss. Couldn't be more fair than that!
I’ve heard the 606S2 speakers in several settings (retail and home), and I was very pleased with the way they performed. Have listed to them paired with a Rega Brio Amp and a Bluesound Powernode (N330), and I found them very engaging and dynamic. Of course, every listener must decided for themselves, but to me they were fantastic performers.
Believe me when I say this. This review is why I watch your reviews. I want honesty, and sometimes a Company doesn't get it right or they change things that doesn't work for everyone. And if this review closes doors for you, then that tells me that those Companies are not being true to their customers. By being honest and candid, you gained my trust even more. At my age, I'm over people telling me what they think I want to hear. Your honesty is greatly appreciated. Keep up the great work.
Have loved B&W for two decades. Keep your honesty and keep detailing your personal journey. It brings authenticity and real insight into *your* review process and final result. I commend you for taking your authenticity to the correct level, despite possible deprecations.
With this review you’ve gained my respect and have truly confirmed that I subbed to the right channel. Really appreciate what you do; and have now turned on the bell icon so I never miss a video. Thank-you very much for the time and effort you put in to your content. Much appreciated! Hope you have a wonderful day.
@Bob I wasn’t born yesterday and couldn’t be further from naive. You sound like the gullible type that has that ‘sheep’ mentality. Loyal to trash no matter how trashy it is.
I had to watch this a couple of times and I thank you and Kristi’s point of view. It was a tough to watch you try to find something you liked about these speakers. Your honesty is the what makes your channel great.
Thank you both for your honest opinion! I value your thoughts and trust your judgment based on the experience I have had with your reviews! I can't put a price on the value of the information you have given me in my hifi Journey! To say I appreciate you both is an understatement!
We're always honest with you guys, but no lie, it's difficult to do this job when you know you can't just buy all the gear you need to bring you guys the content you're hungry for.
Great review. Guys, you are killin it. I love, love, love the bonus convo with Kristi. The mix of humor, expertise and huge heart make yours my favorite series on TH-cam. Membership, here I come. What y'all do is harder work than it seems- on so many levels. And I truly appreciate every bit of it.
Thank you for being open and honest and raw with us. Both of you. If Bowers and Wilkins pulls the plug on sending you things because you don’t post smiley reviews when the product hits you this way then its their loss. We very much still believe in you both and all that you do. Thank you again
Good review Andrew & bravo for being honest & giving us your impressions. I appreciate your candor & you could see it in your face there was no joy in your results. You can see the disappointment., Thx again for the review. This is why I subscribe. 👍
I watched this review before I went and tried these speakers out for myself at my local audio shop. I couldn’t be any happier with my purchase. I have them set up in a 3.2x3.2m insulated room with a 1.8x1.5m double glazed window - on the matching B&W stands 500mm from the back and side wall as recommended. After playing them for around 50 hours with various types of music they’ve really opened up. They’re a bit on the bright side, as the 600 S2 series is (I have a set of 603 S2’s in my main living area) but they don’t seem aggressively bright to me. I find them very accurate with that beautiful B&W sound and they do pack a good punch in the lower end too. I’m not using these on ‘high end’ gear either. I’m Using an early 00’s Yamaha AX-596 Natural Sound Stereo amplifier as a preamp into a Rotel RB1582 power amplifier. I have been sitting and playing them for many hours at a time and I haven’t found them fatiguing. I’d recommend to anyone thinking about these speakers to go and try them for yourself with similar gear to what you use at home and decide for yourself before purchasing. It might be a bad experience like it was for Andrew or it might be an incredible one like mine. Love these speakers!
I've had my b&w 607 speakers for over a year now. I absolutely adore them. As I still live with my parents, I have them in my rather small bedroom and I find they fill the room wonderfully. When I eventually move out and add to my set-up, I'm definitely sticking with Bowers & Wilkins!
I realy think has tested them right out of the box without letting them play for a while... I realy can't understand his video after also been in a hifi Store and comparing so many speaker
Honesty is the best policy. Don't worry guys, BnW are not likely to black list you for one accurate and honest review. Lol Real and honest reviews are are always worth listening to and are more thought provoking than same stuff different day product reviews. This was far more interesting than biased opinion based on preference from brand loyalty or sponsor driven buzz. You two got real and i like it. Keep up the great work , you two are awesome.
Andrew spent too much time trying to convince himself that what he heard wasn't a mess... This was a bit hard to watch... Your job is to review speakers and Bowers to make them better. Audio is subjective and there will be a spectrum from 1-10 on these. So what if Bowers is upset? Honesty is ALWAYS the best policy. TOO MANY reviewers kiss up to the big brands like they're feeding them, and its quite sad. Keep being honest for your viewers, INTEGRITY is everything!!!!!!
I understand the point you are trying to make but as you can see by the comments, people not just B&W, feel VERY strongly about this and their own beliefs. Had we not made every effort to confirm our findings, it would be even worse. Despite the lengths gone to in order to make certain the speakers weren’t broken not to mention reaching out to BW for comment, viewers still attack our credibility and integrity. We knew this would happen going in because that IS the nature of people and this business.
@@KristiWright this is why being a CEO or President of the USA or any form of leader is such a tough job, because at some point you're gonna be forced to make a call and live with it and it may be unpopular. BUT do you do it for fear of a handful of people or do you just DO THE RIGHT THING... Kristi you and Andrew have to sleep at nights with a clear conscience, and the money and fans will come and go, but be comforted by the fact that you did your honest doing.... Remember, despite all the good Jesus did, there were many who still hated him. Many reviewers on here wanna be everybody's friend and they enjoy living in that gray area of just asking questions, but not definitely saying what they truly think about the product, for fear if a negative feedback and brands not sending them products giving them perks and access. We the viewers don't want vague assumptions, we wanna know your genuine experience with the product and if it sucks SAY IT and hold your head up high because you told the TRUTH.
Wow . Good honesty I really like them . Im using a 150 watt pre , power amp combination. Biwired with good copper cable. Forward treble yes but clear, clean and detailed for me . Tonally Quite neutral speakers , fast dynamics and while not the deepest bass, very tight and detailed . My amps are smooth so everyone says in reviews .
YES. "Forward treble yes but clear, clean and detailed for me . Tonally Quite neutral speakers , fast dynamics and while not the deepest bass, very tight and detailed". That is exactly correct.
Thank you for this review. I demoed these side by side with Dali Oberon 1s and thought they sounded terrible compared to the Dalis. When I looked online I couldn't understand why these speakers were getting such glowing reviews.
Yep, bought these at BB, hooked em up and after about 15 minutes of critical listening my ears literally started aching - packed 'em up and returned them the same day. Really disappointing that some other reviewers are hyping what is obviously a crappy speaker design.
You should have broken them in first. Put nearly 70 hours through mine and they smoothed out quite a bit in the high frequencies along with also beefy low end extension.
@@HomeTheatre101 35 years of buying and listening to many speakers, with only one exception I have never observed any so called 'break in' - I've had the original 600's for almost 10 years, and they were great, the 606S2's simply don't live up to the B&W name.
One of my favorite things to do while watching a review of any audio gear if the reviewer mentions a track they used during their testing I will pause the video and go listen to the track on my system and compare what I hear to what the reviewer said they hear from the gear they are reviewing. I am happy to say that my Canton Vento 896.2's sound amazing while listening to Audioslave's Show me how to live. I actually had that album when I was a teenager and it was one of my favorites. I feel like I've re-discovered it now so thank you Andrew Robinson!
Thanks for the honest review. I hope it shames the reviewers that say "I never publish a negative review". They are basically saying "I don't care if the consumer is screwed over". Good work Robinsons!
Appreciate you watching, Alan. RE: Shaming - That is not the goal here. Other reviewers have to do what works for them. This was simply our experience.
Blown away. I’ve found your reviews and Zero Fidelity’s really reliable so wasn’t expecting such a divide on a product like this. He typically hates B&W but liked the 607s, and he’s usually not at all into a hyperactive high end. Thanks for the review.
To be fair, I just looked back at Zero’s review and you both basically heard it the same, but he suggested very specific pairing information to get the best out of the 607s.
Thanks for watching. Had we found an amplifier than helped correct the tweeter’s high end frequency issues, we would have absolutely shared that information with you. From our perspective, we went out of our way to find a solution that would benefit this speaker. After all, we put something like 6 different amplifiers to these two speakers (the 606 and 607) to no avail. Once B&W confirmed that they did not see system matching (beyond a 30W recommendation) as a requirement to get the best from these speakers, we moved on. I have no idea what Sean used in his review process so I won’t speak to that. I believe that if this issue we found was correctable, we’d have found a way and we simply did not. Sean claims that he got used to sound after time. We did not. It’s that simple.
@@KristiWright Yeah, I was grateful for your perspective and could tell it was obviously a disappointment. I’m normally with Sean in liking more relaxed, controlled and warm sound signatures so was surprised he opened up to this. Anyway, love what you do. You guys got me really hyped for the Technics, I think that might be our living room endgame.
@MB D @Kristi Wright - In Sean's review, he did mentioned the speakers are not for everyone. Even Sean himself needs several days to slowly "get used to" the sound signature. It is a subtle way to say the speakers' high frequency response is boosted beyond most other speakers he reviewed.
Please, don't try to apologize for an honest review! B&W is known for decades to have a peculiar sound, some people likes it, some people don't. I tweaked many speakers in my day and many 'Hi-fi' products are nasty. Stand by your opinions! That's why those kind of channels are so important to the audiophile community. Keep up the good work!
