I'm still picking my jaw up off the floor 6 years later...If I was forced to choose between my PSB 6T's and these I would have to keep the B&W's...no contest even>>>I first drove them with my old H/K av-210(40 watts p/channel according to spec, and 50 in stereo, but that's always been hard to believe) and a H/K 200 watt powered sub....It was a shocker...I didn't even know then how to properly wire them through the sub to boost power so they only had 50 watts...they don't care....give them 50 or 250 , motown or classic rock or heavy metal or club music...they don't give a shit...bring it on...I'm really looking forward to hearing more of B&W but I think I might have lucked out a bit too because these aren't that common and might be a little bit special even for B&W if understand correctly...in this price range anyway...I intend to eventually try and grab another pair and feed them exclusively to my Sherbourn 1645...they're just very enjoyable to hear at any volume and I'm never worried about tweaking the levels with them...only speakers like that for me so far...they're always perfect, just turn your sub up or down....could not recommend these more.

You'll have to buy more and they're not very cheap....your wife could react unfavourably.

Sound, very musical

Cosmetically, I'ts much better looking without the front cover.

Finally found a great sounding speaker, sounds fantastic with almost any type of music you throw in them. I also auditioned some known brand in the same category like monitor audio, infinity, tannoy to name a few, but I went to B&W 602 S3, warm sounding, very musical, great mids & highs. Bass sounds ok for a bookhelf size speaker but will be needing a matching active subwoofer if room is a bit large.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha RXV 2500
KENWOOD VR 8070
NAD 2200 Power amplifier
CARVER TFM-24 Power amplifier
BOSE AM-15
BOSE 701 S1
WHARFEDALE diamond7
JBL E250 SUB

Sound, very musical

Cosmetically, I'ts much better looking without the front cover.

Finally found a great sounding speaker, sounds fantastic with almost any type of music you throw in them. I also auditioned some known brand in the same category like monitor audio, infinity, tannoy to name a few, but I went to B&W 602 S3, warm sounding, very musical, great mids & highs. Bass sounds ok for a bookhelf size speaker but will be needing a matching active subwoofer if room is a bit large.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha RXV 2500
KENWOOD VR 8070
NAD 2200 Power amplifier
CARVER TFM-24 Power amplifier
BOSE AM-15
BOSE 701 S1
WHARFEDALE diamond7
JBL E250 SUB

My next purchase from B&W will be the 700 series and above... I don't care for any audio components made in Asia, anymore as the new 600 series is made in china...
I want well made audio made either in the USA or Europe...
I'm tired of all of this Asian made audio crap...
B & W has disappointed me with their move to have the new 600 series made in China...And I won't buy it !!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm not buying any audio components or furniture made in Asia anymore !!!!!!!!!! It's all crap... No more made in china in my house, other than throw away stuff...
However, I look foward to my next purchase of B & W 700 series and above...or any other products made in europe and the usa !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Made in Canada is OK !!!!!!!

Later, Spocko

NONE...



$500.00 per pair / used !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I posted a review in feb, 2007 on these dm 602 s3 by B & W.
It has now been 5 months of using them and without a sub...
They keep sounding better and better as the days and weeks go by...
I even bought a sub, the asw600 and ended up taking it back...
Except for some certain scenes in certain movie soundtracks, the sub did'nt really help that much... as an example, the dts scene in Jurassic Park III, when the Allisouras and the T-Rex fight, the sub helped some the extreme lower lfe effects, such as stomping and explosions... But that was it... After comparing the 602s3's with and without the sub on several 5.1 dvds , I concluded that I really did not need the sub...
And with music, the sub hardly helped at all... Most music does'nt go that low anyway...the lowest bass guitar note is 42 hertz... and the 602s roll off at just below 40 hertz...
Unless you listen to heavy rap or huge kettle drums from large symphonies...
a sub won't make that much difference with the 602s...
Maybe if I had a huge room larger than my living room of 8 x 11 x 17 ft. (HxWxL), which is less than 1500 cubic feet, I may have kept the sub... But I think it goes low enough... Besides I have learned that I enjoy musuc much better with truly full range floorstandes... the 602 isn't a true floorstander, but it thinks it's a big speaker with that 7" driver and bass flowport...They just sound better ...

Similar Products Used:

Paradigm, vector research, polk audio,parasound,sennheiser,onkyo, monster cable,
yamaha, phase tech, bic america... no more asian made audio !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tweeter...Oh the mini tube loaded tweeter. There is NO competition.

One must remember that this is a two way speaker. It will not reproduce all your music wonderfully, material that is complex, like most of todays modern rock,techno and hip hop will require a sub to accompany it.

For everything else vocal, Jazzy, and grand orchestral..even home theater surrounds...These are 100% your babies

I am a 26 year old architect obsessed with everything sound. Over the past few years Ive divulged myself intently on equipment to recreate what Ive thought to be my level of audible perfection. As I earned in my practice, I incrementally invested in systems ranging from Home theater amps to solid state and until recently..vacuum tubes.
I've been to a multitude of stores that have provided high end audio systems and have listened to practically every concievable brand ranging from Sonus faber, JBL's Northridge series etc, Infinity, Acanthus, Dyna Audio,Acoustic Energy etc....

