Bowers & Wilkins 607 S2 Anniversary Edition Review

[windwolf447]

"BBC dip" ? And then the treble shelving for the "senior citizens", maybe.

It could be the "BBC dip". a few of the engineers I know in this industry support this theory. While some suggest this should only apply to nearfield listening conditions.

Later on, I listened to some recent B&W models and I don't like them personally.

 

[FeddyLost]

I think such successful company makes these design choices 100% intentionally.
According to their UM, these speakers need to be used free-standing on dedicated stands.
So, all the reason I can imagine is that their target audience are primarily old (asian) consumers with HF hearing loss, off-axis LP and low SPL.
Distortion of drivers themselves is very nice, so it's not just engineering fault, sensitivity is what one'd expect from 5" woofer, low order crossover with mid-highs' dip is "acceptable solution" if it will not induce screaming distortion at normal levels. Also, it's cheaper due to low components count.
So, i'd say this is just small overpriced satellite, good for HT duties. On-wall gain will remove some strain from woofer and room correction will equalise anything higher...

 

[FeddyLost]

but if somebody can, please comment my new speakers

It's off-topic here, but i'd say Dreiklangs are very decent speakers for big room. And maybe even their price is justified...

 

[beagleman]

"BBC dip" ? And then the treble shelving for the "senior citizens", maybe. For the aged B&W fan with an oldschool "linear - analog" amp, this may be the right sales formula.

Some in this forum will say, that listeners hearing does not factor in, but over the last 10 years or so I have noticed my high frequency hearing decline some. And that is using the same pair of speakers, that initially were VERY hot treble wise, now only seem somewhat elevated in the treble.

Maybe part is getting used to the sound, but in my brain I feel they sound a bit different after 10 years.

 

[respice finem]

...So, i'd say this is just small overpriced satellite, good for HT duties. On-wall gain will remove some strain from woofer and room correction will equalise anything higher...

Yes, but then, you might buy many other speakers not inferior for this task, and 30-50% cheaper.

 

[respice finem]

...Maybe part is getting used to the sound, but in my brain I feel they sound a bit different after 10 years.

While treble hearing is declining for everyone with age, I doubt anyone has an "audio memory" that long. Last time I've heard my B&Ws losing treble, they were indeed - due to the dreaded ferrofluid issue, resulting in a new pair of tweeters. And here comes the good part for B&W - I got a new pair of tweeters, for speakers from 1997.

 

[respice finem]

...I mean, who wants an honest evergreen speaker that last decades?

I do but I recently bought active monitors anyway. Hope the amps can still be repaired in 10-15 years.

 

[diddley]

the sold a million? that's only 500.000 pair.That's not that much or am i wrong?

 

[respice finem]

the sold a million? that's only 500.000 pair.That's not that much or am i wrong?

What's your source? Somehow I can't find this info on the Net. Maybe it's in one year? Unless I'm living in a bubble, everybody and his poodle has their speakers

 

[FeddyLost]

That's not that much or am i wrong?

You can approximate their market share. I'd say it's a lot. Few percent maybe.
Speakers are long-term use goods, mostly one set per family, and B&W are more or less premium price range.

 

[diddley]

Amir in the video

 

[respice finem]

I should watch more carefully I guess... By chance, can you timestamp?

 

[diddley]

You can approximate their market share. I'd say it's a lot. Few percent maybe.
Speakers are long-term use goods, mostly one set per family, and B&W are more or less premium price range.

Okay then i am wrong.

 

[diddley]

I should watch more carefully I guess... By chance, can you timestamp?

31.49

 

[windwolf447]

Also, you could notice that they put the tweeter more forward than the mid-woofer, traditionally if you do off-set drivers for time alignment one would move the tweeter backward, not forward. I thought it's just for an aesthetic reason (covering mid-woofer frame/screws), but they said this has some sort of sonic benefit. Again, a puzzling system design theory to me.

 

[respice finem]

31.49

A million, but only of the 607s - that sounds plausible to me.

 

[uwotm8]

Such blasphemy! Surely the audiophile gods will soon send a bolt of lightning to prevent the...
View attachment 119419

While I totally agree that B&W sound is disgusting, the "sacred cow killing" meta feels same disgusting to me.
As already mentioned, in early 2000s 600 series had realtively flat FR (while I still didn't like it).
And also there's a mention that B&W desing such speakers purposefully to produce special in-house sound.
It's pretty naive to believe in engineering fault; I think it's a gently crafted "showroom star" as Amir called it

 

[respice finem]

The elevated treble will sound airy and transparent, especially when comparing to a more neutral speaker.
It's a bit like with TVs: What looks good for 3 minutes in its special "showroom mode" makes your eyes hurt after two hours at home.

 

[richard12511]

Aww sh*t! I'm typing this on an iMac with my iPhone and iPad close by, I have a 1 series BMW and B&W floor standers I haven't succumbed to an Apple watch though as I like my mechanicals

Ha! I have and use all three(Windows, MAC, Linux). Couple windows machines(1 for roon core, 1 for gaming), macbook pro for general websurfing, netflix, and general software development, linux for more niche development and IT stuff. I try to be nice to everyone .

 

[welsh]

They look really similar to the klipsch 600m reviewed. I had the displeasure to demo them at a best buy and i gotta say. If someone offers me these for free i probably would just say no out of the kindness to my ears. 700 for this? Seriously a pair of Revel M16 can be had for around that price after negotiating with your dealer. This is absolutely crazy.

My Revel M16s are the first speakers I have ever owned that don’t make me worried about my speakers! I just listen to the music now.