Auditioned several speakers (Definitive BP8 and BP10, Paradigm, KEF Uni-Q, and B&W). To my ear the 603's were the best of the bunch. I was calling dealers to find B&W 603's in stock. I found the 603's and proceeded to the dealer with wallet in hand. Before I bought the 603's, the dealer asked if I had listened to the 602's or 601's. I hadn't, so I tried them out.
I was amazed by the big sound from a small speaker. The 601's were very accurate and the sound was warm with a nice base. (But I am going to buy a sub).

I matched the 601's with a Yamaha RX-V793 and listened to the system all day amazed with the system.

These are good speakers for the money. I have been through a few small budget speakers (Mecury M2, Coda 7's and Ruark Swordman 2) and I've found that this speaker gives me the best sound. I have ben having mine for 6 months now and the sound have improved tremendously since I've upgraded my amp to the Arcam Alpha 9 (great amp)!

Most of the reviewers here say the placing should be some distance from the walls but I like mine close to them (supported on good stands) as this increases the bass (Without much boominess). The sound is also fuller closer to the wall.
Speaking of fuller sound I still find these speakers slightly lacking in presence (Does size matter?). Musical details are good especially the trebble (Bright but not splashy) . Vocals are good as well but not the best I've heard.

Build quality ranks among the best of the budget speakers I've come across. The internal crossovers seems to be composed of good quality in house components (All caps and PCB's have B&W printed on them) Internal wiring is good but I can't identify what type). Looks? Well it depends on your tastes I kind of like mine only after getting used to them. Actually grilles off they look cool in my room. (I swill prefer some real wood veneer 601SE? A Hint to B&W :) )

These speakers I find are good for Jazz, Instrumentals and Pop. It seems to do poorly with complicated classical stuff.


I would recommend this speakers to anyone looking for budget speakers.

Here is a review from "the regular guy" stand point.
I have a small budget and average gear but a huge appetite for great sound. My gear is simple- JVC 100 watt per channel Pro-Logic amp, Maganavox laserdisc-cd player and heavy Monster Cable wire. I owned a pair of Paradigm Phantoms for my fronts and wanted to step up a notch to a more clean, crisp, detailed speaker. I auditioned the NHT Super One's, M&K LCR, Definitive BP8's and the Paradigm Mini Monitors. I felt the B&W DM 601's were overall best sounding. The highs are very crisp, midrange is uncolored and smooth. They are very lively yet nuetral with a big soundstage which fills my room like my Paradigms never did- female voice is a treat. The bass is suprisingly good, given the size. I would reccomend a sub to help round out he sound and to create added depth to the soundstage. Also good stands are a must for best performance. Being a designer the design of the 601's came in big for me with their simple design with the grill on contrasted by the grill removed showing the beautiful yellow kevlar driver, the gold-ish aluminum tweeter and cool baffle design. If you have a limited budget like I do, a mediocre amp and want great sound the 601's are excellent- and are good with all kinds of music. I can't stop listening to them.

These little beauties are extremely good sounding speakers. Their midrange is their strongest suit, but they also exhibit well-timed bass and a smooth treble. They represent excellent value for the money, but sound excellent, regardless of price!
Associated Equipment:

Musical Fidelity A2 Integrated Amp
Marantz CD63SE cd player
Rega Planar 3 Turntable
Kimber 4TC Speaker Cables and PBJ Interconnects.

Sound is like beauty; you don't need to have great ears to heara nice sound or great eyes to see a truly beautiful face.
If you hear the 601 sound amoung others speakers, you will see
that it has nice nice sound: punchy, clear, forward, sharp
response, etc...

Some people prefer soft sounding speakers such as Paradigm mini
monitor, but forward sounding, good imaging and good
soundstage 601 will make you feel as if you are inside a
club or a movie theater.

Try it out before you decide an a small speakers

System:Acurus Act-3
Acurus 100X3
Adcom 5300 (for rear effects)
Denon DCM460
Toshiba M782
Toshiba DVD
Velodyne F1800-R II
and...DM601 X4

Speakers seem out of place? Not in the slightest. Speakers are in the ears of the beholder. Don't listen to any of these reviews, listen to your ears. I'm tremendously impressed with these little-guys. Out of place with my Vel 18- no way. Truly the best of both world. Buttery mids, I don't agree with comments about the "metallic" tweets- but those are my ears. Audiologists will tell you what probably seems obvious to you in hindsight (since I just said it!) everybody has variabilities in their sensitivities to noise at various frequecies. Speakers of course are highly personal. Don't listen to pompous ass-holes who will tell you X is better than Y, unless they listne through your ears and are somehow more adept at judging your sense of perceptual reality. Get real guys- you call your selves audiophiles, but stripped of fancy terminology, your somewhat facist "nerdophiles." Enough of my tirade- oh, about those speaks- for the money....

