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You have to start reviewing Dynaudio speakers, you'd love them due to the tight bass and amazing mids and highs. Heritage Special is THE reference speaker at the price range. Special forties are amazing as well. Thanks for the amazing content!
Gotta say. This is why I trust your reviews. Both of you share your opinions so clearly and open, even if you don't agree. And it's good for people to know and hear why. Love the review.
This video actually highlighted the difficulty you guys have with reviewing speakers. So much respect. Great as always. 🙏🏻 I’m putting these on my short list.
I found this review so interesting it just further proves that what we hear can be so different. But really this is what makes the hobby so fun/varied and why there will never be one answer to what is “best”. Thanks for the brilliant video
As always, love your reviews, but this one was even more interesting purely because of the way this ended - not as much the agree-to-disagree bit as two people so into this kind of life and yet hearing practically as different a sound as you guys did. You could of course have edited all these out, but kudos for keeping all this in! Makes me love you guys even more!! Thanks Andrew & Kristi!
One more comment. I really like the thoughtfulness that this video has inspired and I appreciate the conversation for todays video. It’s good to see a healthy disagreement. And this is also why I like buying Hifi from companies that have an excellent return policy and allow for an in-home trial.
I purchased the 606 S3s a few months ago and I love them! My living room is very small so these seemed to be the best choice. Adding the B&W ASW608 sub was the easy choice to complete the system. I sold all my old JBL floorstanders on EBay to fund these so for now these are the best config for my needs.
Really appreciate you both for your opinions and differences between them, I mean I REALLY appreciate this aspect of your reviews. Once again one of your best videos. Andrew and Kristi, superb work. 🔥
OMG!! I typed captivating before I got to the part in your review where you used that word!! How's that for synchronicity? I don't know about you, but I have chills! :)@@andrewrobinsonreviews
Great review. I appreciated that you both shared a different perspective on the B&W and Focals. What was really refreshing was to hear you both be respectful of each other’s views and realise that two people can come from the same experience and have a different (and valid) perspective/preference.
If anything, it’s really good news if you live in France. The entry level Focal speakers often go on sale 50% off after several years. The Theva is 700€ right now. Just wait for them to drop to 350€ and pull the trigger.
Great review as always. I just started checking out your reviews. I recently upgraded from 702 S2 to 702 S3 and I can say B&W improved on the S3 tremendously. The insane highs have been toned down plus better lows in the S3 and assume the same also applies as you indicated on the 600s.
I bought my B&W 606S3 one week ago without any audition since they were so new. After a full week of listening to them in my small bedroom I am happy with my purchase of S3 even though they are now around US$200 more expensive than the old S2 which are still available and I had an audition of them in store. I need to thank you Andrew for posting your honest review on the 606S2 that I stayed away from. Very appreciate your review especially your test and post of the frequency response in your listening room.
One of many things I like about this channel is all reviews are honest no matter how big the brand is. Always look forward to the reviews. Thanks for sharing
While you aren’t taking credit for the change in the tweeter I bet you played an outsized role in getting them to fix that issue. Enjoyed this review. And I love that you guys can present different views on speaker perceptions. It actually makes it fun.
I think this video exemplifies one of my struggles with several “audiophile” videos. Specifically, it’s the word choices and language used. Not being an audiophile, I don’t understand certain terms in regards to sound systems…round sound, sibilance, etc; whereas, more generic terms I think I understand. Maybe having a video that explains and demonstrates several of these key terms could help many of us understand better.
That’s about the closest I’ve seen to you arguing with each other!! Brilliantly entertaining and both points well made. The take away from this I guess is go and listen before buying blind.
I'm actually REALLY proud of the conversation at the end because I think it not only shows you and others how we communicate and discuss speakers such as these, but also how I wish ALL hifi discords went opposed to the often insane shouting matches that we've all gotten too use to.
I’m late today, but I’m glad I watched the review! So happy to see you have a much more enjoyable time with the 600 series speakers. And since the tower has always been a favorite of mine, I imagine all that pertains to it as well and then some. So that’s awesome. Gotta find a place to listen to them first then probably lose my mind and replace MLs with these. That white oak finish is just so damn good. Great review and I hope everyone is having a lovely Sunday and weekend!
Perfect example that different ears lead to different conclusions and the lack of stores to listen to various and different products makes it very difficult to choose what's right for us.
I like the “my concerns” chapter. It’s honesty to the next level. Overall it seems they’re very good, but the personal taste comes into play more than with other videos
I think you should both get an extensive hearing test, seriously. It would be interesting to see how you both hear frequencies, may explain how you evaluate speakers differently. I bet an audiologist would be interested in this sort of experiment.
I just got back into HiFi after a few decades. I still had my Onkyo intregrated from the early 70s. I bought an Emotiva preamp and a entry level power amp as well. Speakers were Fluance signature bookshelf. I consider my system midFi but sounds good to my ears. I do watch all your videos and like that you both don’t always agree in a fun way. So many speakers to choose from I get decision paralysis. I’m not going to buy anything yet because the next speakers will be my last ones. Keep the videos coming love the content.
Well....the in-room measurements testify to what your ears heard. Excellent review ...again. Now do we have speakers that don't particularly measure well ...but sound good...yep (electrostatics, dipoles... especially open baffles). Nobody has to like the sound of your stereo ...except you.
Finally, a two-channel audio review instead of home theater. I love my Sonus Faber lumina ii speakers. I'm sure BWs are nice, but it's hard to beat the lumina ii
Good to hear the different views from both of you. Although not in the market for these, I have enjoyed the review for the listening differences , obviously your ears have some different opinions.
I bougth 606 S2+Audiolab 6000a combo; I loved them. After I changed 606 s2 for Lumina 2...wow amazing synergy. Please talking more combos and synergy. Good video.
I still have the 601 S2 and over the years, like a fine wine, they play better and better. I changed a few amps, but I didn't come across a better speaker for my taste.
I don't know which I like more... When both agree it is a safe purchase, but when they don't, the product they are reviewing has something that makes it very interesting. Good video.
I really like that you and Kristi can disagree with each other about gear. Honestly, it's refreshing, and I think it's great since a lot of what people hear is subjective. I'm a B&W fan and this is good news. :)
Interesting that Kristi found them small with a sub, but maybe just after comparisons, but yet not more coherent in the midrange. Perhaps a beefier amp would solve that? Have you tried them with Emotiva or a Marantz receiver? I think my personal preference would go to less bass boost and a potent amp rather than the other way around, especially if the voice is clear as mentioned, get a good linear speaker and improve upstream when the funds allow, but I'm also not familiar with the Audiolab as an amp and it's robustness.
The 7000a is a great amp and definitely up for powering these. But Audiolab tends to go for a clean sound rather than fat and warm. It's certainly possible that a different combo could give a more pleasing result.
Love this channel, the reviews. The Robinsons! I’ve heard, listened to soooo many stand mounts. Elac UniFi 2.0 is still the most complete stand mount I’ve heard. A simple, clean, beautiful presentation. For about 550 a pair right now. 🤷🏻♂️
I really do love the fact Kristi had such a diametric view, same physics, but listening experience varies so much. Our nervous systems and minds are all unique. Perfect example was her impression that the brightness impacted vocals giving them “presence” in the particular material versus Andrew’s view that it was a peaky mess. I had a chance to do a side by side at a local Best Buy where they had the 700 and 600 bookshelf speakers in their special demo room. I don’t know how to interpret the frequency response plot that was done, but those 10db swings in the base frequencies and drop off below 45Hz affirm that I heard weak bass, and that it is much helped by a sub (which I did switch on in the demo room). I think the 700s had better mid bass because dialog felt stronger, some could debate if that is worth 2x the price. It is for me because unintelligibleness really bugs me.
