Look inside $650 B&W 685 S2 speakers - What's Inside?

Teardown - Look inside Bowers and Wilkins B&W 685 S2 new model fo DM602 S2 stereo bookshelf loudspeaker that cost around $650 for pair. They use Bowers Wilkins LF26271 685 S2 made in China Bass speaker driver and also show how to remove grill for home cinema or HiFi music stereo 2 way system setup speakers + What's Inside speakers? How to disassembly & assembly this Bowers & Wilkins passive 2 driver home audio speakers. Second hand they cost around $350. These are very good sounding speakers, for good second hand price tag. I love how they sound with just 2 speakers and compact size. Also you can bought B&W DM602 s3, B&W DM601 S2, B&W B&W DM603 S3, B&W DM601 s3 and from new series: B&W 685 S2, B&W 603, B&W 606, B&W 607, b&w 702 s2, B&W 703 s2, B&W 704 s2, B&W 705 s2 and other High-End class speakers.
#BowersWilkins #685s2 #Teardown
Instagram: / arttursm
Specification of B&W 685 S2 Bookshelf Speakers:
- Frequency Response: 52Hz - 22kHz(-3dB); (45 Hz at -6dB).
- Recommended Amplifier Requirements (RMS): 25w - 100w
- Sensitivity (1W@1m): 87 dB
- Nominal Impedance: 8 Ohms (min 4ohm)
- Drive Unit Complement: 1 x 25mm metal dome high-frequency
1 x 165mm woven Kevlar cone
- External Dimensions: (HxWxD):45x190x324mm
- Weight: 6.8 Kg
STORY form Bowers and Wilkins homepage: At home on either a stand or bookshelf, the versatile new 685 delivers outstanding performance. Perfectly sized for most rooms, it combines new Decoupled
Double Dome tweeters, Kevlar® cones and AntiResonance Plugs, with the value for which the 600
Series is renowned.
The Decoupled Double Dome tweeter found in
the 685 - and the rest of the new 600 Series - is a
technology taken straight from our award-winning
CM10 speaker. The dual-layer design combines a thin
aluminium dome for lightness and a thicker aluminium
ring for rigidity. The result is absolutely stunning clarity
and tonal purity. The tweeter is also decoupled from the main
cabinet, kept physically separate in its own cavity with
a ring of gel cushioning it from vibrations. This improves
imaging and dispersion for a more natural, spacious
treble.
[-] Hазвание видео RU: Hi-Fi-стерео колонки/акустики и заглянуть внутрь Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) 685 S2 Колонки первый взгляд и Разобрал
[-] Video nosaukums LV: Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) 685 S2 stereo grīdas skandu iekšu skats - izjaukšana
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(0) DIY guides: • Video
(0) Headphones dB/SPL sound tests: • Video
(0) Tests and some entertainments: • Video
(0) Unboxings: • CREATIVE Sound Blaster...
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Track: ROY KNOX x Tim Beeren - Save Me (Feat. Svniivan) [NCS Release]
Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds.
Watch: • ROY KNOX x Tim Beeren ...
Free Download / Stream: ncs.io/SaveMe .
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[@Techscrews]

Newer B&W speakers on amazon: amzn.to/3kKiHWi

[@TheBasemensPL]

Wow, very professional teardown

[@Techscrews]

Thanks 🙂

[@petercho4939]

I have these and they sound fantastic. But the material used to build cabinet doesnt seem like mdf but rather a cheap plywood?

[@paulmcwilliams8641]

This music is mmmmm at best vile.

[@basberger5921]

Coming from diy audio builds they look incredibly cheap to make. The bass driver looks decent the rest must be improved to match the bass driver's quality. The real disappointment is the crossover or lack thereof. Just my two cents.

[@shredder807]

Imagine how much better speakers you can make by DIY with $600!!

[@JMNTN]

There is more to making a product than just material costs. Research, factory setup, labour, dealers, marketing, taxes and of course a profit all take a big chunk out of the budget

[@kasper-3099]

@@shredder807 You have to factor your profit, the profit of a store, the cost of offering warranty and customer support, shipping it around the world, R&D, insurances, advertisement, electricity, rent, taxes, customs etc. etc. It's logic that a 600$ speaker cannot possibly be 600$ worth of hardware - most people have no means or knowledge of building a speaker. So compare this to DIY speakers of 2-300$ instead.

[@joeygonzo]

$600 retail price, cost of production has to be at the most 1/5th of that.

