Bowers & Wilkins 600 Series gives midrange a Continuum makeover

By Chris Davies/Aug. 20, 2018 12:10 pm EST

Bowers & Wilkins speakers aren't typically known for being affordable, but the high-end audio company plans to offer at least slightly more accessible options with its new 600 Series. Borrowing technology from the high-end B&W 800 Series, the new speakers ditch some of the more esoteric materials in the name of hitting a price point.

The new range replaces the Bowers & Wilkins 685 S2, which was released back in 2014. At the time, the company was still using Kevlar for its speaker cones, but that all changed the following year. As of the B&W 800 Series, the cones were made of a homegrown Continuum material.

Like Kevlar, Continuum uses a woven composite structure. However, B&W says that the material – which took eight years to develop – sounds better than Kevlar because its flexibility is more controlled. That way, the speaker firm says, there's less of an abrupt shift from pistonic action to break-up.

Now, it's the 600 Series' turn to get some Continuum action. There are four new models, all available in black and white, and using Decoupled Double Dome tweeters.

The daddy of the set is the B&W 603, the largest speaker in the new series. It has a FST midrange driver using the Continuum cone, and dual paper-cone bass drivers. Significantly smaller is the 606, which is intended for bookshelf or stand use. It has a 6.5-inch Continuum cone mid/bass driver.

Then there's the 607. That's the smallest of the updated line-up, using a 5-inch main Continuum cone mid/bass driver. Finally, the HTM6 is a slim, dedicated center channel speaker. That packs dual 5-inch Continuum cone mid/bass drivers.

Bowers & Wilkins will carry the existing 600 Series subwoofers – the ASW610XP, ASW610m and ASW608 – over from the old range. They'll get new finishes, however, so as to match the new speakers.

As for pricing, there'll be a premium to be paid over the old 685 S2, unfortunately. The 603 will come in at $1,800 for a pair, while the 606 will be $800. The 607 will be $600 for a pair, while a single HTM6 will be $599. B&W says it expects them to go on sale in September.