Hi, I've had the B&Ws for 3 days and I listen to them 5 meters away from each other. My amplifier is a humble Rotel A12 MK II connected with an analog RCA cable to an Eversolo DMP-A6 DAC streamer. I'll just say one thing. I was speechless when I listened to Hi-Res tracks. Even those with a lower resolution of 44 KHz sound really good. Tracks in 192 KHz format, let's not even talk about them. They are truly super. I don't use the subwoofer because it is already truly remarkable and satisfying for my ears. I confirm what you said. The voices are at the center of the stage and seem to come out of the wall in front of you. I also have the complete Sony A7000 Home Theater system but I have never experienced the immersive sense I have when I listen to music albums with the B&W 606 S3 with the Sony A7000 while watching a movie on Netflix in 4K Dolby Atmos. I can only agree with you. For the quality/price ratio that these speakers have, they are superior to several models of other brands in the same price range. Hello and congratulations for your channel and your content. Greetings from Italy. 🇮🇹👋
Ah, another rhapsodic ode to the magic of "Hi-Res tracks" and the perceived prowess of a modestly priced setup. Your enthusiasm is touching, but let's dissect this monument to misplaced hyperbole and overblown claims, shall we? First, Your "Speechlessness" You were "speechless" when listening to Hi-Res tracks? How quaint. But forgive me if I remain unimpressed by your awe. Your reaction says more about the novelty of experiencing competent playback for the first time than it does about the actual performance of your system. Hi-Res audio is one of the most overhyped gimmicks in modern audio, especially at the consumer level. The human ear cannot discern the difference between 44.1 kHz and 192 kHz formats under normal listening conditions, no matter how "truly super" they seem to you. But by all means, continue mistaking your psychological bias for acoustic fidelity. The Rotel A12 MK II: "Humble" Indeed Your amplifier may be "humble," but that’s hardly a badge of honor in a setup where your B&W 606 S3 speakers could benefit from a far more robust power source. The Rotel, while serviceable, is like pairing a fine steak with a box of generic wine-adequate for the uninitiated but fundamentally underwhelming for anyone with refined tastes. It’s almost adorable how you’ve chosen to chain this system together with an RCA cable to your Eversolo DAC. Perhaps you’re unaware that your analog connection is already negating much of the supposed benefits of your DAC’s advanced processing? Or did you simply think "RCA is good enough" and leave it at that? Your Dazzling "Center Stage" Observation Ah, the old trope: “The voices are at the center of the stage and seem to come out of the wall.” How poetic. And how utterly unremarkable. This is not some mystical property of your B&Ws; it’s a basic expectation of any speaker capable of imaging properly. That you find it noteworthy only underscores how little exposure you’ve had to genuinely high-end systems. If you think your B&Ws are bending the laws of physics, perhaps it’s time to recalibrate your expectations-or simply listen to speakers outside the realm of entry-level audio. Comparing Apples to, Well, Other Apples It’s cute how you felt compelled to juxtapose your B&Ws with your Sony A7000 home theater system. Comparing a stereo music-focused setup to a soundbar designed for movies is like comparing a bicycle to a skateboard. Both have wheels, but their intended use cases are entirely different. Of course, your B&Ws outperform the Sony in music playback-this is about as surprising as the sun rising in the east. That you found this revelation profound is almost endearing. The “Quality/Price Ratio” Myth And here we arrive at the pièce de résistance: your proclamation that the B&W 606 S3 speakers "are superior to several models of other brands in the same price range." An intriguing claim, and one that conveniently lacks any specifics. Which models, exactly, have you compared them to? Did you conduct controlled A/B testing? Or is this sweeping assertion based solely on your limited experience and the buzzwords you’ve picked up from product brochures and online forums? Your declaration is as vague as it is meaningless. Final Thoughts In summary, your comment reads like a naïve love letter to your first semi-decent sound system. Your effusive praise for Hi-Res audio, your misplaced pride in your “humble” amplifier, and your breathless wonder at basic speaker imaging all scream one thing: beginner. And that’s fine-everyone starts somewhere. But please, spare us the grand declarations about quality and superiority until you’ve actually experienced what the world of high-fidelity audio has to offer. For now, enjoy your system. But do remember that in the grand scheme of audiophilia, you’re marveling at shadows on the wall while the rest of us are enjoying the light. Greetings from reality.
Guarda, a me non interessa se ti godi la luce ed io mi godo le tenebre. Posso solo dirti che di impianti anche buoni ne ho avuto e quello che ho al momento, per l'ambiente in cui vivo è più che soddisfacente e stupefacente per i miei gusti. Te puoi continuare a investire anche milioni di dollari per il tuo super impianto. Chi te lo vieta? Se hai soldi da spendere fai bene! Io sono uno che si accontenta del risultato che ho ottenuto ed è più che ottimo per me e le mie orecchie modeste e non così fini come le tue. Sarà colpa della traduzione che hai fatto, ma io non ho mai paragonato la mia Soundbar Sony e il mio impianto Sony cinema al mio impianto audio per ascoltare musica. Non ho assolutamente scritto che il mio è il miglior impianto al mondo. Non lo è assolutamente e ci sono impianto costruiti e scelti ad ok, che costano tantissimo. Il mio è zero in confronto, ma quello che ascolto mi soddisfa molto. L'amplificatore Rotel A12 MK II mi è stato consigliato da chi è nel settore da anni. Sapeva che non potevo spendere più di un tot e mi ha consigliato il modello Rotel che ho e mi ci trovo bene, anche se uso il DAC dell'Everselo che è migliore. La connessione RCA mi è stata consigliata da diversi professionisti del settore audiofilo più della connessione con cavo ottico o altro. Non so perché hai questo accanimento verso il mio commento. Guarda che non si vince nulla a scrivere e a fare a chi lo ha più grosso. Comunque ti confermo che le B&W 606 S3 vanno alla grande. Se un giorno sarò ricco e avrò uno più spazio dedicato in una nuova casa, magari spenderò più soldi. Ho altre passioni oltre alla musica e di soldi ne ho spesi abbastanza e per questo motivo distribuisco il mio denaro nell'acquistare prodotti in altre passioni. Buona musica maestro. 😉
@@zerosforever Feelings don't lie. What matters is not how much we invest in entertainment, but how much pleasure we have. I have cheap and very expensive headphones, both give me a lot of fun. I can also relax by listening to music in the car. I don't care if someone labels me a beginner audiophile. Let's enjoy what we have!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Another well balanced review. I hoping they would be much better than the S3 and they are, which is good. If you have a choice to pair an audiolab 7000A with 606 S3 or LS50 meta, which combination would you pick for a medium room? In UK 606 S3 cost £749 & LS50 meta cost £999. Would you save £250 and get the B&W or pay the extra and get the LS50 meta paired with the audiolab 7000A? Thanks, excellent work guys.
Hi Andrew, thanks so much for this review. May I ask how would the 606 S3 compare to the Focal Chora 806, and the Wharfedale Diamond 12.3? Planning to choose one of these 3! I mainly listen to Alternative/Garage/Blues Rock. Thanks 😊
first off, still love the new intro. Secondly im amazed at your ability to recall details from speakers that you may have reviewed years ago, like the lumina II. Next live stream I'm going to send you a superchat and ask you to list everything you have in inventory. :) I bet the list is remarkable.