[@TheMazo02]

6db crossover is what I did not think there will be, but it might sound great

[@purplehazeffc]

While yep it is a 1st order crossover, they do look like good parts. Most other speakers have an iron core rather than an air core coil.. B&W list the crossover point at 4000hz. But by my calculations using a 1st order 4.3uF cap. That puts the crossover at 4600hz. I can't see what value the coil that is being used.. You could quite easily upgrade the crossover for very little outlay.. Unfortunately these are built to a certain price point..

[@xxxzdjxxx]

Хорошо сделаны, да же не смотря на то, что Китай.

[@DougMen1]

This is a newer version of the 601, not the 602. The 60s had a bigger woofer and a bigger box. Compared to the teardown of the 601 S3, the drivers and crossover components look cheaper to me on this one

[@panblue43]

In our days almost everything made in China.Not problem if the manufactured thing is good quality. Made in EU=made in China parts assembled in Europe, maybe in the east-middle east area. China can produce very high quality-the only question how much would you pay?! And at the end: China owns or have almost the world's basic materials and elements what needed to the manufacturing. My first dvd player in 2000 was a chinese MBO921, beat sony-panasonic etc types in that time(plays all discs, written, etc without problems) , and still works at my friend today!

[@05russs1]

Can u look inside bowers 606 and 706. I am sure that the speakers there are exactly the same and the difference is only in the cases (in their thickness) and the difference in crossovers and nothing more.It's all marketing. These factors changed the sound, and the speakers themselves are the same.

[@Techscrews]

good crossover upgrade can dramatically change sound. Also 706 use carbon dome tweeter, that change the game. But we put they in teardown list.

[@kamilus666]

The replacement tweeter costs about £70. I think it comes with all the housing - when taken apart it looks like CM series to me. Have you got any info, please?

[@kingpklowbasslover7220]

Good build quality 👌

[@TheOfficialDuBsTeC]

yeah I was kinda suprised.. nothing soldered.. easy removal without destroying anything.. nicely damped (well made not a poor job there) a nice inner structure with supports and also the electronics doesnt look like fluted glue.. with a pcb somewhere inside. Almost "DYI" quality not bad for a buyed Speaker. :)

[@jellethegreatest]

650 euro's and still made in China....I know it does not say anything about the quality, but for buying 'English' speakers it is a bit dissapointing

[@Techscrews]

huge dissapointing, because older dm602 s2 sound more nicer and made in UK>

[@jogmas12]

You gotta spend over 4 times that amount these days to get speakers made in England

[@AudioElectronicsChicago]

I love these videos!

[@md.muradhussainkhan592]

All those you tear down Do you buy them with your Own money ? And what you do after the tear down dump of use again?

[@josegallardos4265]

I don't think it costs more than $200 dollars to Manufacture these speakers, and customers pay more than one thousand for the pair.

[@Techscrews]

You need remember about r&d cost, that is included in total price also.

[@miamiatomick]

Thanxs buddy, definitely an excellent video

[@randomweirdyoutubechannel8955]

Wow I'm kind of disappointed but atleast you can tell they put a good amount of effort into these

[@kitaizakaz1120]

what can you say about 606 vs 685 s2 ???

[@DougMen1]

Their "new improved" crossover is a cheap first order filter, that, on paper, has improved phase response, but is worse in every other way!

[@purplehazeffc]

@DM While yep it is a 1st order crossover, they do look like good parts. Most other speakers have an iron core rather than an air core coil.. B&W list the crossover point at 4000hz. But by my calculations using a 1st order 4.3uF cap. That puts the crossover at 4600hz. I can't see what value the coil that is being used.. You could quite easily upgrade the crossover for very little outlay.. Unfortunately these are built to a certain price point..

[@jogmas12]

Check out GR Research they make speakers like these better

[@neztorendlos7109]

china components?

[@dmtd2388]

UK parts and build in china for cheap labor

[@ufolazar]

The front panels are made of plastic or MDF ??

[@Techscrews]

mdf.

[@ufolazar]

@@Techscrews Thank you

[@johnsmit1339]

Whats inside onkyo d302e?

[@Techscrews]

Then I need donation or patreon page, where we can together get money for your favorite tech teardowns.

[@dan_hitchman007]

As soon as B&W moved most of their manufacturing to China, I took them off my list.

[@Jandejongjong]

And you thee a way all your electronics at home. All controllers of what ever is made in China.

[@catinatdenis5190]

Argggg !!! Made in China

[@Techscrews]

notagunfreak says the truth, only some brand top models are made in home country. Focal speakers some models, sennheiser headphones and other brand stuff.

[@djlolerkoster]

nice video

[@Techscrews]

Thanks.

