All of these three are impressive, but the B&W 606 and 607 S3 puts in the best all-round performance
So now that we know how these speaker packages stack up next to one another, what are the key takeaways from our test? Well, it should be no surprise that the Product of the Year-winning B&W 606 & 607 S3 speaker package takes the cake – it offers the best price-to-performance ratio, as well as plenty of other upgrades over its rivals.
It also supplies the most dynamic and involving performance out of this trio. As we have highlighted already, the key to that is the package’s snappy dynamics and controlled bass; they very effectively convey surprising moments such as the sudden explosion that results in Romilly’s death in Interstellar.
While it can certainly deliver the goods in louder scenes, the B&W set is equally adept at capturing the low-level dynamics in voices that bring similar levels of drama to quiet conversational scenes. It is that holistic approach to nailing each aspect of cinematic sound that allows the B&W package to flourish, and ultimately become our preferred set of speakers within this round-up.
It doesn’t only excel in the sound department either; its considerately compact design, compared with the imposing Wharfedale package and the smaller (but still by no means compact) Q Acoustics, won us over. These speakers may not feature a notably bold or eye-catching aesthetic, but the standmounter design allows for more versatility when placing them within your entertainment setup, and the clean, minimalist aesthetic means they will fit right in with most interior designs.
Gallant (and capable) runners-up
Bowers & Wilkins’ success certainly shouldn’t undermine Q Acoustics’ excellent 5040 package, however. While it lacks the warmth and texture that characterises the B&W presentation, it rivals the 606 & 607 S3 package in terms of dynamism and delivering a more spacious and energeti