If the Sonus faber Lumina 2 is a lot less brighter and livelier in the treble than this B&W 606 S3, then it is safe to assume that this speaker leans towards the brighter side which is typical B&W.
I keep thinking the Philharmonic line of speakers would be a perfect match for you to review but they are hard to get with their limited runs.They are beautiful looking speakers that use top of the line components and all for a reasonable price. I wish Dennis Murphy would send you a review pair of HT Towers.
Too neutral for them, they prefer uber bright. Honestly they have said some speakers are neutral like the r700 and they can sit in front of a b&w speaker. The in room measurements being flat is a bright speaker due to how our ears work, there should be a 2-3 db roll off starting around 100hz.
These look gorgeous in your space. And just to make sure my TV is calibrated, what color is your T-shirt this time? 😂 Just messing with you guys... Beautiful picture of Santorini.
Great review, however, I don't believe the Klipsch were compared - would be curious your thoughts there as well considering the Klipsch are now less than half the price of the B&W
I thought there was an insect running along on the tweeter mesh cover, or on my TV, but then I realized it’s just the reflection of a ceiling fan (?) in your room😅..
Good morning! Very interesting review, because I remember your last review of the B&W 😊. And, I appreciate that you two disagreed but were ok with it. You brought it home in the end. 😊 By the way, I heard the original B&W and they were bright and harsh. I look forward to hearing the new units.
Hey guys,you’re discussions between 606 and Theva’s is just great and explains time and time again that you have to listen first,and for some reason i get a feeling that you are both right. In my experience if a speaker have more pronounced region below let’s say 300Hz,they get little bit of that more spacious feeling,or “3d”,and maybe that’s why Theva’s sound bigger to Christi. Anyway,great review once again!
Hi Andrew. I ended up purchasing the Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2 despite watching your review, and now I regret it. I was considering switching to the KEF LS50 Meta, but after watching your review of the 606 S3, I'm even more confused. Could you advise on which option would be the better choice? Here are the rest of my components: - Denon X3700H - SVS SB1000 Pro - Bowers & Wilkins HTM6 S2 Center - Bowers & Wilkins M1 Surround - Four Bowers & Wilkins CCM362 ceiling speakers - 5.1.4 setup
Not Andrew, but I hope I can help: Personally, I feel like you'd be better suited by an upgrade to the 606 S3. The LS50 Meta are notoriously power hungry, and while your Denon has a nominal peak power of 135w at 6 ohm into 2 channels, know that those quoted figures take a hit when running in a 9 channel surround system like yours where the Denon has 7 other speakers to drive. While the B&Ws aren't efficiency monsters, I don't think any gains in clarity from your front channel are worth the potential whole-system detriment when building a home theater around the KEFs and mixing in other brands for surround channels. Just my two cents, plus B&W are running a sale on the S3 at the moment, so you would be saving a ton of cash compared to the $1500/pair LS50 Meta.
Hello AV needs! Tuning in at home now after spending the day at the airport waiting for flights that would canceled… ugh! Hopefully I’ll be watching your next I installment from NYC… UGH!
Good review Andrew! However you shouldn’t buy new speakers given that you have good speakers already. The thing about speakers is that if they sound good they sound good for many years! I bought some used s7 speakers 5 years ago and they still sound amazing. I demo high end audio occasionally as I live right next to audio perfection and close to stereo land.
I think Andrew would be helped if he knew that the biology and science behind hearing means we all hear things differently. I think he appreciates that everyone has their own preferences, I'm not sure he appreciates that people literally do hear differently just as you taste food in different ways. That may help him be even more objective.
@@mr.potatofries8094 I love them. I have a small room and debated between them and the 606s. I think I made the right choice. They have no right sounding as big as they do at their size. Very detailed, bright but not harsh, bass is well controlled but obviously not super deep. I’m considering the 8” B&W subwoofer as the 607s are also the fronts for my TV’s surround setup.
Hey Andrew! What speaker cable do you use? Is it running into something? I noticed it splits into one funnel and though it looks really nice from a cord management perspective.
They are custom and not available for purchase. There is a link to a DIY version that we've used. It has a similar look to our custom cables. You'll find that in the video's description.
It would be interesting to see a video of the two of you having an audiometry, and see what difference there is between the two and if that could explain the difference in what each one hears, think about it, it could be an interesting and fun video
As always, a fantastic review Andrew and Kristi. Keep up the good work! :D I bought the S2 of these speakers for my TV setup after having the 607 S2s on my desk for a good year or so. I found they worked awfully in my room and my Denon AVR-X2300W was genuinely struggling to drive them. What you found in your S2 review I watched shortly afterwards perfectly aligned with my opinion and ensured me it wasn't just my ears! I had the box sat around ready to return them before deciding to try an amp upgrade (which I'd been meaning to do anyway), and ended out getting an Arcam SA30 and using the built-in Dirac feature to correct it. Night and day difference in terms of tonal balance and clarity, but the soundstage has taken a massive hit due to the amount of DSP I've had to throw at it. A friend of mine said "Listening to your S2s is like listening to a line array at a club. A big, hefty, fun wall of sound, but a wall of sound nonetheless. There's just no stereo width!", and he also described them as "compartmentalised" and "clinical", which I'm inclined to agree with - they're tonally flat now, almost to a fault. I'm definitely curious to demo the S3s in my room to see if they need as much DSP / room correction to make them sing. For the kind of content I watch and the kinds of music I listen to, the S2s are super fun, but after demoing the 706 S3 bookshelves at a hifi show in a hotel room that was far from ideal acoustically, I realized how awful the soundstage and cabinet design is on the 606 S2s! Might have to pop down to the local audio shop and get a demo of my S2s, the 606 S3s, and the 706 S3s and see what my ears prefer. Cheers!
I was between these and the Focal Theva. I ultimately went with the Theva because I found a pair on sale for $920 shipped, and I'm admittedly a bit of a Focal fanboy (Clear Pro is my preferred headphone). Hopefully when they show up next week, my experience will mirror that of Kristi's.
Just wanted to say how I look foward to all of yours and Kristie's views. How would you compare the Klipsch rp600 ll to the Bowers? I know you liked the Klipsch. The Klipsch are on sale now for $462 a pair. At this price are Bowers worth it?
The Klipsch are the "better value" but the B&Ws have a better and nicer build quality. IN OUR ROOM, the Klispch's bass is a little more peaky (more pronounced or boosted) though the midrange performance measures relatively the same. The Klipsch will be a little less refined and a touch more rolled off compared to the B&W.
I love it! Younger people allowing different opinion, yay! I am considering the 600 series 3's. More affordability is important as well. I enjoy listening to your review when you bring your "partner" to join in.
Hi Andrew! Thank you so much for the reviews. I would love it if you could review the Elac Vela line of speakers, especially the floor standing ones. There isn't really any reviews on TH-cam about them. You rock!
I have B&W 604 series lll more than 12years old in a full B&W surround system, bloody love their sound, even more so since I upgraded my ampfrom the Denon 6500 to the Anniversary 110.
No upgrade your speakers, you'll be shocked. I had every range of the 600 series back in the day series 3 604 and the old 605 s2. It's very old tech and when I changed my speakers I was like 😮! Made the old B&W sound terrible
As always I love your reviews - it’s like two in one and I love it! Keep up the good work you two. I’m selfishly hoping one day you can review a current model Zu audio speaker. I’m interested in them for personal reasons and I think your opinions on them would be very interesting!