I’ve been following your channel for around a year already and I must say that you guys don’t have to apologize for slaughtering a bad product specially when the manufacturer seems to be proud of their poor work and if Bowers decides not to send you any other products for review because of this one then they are the ones who loose the chance to have their gear being seen by the almost 200K of us who follows this channel.
Just doing our best to be professional. When we really love something, it’s all “paid review” in the comments. If we had dropped the hammer on this speaker with a smile on our face and a Parks & Rec clip of Ron throwing his computer in the trash, I don’t think that would have gone over very well either. Which leaves me feeling like the goal posts are constantly moving.
Andrew, thank you for your honest and subjective review. I appreciate the time you put into these. To anybody wasting their time with a negative post, get over it. It's a speaker review on TH-cam, and he may have a point!
I gave you both a thumbs-up for an honest appraisal of these speakers which made a refreshing change. I thought your criticisms were well argued and delivered with passion rather than malice. Well done both of you. And yes, I am a B&W speaker owner..
Anton, I really appreciate you saying that. Kristi and I wanted to ensure, despite the negative tone of the review overall, that we were respectful of B&W as much as possible but also respectful to you, the viewer. It would've been easier to just rant or "go off" and let our emotions dictate the tone, but we knew going that route wouldn't do you all justice.
As a new owner of the 607 S2, the high can be fairly easily adjusted to your taste, by turning down the treble slightly on the tonal control of your amplifier. I think the midrange and bass are gorgeous, and the transparency and details are phenomenal.
Yes, Danny at GR Research pulled the 607's apart and they were pretty much garbage. The crossover used 1st order filters which are totally inappropriate for the drivers that Bowers is using. The boxes have way too much resonance and the frequency response of the speaker is very messy. And Andrew and Kristi gave these speakers a very fair try out.
So no-one like to call out the mega brand and for me I'm a fan and live literally 5 minutes from the factory in Worthing... However I bought a pair of 606's (non anniversary) and what struck me out of the box was the very lightweight build quality of the cabinet and the basic 90's Aiwa finish. I just bought some little Wharfedale diamonds at the same time and they had way more heft but I do love the simple, clean look of the front baffle. Anyways after setting them up I found the speaker really, really bright even at minimal volume. I gave them some run in time but still very bright and they get harsh as the volume increases. I now don't really listen to them that much as a result even though I love the sound stage and the bass. Another thing that surprised me... I just happened to peer into the back with my flashlight one day and a part of the magnet is chipped off from the factory!
Thank you so much for the honest review. Keep up the good work. I'm super sensitive to high frequencies and I was thinking of buying these speakers or 607 S2. You two saved me a lot of time, money, and headage. I do like BW as a company and I hope they understand that reviews are reviews. If you don't like something... You should always tell that to consumers. If BW puts you on some blacklist. Then I'll blacklist the company that started my audio hobby 20 years ago.
It's so interesting, how one person's reasons to buy this speaker is another's to hate it! I actually bought these speakers after comparing to the 707, KEF's LS50w and some Monitor Audios, just because of how punchy and crispy they sound and I haven't looked back. In fact, everyone who visited me while i had all these side by side to decide also told me hands down they liked the 606 in a blind test. Now, I think that may be down to matching with the rest of the system, as well as the particular type of my living room, which due to the shape is very bassy, so it might be compensating for that. This would mean that in a different type of space it would sound much different, who knows?
I had to put down the pizza slice, wash my hands and write this review of your review. THIS is why you are one of the top three reviewers in all of TH-cam Land…full stop. You are not only about as unbiased as they come, but you have tact and respect in your presentation. Especially when it comes to the “Big Brands”, they deserve the same level of scrutiny..maybe more because they are the big dogs. I have personally heard and agreed with your reviews (RP-8000f) for example. I believe we share sonic tastes, at least to some degree. If B&W want to release a speaker and stand by it’s ultra revealing and ultra bright signature and claim; “this is the way we like it, we did this on purpose”. Cool for them, a C- is a C- is doesn’t matter who’s work it was. I would let you grade my work because I feel you are fair, bring intellect, passion and you are FAIR. Bravo to both of you!!
I bought a pair of 606s two months ago and like them a lot. I took your advice - I figured my 70+ year old ears wouldn't be too concerned with the speaker being "too bright." My collection is 100% classical. I'm also using a standard AV receiver. Perfectly happy.
Thanks, Andrew and Kristi, for your honest reviews of these Bowers & Wilkins 605 S2 speakers. Regardless of whether or not a product is good or bad or lives up to your expectations, I respect your in-depth reviews always and if anything, I have even more respect for your reviews when, in all honesty, you cannot recommend a product because they have missed the mark. As you stated, those are always much tougher reviews to make or to film, particularly when you have gone out of your way to pair these specific speakers with different amplifiers, etc. or to attempt to hammer out any issues. You did everything you could possibly do. So, thank you and keep up the great work.
I auditioned six speakers during my purchase and among them were 606's. I auditioned fyne, linn, focal, dali and as part of the process I brought along my wife as a neutral, she had no knowledge of price or which I was leaning towards, I also used my own amp. She rounded it down to the linn and Bowers and when I then told her the price difference we opted 606's. I would like to add I could of had any one but I've never regretted my choice.
I so enjoy Kristi's contributions, especially here. That you both are so on the same page with this, is remarkable. The female ear for sound is quite different than the male. That you, Andrew gave this honest and untempered hard review (as is your usual) is "sweet"! It's as If one of your best friends let you down. Aaaaand.....though it may be true, Mr. Kerrr gave a typical corporate review not really delving into your consumer concerns as a long time advocate of the B&W products.
Your honesty is refreshing, especially since you clearly struggle with having to deliver the bad news. That you did it anyway means a lot to us watching your channel for valid insight into products that we may end up putting real money down for. It’s not your fault that these speakers ever saw the light of day. I’ll never hear them but your visceral reaction tells me they sound as bad as you’re saying. Brand fans will defend them because that’s what brand fans do but it always amazes me when a company known for excellence falls so far from the mark set by their place in the market and their history. Did a new guy take over that’s a great company builder but doesn’t know audio? Did they have a bunch of fan boy engineers get their way and now they can’t lose face? Clearly they’ve forgotten the only thing that matters and that’s that what comes out of that box is the product. Not the box or the binding posts or the veneer. Fix that. Make that great and I’ll live with a lot of other compromises. Now, where’s the Paradigm review? What else could you be hinting at for the past week or so?
Just to be clear (in case it wasn’t), we are big B&W fans. According to Mr Kerr the same group responsible for products we liked (Duo and 702 Sig) are behind these. Paradigm continues to ignore our emails. It’s not them.
@@KristiWright I’m sorry, I didn’t clearly include that you both being longtime fans of the brand also made this review even harder to do. I have no criticism of the review. I think it was just as informative as any other, maybe even more so because it may have cost you both an important association. My musings about how they got released were just that, me wondering out loud. I have no knowledge of the people at that company. This review makes me trust Andrew’s opinion even more because I know he’ll say something sucks if it does and he’ll explain why. Bravo!
It took me a day or two to get to this one. I come to your channel (and others) for several reasons, but the MAIN reason is your honest opinion on gear and design. I am not looking for an ad for certain products. If I wanted a 'yes man' I'd just go to these companies' websites. Certainly we understand the fact that a product will miss the target once and a while. I am surprised it doesn't happen more often. Keep up the amazing work. Move along, haters. Nothing to see here. :)
Another great well reasoned and thoughtful review. Appreciate that though the speakers weren't sent from the manufacturer you still reached out to get their statement on them.
I very much appreciate the honesty and integrity demonstrated in this video. You could have easily shilled a mixed review to maintain your relationship with B&W, but instead placed your reputation and editorial independence above all. Also, thank you for airing the ethical quandary you both felt about how to review these speakers. That kind of ethical torment over saying something negative about something you love is something I as a Canadian deeply identify with. Andrew, Kristie: I think you both became honourary Canadians in this video 😁🇨🇦
I bought these as my first set of speakers and I second everything you said. I always thought it was me pairing them with my Cambridge Cxa60 that caused the fatigue, I guess not. Appreciate the honesty Andrew.
Nice to see a reviewer go out on a limb for the subscriber and not simply stay silent when they hear a speaker they do not like. Not everyone will agree. But at least you gave an opinion and I think that is fabulous
Thank you for your integrity. This is never easy, especially when it's your livelihood, but it's important to not give people the wrong pretenses. And maybe someone loves the way these sound, but it's good to know that you can go in cautiously at least.
I know people love these speakers and I am not here to change their minds. You should always listen and decide for yourself, for this speaker proves different strokes for different folks.
You've earned a subscription from me based on this review. I learned in management that the hardest thing to do is give a bad performance review and I'm sure thats equally true in review hifi equipment. My experience with the B&W 606s was the same as yours. These speakers are just bright and forward sounding. Curious abouth the sound of the Elac Carinas. Thanks for being bold enough to say what you felt about these speakers. If you've earned the wrath of B&W so be it. Your viewers deserve your honest opinion.
I've had my pair of 606 anniversary for a couple of months and I am quite happy with them. I listen to jazz, rock and classical music, usually not on high volumes. Room is 8 by 4 metres. I use denon cd and record deck, and yamaha receiver. I guess you should never buy a loudspeaker withou having compared them to other brands. There is a lot to choose from in the market.
My hats off to You Madam and Sir. Your honesty is much appreciated by your loyal audience. Your claims are valid because you are consumers that care. Your integrity is showing - and we thank you for it.
