I took delivery, of a brand new pair of Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 Anniversary, floor standing loudspeakers. These are bi - amplified / wired with a pair of Linn amplifiers. An LK 140 takes care of bass inputs and an LK 100 takes care of the treble. (I do have an additional LK 100 which I am currently re - capping). When I first ran these speakers, I have to say, I was very disappointed. Everything sounded flat, lacked bass and detail, and I have to say, I was nearly up for putting my old faithful Mission M35’s back in commission. However, with many things in life, patience wins in the end. After nearly three weeks of almost daily playing, with average listening sessions of a couple of hours, these speakers are turning out some real `sonic magic’. The aluminium tweeters are producing some sweet / un sibilant treble, very good coherent mid range, and bass to die for. Sound stage is as good as anything I have heard else where through the years. I noted (as I guess many reviewers do), you ran these speakers straight from the box. Maybe, after running in few a few hours, your opinion(s) might change? I’m not sure if it’s the case that, speakers, or in fact any audio equipment is reviewed `straight from the box’ a true picture of its capabilities are highlighted. Please guys, this is not a criticism of how you review, as I also enjoyed your light hearted presentation, it made a refreshing change from other reviewers, and I’ll be sure to see a few more of your reviews, keep up the good work. Geoff.
Fantastic review lads I've found on all my bi-wired speakers removing the metal speaker connectors and replacing them with proper audio jumper cables achieves a much better sound
Funny the best amp for my Falcon LS3/5As is my fully serviced 1978 vintage Kenwood KR 9600 at 160 watts. A 53lb beast of a receiver. Was the late seventies the pinnacle of amp/speaker design?
I think it's hard to argue that technological progress has made amplifiers better, since then. There are more cheap and/or more reliable amps around now - but the sound hasn't necessarily improved in outright terms. MOSFET and now Class D chips have made life easier for amplifier designers, but do they sound any better? I don't think so. Same goes for speakers, to a lesser extent. I think it's harder to buy a bad speaker than it was in 1978, but the other side of this is that there is less diversity in the mainstream market.
Great review guys , interesting comments I have the 606 s2 anniversary sound ok but we both know s3 is better like your review states , build quality pretty good but not as good as my dm 602s3 , the vinyl wrap is very good, . Regards mark
Excellent Riff, thoroughly enjoyable. What about room placement for these little beauties, they are rear ported so how good in a small room when walls are in close proximity?
I wondered that too. My 606s2 came with port plugs with removal of a center hole partial plug. I use them in my bedroom system with full port plugs and sound great in that set up.
They needed 20-30cm from the rear wall, and a slight toe-in. They sounded great on Mike's Linn Kan stands, even if we did have to rotate them by 90 degrees - the stands that is, not the speakers!@@jamesschneider3828
Will the Marantz Cinema 50 (110W) in stereo mode make the best out of these spreakers? And if yes is there any point upgrading to a better amp? Thanks.
What is the one up from these please and is there massive difference? I have a standard size lounge uk 4.2 metres by 4.2 and 2.5 metres high. My amp is a Musical Fidelity Electra E100 amp which is 70 watts, my CD player is an old Marantz CD 63 SE, would these speakers be ok with my stuff? I previously had a pair of mission 753s.
Enjoying your riffs😊 Keep them coming! Sounds as if B&Ws new tweeter is sweeter😊 The only slightly more expensive and still smallish, new and hopefully similarly improved, 606 s3 may perhaps turn out a better offer, when on a limited budget. For speakers and amp combined. Considering its much higher sensitivity of 88 db vs 84 db?
Yes, definitely enough power - and the 6000a is a good sounding budget amp. Personally I'd go for a Rega Brio at this price level though, as it has a warmer and creamier sound which I think would be a better tonal match.
I've lived with a pair of the 606s2 for three years and reviewers knocked them to to harsh sounding in the tweeter area. They are if you tow them in toward you but if you fire them straight forward they warm a little and give a great 160° wide soundstage, not real deep but front row wide.
Unfortunately the so called Continuum is merely a silver coated yellow Kevlar cone. B&W did this to stop the white van scammers trying to hammer into the sales of the lower end B&W 600 series.
at their prices they are far too expensive for what they provide as a sensation, at the same price you have at ACOUSTIC ENERGY, the AE 300 which is clearly superior!!! and better finished….
The AE300 is great fun - as you'd expect from that brand - but it's not quite as detailed. I do agree with you that the 607 S3 is getting expensive though. It's a lot more than the S2 was, when launched. I wonder if B&W is working on a 507 S1, to plug the gap?
Really enjoy listening to you guys talking about any piece of gear. Keep it coming 👍
Just wanted to say that the Staverton gig was a good one.....Never thought I would see Iggy Pop and Buster Bloodvessel on the same sofa.
That's a damn sight harsher than Beavis and Butthead! I only saw the show via TH-cam, but looked a good gig.
