Over the years Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) has consistently refined its most popular product lines, including its affordable 600 Series of products.
The newly announced 600 Series S3 line of products is the latest example from the global audio manufacturer. Bowers & Wilkins points out that over the years this product line has served an important role for the company, along with its flagship 800 Series of products. According to the company, the product line provides homeowners with a gateway solution to hear music and audio content in a way the artists originally intended.
“After nearly 30 years of continual evolution and improvement, we believe that the latest 600 Series S3 continues to set a benchmark in its category,” comments Dave Sheen, brand president, Bowers & Wilkins.
“Cascading key technologies down from our high-end loudspeaker ranges means everyone experiencing the new 600 Series will enjoy performance that genuinely delivers on our promise of True Sound and brings the listener closer than ever to the artist’s intent.”
Bowers & Wilkins explains that homeowners can use its products to reproduce music and video content that includes streaming media. To help users blend the speakers into their home settings the company offers a choice of four models: The floorstanding 603 S3, the 606 S3 standmount, the 607 S3 bookshelf speaker, and the HTM6 S3, which is designed to serve as a dedicated center channel loudspeaker for surround sound, home theater applications.
600 Series S3 Utilizes Advanced Designs and Technologies
Elaborating on its product development strategies, Bowers & Wilkins points out that its latest speaker line employs its newest dome tweeter concepts.
The U.K.-based manufacturer says the product line’s Titanium dome tweeter features a two-part construction that includes a light and thin 25-micron main dome that is braced by a second 30-micron Titanium ring. This tweeter design is housed in an elongated tube-loading system that is said to reduce resonant frequencies behind the dome to facilitate a, “more open sound.”
Bowers & Wilkins continues by stating the 600 Series S3 product line also employs a design concept from its 700 Series of product in which a diaphragm mounting plate is included, as well as an open tweeter grille design that has trickled down from its 800 Series of products.
Borrowing from its 700 Series once again, the 600 S3 products also feature the company’s proprietary Continuum Cones, as well as the 700 Series’ midrange and bass/midrange drive unit motor assemblies. Additionally, The paper cone bass drivers in the 603 S3 product now employ the 703 S3 motor systems.
Moreover, the speakers’ crossovers are updated with the 700 Series S3s’ bypass capacitors.
Bower & Wilkins adds to help ensure the driver upgrades are maximized in the 600 Series S3, it has also addressed the new product line’s cabinets with design revisions that include moving the tweeter and main drive units closer together using intersecting trim rings. On the speakers’ rear panel Bowers & Wilkins utilized the 700 Series’ bass port design that it says provides the product line with stiffer cabinet construction.
Concluding the engineering updates to the 600 Series S3 line of products, Bowers & Wilkins says the speaker now feature new wood internal bracing, and metal-threaded inserts that enable the speakers to be more securely fixed to the top plate of the new FS-600 S3 stands.
A Closer Look at the 600 Series S3 Product Line
603 S3: This is a floorstanding loudspeaker that incorporates a 1-inch Titanium tweeter, a 6-inch FST Continuum Dome midrange driver and a pair of 6.5-inch paper-cone woofer. The 603 S3 carries a retail price of $2,500 per pair.
606 S3: The 606 can be stand mounted or it can serve homeowners as a bookshelf speaker. The speaker features a 1-inch Titanium tweeter, and a 6-inch FST Continuum Dome midrange driver. The 606 S3 carries a retail price of $1,100 per pair.
607 S3: The 607 is a small-footprint loudspeaker that like the 606 can be stand mounted or used as a bookshelf speaker. The speaker employs a 1-inch Titanium tweeter, and a 5-inch FST Continuum Dome midrange driver. The 607 S3 carries a retail price of $900 per pair.
HTM6 S3: The HTM6 center-channel speaker incorporates a 1-inch Titanium tweeter, and two 5-inch FST Continuum Dome midrange drivers. The HTM6 carries a retail price of $900 each.
FS-600 Stands: Bowers & Wilkins says this pair of speaker stands provides homeowners with a mass–loadable stand solution that is designed for use with both 607 S3 and 606 S3 loudspeakers. The stands are available in black or silver and with top plate fixings for a direct connection to company’s bookshelf speakers. The FS-600 Stands carry a retail price of $300 per pair.
ASW608 and ASW610 Powered Subwoofers: Complementing the 600 Series S3 line of products, these subwoofers are available in a choice of black or white finishes. The ASW608 carries a retail price of $599, and the ASW610 carries a retail price of $899.
600 Series S3 Theater Bundle: Bowers & Wilkins offers this 5.1 surround sound package that includes its 603 S3, 607 S3, HTM6 S3, and the ASW610 powered subwoofer. The retail cost of this home theater system is $5,199.