This is a fascinating speaker (and a great video). It does seem like B&W views the Klipsch 600m2 as direct competition. As if PR is asking the customer, “why would you get the Klipsch, when you can spend just a little more and a better speaker in every way?” A La, your recent TV review regarding calibration. I wonder what % of your viewers use speaker stands for their bookshelf speakers? Or are putting them on a bookshelf or top of home theater cabinet?
That's like saying Mercedes views a Ford Focus as direct competition. Unlikely. I don't know what people put their bookshelf speakers on but hopefully it is not a bookshelf! Most speakers sound better when they have some air around them, your imaging and sound stage will improve greatly. Also the cabinetry can accentuate certain frequencies and lead to a constricted or boomy sound. The coolest thing about bookshelf speakers is that they can 'disappear' to a greater extent than tower speakers due to the smaller front baffle. Moral of the story, put them on stands out in the room if at all possible.
We didn't make the comparison in this video so you didn't miss anything, but here's what I told another viewer... "The Klipsch are the "better value" but the B&Ws have a better and nicer build quality. IN OUR ROOM, the Klispch's bass is a little more peaky (more pronounced or boosted) though the midrange performance measures relatively the same. The Klipsch will be a little less refined and a touch more rolled off compared to the B&W."
The 600m's are kind of a party speaker on a budget. The B&W's are more of a low end audiophile solution for people listening to well recorded jazz, orchestral, vocals. So they are really intended for two very different listeners.
They're going to be close. From about 40Hz (bass) to 2kHz (upper midrange) they're virtually identical in our room. The Monitor Audio Silver 100s are a little less accentuated up top past 2kHz, resulting in a mildly less extended or forward sound.
I missed this video somehow, and I wish I hadn't. My new Monitor Audio speakers are okay, but had I known that B&W had finally fixed this speaker, I could have replaced my old B&W 600 bookshelves with these. Oh well, an excuse to buy a small amp for my office...lol! Thanks Andrew!
This review peaked my interest. So did the review for the Focal Theva. You make it seem like they’re “good enough” for a smallish room. Anything more expensive is luxury? I wonder how these speakers compare to my Closer Acoustics OGY at 2x the price. I would gladly audition them. I briefly heard the KEF LS50 wireless II and KEF LS60 in a showroom. They sounded well balanced but (slightly) artificial. I thought that the KEF LS60 was just 20% better than the LS50 wireless II. LS60 has better bass obviously. Ultimately, shopping for a speaker is confusing as heck. But my current pair is really really nice.
Andrew as of this moment I'm auditioning the Kef LS50 Metas vs. B&W606 S3's and before you said anything I thought EXACTLY what you proceeded to say on essentially everything. AB blind tested it with a housemate for a second opinion and with no prompting whatsoever or even seeing what he was listening to he picked out S3's immediately/agreed suggesting 'the S3's are like your ears have cleared after stepping out the shower ' vs. the Metas (i.e. S3's have so much more treble is almost night and day) If anything it's putting me in a real quandary. There is absolutely more precision in the S3's vs. the Metas (that your cloth comparions and the artist taking half a step back vs. the Focals also applies), but, the mid range in the Metas is slightly (only just) better such that listening to Dylan, Beatles, Hendrix etc has an almost vinyl/nostalgic feel by comparison (and a welcome one at that) and the instruments are allowed a tiny bit more say vs. the vocals as a result of the vocals stepping back (and muffling slightly). So it feels like I need to decide if I want to choose precision over nostalgic (if not slightly muffled, only in direct comparison) neutrality. Incidentally (if you're still monitoring comments) if I wanted to bring in an EQ which my amp doesn't have do you have any recommendations (beyond software) to facilitate this? Playing via Qutest DAC from a laptop into the Amp and the Chord filters won't allow for the tweak you suggest... Excellent review generally. Might have similar ears..
Thank you for posting your videos. Would you consider making a video on how you became an audiophile? You have such indeph perspective , wondering what your background is and how someone can learn what you know.
Hey Andrew, I got the 606 in my home cinema for the left and right, 607 s2 for the surrounds and htm 6 s2 for center. Would you recommend upgrade any of those to the new s3? I’m indecisive 🤷🏼♂️
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You have to start reviewing Dynaudio speakers, you'd love them due to the tight bass and amazing mids and highs. Heritage Special is THE reference speaker at the price range. Special forties are amazing as well. Thanks for the amazing content!
Kristi is going to put you in the dog house lol
Gotta say. This is why I trust your reviews. Both of you share your opinions so clearly and open, even if you don't agree. And it's good for people to know and hear why. Love the review.
This video actually highlighted the difficulty you guys have with reviewing speakers. So much respect. Great as always. 🙏🏻 I’m putting these on my short list.
Thanks so much!
I found this review so interesting it just further proves that what we hear can be so different. But really this is what makes the hobby so fun/varied and why there will never be one answer to what is “best”. Thanks for the brilliant video
Glad you enjoyed it!
As always, love your reviews, but this one was even more interesting purely because of the way this ended - not as much the agree-to-disagree bit as two people so into this kind of life and yet hearing practically as different a sound as you guys did. You could of course have edited all these out, but kudos for keeping all this in! Makes me love you guys even more!! Thanks Andrew & Kristi!
One more comment. I really like the thoughtfulness that this video has inspired and I appreciate the conversation for todays video. It’s good to see a healthy disagreement.
And this is also why I like buying Hifi from companies that have an excellent return policy and allow for an in-home trial.
Love the new retro intro. Thanks for keeping your channel stylish and consistent over the years. Oh and the B&W’s are pretty nice too!
Thanks!
I purchased the 606 S3s a few months ago and I love them! My living room is very small so these seemed to be the best choice. Adding the B&W ASW608 sub was the easy choice to complete the system. I sold all my old JBL floorstanders on EBay to fund these so for now these are the best config for my needs.
Really appreciate you both for your opinions and differences between them, I mean I REALLY appreciate this aspect of your reviews. Once again one of your best videos. Andrew and Kristi, superb work. 🔥
Thank you so very much!
Love your speaker reviews!! So captivating! (Love that word!)
Thanks so much!
OMG!! I typed captivating before I got to the part in your review where you used that word!! How's that for synchronicity? I don't know about you, but I have chills! :)@@andrewrobinsonreviews
Great review. I appreciated that you both shared a different perspective on the B&W and Focals. What was really refreshing was to hear you both be respectful of each other’s views and realise that two people can come from the same experience and have a different (and valid) perspective/preference.
If anything, it’s really good news if you live in France. The entry level Focal speakers often go on sale 50% off after several years. The Theva is 700€ right now. Just wait for them to drop to 350€ and pull the trigger.
I'm happy that B&W finally did something about that tweeter for the better.
Don’t change your perspective Kristi. I love the differences in opinion. Every ears are different.
Great review as always. I just started checking out your reviews. I recently upgraded from 702 S2 to 702 S3 and I can say B&W improved on the S3 tremendously. The insane highs have been toned down plus better lows in the S3 and assume the same also applies as you indicated on the 600s.
