Bowers & Wilkins 606 speakers vs KEF LS50: which to buy?

The KEF LS50 is my overall pick: it takes sound quality, soundstage and imaging, and value for money by clear margins, and edges ahead on midrange and treble too. The Bowers & Wilkins 606 is the pair I would choose instead if low-end punch is what you want most.

Buy the Bowers & Wilkins 606 if you want weight and physical punch from a standalone pair. It wins bass response by a clear margin, and the spec sheet supports that: a 6.5 inch mid-woofer, a 52 Hz lower limit and 88 dB sensitivity that makes it easier to play loud from a modest receiver, with headroom up to 120 W. Its character is bright and forward, with mid-high notes pushed right at you, so pop, rock and anything played at volume in a larger room lands with real energy. If you have no plans to add a subwoofer, this is the safer choice.

Everyone else should take the KEF LS50. It leads on sound quality, soundstage and imaging, and value for money by clear margins, and takes midrange clarity, treble detail and design by narrower ones, so low-end punch is the single aspect it gives up. Voices and wind instruments sit in the room with you, and the imaging stays precise at low volume, which suits a small or nearfield space. It is honest to a fault, so a weak source or amplifier will be exposed, and it wants 25 to 100 W rather than brute force. The 5 year warranty against 3 years is a welcome bonus. Add a subwoofer if you crave earth-shaking bass, and you give up almost nothing.