Soundtest - B&W 606 S2 Anniversary (599£) vs. QUAD S-2 (599£)

Bowers & wilkins 606S2 anniversary vs. QUAD S-2 soundtest

Equipment:
BlueSound Node 2i running digital to Audiolab 9000A integrated amplifier. Using Kimber Kable 8TC as speaker cables.

Music used in video from Artlist:

Used equipment for recording:

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Music used in video from Artlist:

00:00: Intro
00:14: Out of Flux - Saxbounce (QUAD S-2)
00:44: Out of Flux - Saxbounce (606S2)
01:16: (Cinematic) Ian Post - Clarity (QUAD S-2)
02:28: (Cinematic) Ian Post - Clarity (606S2)
03:39: (Classical Music Playing) Ian Post - Canon in Major D (QUAD S-2)
06:11: (Classical Music Playing) Ian Post - Canon in Major D(606S2)
08:41: (Jazz music playing) The Roar by Southside Aces (QUAD S-2)
09:39: (Jazz music playing) The Roar by Southside Aces(606S2)
10:38: (Acoustic / Indie) Low Light - Never Lost (QUAD S-2)
11:28: (Acoustic / Indie) Low Light - Never Lost(606S2)
12:39: (Electronic) Curtis Cole - Ratata (QUAD S-2)
13:28: (Electronic) Curtis Cole - Ratata (606S2)

[ΣάββαςΟλυμπιαδης]

Beide spielen sehr gut. Für mich die Quad etwas besser. Toll Vergleich. Danke aus Griechenland

[ilyalala]

QUAD S-2 победитель, играют открытие и детальнее

[LB-rqds]

I have tried both and the quad are 10 times better

[nc]

Difficult to tell SQ differences in a compressed video on YT. I have had the Quad S2 in my system and while it was highly resolving and transparent, it lacked to convey the emotion I need in music. Its stage depth was very flat which probably added ot the lack of what I would call musicality. Kind of lifeless vs other speakers I had such as Focal and Triangle. It was however alot of fun with movie soundtracks giving all the back ground info and dialog being crystal clear. YT cannot adequately display these sonic differences.

Can't say how the 606 would sound in comparison but I am used to a brighter sounding speaker so I would guess it would more suit my taste at least for music in comparison to the s2. However, it is known that B&W has a frequency dip in the midrange so the S2 may be preferred for movies.

Personally, I would give up a bit of resolution if my music sounded more natural and like music should. Didn't like the previous Kevlar drivers but don't know about the new ones. Typically I like some variation of paper for textures in various instruments and voice, however the frequency curve dips and rises. While neutrality is the aim, slightly warmer or cooler is a great deviation but transparency, timbre, stage dimensionality and the ability to maintain separation without everything bleeding into a wall of sound is important.

[kernek]

Quad klingt sehr sauber, Natur und mehr Details....

[subramanianvenkatesh]

In b&w higher frequency slightly lesser and less warmer

[fredlieman]

If you want to hear differences in speakers you have to good to a GOOD hifi store. And a couple of times.

[ВладЖемухов-съ]

Сетап правильно составьте: quad + denon =👍 и тогда Бивни курят бамбук😂

[питбуль-питбуль]

Что за манера ставить только лёгкую музыку? Где низы, где тяжи, металл рок?

[gg]

I think these recordings are not level matched, giving the impression that the B&W sound better. The Quads are more balanced, while the 606s are too in your face, but the mids are really subdued, aggresive V-shaped sound signature.