[@azamat_82]

👍

[@andrei8545]

Își merită banii

[@ilsolitariobianco2249]

1 st

[@yvesboutin5604]

B&W always put good quality parts in their speakers and that's why the price is higher than the competition.

[@adamraymond8143]

Another case of B&W defence/denial. Don't get me wrong B&W speakers can sound nice, but you did see the low quality crossover that was pulled out didn't you?

[@yvesboutin5604]

@@adamraymond8143 Each company have their own philosophy concerning what gives the greater sonic quality. Some put very complex crossovers with cheap components (ferrite core inductors no bigger than your thumb and electrolytic capacitors in a 3th or 4th order configuration. Degradation of the signal plus phase anomalies are the result. From my experience (I have built or modify more than 100 pair of speakers), what yield the best sonic result is to put the least number of components between the amplifier and the drivers. Nothing is perfect, of course, but like B&W, I prefer to put fewer components of greater quality. If you try it, you will hear it!

[@adamraymond8143]

@@yvesboutin5604 If you read your two responses you'll notice you contradicted yourself. Your first mentions B&W always using good quality parts, the second mentions crossovers with "cheap components." Which one is it? B&W like many others have a price point to meet, particularly in their lower end models. They spend the time and money on things like drivers but run out of steam along the way which results in cabinets made of cheap particleboard and cheaply made crossovers. Thin gauge wire and puny inductors are added to the list. You wouldn't mate a 1200hp engine to a cheap transmission. Those cheap crossovers contribute to irregularities in the response on the off-axis, crossover point phase issues between drivers. Those tweeters can be a tad bright and fatiguing over time. B&W do make decent speakers but you can get so much better for the same money. One department they contribute a lot of their time and money towards is their marketing department. I agree with you...common knowledge is the best sonic result is with the least number of components, but skimping out on cheap/inferior components as opposed to quality ones just to get across the line isn't the best form of approach. "Made in China" isn't always a bad thing, but in this case it is.

[@djijspeakerguy4628]

At least the inductor in these looked good! The capacitor looked mid-end at best. The woofer looks great however, with the cast basket.

[@MrsZambezi]

@@adamraymond8143 What is wrong with it? What "low quality" ? You're talking shit.

[@adriancorreia]

que malo el crossover....una lastima salen tan caros solo por la calidad de los parlantes. pero si ponen un mejor gainete y un crossover de calidad sonarian alucinantes.

[@Techscrews]

Please eng.

[@davidroman9300]

CHINA!

[@joenovak6393]

Have the B&W 685 which are in the basement...Spent $400 (Open Box) at the time (2014) at Best Buy....These should sell for $200 as cheap China Garbage. I will repurpose with Real parts....Have Focal and Zu Audio as to REAL speaker company.

[@Techscrews]

We have Focal also, we teardown it.

[@ArcticAudioResearch]

That's an extremely cheap, low quality crossover! Although it was an air core inductor. But lots of improvements can be made to make it sound better with a better xo with higher quality parts. Damping can be improved a lot to, with better and more dense damping material.

[@Techscrews]

Thanks for the info!

[@JMNTN]

sure audio engineer, why don't you send your resume to b&w they probably want someone with your expertise on their team. You seem to be able to tune a speaker without doing any measurements at all and just by looking at it through a youtube video, someone who can do that would save them a lot of money.

[@ArcticAudioResearch]

@@JMNTN I know I can make a better xo than what's in that speaker. That's not very hard. Do you know why? Because I don't have a price point to meet. They do, so to meet a certain price, they will use parts to keep the cost low. Obviously I'd have to measure it to make a new xo, but just replacing the low quality parts with high quality parts of the same measured value will improve the speaker massively. Same with the cheap stuffing. Just because its a big brand name, doesn't mean it can't be improved! They have to do compromises to get to a certain price. I've even modified Sonus Faber speakers that cost over $10000. It was a really good speaker, but there were areas that could be improved, such as stiffness of the cabinet and the speaker connectors had lots of magnetic parts, which you don't want in the signal path. I've designed speakers since the mid 90's, mainly high power P.A arrays and line arrays, so I do believe that I have some knowledge and skill in this area.

[@TheMazo02]

I like the idea they used 6db crossover.. it means the transducers are high quality with smooth roloff.. great!

[@MrStingraybernard]

Made in China 🤣

[@Techscrews]

Its sad, therefore i love oldest dm602 s2, that is made in uk and sound better.

[@matrempit2885]

So sad...!. 😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@jayshung]

China can manufacture high-quality products, and the quality depends entirely on how much you pay.