I have the 606, but not S2 edition. Paired with an Onkyo RZ50. I love the sound. Really enjoy this channel and respect your opinion. Thanks for being honest to what you think
I've had the non-anniversary version of the 606 paired with Marantz PM6006 for a few years now, and I've never regretted my choice. Generally listen to 70s music (Queen, Jethro Tull, Abba) but predominantly Metal and I've never experienced fatigue or felt that the high end is too bright. In fact, I prefer the brightness...it makes the experience more engaging. But perhaps that's why this is all very subjective. When I first got it I gave it a solid 50hrs of play-in and it's been smooth sailing ever since. I'm actually pretty surprised that these speakers gave you guys such a terrible listening experience, that's really unfortunate - My wife and I just had a much much different experience. Thanks for the review though.
Very interesting... Actually using my 606 S2 right now and I love mine! I also have some Klipsch and these aren’t as bright. The details pop. They are not harsh or fatiguing imo.
I hear the pain in your review of these speakers, but thank you for being honest about this, I took your advice on the Klipsch 8000f's and have love them from day one. Honesty is getting harder to find on internet, glad I found it here.
@Andrew Robinson, please do not lose any sleep over this review, I for one have always appreciated your candor, and would not want you to sacrifice your integrity over a product. I also do not want you getting ill again( I've been a fan of yours a long time) and care more about you than any product. If Sound United want to stop sending you products because of this, I say let them...it honestly says more about them than you. I encourage you and your wife to keep doing the great work that you're known for a good things will happen. Every product isn't great, or great for everyone, and there's nothing wrong with expressing that, especially when it's your honest experience and opinion. I hope that you are Kristi stay well, be safe and we look forward to the next video. 😊 ✊🏿🙏🏿
The way in which each person perceives the sound is subjective. That's the reason why it is so complicated to understand what means "this sounds good". Both of you try to describe the kind of sound that each piece of something that you test produce and you do that always in the same consistent way. Same objectivities and same subjectivities and in that way we can understand. Good work. We keep listening.
I auditioned six different speakers varying from fyne, focal, linn and Dali among them. During this process I also had a neutral observer ie the wife, who was not really interested. So during this process I kept the material the same and kept my wife ignorant of my preference and price. As we went through the process the Linn 109's rose to the top..... until we auditioned the 606 S2! At which point my wife couldn't decide until I told her the price difference!
Thank you for doing this review. I admire your honesty. I've learned through hard experience that matching speakers and amps can be a difficult experience. Due to location many of my purchases have been made based on reviews, not listening. Which has led to a 5 star reviewed amp being bought then sold as well as many other purchases and sales. I've finally ended up with a mid-fi system that I love. I've also learned to be highly selective about which reviewers to bother with. You are excellent, keep up the good work.
Congratulations for one of the first honest reviews about these speakers. This move from B&W towards extremely agressive high frequencies started at the top level with the 800's D. Some say, about the same time they move from being a top hifi manufacturer to a luxury furniture manufacturer. Listen to these speakers a few month ago. The sibilance is unnaceptable and ruins most female vocals on regular recordings. The guy from B&W is being sincere: this is the way they want these speakers to sound. These speakers stand out from their competitors for having a much more aggressive sound and appearing at first sight more transparent and detailed. In fact what happens is that they are very unbalanced speakers where the tweeter seems to have a boost of 6db or more. It's a bit like the TVs that are on display in a store and are set to full brightness. I've been a B&W fan for over 30 years but I have to recognize that in the last decade, in most cases, the sound quality no longer matches the status and price of the equipment. Thanks for the review.
Well, at the end of the day, ure right. it all boils down to the individual. At least thats an honest review. Kudis to you for that.. Really enjoyed it.
Ultimate respect for your complete honesty on this, I can hear how hard it was for you to present this review. 911 meeting at B&W tomorrow for sure, & I hope they learn from this & get those speakers back on the drawing board.
Hello everyone! I am quite new to the audiophile world and getting me own personal experience along the way. I am 16 and have had these speakers for almost a year now. I paired them with an NAD D 3045 and use them daily. The sit on my desk and use them with my computer. I have loved using them and never found them to be fatiguing at all. I don't have many references that are mine but I have used my fathers 606 (first edition) for over 3 years as well as some other high end floor standers. I really like the 607 S2 as they feel to bring a natural sound with well balanced highs and mids. One thing to note is the bass can get overwhelming over long listening sessions so I place the a little closer to the wall and use the foam inserts provided. Hope this helps anyone!
I‘ve just picked up my pair from my HiFi Dealer. I have been actively looking for a new pair of Bookshelf speakers to replace my ancient Grundig speakers. Last year, i auditioned the Dali Oberon 3 vs. the 606 S2 on a Bluesound Powernode. From that listening I totally agree with your review. In that scenario, the high end was squeeky and they didn’t sound good at all. I almost bought the Dali, but I wanted to listen to more speakers to narrow down my decision. Last week, I went to another store to listen to some bookshelf speakers again. The salesmen instantly suggested the 606 S2 and was astonished by my experience in the other store. So I listened to the ELAC Debut Reference at first, but right afterwards switched to the 606 S2 and the difference was big. The 606 were sounding absolutely stunning, totally different then I remembered. After listening to different genres of music, I bought these speakers. I am in the burn-in process but so far I am really enjoying them coupled to my Cambridge Audio AXR100D. But I can definetly understand where you are coming from.
I own these speakers and love them. Paired with a Cambridge Audio CXA80 integrated amp. Remarkably though, your comments are 100% how I feel about the Klipsch RP-600M which everyone raves about. Like you said, it's all subjective.
This review still garners posts. I believe it’s because owners know what a solid piece of kit this is. I recently bought a pair of 606 s2 AE after viewing this review. Although initially the speakers are rather bright, do give them 50 hours of play, tighten up those jumpers in the back, and make sure you experiment with placement and do not toe in more than a few degrees. I am hearing soft air around vocals, separation of instruments -and cohesion of music I’ve never experienced in any of my earlier standmount purchases. I got them on sale and partner them with an SVS subwoofer because all small speakers need the reinforcement. I partner them with a Yamaha 100 watt Integrated that has its oddball variable loudness control. If any recording seems a touch bright, the loudness / presence cut will ease up on the treble. All in all, a tremendous value at $799 and a speaker that ages well and sounds better with time and patience. You will hear things on a recording that you cannot on your other Usual Suspects at the $800-$1000 range.
im currently looking to get a 607 s2 as i found them around half off from original price at a trusted retailer , but im worried ill somehow get tired of the bright sound.Did you give them 50 playtime at low volume?
@@RioPutra_ I recently returned the 607s. There were a couple of my favorite tracks that did not play well with these tweeters. Maybe it was a faulty unit but I don’t think so. I ended up getting a set of Elacs and am very happy with their smooth profile. I miss the 607s often; bass accuracy is amazing and mids are plentiful. The detail is remarkable. But if the tweeters sizzle at your favorite tracks…. Oh well. I think the 607 are just too big for my room. Maybe they will work for you if you work the tone controls on the amp.
@@naqqashsharif5561 i currently have the svs prime wireless pro soundbase that doesnt have tone controls :(, but ill give the 607 another listen before confirming my purchase. Thanks!
Take every review and opinion as just that...someone's opinion. I wish that reviewers would spend some time reviewing them with a sub or in a home theater set up. As straight listening to 2 channel music not room EQd I guess I can see that but paired with my subwoofers I have the 606 S2 and they sound Fantastic in my room for 2 channel music and they are part of a larger surround system and are Amazing with movies. I won't go into anymore but I am almost 50 and have owned tons of speakers in my life. These are up there with some of the best I have had.
Great review. B&W is my favorite line as I run them on two of my systems so it is great to hear when something by them just may not be up to previous work. Cudos too on giving BW a voice in the review. Much respect to you and them.
Oh I have NOTHING BUT RESPECT for B&W. I was respectful, but basically calling Mr. Kerr's product bad in my email conversation with him and he wasn't defensive or in any way disrespectful towards me or my wife. ABSOLUTE PROFESSIONAL! B&W is a classy company, full stop! I will always be a fan and look forward to what they do next!
Hello, my english is not so good. I own a pair B&W CDM 1 until last Year and i was impressed to the sound of this Speakers. Then i want something new from B&W and buy the new 606 Speakers. First i was thinking, wow what a dynamic, forward Sound. I invite a friend (he loves Classic Music), he was very disappointed to the sound and i am too. No warmness , harsh Highs, he don’t won’t to listen further. In the next Month’s i heard a lot kinds of my CDs with all Kinds of Musik. Only when i hear perfectly Recordings, i was still in love with the sound, but only a few CDs can offer this quality. My favorite Albums and Bands from the 70s, 80s,90s (Toto, New Wave etc) are often unhearable. You mind there is something wrong in the recording, but it isn‘t . There is a lot of Harshness, Soundholes, and even more mistakes. I own a pair of Chario Speakers in my living room, no Problem with any kind of Music. I will say you‘re right with your Review. This Speaker is wrong engineered, its was constructed for the fast catch of Listening, to sell it better and faster. I‘am an audiophile about 30 Years and longer, i wondered that there is only a few critical words to this Series in the Press. Well done B&W Marketing!!! Know i am safe, that my Ears and Instincts are well. Thank you very much!!! I now looking out to sell my 606 and buy a pair of right speakers. Greetings from Germany
I have the b&w dm602s2 when I had naim nait5i amp and cd5i I found they caused my 602s to sound pretty bright in the high frequencies but soon as I swapped them with yamaha ax396 and onkyo CD player I found my music gained more detail and my b&ws forward treble was brought back under control and became more dynamic and detailed
Thanks for a fair and honest review Andrew! It is obvious that you, Kristi , and rest of the crew put a TREMENDOUS amount of effort and time to produce quality content that is not only informative but entertaining, and it shows consistently throughout. So thank you...Wish you the all the best!!