I bought my B&W 606S3 one week ago without any audition since they were so new. After a full week of listening to them in my small bedroom I am happy with my purchase of S3 even though they are now around US$200 more expensive than the old S2 which are still available and I had an audition of them in store. I need to thank you Andrew for posting your honest review on the 606S2 that I stayed away from. Very appreciate your review especially your test and post of the frequency response in your listening room.
One of many things I like about this channel is all reviews are honest no matter how big the brand is. Always look forward to the reviews. Thanks for sharing
I appreciate that!
These speakers aesthetically fit your room so well with the wood and white front baffle. It's almost like they made these to match your back wall!
It does feel that way at times. Appreciate you tuning in!
Love your room!
While you aren’t taking credit for the change in the tweeter I bet you played an outsized role in getting them to fix that issue. Enjoyed this review. And I love that you guys can present different views on speaker perceptions. It actually makes it fun.
I think this video exemplifies one of my struggles with several “audiophile” videos. Specifically, it’s the word choices and language used. Not being an audiophile, I don’t understand certain terms in regards to sound systems…round sound, sibilance, etc; whereas, more generic terms I think I understand. Maybe having a video that explains and demonstrates several of these key terms could help many of us understand better.
That’s about the closest I’ve seen to you arguing with each other!! Brilliantly entertaining and both points well made. The take away from this I guess is go and listen before buying blind.
I'm actually REALLY proud of the conversation at the end because I think it not only shows you and others how we communicate and discuss speakers such as these, but also how I wish ALL hifi discords went opposed to the often insane shouting matches that we've all gotten too use to.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews exactly!!!🥰
I’m late today, but I’m glad I watched the review! So happy to see you have a much more enjoyable time with the 600 series speakers. And since the tower has always been a favorite of mine, I imagine all that pertains to it as well and then some. So that’s awesome. Gotta find a place to listen to them first then probably lose my mind and replace MLs with these. That white oak finish is just so damn good. Great review and I hope everyone is having a lovely Sunday and weekend!
Hi Vadym! I love the look of these speakers too with the oak finish! Hope you are having a wonderful weekend! 🥰
@@LeezahB thank you, I’m doing great. Hope you’re having a lovely Sunday as well.
Knowing that you like a more direct and detailed speaker, I wouldn't be shocked if the new 600 or 700 Series would be right up your alley!
Great take here. Appreciate what you both heard and described.
Perfect example that different ears lead to different conclusions and the lack of stores to listen to various and different products makes it very difficult to choose what's right for us.
Nice to hear the S3’s are improved. I moved onto the Lumina 2’s several months ago though and I like them too much to go back to B&W.
I like the “my concerns” chapter. It’s honesty to the next level. Overall it seems they’re very good, but the personal taste comes into play more than with other videos
I think you should both get an extensive hearing test, seriously. It would be interesting to see how you both hear frequencies, may explain how you evaluate speakers differently. I bet an audiologist would be interested in this sort of experiment.
Everyone hears speakers differently.... speakers are very, very subjective to every different person
I just got back into HiFi after a few decades. I still had my Onkyo intregrated from the early 70s. I bought an Emotiva preamp and a entry level power amp as well. Speakers were Fluance signature bookshelf. I consider my system midFi but sounds good to my ears. I do watch all your videos and like that you both don’t always agree in a fun way. So many speakers to choose from I get decision paralysis. I’m not going to buy anything yet because the next speakers will be my last ones. Keep the videos coming love the content.
Well....the in-room measurements testify to what your ears heard. Excellent review ...again. Now do we have speakers that don't particularly measure well ...but sound good...yep (electrostatics, dipoles... especially open baffles). Nobody has to like the sound of your stereo ...except you.
Finally, a two-channel audio review instead of home theater.
I love my Sonus Faber lumina ii speakers. I'm sure BWs are nice, but it's hard to beat the lumina ii
The Lumina IIs are beyond excellent!
B&w have just left the budget speaker category and jumped straight into midrange. Wasn't the 600 series ment to be budget end.
Good to hear the different views from both of you.
Although not in the market for these, I have enjoyed the review for the listening differences , obviously your ears have some different opinions.
I bougth 606 S2+Audiolab 6000a combo; I loved them. After I changed 606 s2 for Lumina 2...wow amazing synergy. Please talking more combos and synergy. Good video.
I still have the 601 S2 and over the years, like a fine wine, they play better and better. I changed a few amps, but I didn't come across a better speaker for my taste.
Andrew and Kristis viseo is the only thing I look forward to at 10 am on Sunday mornings...besides football at noon.
Thanks so much!
Must be tough.
Hang on in there😂
@@joc1016😂
First thing I look for when I wake up on Sunday morning. 👍
I agree.. watching A&K and now watching redzone football is my church on Sundays
I don't know which I like more... When both agree it is a safe purchase, but when they don't, the product they are reviewing has something that makes it very interesting. Good video.
Kristi what do you prefer out of the S3’s and the Lumina II’s
I really like that you and Kristi can disagree with each other about gear. Honestly, it's refreshing, and I think it's great since a lot of what people hear is subjective. I'm a B&W fan and this is good news. :)
Interesting that Kristi found them small with a sub, but maybe just after comparisons, but yet not more coherent in the midrange. Perhaps a beefier amp would solve that? Have you tried them with Emotiva or a Marantz receiver? I think my personal preference would go to less bass boost and a potent amp rather than the other way around, especially if the voice is clear as mentioned, get a good linear speaker and improve upstream when the funds allow, but I'm also not familiar with the Audiolab as an amp and it's robustness.
The 7000a is a great amp and definitely up for powering these. But Audiolab tends to go for a clean sound rather than fat and warm. It's certainly possible that a different combo could give a more pleasing result.
Love this channel, the reviews. The Robinsons! I’ve heard, listened to soooo many stand mounts. Elac UniFi 2.0 is still the most complete stand mount I’ve heard. A simple, clean, beautiful presentation. For about 550 a pair right now. 🤷🏻♂️
Watching the review through my Theva No 1s … great video as usual!
I really do love the fact Kristi had such a diametric view, same physics, but listening experience varies so much. Our nervous systems and minds are all unique. Perfect example was her impression that the brightness impacted vocals giving them “presence” in the particular material versus Andrew’s view that it was a peaky mess.
I had a chance to do a side by side at a local Best Buy where they had the 700 and 600 bookshelf speakers in their special demo room. I don’t know how to interpret the frequency response plot that was done, but those 10db swings in the base frequencies and drop off below 45Hz affirm that I heard weak bass, and that it is much helped by a sub (which I did switch on in the demo room). I think the 700s had better mid bass because dialog felt stronger, some could debate if that is worth 2x the price. It is for me because unintelligibleness really bugs me.
Shout out to the great professional video production.
Much appreciated
Good job guys! Great stuff as always!🙏
Are these close to the 705 S3? There are so many similarities except for the obvious separated tweeter dome.
Hi, I've had the B&Ws for 3 days and I listen to them 5 meters away from each other. My amplifier is a humble Rotel A12 MK II connected with an analog RCA cable to an Eversolo DMP-A6 DAC streamer. I'll just say one thing. I was speechless when I listened to Hi-Res tracks. Even those with a lower resolution of 44 KHz sound really good. Tracks in 192 KHz format, let's not even talk about them. They are truly super. I don't use the subwoofer because it is already truly remarkable and satisfying for my ears. I confirm what you said. The voices are at the center of the stage and seem to come out of the wall in front of you. I also have the complete Sony A7000 Home Theater system but I have never experienced the immersive sense I have when I listen to music albums with the B&W 606 S3 with the Sony A7000 while watching a movie on Netflix in 4K Dolby Atmos. I can only agree with you. For the quality/price ratio that these speakers have, they are superior to several models of other brands in the same price range. Hello and congratulations for your channel and your content. Greetings from Italy. 🇮🇹👋
Ah, another rhapsodic ode to the magic of "Hi-Res tracks" and the perceived prowess of a modestly priced setup. Your enthusiasm is touching, but let's dissect this monument to misplaced hyperbole and overblown claims, shall we?
