Hoera! We are invited to the 25 e anniversary of the 600 series of To celebrate B&W. In our minds, we put on our party hats and sing along to Stevie Wonder as we unpack. We have some work on that, because the 603 is the floorstander in this series. So big and heavy “presents”, which seem a lot less massive once out of the box, even though we have the all-black version for our snuffers.

Depending on your taste and interior, you can also opt for a completely white cabinet finish or the combination of white and oak. The speaker grill / front covers the entire front and is available in black with a black cabinet finish and gray for the white or oak variant. Personally, I have never really been a fan of a white speaker, but with such a chic gray cloth all over the front I think they actually have something secret and a bit stubborn. They make me curious, happy and even a bit greedy.

Once the speakers are in place and the packaging is bonjoured out of the room, it is striking that these pieces of furniture do something with the atmosphere. A straightforward cupboard on the same straightforward plinth that feels like a solid and solid base. The grid is held in place with magnets and they could have been a bit stronger in my opinion. They only need a little push to loosen up and that feels a bit casual. Not super exciting or outspoken in design and styling, but a simple confident presence with a look that they have something to say. But do they have that too?

To find out, we plug them in and give some time to play in. The importer has included the Rotel RA – 1572 as an amplifier and everything comes out of the box brand new so let’s not go too fast with a judgment .

We hear a tight low, a small raw edge in the high and the middle has yet to come loose, but just as easily present in the room are the B&W 603 ‘s easy going too. With these friends we can build parties, turn things upside down, relax on a Sunday afternoon with a cup of tea and just as easily fill in the daily background music at an even lower volume. After a few days of acclimatization, it is as if they have always been there. The first impression is good and we eagerly start a number of listening sessions to hear whether serious interaction is possible with these party boys.

The difference in the source is very clearly noticeable. With the smartphone directly connected to the RA via the USB port – 1572 the Spotify stream (audio quality set to very high of course) does not make it compared with the old-fashioned CD. That is of course logical, but after the necessary CD changes (after all, not all music recordings are of the same quality) I also hear the differences in various types of recordings / productions that can be reflected in the more exclusive and more expensive sets.

For the time being it is nice to listen and time flies. I have a pleasant stereo experience and I hear where the instruments are spatially arranged. With live recordings this gives an extra dimension, but I can also find the roaring of the audience extremely annoying (that is me, not the speakers).

Detailed, neutral, tight low and not tiring to listen to. Response in terms of speed and power are well balanced. I don’t feel the need to mute the bass port with the included foam plugs. That of course also depends on the setup (no side walls in this room) so I also want to take a test to listen to them in another room (with side walls) and also with a different amplifier. Sometimes I keep looking a bit and I can’t quite put my finger on what it is. Ripping guitars remain pure and sound just as raw or heavy as intended. But sometimes there is also a small sharpness or I just miss a clear fresh sparkle and that is emotionally not due to the potential of the speakers.

Very coincidentally, the next set arrived for review in the same room and we borrow the Rotel Michi X3 from it. That is of course not fair at all in terms of price range coordination, but still … Just because it is possible, because we have noticed that these 603 ‘ s being a bit cheeky and because you are allowed more than usual on your birthday.

Connected, switched on and the big mouth is gone. Big eyes of astonishment, arms flapping, feet kicking and a smile from ear to ear. Those little bits that I was still looking for come out with an ease and conviction that can make you completely silent.

We leave the fun moment with the Michi X3 for what it is. We had given ourselves an extra assignment and that says a lot about this Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 Anniversary Edition. They know how to get you moving in such a way that you want to get to know them all over the place.

Also the “own” NAD M3 in the room with side walls gets along well with these guys. It is immediately noticeable that the bass manifests itself slightly differently, but that was to be expected and is still not disturbing at normal volume. If we go loose and the setup would be permanent, it is worth paying more attention to the placement and we may still need the foam plugs.

In this price category, but also if you have a little more budget, the Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 Anniversary Edition are certainly worth considering . The set will give you a long listening pleasure, you will want to discover more and more and this is also a nice purchase in terms of amplification-on-the-growth. You don’t have to make a lot of compromises with regard to space and furnishings, they seem to do well everywhere. As mentioned before, they are easy to handle and heavy enough that you don’t tip them over during the big spring cleaning, as long as you take a little care with the front cover. All in all an excellent birthday celebration. We clean up very slowly and also do the dishes before the music turns off!