This is true. I bought this pair to replace my old q acoustics 2020, which sounded too mellow for me. I tested this pair of speakers and the initial impression i had was that it sounded more alive. After a few hours, it started to annoy me. Now it sounds like a crazy tambourine. It's like someone put 10 tweeters in it. However, one thing i liked about the 606, is that it pissed me off enough to make me get the Magnepan LRS. Those speakers are proof that you don't need boosted treble for detail. And the LRS makes the 606 sound like a little metal box. Thank you Andrew, I thought it was just me.
I love how you guys allow viewers to skip ahead to specific times in your reviews in your comment section. Really awesome feature. Glad you told everyone what you really felt about the speakers. If companies stop sending you products to review because of it that really says a lot about that company.
I dont have any of the problems that he listed. So all I can say is room acustics and setup, and amp will make all the difference. Along with personal preference. I love my 606 so 1 negative review out of thousands of positive shouldnt push anyone away from listening to them themselves and forming their own opinion. You can't make everyone happy and of course any speaker will have someone who says they don't like it. I just believe that when it comes to sound you need to hear it for yourself when talking premium audio to make a proper decision.
A+ BROTHER FOR YOU HONESTY! I used to be the same way when I did audio for AVS not always a positive thing for companies lol .Oh well. Plus obviously he has to say that he has to back pedal to save face lol.
Personally I am glad that a reviewer is being honest. I've seen the charts on these speakers from someone that fixes crossovers. These have a huge hole in them in the mid and are bright. I can't imagine what they must sound like.
that is the point, How This speakers have all those "issues" and sound so Good, Believe me i did all the test with all kind of music and this speakers are amazing. i got 5.1 and all my speakers are B&W
I've had them since October last year. They are my entry point into HiFi. I first had them connected to the cheapest Denon PMA600NE amp . And although I was so happy just from the fact that I had a hi-fi now, something bugged me. So I did more research and bought Rotel A-11 Tribute. And the difference is jaw-dropping. The speakers started to sing with freedom and dynamics that were missing with Denon. Not sure what else to say, but if my setup is crap, gosh, I do now wonder what a good setup is like. With love and respect from Russia.
Not surprised they sounded even more dynamic and free with the Rotel. The Denon (to me) is a bit soft and blurry around the edges and definitely sluggish or soft in the bass, which the Rotel does NOT suffer from.
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Analytical sounding is tyring. They need a kick up the ass to get good again. Pm1 days are long gone!
@@martinvegas1327 Ooh I loved the PM1s. That was SUCH A COOL speaker.
I wonder if the tower in this series would sound the same to you, or separating the lows and mids entirely would somehow help the highs. Balance them out if you will. I have the 603 S2s paired with Rotel RA-1592. Never fatigued by them at all. But great review, thank you guys!
@@zachariahadams Not today. Sorry.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews can you inform me why no one ever reviews the speakers made by a company called, nht, now hear this?. They're "super zero" speaker can easily stand up to anything I've ever seen you review. So.............
If reviewers actually had to spend their own money to buy the products they review, you might actually see more "negative" reviews. Much respect for Andrew telling his personal experience.
He returned the speakers and spent $0.
@@bryanherr1093 By letting them know something to the effect “next time make sure you give it to me for free”... Maybe.
And by not reading the manual saying it needs 50h playtime for perfekt sound... I Hope he also didn't use the room in the Background
I personally appreciate the honesty you have shown here. As a product manager for products outside this industry, this kind of reviews hurt, however, it does give us product designers a feel for where we stand and where we need to go. That is better than not knowing at all or being misled. Honesty is always the best policy. Sound United would be fools to not leverage your input and knowledge in the future.
As a follower of your channel, as well as others, we must remember that sometimes we just have to hear it for ourselves. God bless.
Keep up the good work.
Scott, I appreciate your candor very much! Thank you!
HI Scott. Your comment here are right on point! Totally agree. To me, these type of reviews are an opportunity for companies to improve their products. As a former purchaser for a hardware company, I often wondered why we had high returns on certain products. These type of reviews would have helped us improve and make changes to products and improve the quality.
Having been in the business for more than 25 years....
"They ain't all winners".
Tell it like YOU hear it.
Thank you!
You won me for life for saying that you recognize that your negative review could put you outside of the free/early access from B&W’s marketing team.
As a marketer, I know the background game of incentives and access used to put pressure on reviewers. And B&W are GIANTs in the industry.
To put that relationship in jeopardy, and to let people in on what happens behind the curtain, truly shows the depth of your character. Something that I, as a viewer, rarely trust in online “personalities.”
Well said.
Not just B&W, but keep in mind that we are talking about Sound United here, that is much bigger than just B&W. I also applaud the honesty here and hope you continue to receive products from Sound United in the future.
This is why I come here. No BS. Though it sucks for you, it’s a wonderful tool for us. I live (by choice) out in small town America and we just can’t drive over to the local hifi shop to audition gear. Nice to be able to come here and get some straight shooting.
We try to keep it 100 all the time.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews and you do one hell of a good job
You say no BS, but Andew hates all the B&W products he reviews, and loves all the Yamaha AS line of amplifiers, which I personally think sound average to good so you might be getting no BS but you are getting a load of BiaS.
The "our employees love them" was a classic passive aggressive "What the F is wrong with you" statement from a company that is full of themselves.
On a side note: As an audio engineer for 40 years I am surprised that audiophiles do not employ the strongest tool in an engineer's arsenal, graphic/parametric EQ. This is how we adapt systems to changing rooms and conditions to get the absolute best sound possible yet audiophiles seem to prefer to spend thousands on different amps and speakers trying to find a pairing that fits their listening space.
Thank you!!! As an audiophile I have always been flabbergasted that people will spend thousands of dollars on cables, and amps, and stands and all kinds of crazy shit to try and eke out a small change in sound when they ignore the 5 gorillas in the room…the actual room. For most of we consumer level audiophiles I believe the answer is software like DIRAC. Help tame the room and you can add or subtract frequency response of your system to suit your taste.
This is why i use headphones mostly these days.
I respect your opinion on the 606 S2, though I disagree with it. I auditioned the Elac Debut Reference, the Kef LS 50 Meta, and the Klipsch RP 600M before settling on the B&W 606 S2. My subjective impression's were: the Elac's sounded dull and lifeless, the LS50's imaged like no tomorrow, but had weak midrange and bass, and the Klipsch sounded harsh and analytical. I thought the 606 sounded the most well rounded of that group, so I bought them. I have listened to my 606's for hours at a time, with no fatigue. The last music I listened to was Junior Brown's greatest hits on CD and Miles Davis Kind Of Blue on 45rpm Mofi vinyl. Very different music and sources, but the B&W's sounded great to me. It might be as you said, my 59 year old ears can't compete with yours in discernment and sensitivity. To all that have commented that they will now avoid the 606 S2 based on this review, I say, this is just one man's subjective opinion, and I respect it. But, listen to these for yourself and make your decision based on personal experience. I use reviews like this as a guide, not a blueprint.
I respect and appreciate your thoughtful comment, Robert. I share your thoughts with the Elac speakers and very much liked the KEF Metas. I was not a huge fan of the 600M despite being a lover of the klipsch sound. In the end, I 100% agree that anyone considering these should listen to them for themselves and make their up their own minds. Thank you so much for sharing your own personal experience.
Robert, you may have just won my comment of the day. Thank you and I agree with you 100%.
You phrased this so much better than I could. Thank you. My experience with the 606 S2 parallels yours.
Couldn’t have said it better. I love mine!
Robert - your comment makes sense. When you poll the reviews by very qualified reviewers - the 607-2 is quite well thought of.
I’m late to the game and just picked these up as an affordable upgrade to a hifi turntable system and I gotta say these speakers are legit! It works for all kinds of music. Loud rock, soft folk, blues, jazz, all of it. Any volume and honestly any placement. I do have sensitive hearing and don’t like anything shrill. There’s nothing shrill about these speakers. Smooth and clear and full! I did biwire with 12g new wire. I hooked them up to A and B channels on a Marantz pm6007 and my source is a new Technics SL 1500c. Couldn’t be happier!
Good for you guys for having the balls to say what you believe even if it can be against your own interests to do so. True sign of character.
I'm over 55 with 15% hearing loss in my L ear 5% in the right. I've had the 606 for about 2 years (among other brands new and old). I pair the 606s with a Yamaha 801 and for me I really like the fact I can now hear things I've never heard before. Usually I run both channels/4 speakers of different makes and models and add a sub. I appreciate the tone controls on the Yamaha because sometimes the brightness is even too much for me.
Its crazy how we all don't like the same things. And with that I thank you for your channels honesty.
Everyone,
Good evening (or morning)! First, let me just say that I appreciate you all watching and for all your comments and support, even if you disagree with my views or approach to this review. I am writing to address a comment I've seen more than once on this video. With respect to "break-in", it is no secret that I think a lot of lip service is paid to the concept of break-in. To be clear, I believe both pairs of loudspeakers we had purchased for this review were appropriately "broken in." I think it is appropriate for loudspeaker drivers to be given time to loosen up, stretch their legs so to speak, but no, I did not let them play for hundreds upon hundreds of hours before listening.
