I have had many bookshelf speakers and my favorite were Polk audio RTi-A1...well that was until I try these beasts! The B&W 686 are very small bookshelf speakers, but they sound BIG!!!. The sound is very clean and solid, the build quality is very well made using very high quality parts. You will not find cheap electrolytic NP caps here. I would strongly recommend them for those people that appreciate good sound in small packages. These speakers are worthy every penny.

I initially used them as surround speakers for my set-up (I use 602s in front). But the 686s were just overqualified as surround speakers. I gave them their own room paired with a small vacuum tube amplifier. The problem with bookshelf speakers is always the low frequencies. But not for the 686. The bass is unbelievably deep. I listened to Klipschs, Polk, and Paradigms of the same sizes and the bass of the 686 stands out.

Give them power and give them vacuum tube amps to really enjoy warm analog sound. So deep, so clear.

Not that good.I bought these to compare with,and replace my older 600 s3,but after extensive listening the 600 s3 were better.
The 686 have to my ears have a compressed and closed in midrange,and a prominent treble with stands out and bit too forward,with slight thinness overall namelly from the metal tweet.The 600s3 has a much more open midrange,although less bass.-still the 600s3 sounded more satisfying musically.

686's are great little speakers for my needs. My room is carpeted, about 10x12, and I am using an Audiopro sub. These have more detail than my old Paradigms. The sound stage is great for the size and the sub allows a bit more breath. These are tight and punchy, not too brights, great for classical and jazz. Check out Paradigm and NHT, settled on these for $400 at a closing store. No complaints. Amazing detail for such small speakers. Running good power, don't skimp on power.

I decided to purchase the smallest of the B&W series - 686. Now do these have the detail or dispersion of the 685 - no. Are the 686's more detailed than my older Paradigms - yes. The space one is working with is critical to sound so I am working with a small apartment living room 10x12. My sofa is about 6 ft from the speakers. The speakers are off the wall on stands. My sub is an Audiopro. The 685 speakers are $685 and tax at my local shop and well worth it. The 686's ran me $400 as a local store was closing, I paid $75 for the Sub and a couple of satellites, my receiver a Denon 3803 - under $200. I paid $675 for a decent system that is appropriate for my space. Now mind you I have a small room painted apartment white, with a carpet, and walls that are thin. Big sound could lead to neighbor anger. Bass is tight and held better with a small sub. Detail is very good though the bigger sibling clearly has more detail. The sound field is not the 685's but very good for their size. In the world of compromise and personal economic limits I am more than pleased. These are very good speakers and excellent for my needs. If you are cash poor and don't have that $X,000 dollars in discretionary income, prefer classical and jazz, these speakers are a bargain at their price point. As money gathers you can use them as rears if you choose. However, they are mellow, sweet fronts in a small space. Paradigm Atoms and NHT's are also worth a good look.

Tremendous bass and large soundstage for such small boxes. Very dynamic. With my amplifier (Exposure 2010) I get a fantastic punchy bass which is also fast and tight. The treble is smooth, but not overly so, and the midrange is superb. The performance of these speakers is well above their price.

These speakers whilst not a difficult load are fairly insensitive (84db/1w/m) and demand some quality amplification if they are to be heard at their best. Most people will probably pair these with a price comparable amplifier that isn't really up to the job and come away with the wrong impression. You need an amp with muscle that can really get hold of those cones and stay firmly in control. I totally agree with "HiFi World" magazine when they say that you need to think of these as £500 speakers when looking for a partnering amplifier.

I have been playing with HiFi for many years now and the advent of eBay has allowed me to try out many different products (albeit second hand). Some of this gear has been fairly high end and has included full systems from Arcam, Naim, and Meridian. I recently downsized to free up some cash and, after settling on a mid-priced amplifier and CD player, set about finding some suitable speakers.
The B&W 686s nearly didn't happen and if it weren't for the unbearably harsh treble on some Focal JM Lab Cobalt 806s and a very favourable review in "HiFi World" magazine I wouldn't have tried them. I've tried B&W speaker in the past and was never really bowled over by them. At a price of £279 the 686s were worth a try and if not satisfactory could always go on eBay. Getting speakers to fit in with a particular room size and furnishings is not easy. My room is roughly 12 x 13 feet with hardwood floors and I believe that, after trying many different speakers, I have found the optimum size of speaker for this room size. These speakers fill the room with music, without any harshness in the treble, and boom in the bass. I like bass and these provide enough tight punchy bass to put a smile on your face but at the same time not at the expense of a clear midrange. Metal dome tweeters can often sound harsh especially when pushed hard and I've never really been fond of them but these are leagues ahead of what I've heard in the past. The size of the sound that comes from these diminutive boxes is really quite stunning, truly an engineering miracle. My music tastes are varied and I can honestly say that these speakers are good at everything. These will be staying for a while now!