So informative, but at the price of a noisy tweeters -they not sound as a english speakers-, lack a bit of bass (very accurate bass indeed) I´ll should by a Subwoofer to complement my 601. I love their style.

This stunning little speaker will likely be known as a hi fi classic. Not the best sound in the world by any means, but it's high level of sound at such a low price makes upgrades both unwanted and unnecessary. First some information...
The tweeter is a one inch aluminum dome, but what is really special is the midrange/bass driver which is a 6.5 inch KEVLAR driver. B&W claims that the kevlar driver removes unwanted standing waves and allows for better sound staging and imaging. The speakers are bi-wirable for optimum sound.

Like the Epos ES11, the B&W's strongest suit is it's midrange. There isn't a midrange hump, but the instruments and especially vocals in the midrange are produced with amazing clarity. The bass is surprisingly tight and well-timed for such a small speaker (or a British speaker is general!). The sound is completely neutral all around, with a warm and slightly laid-back character. Soundstaging and imaging is decent, but I've heard better in competitive speakers (NHT's SuperOne for example). But, really, what sets this speaker apart is its midrange. Highly recommended.

Associated Equipment

Integrated Amp: Audiolab 8000A
Analog: Rega Planar 3 with Sumiko Blue Point Cartridge
Digital: Rega Planet
Rack: MGD Justarack
Interconnect: Straightwire Chorus
Speaker Cables: Kimber 8VS biwired
Reference Speakers: Epos ES11

This is my second review of the 601's. I recently bought a Sound Level Meter from Radio Shack, a good little digital sound level meter that can, well do as it says, measure the level of sound- in decibals. The accuracy of the meter is very flat, accurate to within +/- 2 decibals from 30hz to 10,000hz, and the inaccuracy being mainly around 30hz and 10,000hz. I bought it to tweak the level of my Paradigm subwoofer, both in volume and frequency response. I then used the readings to tweak the frequency response of my sub with an EQ. I was also looking for a good crossover point between my sub and the 601's. It helped tremendously.
With that, I decided to check the frequency response of the 601's. Using a test CD from Stereophile, I played warble test tones from 20hz to 10,000hz (1/3 octave points), measuring at 1 meter on axis at 88db spl, and also from the listening position about 10 feet away. The readings were quite remarkeable, if not incredible. From 160hz right up to 10,000hz I recorded nearly ruler flat response, with variances of only +/- 2 decibals throughout that range. However the majority of the frequency points measured within 1 decibal of each other! Below 160hz the levels dropped off slightly, -2db at 125hz, -3 or -4db at 100hz, -4db decibals at 80hz, -6db decibals at 63hz, then returning to only -3db decibals at 50hz and dropping off sharply after that. To me, that is still excellent response, but does explain the common criticism of the lack of bass in the 601's. To me a lack of some mid to upper bass is alright, where bass can be boomy, harsh, and can color the sound in loud passages. Also, audibly I have never sensed any peaks in the mid to low areas of the spectrum as some have said here in reviews, and my readings parallel that. There was not one frequency band or a group of bands that ever peaked or even went above +2db. My sub has made up for some of those mid to upper bass losses and I am now getting smooth response through those frequencies. I wouldn't be one to to use an EQ or tone controls on my speakers (I would only use an EQ on my sub, in the lowest frequencies) but I can proudly say I wouldn't have to use them anyway! I am also assuming that these babies are quite flat above 10,000hz (meter doesn't extend that far), and are said to extend to 30khz (B&W specs) being only -6db down in level. The highs seem smooth to me, no brightness and especially no lack of high frequencies.

This little speaker is definately a great buy. With good stands, good quality biwire, and good interconnects these babies image and play like the best. Excellent speakers.

What can I say that hasn't already been said. I haven't tried bi-wiringthese guys yet, but if its better than it is now it should be great.

I auditioned these last week in my home. Right now I'm in the market
for a good pair of mini-monitors. When I move into my new home I'll
be picking up a pair of speakers in the $1200/pair region.

The DM601's are about the best speakers you can get in this price range.
The imaging is excellent and the midrange is very clear, sweet and
transparent. The bass is punchy and distinct although it would probably
benefit a lot by adding a sub.

I noticed that some people were complaining about the tweeters being noisy.
I didn't notice that at all. In fact on some of my better recordings I forgot
the speakers were there at all.

One of the most natural and musical speakers I've ever heard anywhere near
this pricerange.

BTW: I stumbled on these at the last minute after auditioning some
302's. The 302's had slightly better imaging and were more efficient,
but even though their tonal balance was good they needed a little help
in the bass and midrange.

I listened to the 602's and like them, but found their imaging somewhat
lacking.

The 601's have the imaging and balance of the 302's, but cover the
spectrum a little more like the 602's.

My equipment:

Arcam Alpha 8 50w/ch integrated amp
Arcam Alpha 7 CD player

Normally I would give this speaker 4 stars, but considering
the price its a 5.