Here is the issue with the break-in argument from MY perspective. I've said this in a prior video, but I feel it is more likely that one gets "used to" the sound of their new speakers rather than the new speaker miraculously knowing just how to "change" so that the outcome is (always) positive. The larger question I have surrounding break-in is this; why is it that no speaker seems to get worse with break-in?
So while I do not personally believe in break-in, I do believe in giving a speaker time to loosen up and that time was given to each of these speakers repeatedly. We also used these speakers with a barrage of electronics, all of which we've mostly had for a year or more and that I am intimately familiar with. So while I will likely never convince you of my views having to do with break-in, know that you will most assuredly not change my mind to yours either. So, let's be respectful, and just agree to disagree. But I hope this helps answer any questions surrounding the issue going forward.
Thanks everyone and I appreciate you watching! Be well!
-Andrew
Yeah if someone can tell me how to measure any difference after "break-in" I would accept it as fact. I always tell people I'd be glad to wager $1,000 if you can show me some evidence of any sonic difference (especially with the ludicrous hundreds of hours proposed). No one has ever taken me up on it... Hmmmm I wonder why?
I agree with your points about speakers “break-in”.
It got so ludicrous that there was a whole cottage industry to break-in speakers. If there was anything positive about the 2007 financial meltdown was that it eliminated some of the snake oils.
That break-in argument is a cop out by the manufacturers and a pass by the reviewers.
On a more serious matter, can you comment on how much time were given to break in the speaker cables? 😁
Well said Andrew. Keep up the great work!
I think break in is very real, noticed that my self when i got b&w 702 s2 as listen everyday i can easily spot of their is a difference the most difference is most noticeable with bass after run in
@@Pete.across.the.street while their character will stay the same no matter of its run in or not, but behavior change on the speaker after burn in, my 702 e.x was agressive and thin sounding, but they calm down eventully after some weeks
Andrew and Christy I am so proud of you guys being honest I will continue falling you and reviewing you on TH-cam thank you very much take care
Greatly appreciate your Honor, Courage, and Commitment to Excellence and Integrity!
Your Core Values and standards reflect the very reason I seek your opinions and reviews!
Thank you.
Very respectfully,
Billy P. Martin
Thank you for your honest content. Almost every manufacturer has something a reviewer can praise, but jot with every product. 4 times over the last 20 years I’ve done everything I could to try to buy b&w, but simply couldn’t get them to easily create the timbre, timing and soundstage I desired. As gut wrenching as this review seemed to be for you two, I applaud your heart and honesty. Thank you.
I absolutely love my pair. To be honest what you described is exactly what I experienced before burn in. Its only after a few weeks of listening where the 606s came to life.
I appreciate the honesty and I know that in your position this can be a difficult thing to do. In the end you're the customer. They're your speakers and everyone gets to have their unique experience and opinions. I've actually tried to get a pair of these in and haven't had any luck. My experience with much higher end B/W's left me a bit curious about their more affordable offerings. As always, great job and thanks for your candor. I'm a bit treble sensitive and it would appear that these probably wouldn't be the speaker for me.
❤️
Thanks Randy. I have been a fan and customer of the brand for years, and while I have noticed changes over the years, nothing prepared me for this. If you're treble sensitive or like Audioslave (I know you do) avoid this speaker.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews The only solution for this, is a Between Two Speakers part 2 haha
@@StellarAudyssey Randy is trying to make that happen. I might let him...if he keeps being good 😂
@@andrewrobinsonreviews it’s funny. I actually pulled out that record on the my Andover video that went up today. I’m really sensitive around the 2k-4K ranges and when Kristi mentioned Alanis and sibilance I know exactly what you were hearing. Some of her recordings lean that way anyway but if a speaker is prone to that then it will definitely be on display.
As a long time B&W fan with the 600 's in my home. I love hearing a honest review. You have the amazing position of testing and listening many different builds. I just realized why my wife is always telling me to turn the B&Ws down . When she even loves to listen to loud music. It all makes sense now! THANK YOU!
The truth is: we, as consumers, do need negative reviews.
Not necessarily negative, but unbias honesty. Ever manufacturer needs to prove why their product is worth our money. Even if we enjoy the products they've produced in the past. So if that's what you meant then yes.
I think you handled the review perfectly. Buying 2 pair of speakers and contacting the manufacturer directly to discuss. Couldn't be more fair than that!
I’ve heard the 606S2 speakers in several settings (retail and home), and I was very pleased with the way they performed. Have listed to them paired with a Rega Brio Amp and a Bluesound Powernode (N330), and I found them very engaging and dynamic. Of course, every listener must decided for themselves, but to me they were fantastic performers.
Believe me when I say this. This review is why I watch your reviews. I want honesty, and sometimes a Company doesn't get it right or they change things that doesn't work for everyone. And if this review closes doors for you, then that tells me that those Companies are not being true to their customers.
By being honest and candid, you gained my trust even more. At my age, I'm over people telling me what they think I want to hear. Your honesty is greatly appreciated.
Keep up the great work.
Thanks Jim. Appreciate your candor and for giving us a moment of your time this morning! Be well!
Have loved B&W for two decades. Keep your honesty and keep detailing your personal journey. It brings authenticity and real insight into *your* review process and final result. I commend you for taking your authenticity to the correct level, despite possible deprecations.
With this review you’ve gained my respect and have truly confirmed that I subbed to the right channel. Really appreciate what you do; and have now turned on the bell icon so I never miss a video. Thank-you very much for the time and effort you put in to your content. Much appreciated! Hope you have a wonderful day.
@Bob I wasn’t born yesterday and couldn’t be further from naive. You sound like the gullible type that has that ‘sheep’ mentality. Loyal to trash no matter how trashy it is.
I had to watch this a couple of times and I thank you and Kristi’s point of view. It was a tough to watch you try to find something you liked about these speakers. Your honesty is the what makes your channel great.
Thank you both for your honest opinion! I value your thoughts and trust your judgment based on the experience I have had with your reviews! I can't put a price on the value of the information you have given me in my hifi Journey! To say I appreciate you both is an understatement!
Well we appreciate you too Josh and thank you for your comment. Be well!
Thank you for an honest review. I’m sure it’s tough to do when you depend on manufacturers sending you equipment to review. Speaks to your integrity.
We're always honest with you guys, but no lie, it's difficult to do this job when you know you can't just buy all the gear you need to bring you guys the content you're hungry for.
@Bob Well it would be a boring world without naive dolts like myself.
Great review. Guys, you are killin it. I love, love, love the bonus convo with Kristi. The mix of humor, expertise and huge heart make yours my favorite series on TH-cam. Membership, here I come. What y'all do is harder work than it seems- on so many levels. And I truly appreciate every bit of it.
Thank you for being open and honest and raw with us. Both of you. If Bowers and Wilkins pulls the plug on sending you things because you don’t post smiley reviews when the product hits you this way then its their loss. We very much still believe in you both and all that you do.
Thank you again
Good review Andrew & bravo for being honest & giving us your impressions. I appreciate your candor & you could see it in your face there was no joy in your results. You can see the disappointment.,
Thx again for the review. This is why I subscribe. 👍
I think you have summoned up my feelings re this review. 👌
I watched this review before I went and tried these speakers out for myself at my local audio shop. I couldn’t be any happier with my purchase. I have them set up in a 3.2x3.2m insulated room with a 1.8x1.5m double glazed window - on the matching B&W stands 500mm from the back and side wall as recommended.
After playing them for around 50 hours with various types of music they’ve really opened up. They’re a bit on the bright side, as the 600 S2 series is (I have a set of 603 S2’s in my main living area) but they don’t seem aggressively bright to me. I find them very accurate with that beautiful B&W sound and they do pack a good punch in the lower end too. I’m not using these on ‘high end’ gear either. I’m Using an early 00’s Yamaha AX-596 Natural Sound Stereo amplifier as a preamp into a Rotel RB1582 power amplifier. I have been sitting and playing them for many hours at a time and I haven’t found them fatiguing.
I’d recommend to anyone thinking about these speakers to go and try them for yourself with similar gear to what you use at home and decide for yourself before purchasing. It might be a bad experience like it was for Andrew or it might be an incredible one like mine. Love these speakers!
I've had my b&w 607 speakers for over a year now. I absolutely adore them. As I still live with my parents, I have them in my rather small bedroom and I find they fill the room wonderfully. When I eventually move out and add to my set-up, I'm definitely sticking with Bowers & Wilkins!
I realy think has tested them right out of the box without letting them play for a while... I realy can't understand his video after also been in a hifi Store and comparing so many speaker
I think the reason we all watch you is for your honesty! AND you've never let us down!!
Appreciate you, Les.
Honesty is the best policy.
Don't worry guys,
BnW are not likely to black list you for one accurate and honest review. Lol
Real and honest reviews are are always worth listening to and are more thought provoking than same stuff different day product reviews.
This was far more interesting than biased opinion based on preference from brand loyalty or sponsor driven buzz.
You two got real and i like it.
Keep up the great work , you two are awesome.
Andrew spent too much time trying to convince himself that what he heard wasn't a mess... This was a bit hard to watch... Your job is to review speakers and Bowers to make them better. Audio is subjective and there will be a spectrum from 1-10 on these. So what if Bowers is upset? Honesty is ALWAYS the best policy. TOO MANY reviewers kiss up to the big brands like they're feeding them, and its quite sad. Keep being honest for your viewers, INTEGRITY is everything!!!!!!
I understand the point you are trying to make but as you can see by the comments, people not just B&W, feel VERY strongly about this and their own beliefs. Had we not made every effort to confirm our findings, it would be even worse. Despite the lengths gone to in order to make certain the speakers weren’t broken not to mention reaching out to BW for comment, viewers still attack our credibility and integrity. We knew this would happen going in because that IS the nature of people and this business.