First, Your "Speechlessness"
You were "speechless" when listening to Hi-Res tracks? How quaint. But forgive me if I remain unimpressed by your awe. Your reaction says more about the novelty of experiencing competent playback for the first time than it does about the actual performance of your system. Hi-Res audio is one of the most overhyped gimmicks in modern audio, especially at the consumer level. The human ear cannot discern the difference between 44.1 kHz and 192 kHz formats under normal listening conditions, no matter how "truly super" they seem to you. But by all means, continue mistaking your psychological bias for acoustic fidelity.
The Rotel A12 MK II: "Humble" Indeed
Your amplifier may be "humble," but that’s hardly a badge of honor in a setup where your B&W 606 S3 speakers could benefit from a far more robust power source. The Rotel, while serviceable, is like pairing a fine steak with a box of generic wine-adequate for the uninitiated but fundamentally underwhelming for anyone with refined tastes. It’s almost adorable how you’ve chosen to chain this system together with an RCA cable to your Eversolo DAC. Perhaps you’re unaware that your analog connection is already negating much of the supposed benefits of your DAC’s advanced processing? Or did you simply think "RCA is good enough" and leave it at that?
Your Dazzling "Center Stage" Observation
Ah, the old trope: “The voices are at the center of the stage and seem to come out of the wall.” How poetic. And how utterly unremarkable. This is not some mystical property of your B&Ws; it’s a basic expectation of any speaker capable of imaging properly. That you find it noteworthy only underscores how little exposure you’ve had to genuinely high-end systems. If you think your B&Ws are bending the laws of physics, perhaps it’s time to recalibrate your expectations-or simply listen to speakers outside the realm of entry-level audio.
Comparing Apples to, Well, Other Apples
It’s cute how you felt compelled to juxtapose your B&Ws with your Sony A7000 home theater system. Comparing a stereo music-focused setup to a soundbar designed for movies is like comparing a bicycle to a skateboard. Both have wheels, but their intended use cases are entirely different. Of course, your B&Ws outperform the Sony in music playback-this is about as surprising as the sun rising in the east. That you found this revelation profound is almost endearing.
The “Quality/Price Ratio” Myth
And here we arrive at the pièce de résistance: your proclamation that the B&W 606 S3 speakers "are superior to several models of other brands in the same price range." An intriguing claim, and one that conveniently lacks any specifics. Which models, exactly, have you compared them to? Did you conduct controlled A/B testing? Or is this sweeping assertion based solely on your limited experience and the buzzwords you’ve picked up from product brochures and online forums? Your declaration is as vague as it is meaningless.
Final Thoughts
In summary, your comment reads like a naïve love letter to your first semi-decent sound system. Your effusive praise for Hi-Res audio, your misplaced pride in your “humble” amplifier, and your breathless wonder at basic speaker imaging all scream one thing: beginner. And that’s fine-everyone starts somewhere. But please, spare us the grand declarations about quality and superiority until you’ve actually experienced what the world of high-fidelity audio has to offer.
For now, enjoy your system. But do remember that in the grand scheme of audiophilia, you’re marveling at shadows on the wall while the rest of us are enjoying the light. Greetings from reality.
Guarda, a me non interessa se ti godi la luce ed io mi godo le tenebre. Posso solo dirti che di impianti anche buoni ne ho avuto e quello che ho al momento, per l'ambiente in cui vivo è più che soddisfacente e stupefacente per i miei gusti. Te puoi continuare a investire anche milioni di dollari per il tuo super impianto. Chi te lo vieta? Se hai soldi da spendere fai bene! Io sono uno che si accontenta del risultato che ho ottenuto ed è più che ottimo per me e le mie orecchie modeste e non così fini come le tue. Sarà colpa della traduzione che hai fatto, ma io non ho mai paragonato la mia Soundbar Sony e il mio impianto Sony cinema al mio impianto audio per ascoltare musica. Non ho assolutamente scritto che il mio è il miglior impianto al mondo. Non lo è assolutamente e ci sono impianto costruiti e scelti ad ok, che costano tantissimo. Il mio è zero in confronto, ma quello che ascolto mi soddisfa molto. L'amplificatore Rotel A12 MK II mi è stato consigliato da chi è nel settore da anni. Sapeva che non potevo spendere più di un tot e mi ha consigliato il modello Rotel che ho e mi ci trovo bene, anche se uso il DAC dell'Everselo che è migliore. La connessione RCA mi è stata consigliata da diversi professionisti del settore audiofilo più della connessione con cavo ottico o altro. Non so perché hai questo accanimento verso il mio commento. Guarda che non si vince nulla a scrivere e a fare a chi lo ha più grosso. Comunque ti confermo che le B&W 606 S3 vanno alla grande. Se un giorno sarò ricco e avrò uno più spazio dedicato in una nuova casa, magari spenderò più soldi. Ho altre passioni oltre alla musica e di soldi ne ho spesi abbastanza e per questo motivo distribuisco il mio denaro nell'acquistare prodotti in altre passioni. Buona musica maestro. 😉
@@zerosforever Feelings don't lie. What matters is not how much we invest in entertainment, but how much pleasure we have. I have cheap and very expensive headphones, both give me a lot of fun. I can also relax by listening to music in the car. I don't care if someone labels me a beginner audiophile. Let's enjoy what we have!
@@tomaszbrodzic8381 Ottima risposta, la pensi come me. C'è sempre chi gioca ad avercelo più grande. 😉 Buona musica.
Are the floor standing 600 s3 going to be reviewed?
Will the 3 way design be better than the bookshelf in the frequency dip you measured? Thanks
Production value of these videos just keep going up. Well done and smart move to slow the pace of videos.
Oh wow I hoping you guys would review this I the coming weeks. You just made my day. I will be back with questions shortly. Thanks guys
Can't wait to hear your thoughts.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Another well balanced review. I hoping they would be much better than the S3 and they are, which is good.
If you have a choice to pair an audiolab 7000A with 606 S3 or LS50 meta, which combination would you pick for a medium room? In UK 606 S3 cost £749 & LS50 meta cost £999. Would you save £250 and get the B&W or pay the extra and get the LS50 meta paired with the audiolab 7000A?
Thanks, excellent work guys.
Love the new intro! Great content.
Hi Andrew, thanks so much for this review. May I ask how would the 606 S3 compare to the Focal Chora 806, and the Wharfedale Diamond 12.3?
Planning to choose one of these 3! I mainly listen to Alternative/Garage/Blues Rock. Thanks 😊
The final discussion was beautiful. Thank you!
The speakers do look nice in the wood finish 🙂 Nice review and commentary Andrew and Kristi !
I need a livestream! I love those Thursday afternoons.
I really enjoy your review. quality video. clear information what audience want to listen.
I appreciate that!
😀@@andrewrobinsonreviews
first off, still love the new intro.
Secondly im amazed at your ability to recall details from speakers that you may have reviewed years ago, like the lumina II.
