Review: B&W DM-602 s3 Monitor

Category: Speakers

The 602 S3 monitors will blow you away. After a few hours of use, it is almost as if you are sitting in the middle of an orchestra. I know there are better speakers out there (B&W nautilus for one) but for a mere $550, nothing I have heard sounds anywhere near as good. These speakers are some of the clearest for the price range, and I challenge anyone to find mids and highs that sound this clean.

My musical taste mostly includes classical music, but I am also a huge movie buff. B&W by far keeps it's reputation as a "classical" speaker, yet I was truly amazed at how well they performed in a home theatre setup. The setup itself was incredibly easy, because the sound disperses very evenly over a wide listening area, making placement less critical. And once again, the clarity made every little aspect of the movie jump off the screen.

Since the 602's replaced my pair of 601 S1's a year ago, I don't have many complaints. My pet peave for any speaker is the booming bass. B&W seems to do everything it can to prevent that, and it accomplishes its' goal. Yet without the B&W 650 sub to accompany the 602's, the mids and highs are a bit overwhelming. But most small monitors aren't meant to pack a punch. This is why subs were created.

As good as the 602's are, if I could own any monitor, it would be the B&W Signature 805. I've auditioned them over and over again, and once I have the cash I will pick them up. But for now, I'm completely satisfied with my 602's. Perhaps what makes them so great, is that most of the technology in the 805's is passed down to the lower B&W series.

If you are looking for a moderatly priced monitor, and are interested in clarity and incredible precision, check out the B&W 602 S3's.

Associated gear
Marantz 9200 THX reciever
Marantz DV8300

Similar products
For the price of these speakers, I haven't heard anything that compares.