Buyer Beware!!!!! as I learned this the hard way investing thousands of dollars in equipment well marketed but with very very poor quality.

this statement now is what every person should take note of when looking to invest in speakers. ...A speakers performance will ALWAYS be 50% dependant on the amplifier powering it. Ive read hundreds of reviews from company's and individuals stating that the speakers they manufacture or own sound wonderful etc...but very few accompanied with the list of associated test equipment. A good example is that of Wharfedale's Diamond 8 Series, Pair it with a Harman/Kardon Reciever with all its hype of high current rubbish and what you'll get is just quantity of sound blaring down your throat with little to absolutely no finesse. Pair them with A Yamaha reciever (bi-wired) capable of driving 100Watts minimum @ 8Ohms...and you will Have one of the most cost effective home theaters easily rivalling some of the goliaths that cost thousands.

Anyway to cut to the chase of reviewing the Bowers and Wilkins DM602 S3. I combined it with Rotel's RA03, RA06 and with what I presently own now, a Sonata 70 35 WATT Svetlana El34 AB push pull amplifier and NAD's 24bit sigma delta cd player....what I achieved with all of the following was literally... pure sonic heaven. I heard sounds from these speakers that ABSOLUTELY NO OTHER in it's class can produce..I myself have chosen to bi wire opening up a greater more spacial sound stage, and I tell you with all conviction spinning Jheena Lodwick's HDCD mastered "Emerald City," as well as Kathy McPhee's Somewhere over the Rainbow, every breath, Lisp swirl of the tongue and pinch of lips can be heard so incredibly acutely. The High end is completely COMPLETELY untouchable, the upper frequencies seem to rise and roll of soooo gracefully unlike other Brands such as focal JM Lab's which seem to just reach the peak and drop off. The Overall soundstage don't get me wrong isn't anything like the perfection of the 800 Series of Bowers and Wilkins but it sure is more than a DAMN fine deal for your money. If you run tubes for stereo listening or Rotel or a NAD amp, you ABSOLUTELY will not go wrong. If you plan to get a setup for your home theater, Power this with a Yamaha, RXV659, 2500, 2600, 2700, or 4600....and you will be dumbfounded by the subtle sounds that are left out by other brands. I have NO regret buying this product.... It makes the hair at the back of my neck stand every time I power it up

Similar Products Used:

Harman Kardon AVR4550 (THE WORST BUY EVER, RUBBISH HOME THEATRE AMPLIFIER COMPANY) Believe me sales of this products are based on looks, and embarassment of individuals who are too afraid to admit their mistake in purchasing. All.. quantity of bloated and blasted sound generating immediate ear fatigue...NO Quality and finesse. GO Yamaha and Rote!!!l

What clarity, openness, air, soundastage and realism. Oh, what the hay, they sound really good !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! As for surround sound 5.1 and DPLII, they create an enveloping and egaging wrap around effect !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sound effects take a new level of involvement !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Effects and instruments float in the air around me, whether I listen to Two channel Pure Direct or 5.1 or DPLII !!!!!!!!!!!! These are an excellent value. Hail B & W !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Low sensitivity can make them harder to drive for some amps. So, ask your dealer or B & W , What they think... My YAmaha RXV 1500 THX Certified works fine... Althoufg I will buy a Rotel receiver and then Rotel seperates later as money becomes available... Wlat a value in audio... B & W ... Later Spocko...

I bought these great speakers, used at an old and well respected audio/video boutique called Hudson's Audio, here in Albuquerque,NM for. Jeff, the owner let me listen to my cds , at will and at the volume I wanted. After I auditioned several different models of B & W speakers, my budget settled on a excellent value of five speakers that include a pair of B & W, (that's all Jeff sells!), DM 602 S3's ($500/pr.) , a pair of DM 600's ($315/pr) and an LCR 60 ($315). I couldn't afford a sub. But, the 602's think their big speakers. And with their 7" drivers and great bass port, it shows... Besides with miusic, the 602's shine and go low enough for some startling realism... I also biwired them to my Yamaha RXV1500 receiver...I listen to two channel , mostly with cds, as I can use the Pure Direct mode on the receiver and let those THX certified, discrete amps shine , pushing these 602's beautifully !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Customer Service

Jeff is great!!! @ Hudson's Audio in Albuquerque, NM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Similar Products Used:

Denon, Polk, BIc America,Onkyo, Vector Research, Athena, EPI, Phase Tech, Sony, Infinity, Realistic, Vandersteen, B & K...

Crisp sound when paired with the right amp.

Doesn't handle bass when listening to music with large bass lines.

I use these speakers on my second system in my other home, I have these hooked up to a Cambride Audio Azur 340A SE amp. Although it is a little under powered i think the B&W's produce a very tight sound and are definately better on stands. They sound bigger than they are although they can lack a bit of bass but that may be because my amp is a bit under powered. If you appreaciate quality of sound you won't be dissapointed these are very warm sounding speakers and sound best when listening to classical, indie, and pop music. They are too laid back to handle hip hop, r 'n' b and rock and metal music. If you are going to listen to classical music i recommend you go for an amp like a denon because they provide a lot more detail than the cambridge audio, but for my taste i needed a more generic amp which could handle different genres hence the cambridge audio. I wish i saved up a bit more and bought a more high powered amp. I heard these on a Cambridge Audio 640A amp and they sounded better than my setup but still not as good as my other setup of Denon amp and Yamaha NS-1000M speakers.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha NS-1000M'S
Jamo W125's