Next live stream I'm going to send you a superchat and ask you to list everything you have in inventory. :) I bet the list is remarkable.
Would welcome the conversation. Re: the Lumina II, we still have them and use them regularly so comparing them A/B here was very easy.
Always great reviews on home audio 😊👍🏿
Glad you like them!
If the Sonus faber Lumina 2 is a lot less brighter and livelier in the treble than this B&W 606 S3, then it is safe to assume that this speaker leans towards the brighter side which is typical B&W.
I keep thinking the Philharmonic line of speakers would be a perfect match for you to review but they are hard to get with their limited runs.They are beautiful looking speakers that use top of the line components and all for a reasonable price. I wish Dennis Murphy would send you a review pair of HT Towers.
Too neutral for them, they prefer uber bright. Honestly they have said some speakers are neutral like the r700 and they can sit in front of a b&w speaker. The in room measurements being flat is a bright speaker due to how our ears work, there should be a 2-3 db roll off starting around 100hz.
These look gorgeous in your space. And just to make sure my TV is calibrated, what color is your T-shirt this time? 😂 Just messing with you guys...
Beautiful picture of Santorini.
606 S3 vs Klipsch RP600M Mk2, which one is better even though they may not be comparable due to their price difference?
This is addressed in the video.
Great review, however, I don't believe the Klipsch were compared - would be curious your thoughts there as well considering the Klipsch are now less than half the price of the B&W
Another great and fun review! Thank you so much!
Thank you so much for watching and for being a part of our community!
It would be interesting to compare them head-to-head with Kef LS 50 meta because I am considering these 2 options for purchase
I thought there was an insect running along on the tweeter mesh cover, or on my TV, but then I realized it’s just the reflection of a ceiling fan (?) in your room😅..
Good morning! Very interesting review, because I remember your last review of the B&W 😊. And, I appreciate that you two disagreed but were ok with it. You brought it home in the end. 😊 By the way, I heard the original B&W and they were bright and harsh. I look forward to hearing the new units.
Thanks so much for watching and for watching all of the conversation. It's one of our best IMHO.
Hey guys,you’re discussions between 606 and Theva’s is just great and explains time and time again that you have to listen first,and for some reason i get a feeling that you are both right. In my experience if a speaker have more pronounced region below let’s say 300Hz,they get little bit of that more spacious feeling,or “3d”,and maybe that’s why Theva’s sound bigger to Christi. Anyway,great review once again!
Really appreciate you watching through to the end!
Hi Andrew. I ended up purchasing the Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2 despite watching your review, and now I regret it. I was considering switching to the KEF LS50 Meta, but after watching your review of the 606 S3, I'm even more confused. Could you advise on which option would be the better choice?
Here are the rest of my components:
- Denon X3700H
- SVS SB1000 Pro
- Bowers & Wilkins HTM6 S2 Center
- Bowers & Wilkins M1 Surround
- Four Bowers & Wilkins CCM362 ceiling speakers
- 5.1.4 setup
Not Andrew, but I hope I can help:
Personally, I feel like you'd be better suited by an upgrade to the 606 S3. The LS50 Meta are notoriously power hungry, and while your Denon has a nominal peak power of 135w at 6 ohm into 2 channels, know that those quoted figures take a hit when running in a 9 channel surround system like yours where the Denon has 7 other speakers to drive. While the B&Ws aren't efficiency monsters, I don't think any gains in clarity from your front channel are worth the potential whole-system detriment when building a home theater around the KEFs and mixing in other brands for surround channels.
Just my two cents, plus B&W are running a sale on the S3 at the moment, so you would be saving a ton of cash compared to the $1500/pair LS50 Meta.
This is the way.
Thank you. Will they pair well with my Marantz Cinema 50 for home cinema and music
Hello AV needs! Tuning in at home now after spending the day at the airport waiting for flights that would canceled… ugh! Hopefully I’ll be watching your next I installment from NYC… UGH!
Good review Andrew! However you shouldn’t buy new speakers given that you have good speakers already. The thing about speakers is that if they sound good they sound good for many years! I bought some used s7 speakers 5 years ago and they still sound amazing. I demo high end audio occasionally as I live right next to audio perfection and close to stereo land.
It is a bit odd watching Andrew listening to Kristie, could we look at the speakers instead?
I think Andrew would be helped if he knew that the biology and science behind hearing means we all hear things differently. I think he appreciates that everyone has their own preferences, I'm not sure he appreciates that people literally do hear differently just as you taste food in different ways. That may help him be even more objective.
I have some 607 S3s on order. Can’t wait.
How are you enjoying them?
@@mr.potatofries8094 I love them. I have a small room and debated between them and the 606s. I think I made the right choice. They have no right sounding as big as they do at their size. Very detailed, bright but not harsh, bass is well controlled but obviously not super deep. I’m considering the 8” B&W subwoofer as the 607s are also the fronts for my TV’s surround setup.
@@jimmythefish sounds great Jimmy enjoy!
Hey Andrew! What speaker cable do you use? Is it running into something? I noticed it splits into one funnel and though it looks really nice from a cord management perspective.
They are custom and not available for purchase. There is a link to a DIY version that we've used. It has a similar look to our custom cables. You'll find that in the video's description.
Been listening with some of your recommend test tracks, WOW you selected some amazing songs to reveal your setup's abilities.
Good review 👍
But more excited about 603-S3 Tower review through your channel especially you love tower speakers
Andrew , I wish you would test the new B & W 801 d4 signature !!!
We're trying to get them in the house!
Thanks !!!@@andrewrobinsonreviews
It would be interesting to see a video of the two of you having an audiometry, and see what difference there is between the two and if that could explain the difference in what each one hears, think about it, it could be an interesting and fun video
Happy Sunday! Thank you for sharing your acumen again and again. Have a great week!
Thanks for watching and same to you!
Hi!How do these speakers pair with the Rotel A14 mkII?
I recently bought a pair of 603 S3 and I can confirm what Andrew said was 100% true
What si that?
As always, a fantastic review Andrew and Kristi. Keep up the good work! :D
I bought the S2 of these speakers for my TV setup after having the 607 S2s on my desk for a good year or so. I found they worked awfully in my room and my Denon AVR-X2300W was genuinely struggling to drive them. What you found in your S2 review I watched shortly afterwards perfectly aligned with my opinion and ensured me it wasn't just my ears!
I had the box sat around ready to return them before deciding to try an amp upgrade (which I'd been meaning to do anyway), and ended out getting an Arcam SA30 and using the built-in Dirac feature to correct it. Night and day difference in terms of tonal balance and clarity, but the soundstage has taken a massive hit due to the amount of DSP I've had to throw at it. A friend of mine said "Listening to your S2s is like listening to a line array at a club. A big, hefty, fun wall of sound, but a wall of sound nonetheless. There's just no stereo width!", and he also described them as "compartmentalised" and "clinical", which I'm inclined to agree with - they're tonally flat now, almost to a fault.
I'm definitely curious to demo the S3s in my room to see if they need as much DSP / room correction to make them sing. For the kind of content I watch and the kinds of music I listen to, the S2s are super fun, but after demoing the 706 S3 bookshelves at a hifi show in a hotel room that was far from ideal acoustically, I realized how awful the soundstage and cabinet design is on the 606 S2s!
Might have to pop down to the local audio shop and get a demo of my S2s, the 606 S3s, and the 706 S3s and see what my ears prefer.
Cheers!
