Beautiful sound

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After finally deciding to step up into entry-level hifi, the first thing I purchased was the amazing DM601S2. Thanks to my friend Jorge Palao.

I mostly listen to (and auditioned these speakers with) Cat Stevens, Fletwood Mac and others, and I think they're the best-sounding speakers for this sort of music I've encountered on a regular basis.
Their sound is detailed without being harsh; it feels balanced just right.

Each time I listen to them I get that gee-whiz reaction that you really ought to get from listening to music.
That said, they sometimes seem a bit limited in the midrange when dealing with some rock and pop.

I suspect that this has to do with the decent-but-lowrange equipment making up the rest of my setup; I subscribe to the "stretch your system with your speakers rather than have superior equipment feeding mediocre speakers" school of thought on this .

I believe these speakers are very competitive in this price class, which is admittedly a highly competitive arena to begin with. I feel there sound is very honest, accurate and natural.

I've also noticed that, given a proper stereo setup these speakers do a wonderful job of creating a soundstage _and_ of filling a space/room
Overall wonderful speakers; the move from my previous Celestion E1 pair was probably the most dramatic increase in sound quality I'll be able to afford in a long time.
My final thought? Listen and you´ll see.

My System:
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Onkyo TX-DS989 reciever
Magenta ADE-24 Enhancer
Philips DVD-711 DVD
Zenith 4280 DSS
Philips 999 S-video VHS
Yamaha CDX-775 CD player
Celestion E4 main speakers
Celestion E-centre Center
Celestion E1 surrounds
Yamaha YSB-160 sub
Philips YSP-55 " rear projection
Megacable Radio Shack

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Celestion E1

Good clarity. Wide soundstange.

The kevlar woofer takes a bit of time to brake in.

When shopping for speakers I listened to a wide variety of systems from Linn, Ruark, Totem, PSB, Paradigm, Energy and Mission speakers. Each time, I went back to the B&W 602s.

At this price point, I think the 602's are the best value around. Once broken in they sound fantastic. The sound is airy and crystal clear with a nice wide soundstage. Considering their small size they have some pretty impressive bass extension too. Vocals sound natural without the common barel chested sound you get from some speakers.

great design / sound, bi-wiering

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I dont think that there is a loudspeaker on earth that has so perfect sound quality for such a low price. It allso has a design that makes it look way more expensive than it is. Put them om a pair of soundstyle x122ls speakerstands and they look even better =) To bad they replaced them with the ugly S3 series.

Neutral

Thin bass

It is the best speaker in the range.
I used it with my DENON F-100 it is perfect.

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DENON F-100

basey, full sounding, good value, warm sounding, decent treble. dependable.

not suited as fronts in high end set ups. long break in

got these along side my amp etc. i also got a CC6 centre speaker. i was most dissapointed with that speaker and decided to bite the bullet and upgrade to the LCR6 S3. as a result of the more powerful centre i decided to move the 601's to the surround position and buy some new 602's for the fronts.

they are very good speakers for the money, and you never feel like they are lacking. the cc6 definatly DID lack big time, but these are very safe. for any low-mid range thatre they are PERFECT for front speakers. for a high end system they are still valuable as they are ideal for the rears or surrounds. a very versatile speaker in other words. however, they do need a long break in, and can sound a bit constrained and boxy at first with little definition. but they will settle down. these are classic speakers that are renowned in their price range.

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303's

very detailed once broken in. very good value.

perhaps not strong enough for front speakers.

superb set of speakers. the best by a mile in their price range. like eric said, they arent that strong on base but thats not suprising as they are the bottom of the range bookshelf speakers. but they are still VERY full sounding for the size and price. i now have them as rears and they do the job perfectly with the 602's at the front. if you buy a decent subwoofer then they wont have any problems with bass. the RELQ200 is the one i own and even though it can over power music slightly its the most powerful sub for the price/size anywhere and will make the soundtstage much more full. run the 601's in. please dont judge them out the box as they are terrible. boxy, muffled, no definition, boring. they come to life after 50 hours. theres no better speaker in this price bracket so BUY THEM!

