AFTER the flagship 800 Series, the Bowers & Wilkins speaker line that has been in production most continuously is the 600 Series. It represents the entrance to the B&W sound and has received several accolades and updates through the years, the latest being the S3, the eighth generation of the series.
The new 600 Series S3 range has four models: the floorstanding 603, standmount 606, bookshelf 607 and a dedicated centre channel in the HTM6. They all come in a choice of oak, white or black finishes, with cherry finish available in APAC markets only. The new FS-600 speaker stand is available in silver or black. If you’re thinking home theatre, all models integrated smoothly with one of the existing ASW608 or ASW610 active subwoofers.
Among the upgrades are the new titanium-dome tweeter. According to the company, “the new tweeter is a two-part construction, with a very thin, light but rigid 25-micron main dome, braced by a second 30-micron titanium ring, and housed in a significantly elongated tube-loading system.” The extended tube-loading system “reduces the resonant frequency behind the dome and leads to a more open sound that is less impacted by the cabinet that houses it.”
The tweeter also benefits from “a 700 Series S3-sized diaphragm mounting plate for better, more open dispersion and also includes the very latest, more open tweeter grille design taken directly from the recently introduced 800 Series Signature.”
The proprietary Continuum cone continues to feature throughout the 600 S3 range, “with the addition of more powerful, lower distortion 700 Series S3 motor assemblies for midrange and bass/midrange drive units.”
The paper cone bass drivers in the 603 S3 also now feature 703 S3 motor systems. Crossovers are also updated with the inclusion of high quality, upgraded bypass capacitors from the 700 Series S3 for higher resolution and transparency.
The cabinets have also been improved. The tweeter and main drive units are now mounted closer together, using “intersecting trim rings to improve integration and stereo imaging.”
“On the rear of the speaker, a new terminal tray, taken from the 700 Series S3, is joined by a 700 Series specification bass port, improving performance and creating a stiffer cabinet. The enclosure’s rigidity is further improved by upgrading the internal bracing to a higher standard of wood. Finally, the bottom of the 606 S3 and 607 S3 now include metal threaded inserts so that the speakers can be more securely fixed to the top plate of the new FS-600 S3 stands.”
All the new models will be available in early September at these retail prices:
603 S3 – €2,300 per pair
606 S3 – €1,000 per pair
607 S3 – €800 per pair
HTM6 S3 – €750
FS-600 S3 – €300 per pair
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