I was between these and the Focal Theva. I ultimately went with the Theva because I found a pair on sale for $920 shipped, and I'm admittedly a bit of a Focal fanboy (Clear Pro is my preferred headphone). Hopefully when they show up next week, my experience will mirror that of Kristi's.
I've only ever had the 2007 685 Mk1 which was a marvellous speaker. Soundstage was tall and wide, with good depth. Can't wait to hear these.
You may find the new 606 S3s to sound completely different if you're current or last experience was from 2007, hard to say. Thanks for watching!
Just wanted to say how I look foward to all of yours and Kristie's views. How would you compare the Klipsch rp600 ll to the Bowers? I know you liked the Klipsch. The Klipsch are on sale now for $462 a pair. At this price are Bowers worth it?
The Klipsch are the "better value" but the B&Ws have a better and nicer build quality. IN OUR ROOM, the Klispch's bass is a little more peaky (more pronounced or boosted) though the midrange performance measures relatively the same. The Klipsch will be a little less refined and a touch more rolled off compared to the B&W.
I love it! Younger people allowing different opinion, yay! I am considering the 600 series 3's. More affordability is important as well. I enjoy listening to your review when you bring your "partner" to join in.
What would you recommend for low volume, late night listening. Focal Theva or these b&w or polk?
High end headphones in my house……
Hi Andrew! Thank you so much for the reviews. I would love it if you could review the Elac Vela line of speakers, especially the floor standing ones. There isn't really any reviews on TH-cam about them. You rock!
I have B&W 604 series lll more than 12years old in a full B&W surround system, bloody love their sound, even more so since I upgraded my ampfrom the Denon 6500 to the Anniversary 110.
No upgrade your speakers, you'll be shocked. I had every range of the 600 series back in the day series 3 604 and the old 605 s2. It's very old tech and when I changed my speakers I was like 😮! Made the old B&W sound terrible
I am backing Kristi's ears lol....ladies have great musical perspective 😊
As always I love your reviews - it’s like two in one and I love it! Keep up the good work you two.
I’m selfishly hoping one day you can review a current model Zu audio speaker. I’m interested in them for personal reasons and I think your opinions on them would be very interesting!
Everyone raves about the Zu speakers. You can also give them an upgrade when you buy them which is really cool.
Would like to hear what you think of the KEF R3 Meta
This is a fascinating speaker (and a great video). It does seem like B&W views the Klipsch 600m2 as direct competition. As if PR is asking the customer, “why would you get the Klipsch, when you can spend just a little more and a better speaker in every way?”
A La, your recent TV review regarding calibration. I wonder what % of your viewers use speaker stands for their bookshelf speakers? Or are putting them on a bookshelf or top of home theater cabinet?
Interesting, I don't know how much B&W looks at Klipsch or vice versa but it's an interesting thought nonetheless. As for a new poll, I like it!
@@andrewrobinsonreviewsI can’t think of buying a titanium tweeter without considering a klipsch
@@chrisveltman1795 right, good point.
That's like saying Mercedes views a Ford Focus as direct competition. Unlikely.
I don't know what people put their bookshelf speakers on but hopefully it is not a bookshelf! Most speakers sound better when they have some air around them, your imaging and sound stage will improve greatly. Also the cabinetry can accentuate certain frequencies and lead to a constricted or boomy sound. The coolest thing about bookshelf speakers is that they can 'disappear' to a greater extent than tower speakers due to the smaller front baffle.
Moral of the story, put them on stands out in the room if at all possible.
I’m not beyond driving a Ford focus. I’ve already had two of them…
Perhaps I missed it if you made the comparison, but how do these compare to the Klipsch RP 600m II?
We didn't make the comparison in this video so you didn't miss anything, but here's what I told another viewer...
"The Klipsch are the "better value" but the B&Ws have a better and nicer build quality. IN OUR ROOM, the Klispch's bass is a little more peaky (more pronounced or boosted) though the midrange performance measures relatively the same. The Klipsch will be a little less refined and a touch more rolled off compared to the B&W."
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Thank you.
The 600m's are kind of a party speaker on a budget. The B&W's are more of a low end audiophile solution for people listening to well recorded jazz, orchestral, vocals. So they are really intended for two very different listeners.
Good morning guys, how would u compare these to the monitor audio silvers 50 bookshelf ?
They're going to be close. From about 40Hz (bass) to 2kHz (upper midrange) they're virtually identical in our room. The Monitor Audio Silver 100s are a little less accentuated up top past 2kHz, resulting in a mildly less extended or forward sound.
Ty Andrew Kristi...
I missed this video somehow, and I wish I hadn't. My new Monitor Audio speakers are okay, but had I known that B&W had finally fixed this speaker, I could have replaced my old B&W 600 bookshelves with these.
Oh well, an excuse to buy a small amp for my office...lol!
Thanks Andrew!
omfg, I just ordered Monitor Audio Silver 50's to replace my B&W 600 S3... Which MA speakers did you get?
This review peaked my interest. So did the review for the Focal Theva. You make it seem like they’re “good enough” for a smallish room. Anything more expensive is luxury? I wonder how these speakers compare to my Closer Acoustics OGY at 2x the price. I would gladly audition them. I briefly heard the KEF LS50 wireless II and KEF LS60 in a showroom. They sounded well balanced but (slightly) artificial. I thought that the KEF LS60 was just 20% better than the LS50 wireless II. LS60 has better bass obviously.
Ultimately, shopping for a speaker is confusing as heck. But my current pair is really really nice.
Andrew as of this moment I'm auditioning the Kef LS50 Metas vs. B&W606 S3's and before you said anything I thought EXACTLY what you proceeded to say on essentially everything.
AB blind tested it with a housemate for a second opinion and with no prompting whatsoever or even seeing what he was listening to he picked out S3's immediately/agreed suggesting 'the S3's are like your ears have cleared after stepping out the shower ' vs. the Metas (i.e. S3's have so much more treble is almost night and day)
If anything it's putting me in a real quandary.
There is absolutely more precision in the S3's vs. the Metas (that your cloth comparions and the artist taking half a step back vs. the Focals also applies), but, the mid range in the Metas is slightly (only just) better such that listening to Dylan, Beatles, Hendrix etc has an almost vinyl/nostalgic feel by comparison (and a welcome one at that) and the instruments are allowed a tiny bit more say vs. the vocals as a result of the vocals stepping back (and muffling slightly).
So it feels like I need to decide if I want to choose precision over nostalgic (if not slightly muffled, only in direct comparison) neutrality.
Incidentally (if you're still monitoring comments) if I wanted to bring in an EQ which my amp doesn't have do you have any recommendations (beyond software) to facilitate this?
Playing via Qutest DAC from a laptop into the Amp and the Chord filters won't allow for the tweak you suggest...
Excellent review generally. Might have similar ears..
Perhaps you would like a wider dispersion ?
Maybe some Ascend Acoustics Sierra, though it's going to be a different tuning for sure.
Awesome review! Best yet IMO.
im curios if its worth to change my 706s2 for those 606s3 ?
Probably not.
:)
@@andrewrobinsonreviews
Thank you for posting your videos.
Would you consider making a video on how you became an audiophile?
You have such indeph perspective , wondering what your background is and how someone can learn what you know.
Hey Andrew, I got the 606 in my home cinema for the left and right, 607 s2 for the surrounds and htm 6 s2 for center. Would you recommend upgrade any of those to the new s3? I’m indecisive 🤷🏼♂️
This is thoroughly covered in this video.