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602's

Clear, detailed sound

Maybe lacking a certain presence

Once upon a time I was content to listen to my $150 Model 6's until a friend brought over some strange-looking Swedish speakers (the brand escapes me). The 4-ohm speakers quickly overwhelmed my Marantz PM-57 amplifier and it shut itself down. But during that 15 seconds, it became obvious the increased level of detail was putting my Model 6's to shame. They had to go. Being on a budget I settled for the B&W 601 S2s. They were well reviewed and fit perfectly on my 24-inch speaker stands. I've been quite happy with them so far. They were a little harsh out of the box and it took a good month or two to break in the kevlar cones.
The detail of the sound is what I wanted (I hate the thought of missing musical information). Highs and midranges are clear and the bass is tight and musical. (I don't understand people who say the 601s have no bass. They must be accustomed to heavy doses of sub-woofer which I can't stand.)Jazz is what I listen to most and the 601s seem ideal for it They also do a more than servicable job with my R&B and techno disks.
The 601s probably are, as one professional reviewer put it, a little "safe," and they lack the enveloping presence of my friend's Kestrel Hot Rods. But at less than half the cost, I'd say the 601s are a good product for the money.

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Cambridge Soundworks Model 6

good treble and good overall sound. best in price range.

long time to break in. boxy sounding if used as main front speakers.

perfectly suited for use as rear speakers. not really deep enough to provide sterling fronts but good enough for anyone not obsessed with getting a perfect sound. best in price range, well regarded and sweet sounding. long break in. requires b-wiring to make them sound less strained and boxy.

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kef's, tannoy's

Crisp clear sound, smooth bass, and excellent highs...decent mids.

Most people might think the 601's lack BASS, but then again...I believe the bass is clear...not punchy, or deep racket like a sub might produce..but what you would expect from a speaker of this size.

As most of the other reviewers stated, the 601's are true sound speaker. Full richness and deep soundstage.

The 601's highs are so crisp, you can actually hear a singer breathe in..Check out any Sara Mclachlan song you'll know what I mean. The main strength of these fine speakers is the ability to take clarity another level.

I have the B&W 302 (were my mains), and in direct comparison, I have to say the 601's bring every sound more upfront, more alive. And considering I believe the 302's to be almost second to none of any speaker under $500, the 601's are truly terrific.

Both my 601's and 302's have the cherry finish...and although not true wood, I might disagree with some that the look is not wonderful. In fact considering my old Wharfdales I once owned...I say I prefer this look. But it is a matter of personal preference.

I say anyone looking to get a excellent sound setup to look at the 601's as mains, 302's as rears, and the B&W cc6 or B&W LRC as a center. I have the Energy ES10 sub,,,I prefer it over the matching B&W sub...more for the clean deep bass...althought the B&W sounds almost exactly alike,,,it is more costly.

I would not hesitate to buy these again....not sure I'd even go and compare....as the more and more I lsten to these beauties...the more they please the ear lobes.

Similar Products Used:

B&W 302, Panasonic Home Theatre, Audio Research, Energy

Crisp clear sound, smooth bass, and excellent highs...decent mids.

Most people might think the 601's lack BASS, but then again...I believe the bass is clear...not punchy, or deep racket like a sub might produce..but what you would expect from a speaker of this size.

As most of the other reviewers stated, the 601's are true sound speaker. Full richness and deep soundstage.

The 601's higs are so crisp, you can actually hear the singer breathe in..Check out any Sara Mclachlan song. The main strength of these fine speakers is the ability to take clarity another level.

I have the B&W 302 (were my mains), and in direct comparison, I have to say the 601's bring every sound more upfront, more alive. And considering I believe the 302's to be almost second to none of any speaker under $500, the 601's are truly terrific.

Both my 601's and 302's have the cherry finish...and although not true wood, I might disagree with some that the look is not wonderful. In fact considering my old Wharfdales I once owned...I say I prefer this look. But it is a matter of personal preference.

I say anyone looking to get a excellent sound setup to look at the 601's as mains, 302's as rears, and the B&W cc6 or B&W LRC as a center. I have the Energy ES10 sub,,,I prefer it over the matching B&W sub...more for the clean deep bass...althought the B&W sounds almost exactly alike,,,it is more costly.

I woudl not hesitate to buy these again....not sure I'd even go and compare....as the more and more I lsten to these beauties...the more they please the ear lobes.

Similar Products Used:

B&W 302, Panasonic Home Theatre, Audio Research, Energy