@@KristiWright this is why being a CEO or President of the USA or any form of leader is such a tough job, because at some point you're gonna be forced to make a call and live with it and it may be unpopular. BUT do you do it for fear of a handful of people or do you just DO THE RIGHT THING... Kristi you and Andrew have to sleep at nights with a clear conscience, and the money and fans will come and go, but be comforted by the fact that you did your honest doing.... Remember, despite all the good Jesus did, there were many who still hated him. Many reviewers on here wanna be everybody's friend and they enjoy living in that gray area of just asking questions, but not definitely saying what they truly think about the product, for fear if a negative feedback and brands not sending them products giving them perks and access. We the viewers don't want vague assumptions, we wanna know your genuine experience with the product and if it sucks SAY IT and hold your head up high because you told the TRUTH.
Wow . Good honesty
I really like them . Im using a 150 watt pre , power amp combination. Biwired with good copper cable. Forward treble yes but clear, clean and detailed for me . Tonally Quite neutral speakers , fast dynamics and while not the deepest bass, very tight and detailed . My amps are smooth so everyone says in reviews .
YES. "Forward treble yes but clear, clean and detailed for me . Tonally Quite neutral speakers , fast dynamics and while not the deepest bass, very tight and detailed". That is exactly correct.
Thank you for this review. I demoed these side by side with Dali Oberon 1s and thought they sounded terrible compared to the Dalis. When I looked online I couldn't understand why these speakers were getting such glowing reviews.
Yep, bought these at BB, hooked em up and after about 15 minutes of critical listening my ears literally started aching - packed 'em up and returned them the same day. Really disappointing that some other reviewers are hyping what is obviously a crappy speaker design.
You should have broken them in first. Put nearly 70 hours through mine and they smoothed out quite a bit in the high frequencies along with also beefy low end extension.
@@HomeTheatre101 35 years of buying and listening to many speakers, with only one exception I have never observed any so called 'break in' - I've had the original 600's for almost 10 years, and they were great, the 606S2's simply don't live up to the B&W name.
One of my favorite things to do while watching a review of any audio gear if the reviewer mentions a track they used during their testing I will pause the video and go listen to the track on my system and compare what I hear to what the reviewer said they hear from the gear they are reviewing. I am happy to say that my Canton Vento 896.2's sound amazing while listening to Audioslave's Show me how to live. I actually had that album when I was a teenager and it was one of my favorites. I feel like I've re-discovered it now so thank you Andrew Robinson!
Oh Audioslave slays on Canton.
Thanks for the honest review. I hope it shames the reviewers that say "I never publish a negative review".
They are basically saying "I don't care if the consumer is screwed over". Good work Robinsons!
Appreciate you watching, Alan. RE: Shaming - That is not the goal here. Other reviewers have to do what works for them. This was simply our experience.
First speaker review where the reviewer is telling that the sound is a mess and that it can be ignored. Bravo. Kudos. Respect.
Audio Science Review said the same thing about the 607 so he is not the first.
Blown away. I’ve found your reviews and Zero Fidelity’s really reliable so wasn’t expecting such a divide on a product like this. He typically hates B&W but liked the 607s, and he’s usually not at all into a hyperactive high end. Thanks for the review.
To be fair, I just looked back at Zero’s review and you both basically heard it the same, but he suggested very specific pairing information to get the best out of the 607s.
Thanks for watching. Had we found an amplifier than helped correct the tweeter’s high end frequency issues, we would have absolutely shared that information with you. From our perspective, we went out of our way to find a solution that would benefit this speaker. After all, we put something like 6 different amplifiers to these two speakers (the 606 and 607) to no avail. Once B&W confirmed that they did not see system matching (beyond a 30W recommendation) as a requirement to get the best from these speakers, we moved on. I have no idea what Sean used in his review process so I won’t speak to that. I believe that if this issue we found was correctable, we’d have found a way and we simply did not. Sean claims that he got used to sound after time. We did not. It’s that simple.
@@KristiWright Yeah, I was grateful for your perspective and could tell it was obviously a disappointment. I’m normally with Sean in liking more relaxed, controlled and warm sound signatures so was surprised he opened up to this. Anyway, love what you do. You guys got me really hyped for the Technics, I think that might be our living room endgame.
@MB D @Kristi Wright - In Sean's review, he did mentioned the speakers are not for everyone. Even Sean himself needs several days to slowly "get used to" the sound signature. It is a subtle way to say the speakers' high frequency response is boosted beyond most other speakers he reviewed.
Please, don't try to apologize for an honest review! B&W is known for decades to have a peculiar sound, some people likes it, some people don't. I tweaked many speakers in my day and many 'Hi-fi' products are nasty. Stand by your opinions! That's why those kind of channels are so important to the audiophile community. Keep up the good work!
I’ve been following your channel for around a year already and I must say that you guys don’t have to apologize for slaughtering a bad product specially when the manufacturer seems to be proud of their poor work and if Bowers decides not to send you any other products for review because of this one then they are the ones who loose the chance to have their gear being seen by the almost 200K of us who follows this channel.
It's refreshing to see a negative review, and I'm a B&W fanboy.
So are we.
I assure you Matt I did not set out to make a negative review. This was a complete shock to me. I appreciate you watching!
You guys act like you shot someone's dog. It's a bad speaker, it happens, just keep up the honesty.
Just doing our best to be professional. When we really love something, it’s all “paid review” in the comments. If we had dropped the hammer on this speaker with a smile on our face and a Parks & Rec clip of Ron throwing his computer in the trash, I don’t think that would have gone over very well either. Which leaves me feeling like the goal posts are constantly moving.
@@KristiWright I get it, keep it up.
Andrew, thank you for your honest and subjective review. I appreciate the time you put into these. To anybody wasting their time with a negative post, get over it. It's a speaker review on TH-cam, and he may have a point!
I gave you both a thumbs-up for an honest appraisal of these speakers which made a refreshing change. I thought your criticisms were well argued and delivered with passion rather than malice. Well done both of you. And yes, I am a B&W speaker owner..
Anton, I really appreciate you saying that. Kristi and I wanted to ensure, despite the negative tone of the review overall, that we were respectful of B&W as much as possible but also respectful to you, the viewer. It would've been easier to just rant or "go off" and let our emotions dictate the tone, but we knew going that route wouldn't do you all justice.
As a new owner of the 607 S2, the high can be fairly easily adjusted to your taste, by turning down the treble slightly on the tonal control of your amplifier. I think the midrange and bass are gorgeous, and the transparency and details are phenomenal.
Enormous respect for your honesty, thank you.
Yes, Danny at GR Research pulled the 607's apart and they were pretty much garbage. The crossover used 1st order filters which are totally inappropriate for the drivers that Bowers is using. The boxes have way too much resonance and the frequency response of the speaker is very messy. And Andrew and Kristi gave these speakers a very fair try out.
Dany usually updates all the speakers that falls on his hands is His Business 😬😆
So no-one like to call out the mega brand and for me I'm a fan and live literally 5 minutes from the factory in Worthing... However I bought a pair of 606's (non anniversary) and what struck me out of the box was the very lightweight build quality of the cabinet and the basic 90's Aiwa finish. I just bought some little Wharfedale diamonds at the same time and they had way more heft but I do love the simple, clean look of the front baffle. Anyways after setting them up I found the speaker really, really bright even at minimal volume. I gave them some run in time but still very bright and they get harsh as the volume increases. I now don't really listen to them that much as a result even though I love the sound stage and the bass. Another thing that surprised me... I just happened to peer into the back with my flashlight one day and a part of the magnet is chipped off from the factory!
Thank you so much for the honest review. Keep up the good work. I'm super sensitive to high frequencies and I was thinking of buying these speakers or 607 S2. You two saved me a lot of time, money, and headage. I do like BW as a company and I hope they understand that reviews are reviews. If you don't like something... You should always tell that to consumers. If BW puts you on some blacklist. Then I'll blacklist the company that started my audio hobby 20 years ago.
It's so interesting, how one person's reasons to buy this speaker is another's to hate it! I actually bought these speakers after comparing to the 707, KEF's LS50w and some Monitor Audios, just because of how punchy and crispy they sound and I haven't looked back. In fact, everyone who visited me while i had all these side by side to decide also told me hands down they liked the 606 in a blind test.
Now, I think that may be down to matching with the rest of the system, as well as the particular type of my living room, which due to the shape is very bassy, so it might be compensating for that. This would mean that in a different type of space it would sound much different, who knows?
So long as you're happy, that is ALL that matters!
I had to put down the pizza slice, wash my hands and write this review of your review.
THIS is why you are one of the top three reviewers in all of TH-cam Land…full stop.
You are not only about as unbiased as they come, but you have tact and respect in your presentation. Especially when it comes to the “Big Brands”, they deserve the same level of scrutiny..maybe more because they are the big dogs. I have personally heard and agreed with your reviews (RP-8000f) for example. I believe we share sonic tastes, at least to some degree. If B&W want to release a speaker and stand by it’s ultra revealing and ultra bright signature and claim; “this is the way we like it, we did this on purpose”. Cool for them, a C- is a C- is doesn’t matter who’s work it was. I would let you grade my work because I feel you are fair, bring intellect, passion and you are FAIR.
Bravo to both of you!!
The pizza bit had me laughing.
I bought a pair of 606s two months ago and like them a lot. I took your advice - I figured my 70+ year old ears wouldn't be too concerned with the speaker being "too bright." My collection is 100% classical. I'm also using a standard AV receiver. Perfectly happy.
