Bowers & Wilkins 606 S3 Bookshelf Speakers - Black - Pair

The Continuum Cone, in a Cabinet That Fits a Shelf

The 606 S3 is a two-way vented-box standmount. A 6.5-inch Continuum cone handles bass and midrange. Above it sits a 1-inch Decoupled Double Dome Titanium tweeter, behind the acoustically transparent grille mesh B&W developed for its Signature models.

Continuum is the cone material B&W developed over eight years for the 800 Series Diamond. It replaced Kevlar across the range. The point of it is a midrange that changes character less as the cone moves, which is where voices live.

Bigger Than a Compact, Smaller Than a Floorstander

Each cabinet stands 13.6 inches tall, 7.4 wide and 12.9 deep including the grille and terminals. Each weighs 15.5 pounds. That is a real standmount rather than a mini monitor, and it wants a shelf with some depth.

Where the Bottom End Comes From

A rear-firing Flowport vents the cabinet. B&W quotes a frequency range of 40 Hz to 33 kHz at minus 6 dB, and a response of 52 Hz to 28 kHz within 3 dB of the reference axis. The port needs air behind it.

Sensitivity is 88 dB at 2.83 volts and one meter. Nominal impedance is 8 ohms, dipping to a minimum of 3.7 ohms. Harmonic distortion stays under 1 percent from 100 Hz to 22 kHz, and under 0.5 percent through the midband.

Terminals Borrowed From the Series Above

The binding posts come from B&W’s 700 Series, with a rearranged layout and a shorter path between amplifier and driver. B&W asks that speaker cable stay under 0.1 ohms of impedance, which means not skimping on the run.

What Reviewers Are Saying

What Hi-Fi? gave the 606 S3 five stars on August 24, 2023, and named it a 2024 Award winner: "With improvements throughout, these admirable 606 S3s are pleasingly large-scaled, spacious and refined performers for the money".

Nasim Abbu-Daggar in futureaudiophile.com, June 3, 2024: "If you’re serious about sound and ready to invest in an audiophile experience that will reward you for years to come, the 606 S3 demands your attention."

Who Are These Bookshelf Speakers Best For?

• You want the house sound without a floorstander — the Continuum cone and Titanium Dome tweeter come from the same thinking as B&W’s larger ranges, so you get that character in a cabinet a shelf can hold
• Your room is a normal room — 88 dB sensitivity and an 8 ohm nominal load suit ordinary living spaces and ordinary amplifiers, rather than needing a dedicated listening room to make sense
• You care what happens to voices — distortion stays under half a percent through the midband, which is the range a singer occupies and where a cheaper cone usually starts to color things
• You are ready to place them properly — the Flowport fires backward, so a few inches of clearance behind each cabinet turns the bass from boomy into taut without any other change
• Check what your amplifier can deliver — B&W asks for 30 to 120 watts into 8 ohms on unclipped programme, and the load dips to 3.7 ohms; if your amplifier sits below that window, pair them with one of our integrated amplifiers that can hold it

How Do They Connect to Your System?

Run speaker cable from your amplifier to the single pair of binding posts on each cabinet. Spades, bananas and bare wire all fit. Keep the two runs the same length so both speakers see the same cable.

Then get the tweeters near ear height and give the rear port room. Stands are the usual answer and are not included. Toe them in toward the listening seat and adjust from there.

Pairs Well With

What finishes the setup. These are the categories most 606 S3 owners shop next.

• Speaker stands — not in the box, and the fastest single improvement you can make
• Speaker cables — B&W asks for under 0.1 ohms, so gauge and length matter
• Integrated amplifiers — anything in the 30 to 120 watt window is a match
• Subwoofers — for the octave below 52 Hz that no cabinet this size reaches

Frequently Asked Questions

What amplifier do these need?

B&W recommends 30 to 120 watts into 8 ohms on unclipped programme. Nominal impedance is 8 ohms with a minimum of 3.7, so pick an amplifier comfortable driving that dip.

Are stands included?

Stands are a separate purchase. A shelf works, provided the rear port has clearance and the tweeters end up somewhere near ear height.

How far from the wall should they sit?

Give the rear Flowport a few inches to breathe. Closer to the wall adds bass weight, further out tightens it, so move them and listen.

How low do they go?

B&W quotes 52 Hz within 3 dB, and 40 Hz at minus 6 dB. That covers most music. Add a subwoofer if you want the bottom octave for films.

What is a Continuum cone?

It is the composite cone material B&W developed over eight years and introduced on the 800 Series Diamond. It is designed to behave consistently as it moves, rather than changing character partway.

How big and heavy are they?

Each cabinet is 13.6 inches tall, 7.4 wide and 12.9 deep with the grille and terminals, and weighs 15.5 pounds. They ship as a pair.

See It in Action

Taps Das reviews the 606 S3:

The Listening Post spends thirteen minutes with a pair:

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