B&W 600 Series 2 with Series 3 Center Channel? (1 Viewer)

[Kevin Thompson]

Are B&W 600 Series 2 and Series 3 speakers closely enough matched to coexist in my HT?

I had a bit of luck upgrading my speakers when the Base Exchange stores here in Germany put their B&W 600 Series 2 speakers on clearance (-25%). Of course, I was glad to be able to use the clearance prices to justify my purchase to my better half , and I acted decisively to make it happen.

Due to in-stock quantities being low, I had to go to three different stores to get my front channel 603S2 ($599 pr.), surround 602S2 ($329 pr.), rear surround 601S2 ($179 pr.), and ASW 500 ($329).

Here's the catch: I was unable to find a Series 2 center channel speaker. Did I goof in adding a LCR 600 Series 3 center channel speaker? Will this center channel be closely enough voice-matched to my front (Series 2) speakers, or should I have tried to find a used Series 2 center channel speaker? This would have been complicated by my living in Germany.

As an amusing (?) anecdote, the floor display for the LCR 600S3 had a sign stating the price was $499 per pair. Wow, I thought, I could just buy a "pair" of center channel speakers and sell one on ebay later. No, I told myself, that would be dishonest. Then I asked the department manager if he'd sell me one speaker for $250, since I was sure these weren't meant to be sold in pairs. Although he didn't go for it, he did knock off 10% for my "being so honest". Then he took the sign down to change the price to "each". Hey, 50 bucks is 50 bucks, I guess. (They scanned at $499 anyway--I checked)

And yes, I know the LCR 600 can be set upright and used in pairs...

 

[Scott Merryfield]

While I have not heard the Series 3 center speakers, I have successfully matched B&W 602S2 and 602S3's for my rear surround field. I could not find any new S2's for the rear centers, so my only choice was either the S3's or a search for used S2's. In the case of the 602's, I cannot tell the difference between the older and newer series in my setup. They provide a seemless rear soundstage. Since the center speaker is supposed to be timbre matched to the 602's, based on my experience I would expect the LCR600S3 to be a good match with your Series 2 speakers.

 

[Kevin Thompson]

Thanks, Scott. It seems to be working out fine, although I haven't really listened to the system much so far. We are moving to a new house this weekend, and I can finally get my audio system--which is now in a basement room intended to be the home theater--hooked up to the the RPTV, which was too big to get down the stairs. Yeah, I know, I should have bought a projector...

I'm sure whatever sonic imperfections are introduced by differences in speaker design will be covered up by shortcomings in room acoustics and in other parts of my audio system.