Thanks, Andrew and Kristi, for your honest reviews of these Bowers & Wilkins 605 S2 speakers. Regardless of whether or not a product is good or bad or lives up to your expectations, I respect your in-depth reviews always and if anything, I have even more respect for your reviews when, in all honesty, you cannot recommend a product because they have missed the mark.
As you stated, those are always much tougher reviews to make or to film, particularly when you have gone out of your way to pair these specific speakers with different amplifiers, etc. or to attempt to hammer out any issues. You did everything you could possibly do. So, thank you and keep up the great work.
Thanks for watching, Jon.
I auditioned six speakers during my purchase and among them were 606's. I auditioned fyne, linn, focal, dali and as part of the process I brought along my wife as a neutral, she had no knowledge of price or which I was leaning towards, I also used my own amp. She rounded it down to the linn and Bowers and when I then told her the price difference we opted 606's. I would like to add I could of had any one but I've never regretted my choice.
👍
I so enjoy Kristi's contributions, especially here. That you both are so on the same page with this, is remarkable. The female ear for sound is quite different than the male. That you, Andrew gave this honest and untempered hard review (as is your usual) is "sweet"! It's as If one of your best friends let you down. Aaaaand.....though it may be true, Mr. Kerrr gave a typical corporate review not really delving into your consumer concerns as a long time advocate of the B&W products.
Thanks, Jon!
Your honesty is refreshing, especially since you clearly struggle with having to deliver the bad news. That you did it anyway means a lot to us watching your channel for valid insight into products that we may end up putting real money down for. It’s not your fault that these speakers ever saw the light of day. I’ll never hear them but your visceral reaction tells me they sound as bad as you’re saying. Brand fans will defend them because that’s what brand fans do but it always amazes me when a company known for excellence falls so far from the mark set by their place in the market and their history. Did a new guy take over that’s a great company builder but doesn’t know audio? Did they have a bunch of fan boy engineers get their way and now they can’t lose face? Clearly they’ve forgotten the only thing that matters and that’s that what comes out of that box is the product. Not the box or the binding posts or the veneer. Fix that. Make that great and I’ll live with a lot of other compromises. Now, where’s the Paradigm review? What else could you be hinting at for the past week or so?
Just to be clear (in case it wasn’t), we are big B&W fans. According to Mr Kerr the same group responsible for products we liked (Duo and 702 Sig) are behind these.
Paradigm continues to ignore our emails. It’s not them.
@@KristiWright I’m sorry, I didn’t clearly include that you both being longtime fans of the brand also made this review even harder to do. I have no criticism of the review. I think it was just as informative as any other, maybe even more so because it may have cost you both an important association. My musings about how they got released were just that, me wondering out loud. I have no knowledge of the people at that company. This review makes me trust Andrew’s opinion even more because I know he’ll say something sucks if it does and he’ll explain why. Bravo!
It took me a day or two to get to this one. I come to your channel (and others) for several reasons, but the MAIN reason is your honest opinion on gear and design. I am not looking for an ad for certain products. If I wanted a 'yes man' I'd just go to these companies' websites. Certainly we understand the fact that a product will miss the target once and a while. I am surprised it doesn't happen more often. Keep up the amazing work. Move along, haters. Nothing to see here. :)
Another great well reasoned and thoughtful review. Appreciate that though the speakers weren't sent from the manufacturer you still reached out to get their statement on them.
Thank you.
I very much appreciate the honesty and integrity demonstrated in this video. You could have easily shilled a mixed review to maintain your relationship with B&W, but instead placed your reputation and editorial independence above all. Also, thank you for airing the ethical quandary you both felt about how to review these speakers. That kind of ethical torment over saying something negative about something you love is something I as a Canadian deeply identify with. Andrew, Kristie: I think you both became honourary Canadians in this video 😁🇨🇦
I bought these as my first set of speakers and I second everything you said.
I always thought it was me pairing them with my Cambridge Cxa60 that caused the fatigue, I guess not.
Appreciate the honesty Andrew.
They are fatiguing with the Cambridge CXA60, I have the Cambridge and the 606 S2. When matched with the NAD C368 they are not fatiguing.
I applaud Andrew for giving it to us straight. I’m so tired of every review in a audio magazine now being positive in the extreme.
Nice to see a reviewer go out on a limb for the subscriber and not simply stay silent when they hear a speaker they do not like. Not everyone will agree. But at least you gave an opinion and I think that is fabulous
Thank you for your integrity. This is never easy, especially when it's your livelihood, but it's important to not give people the wrong pretenses. And maybe someone loves the way these sound, but it's good to know that you can go in cautiously at least.
I know people love these speakers and I am not here to change their minds. You should always listen and decide for yourself, for this speaker proves different strokes for different folks.
You've earned a subscription from me based on this review. I learned in management that the hardest thing to do is give a bad performance review and I'm sure thats equally true in review hifi equipment.
My experience with the B&W 606s was the same as yours. These speakers are just bright and forward sounding. Curious abouth the sound of the Elac Carinas.
Thanks for being bold enough to say what you felt about these speakers. If you've earned the wrath of B&W so be it. Your viewers deserve your honest opinion.
Wow finally somebody’s being honest and not being a salesman
Hey don’t forget to click on our links in the description.
😂
Well played!!!
I've had my pair of 606 anniversary for a couple of months and I am quite happy with them. I listen to jazz, rock and classical music, usually not on high volumes. Room is 8 by 4 metres. I use denon cd and record deck, and yamaha receiver. I guess you should never buy a loudspeaker withou having compared them to other brands. There is a lot to choose from in the market.
My hats off to You Madam and Sir. Your honesty is much appreciated by your loyal audience. Your claims are valid because you are consumers that care. Your integrity is showing - and we thank you for it.
I have the 606, but not S2 edition. Paired with an Onkyo RZ50. I love the sound. Really enjoy this channel and respect your opinion. Thanks for being honest to what you think
I've had the non-anniversary version of the 606 paired with Marantz PM6006 for a few years now, and I've never regretted my choice. Generally listen to 70s music (Queen, Jethro Tull, Abba) but predominantly Metal and I've never experienced fatigue or felt that the high end is too bright. In fact, I prefer the brightness...it makes the experience more engaging. But perhaps that's why this is all very subjective. When I first got it I gave it a solid 50hrs of play-in and it's been smooth sailing ever since.
I'm actually pretty surprised that these speakers gave you guys such a terrible listening experience, that's really unfortunate - My wife and I just had a much much different experience. Thanks for the review though.
Very interesting... Actually using my 606 S2 right now and I love mine! I also have some Klipsch and these aren’t as bright. The details pop. They are not harsh or fatiguing imo.
I hear the pain in your review of these speakers, but thank you for being honest about this, I took your advice on the Klipsch 8000f's and have love them from day one. Honesty is getting harder to find on internet, glad I found it here.
@Andrew Robinson, please do not lose any sleep over this review, I for one have always appreciated your candor, and would not want you to sacrifice your integrity over a product. I also do not want you getting ill again( I've been a fan of yours a long time) and care more about you than any product. If Sound United want to stop sending you products because of this, I say let them...it honestly says more about them than you. I encourage you and your wife to keep doing the great work that you're known for a good things will happen. Every product isn't great, or great for everyone, and there's nothing wrong with expressing that, especially when it's your honest experience and opinion. I hope that you are Kristi stay well, be safe and we look forward to the next video. 😊 ✊🏿🙏🏿
The way in which each person perceives the sound is subjective. That's the reason why it is so complicated to understand what means "this sounds good". Both of you try to describe the kind of sound that each piece of something that you test produce and you do that always in the same consistent way. Same objectivities and same subjectivities and in that way we can understand. Good work. We keep listening.
I auditioned six different speakers varying from fyne, focal, linn and Dali among them. During this process I also had a neutral observer ie the wife, who was not really interested. So during this process I kept the material the same and kept my wife ignorant of my preference and price. As we went through the process the Linn 109's rose to the top..... until we auditioned the 606 S2! At which point my wife couldn't decide until I told her the price difference!
As your review was progressing, I was thinking this might be good for people with high frequency hearing loss. Then bam you covered that.
I have BW607 speakers. 100% agree with this review.
Thank you for doing this review. I admire your honesty. I've learned through hard experience that matching speakers and amps can be a difficult experience. Due to location many of my purchases have been made based on reviews, not listening. Which has led to a 5 star reviewed amp being bought then sold as well as many other purchases and sales. I've finally ended up with a mid-fi system that I love. I've also learned to be highly selective about which reviewers to bother with. You are excellent, keep up the good work.
Congratulations for one of the first honest reviews about these speakers. This move from B&W towards extremely agressive high frequencies started at the top level with the 800's D. Some say, about the same time they move from being a top hifi manufacturer to a luxury furniture manufacturer. Listen to these speakers a few month ago. The sibilance is unnaceptable and ruins most female vocals on regular recordings. The guy from B&W is being sincere: this is the way they want these speakers to sound. These speakers stand out from their competitors for having a much more aggressive sound and appearing at first sight more transparent and detailed. In fact what happens is that they are very unbalanced speakers where the tweeter seems to have a boost of 6db or more. It's a bit like the TVs that are on display in a store and are set to full brightness. I've been a B&W fan for over 30 years but I have to recognize that in the last decade, in most cases, the sound quality no longer matches the status and price of the equipment. Thanks for the review.
I'd say you bugged our house because I'm pretty sure I've said the same thing during the review process of these speakers. Thanks for watching!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews HAHA, we literally had this exact conversation.