I took delivery, of a brand new pair of Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 Anniversary, floor standing loudspeakers. These are bi - amplified / wired with a pair of Linn amplifiers. An LK 140 takes care of bass inputs and an LK 100 takes care of the treble. (I do have an additional LK 100 which I am currently re - capping). When I first ran these speakers, I have to say, I was very disappointed. Everything sounded flat, lacked bass and detail, and I have to say, I was nearly up for putting my old faithful Mission M35’s back in commission. However, with many things in life, patience wins in the end. After nearly three weeks of almost daily playing, with average listening sessions of a couple of hours, these speakers are turning out some real `sonic magic’. The aluminium tweeters are producing some sweet / un sibilant treble, very good coherent mid range, and bass to die for. Sound stage is as good as anything I have heard else where through the years. I noted (as I guess many reviewers do), you ran these speakers straight from the box. Maybe, after running in few a few hours, your opinion(s) might change? I’m not sure if it’s the case that, speakers, or in fact any audio equipment is reviewed `straight from the box’ a true picture of its capabilities are highlighted. Please guys, this is not a criticism of how you review, as I also enjoyed your light hearted presentation, it made a refreshing change from other reviewers, and I’ll be sure to see a few more of your reviews, keep up the good work. Geoff.
Would love a riff of the 805D4’s, good riff again.
I can oblige, I did them for StereoNET. Liked them a lot. D4 is clearly better than D3 series.
Great riff again Chaps
Fantastic review lads I've found on all my bi-wired speakers removing the metal speaker connectors and replacing them with proper audio jumper cables achieves a much better sound
100% agree.
Funny the best amp for my Falcon LS3/5As is my fully serviced 1978 vintage Kenwood KR 9600 at 160 watts. A 53lb beast of a receiver.
Was the late seventies the pinnacle of amp/speaker design?
I think it's hard to argue that technological progress has made amplifiers better, since then. There are more cheap and/or more reliable amps around now - but the sound hasn't necessarily improved in outright terms. MOSFET and now Class D chips have made life easier for amplifier designers, but do they sound any better? I don't think so. Same goes for speakers, to a lesser extent. I think it's harder to buy a bad speaker than it was in 1978, but the other side of this is that there is less diversity in the mainstream market.
Great review
Great review guys , interesting comments I have the 606 s2 anniversary sound ok but we both know s3 is better like your review states , build quality pretty good but not as good as my dm 602s3 , the vinyl wrap is very good, . Regards mark
Mike,don't let David get away with teasing you too lightly 😊
He's all sweetness and light on video, but he's a foul mouthed bully offscreen!
@@MrVinylista ☺️
Excellent Riff, thoroughly enjoyable. What about room placement for these little beauties, they are rear ported so how good in a small room when walls are in close proximity?
I wondered that too. My 606s2 came with port plugs with removal of a center hole partial plug. I use them in my bedroom system with full port plugs and sound great in that set up.
They needed 20-30cm from the rear wall, and a slight toe-in. They sounded great on Mike's Linn Kan stands, even if we did have to rotate them by 90 degrees - the stands that is, not the speakers!@@jamesschneider3828
Will the Marantz Cinema 50 (110W) in stereo mode make the best out of these spreakers? And if yes is there any point upgrading to a better amp? Thanks.
What is the one up from these please and is there massive difference?
I have a standard size lounge uk 4.2 metres by 4.2 and 2.5 metres high.
My amp is a Musical Fidelity Electra E100 amp which is 70 watts, my CD player is an old Marantz CD 63 SE, would these speakers be ok with my stuff?
I previously had a pair of mission 753s.
Enjoying your riffs😊 Keep them coming! Sounds as if B&Ws new tweeter is sweeter😊 The only slightly more expensive and still smallish, new and hopefully similarly improved, 606 s3 may perhaps turn out a better offer, when on a limited budget. For speakers and amp combined. Considering its much higher sensitivity of 88 db vs 84 db?
What would you say about the audiolab 6000a as a match ? Enough power ? How is the low volume listening ?
Yes, definitely enough power - and the 6000a is a good sounding budget amp. Personally I'd go for a Rega Brio at this price level though, as it has a warmer and creamier sound which I think would be a better tonal match.
I've lived with a pair of the 606s2 for three years and reviewers knocked them to to harsh sounding in the tweeter area. They are if you tow them in toward you but if you fire them straight forward they warm a little and give a great 160° wide soundstage, not real deep but front row wide.
What brand of Sherry?
Any! 😂 Mike
@@mikeyevs QC Cream? Or do we now have to call it KC? Or possibly Emva Cream, from Limassol, a south-eastern suburb of Jerez de la Frontera...
@@robertleitch2016 Harvey's Bristol Cream for me, from Tesco's, a south-western supermarket in a suburb of Swindon...
Unfortunately the so called Continuum is merely a silver coated yellow Kevlar cone. B&W did this to stop the white van scammers trying to hammer into the sales of the lower end B&W 600 series.
at their prices they are far too expensive for what they provide as a sensation, at the same price you have at ACOUSTIC ENERGY, the AE 300 which is clearly superior!!! and better finished….
The AE300 is great fun - as you'd expect from that brand - but it's not quite as detailed. I do agree with you that the 607 S3 is getting expensive though. It's a lot more than the S2 was, when launched. I wonder if B&W is working on a 507 S1, to plug the gap?
great relaxing review - better than those cold review that looks like AI made ones