The Bowers and Wilkins DM601 S3 - Price and Comparison

[liemjerry]

Dear friends,
My friend has offered me The Bookshelf Speaker :
Bowers and Wilkins type DM601 S3 in 2nd condition but in very mint/line new condition include box, manual, plastic2 and so on...
But I'd rather confused about 2nd hand price for the pair of speakers.

- Can anyone give me information about this 2nd price of DM601 S3?

- If comparing with :
a. Acoustic Energy AE 301
b. Quad 12L2
c. PSB Imagine B

what will you choose and why?
( please inform with reason )

My typical music listening is Jazz-Vocals, other music like Jazz, Country , Classic but not so rich of music instrument/backgroud, so the warmth of vocal, thickness of vocal, and clarity is a must

Thank you

 

[westend]

Better to have a discussion about value in the "Dollars and Sense" section of the Forum.
I don't have those speakers so can't comment on the quality.

 

[spridle]

I've got a pair and I have no idea what they're worth but they sound terrific. I like them much more than the current 600 series, thought they don't really make a like for like comparison anymore. They retailed for 400 a pair. If you get them, make sure to get 24" stands for them. They definitely sound their best on stands.

 

[liemjerry]

sounds any good review about DM601 S3 ; what about comparing with new DM685 S2?

 

[nickrobotron]

The 685 S2 is 2 models newer than the DM601 S3. Both are excellent, but I'd give the edge to the 685 S2.

I'd pay $350 tops for the 601 S3 in mint condition. I'd pay $500-$600 for a second hand pair of 685 S2's in same condition.

If you can afford the better speaker, do it. However, not many would consider the 685 worth the extra $200, IMO, if they listened blindly.

 

[liemjerry]

The 685 S2 is 2 models newer than the DM601 S3. Both are excellent, but I'd give the edge to the 685 S2.

I'd pay $350 tops for the 601 S3 in mint condition. I'd pay $500-$600 for a second hand pair of 685 S2's in same condition.

If you can afford the better speaker, do it. However, not many would consider the 685 worth the extra $200, IMO, if they listened blindly.

Thank you Nickrobotron
I have an offer from a friend of DM601 S3 with very mint and box/manual complete, for USD385, but I've not decided wheter I buy it or not.
Consider BW have some showrooms here in Indonesia, I will ask pricing for new 685 S2.
Which worth to buy?

 

[spridle]

Thank you Nickrobotron
I have an offer from a friend of DM601 S3 with very mint and box/manual complete, for USD385, but I've not decided wheter I buy it or not.
Consider BW have some showrooms here in Indonesia, I will ask pricing for new 685 S2.
Which worth to buy?

I paid less than that for them when they were new. I was just auditioning new speakers and was pretty disappointed in the current 600 series. I think the older tweeter sounds better than this current batch and it kind of bummed me out that there's more bang for the buck than B&W, because I've been a fan of theirs for awhile. The 601 S3's were still made in England, maybe that's why they're holding their value?

 

[liemjerry]

I paid less than that for them when they were new. I was just auditioning new speakers and was pretty disappointed in the current 600 series. I think the older tweeter sounds better than this current batch and it kind of bummed me out that there's more bang for the buck than B&W, because I've been a fan of theirs for awhile. The 601 S3's were still made in England, maybe that's why they're holding their value?

Thanks spridle, at last I choose DM601 S3 because of warmth of the sound, tweeter sound does not sounds like you told me, it more soft and polite comapring it's older brother DM303

 

[spridle]

I like the tweeter on the 601 S3 better than what the current 600 series is using. It took me well over 10 years to decide I wanted to replace the 601's, and I spent a lot more money on new speakers than I did on the 601's, mostly because they really do so much right. I think you'll be really happy with them. My pair is jjust going to another room, I'm not getting rid of them, that's for sure!

 

[shnaggle]

Resurrecting this old thread to ask (of anyone who might know): how the 601 S3's compare to today's "economy" bookshelves, like the Klipsch RM-600 II, Elac Debut, Sony CS5, etc.

 

[GordonW]

I am not going to be presumptuous enough to guess which you'd like better- but I WOULD recommend you add the new Acoustic Energy AE100.2 to the list to audition. I was completely not expecting the level of just sheer UNIVERSAL COMPETENCE that the AE100.2 exhibited, for their price (between $400-500 a pair or so, new). I just couldn't find anything fundamentally wrong with them, to complain about. We listened to an astonishingly varied collection of music (everything from Eva Cassidy, to Polyphia, to Hugh Masekela, to Dire Straits, to Hedegaard, and more), and they just never set a proverbial foot wrong. For that price, that's almost unheard-of...

Regards,
Gordon.