What makes the other reviews dishonest ?
Well, at the end of the day, ure right. it all boils down to the individual. At least thats an honest review. Kudis to you for that.. Really enjoyed it.
Ultimate respect for your complete honesty on this, I can hear how hard it was for you to present this review. 911 meeting at B&W tomorrow for sure, & I hope they learn from this & get those speakers back on the drawing board.
We do have that sort of pull.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Your channel is very much the gold standard Mr Robinson & I`m pleased to have found it
I want honest reviews, the good bad and the ugly truth. Great work.
Hello everyone! I am quite new to the audiophile world and getting me own personal experience along the way. I am 16 and have had these speakers for almost a year now. I paired them with an NAD D 3045 and use them daily. The sit on my desk and use them with my computer. I have loved using them and never found them to be fatiguing at all. I don't have many references that are mine but I have used my fathers 606 (first edition) for over 3 years as well as some other high end floor standers.
I really like the 607 S2 as they feel to bring a natural sound with well balanced highs and mids. One thing to note is the bass can get overwhelming over long listening sessions so I place the a little closer to the wall and use the foam inserts provided.
Hope this helps anyone!
I‘ve just picked up my pair from my HiFi Dealer. I have been actively looking for a new pair of Bookshelf speakers to replace my ancient Grundig speakers. Last year, i auditioned the Dali Oberon 3 vs. the 606 S2 on a Bluesound Powernode. From that listening I totally agree with your review. In that scenario, the high end was squeeky and they didn’t sound good at all. I almost bought the Dali, but I wanted to listen to more speakers to narrow down my decision. Last week, I went to another store to listen to some bookshelf speakers again. The salesmen instantly suggested the 606 S2 and was astonished by my experience in the other store. So I listened to the ELAC Debut Reference at first, but right afterwards switched to the 606 S2 and the difference was big. The 606 were sounding absolutely stunning, totally different then I remembered. After listening to different genres of music, I bought these speakers. I am in the burn-in process but so far I am really enjoying them coupled to my Cambridge Audio AXR100D. But I can definetly understand where you are coming from.
I own these speakers and love them. Paired with a Cambridge Audio CXA80 integrated amp. Remarkably though, your comments are 100% how I feel about the Klipsch RP-600M which everyone raves about.
Like you said, it's all subjective.
Same here with the Elacs debut
@@DrDryce LOL. I actually use a pair of Elac Debut B6.2s in my garage. I might need to have my ears checked.
This review still garners posts. I believe it’s because owners know what a solid piece of kit this is. I recently bought a pair of 606 s2 AE after viewing this review. Although initially the speakers are rather bright, do give them 50 hours of play, tighten up those jumpers in the back, and make sure you experiment with placement and do not toe in more than a few degrees. I am hearing soft air around vocals, separation of instruments -and cohesion of music I’ve never experienced in any of my earlier standmount purchases. I got them on sale and partner them with an SVS subwoofer because all small speakers need the reinforcement. I partner them with a Yamaha 100 watt Integrated that has its oddball variable loudness control. If any recording seems a touch bright, the loudness / presence cut will ease up on the treble. All in all, a tremendous value at $799 and a speaker that ages well and sounds better with time and patience. You will hear things on a recording that you cannot on your other Usual Suspects at the $800-$1000 range.
im currently looking to get a 607 s2 as i found them around half off from original price at a trusted retailer , but im worried ill somehow get tired of the bright sound.Did you give them 50 playtime at low volume?
@@RioPutra_ I recently returned the 607s. There were a couple of my favorite tracks that did not play well with these tweeters. Maybe it was a faulty unit but I don’t think so. I ended up getting a set of Elacs and am very happy with their smooth profile. I miss the 607s often; bass accuracy is amazing and mids are plentiful. The detail is remarkable. But if the tweeters sizzle at your favorite tracks…. Oh well. I think the 607 are just too big for my room. Maybe they will work for you if you work the tone controls on the amp.
@@naqqashsharif5561 i currently have the svs prime wireless pro soundbase that doesnt have tone controls :(, but ill give the 607 another listen before confirming my purchase. Thanks!
Is your brain getting used to them, nothing more.
Now do an A/B with a warmer fuller sounding speakers and you will feel like a fool in an instant
I find my 606 S2 absolutely superb. I had the S1 too. I have also had many more speakers and the 606 S2 is my second favourite ever.
Take every review and opinion as just that...someone's opinion. I wish that reviewers would spend some time reviewing them with a sub or in a home theater set up. As straight listening to 2 channel music not room EQd I guess I can see that but paired with my subwoofers I have the 606 S2 and they sound Fantastic in my room for 2 channel music and they are part of a larger surround system and are Amazing with movies. I won't go into anymore but I am almost 50 and have owned tons of speakers in my life. These are up there with some of the best I have had.
Great review. B&W is my favorite line as I run them on two of my systems so it is great to hear when something by them just may not be up to previous work. Cudos too on giving BW a voice in the review. Much respect to you and them.
Oh I have NOTHING BUT RESPECT for B&W. I was respectful, but basically calling Mr. Kerr's product bad in my email conversation with him and he wasn't defensive or in any way disrespectful towards me or my wife. ABSOLUTE PROFESSIONAL! B&W is a classy company, full stop! I will always be a fan and look forward to what they do next!
Thank you for your honesty not only in the video, but also in the title and thumbnail.
Hello,
my english is not so good. I own a pair B&W CDM 1 until last Year and i was impressed to the sound of this Speakers. Then i want something new from B&W and buy the new 606 Speakers. First i was thinking, wow what a dynamic, forward Sound. I invite a friend (he loves Classic Music), he was very disappointed to the sound and i am too. No warmness , harsh Highs, he don’t won’t to listen further. In the next Month’s i heard a lot kinds of my CDs with all Kinds of Musik. Only when i hear perfectly Recordings, i was still in love with the sound, but only a few CDs can offer this quality. My favorite Albums and Bands from the 70s, 80s,90s (Toto, New Wave etc) are often unhearable. You mind there is something wrong in the recording, but it isn‘t . There is a lot of Harshness, Soundholes, and even more mistakes. I own a pair of Chario Speakers in my living room, no Problem with any kind of Music.
I will say you‘re right with your Review. This Speaker is wrong engineered, its was constructed for the fast catch of Listening, to sell it better and faster.
I‘am an audiophile about 30 Years and longer, i wondered that there is only a few critical words to this Series in the Press. Well done B&W Marketing!!! Know i am safe, that my Ears and Instincts are well. Thank you very much!!! I now looking out to sell my 606 and buy a pair of right speakers.
Greetings from Germany
I have the b&w dm602s2 when I had naim nait5i amp and cd5i I found they caused my 602s to sound pretty bright in the high frequencies but soon as I swapped them with yamaha ax396 and onkyo CD player I found my music gained more detail and my b&ws forward treble was brought back under control and became more dynamic and detailed
Thanks for a fair and honest review Andrew! It is obvious that you, Kristi , and rest of the crew put a TREMENDOUS amount of effort and time to produce quality content that is not only informative but entertaining, and it shows consistently throughout. So thank you...Wish you the all the best!!
Thanks, OrangeGuy! It's just the two of us. We are the entire crew! 😅 😭 😩
@@KristiWright WOW I'm impressed! Hope you both have fun doing what you love!
This is true. I bought this pair to replace my old q acoustics 2020, which sounded too mellow for me. I tested this pair of speakers and the initial impression i had was that it sounded more alive. After a few hours, it started to annoy me. Now it sounds like a crazy tambourine. It's like someone put 10 tweeters in it. However, one thing i liked about the 606, is that it pissed me off enough to make me get the Magnepan LRS. Those speakers are proof that you don't need boosted treble for detail. And the LRS makes the 606 sound like a little metal box. Thank you Andrew, I thought it was just me.
I love how you guys allow viewers to skip ahead to specific times in your reviews in your comment section. Really awesome feature.
Glad you told everyone what you really felt about the speakers. If companies stop sending you products to review because of it that really says a lot about that company.
I dont have any of the problems that he listed. So all I can say is room acustics and setup, and amp will make all the difference. Along with personal preference. I love my 606 so 1 negative review out of thousands of positive shouldnt push anyone away from listening to them themselves and forming their own opinion. You can't make everyone happy and of course any speaker will have someone who says they don't like it. I just believe that when it comes to sound you need to hear it for yourself when talking premium audio to make a proper decision.
A+ BROTHER FOR YOU HONESTY! I used to be the same way when I did audio for AVS not always a positive thing for companies lol .Oh well. Plus obviously he has to say that he has to back pedal to save face lol.
Personally I am glad that a reviewer is being honest. I've seen the charts on these speakers from someone that fixes crossovers. These have a huge hole in them in the mid and are bright. I can't imagine what they must sound like.
that is the point, How This speakers have all those "issues" and sound so Good, Believe me i did all the test with all kind of music and this speakers are amazing. i got 5.1 and all my speakers are B&W
I've had them since October last year. They are my entry point into HiFi. I first had them connected to the cheapest Denon PMA600NE amp . And although I was so happy just from the fact that I had a hi-fi now, something bugged me. So I did more research and bought Rotel A-11 Tribute. And the difference is jaw-dropping. The speakers started to sing with freedom and dynamics that were missing with Denon. Not sure what else to say, but if my setup is crap, gosh, I do now wonder what a good setup is like. With love and respect from Russia.
Not surprised they sounded even more dynamic and free with the Rotel. The Denon (to me) is a bit soft and blurry around the edges and definitely sluggish or soft in the bass, which the Rotel does NOT suffer from.