Bowers & Wilkins S1 686 Bookshelf Loudspeakers

The Bowers & Wilkins 686 S1 is the more compact standmount model in the company’s highly regarded 600 Series range, engineered to deliver the brand’s characteristic balance of clarity, imaging precision, and musical engagement in smaller listening spaces. Designed as a versatile bookshelf loudspeaker for both stereo and home theatre use, the 686 S1 combines compact dimensions with surprisingly mature acoustic performance.

Central to the speaker’s design is Bowers & Wilkins’ woven Kevlar® mid/bass driver, paired with a refined aluminium dome tweeter and the company’s signature Flowport™ rear-firing bass reflex system. This combination allows the 686 S1 to produce a clean, energetic presentation with controlled bass and detailed high-frequency reproduction while maintaining excellent coherence across the frequency range.

Its relatively compact footprint makes the 686 S1 particularly well suited to:

• smaller rooms,
• desktop or nearfield listening,
• apartment systems,
• and discreet multi-channel installations.

Specifications

• Type: 2-way vented-box bookshelf loudspeaker
• Tweeter:
  • 1 × 25mm (1″) aluminium dome tweeter
• Mid/Bass Driver:
  • 1 × 130mm (5″) woven Kevlar® cone driver
• Frequency Response:
  • 54Hz – 22kHz (±3dB)
• Frequency Range (-6dB):
  • 45Hz – 50kHz
• Sensitivity:
  • 84dB (2.83V / 1m)
• Nominal Impedance:
  • 8Ω (minimum 4.6Ω)
• Recommended Amplifier Power:
  • 25W – 100W into 8Ω
• Crossover Frequency:
  • 4kHz
• Cabinet Loading:
  • Flowport™ rear-firing bass reflex design
• Dimensions (H × W × D):
  • 315 × 160 × 234 mm
• Weight:
  • 4.9 kg each

In listening terms, the 686 S1 is widely appreciated for its ability to produce a presentation that feels clean, open, and well balanced, especially considering its compact size. The Kevlar mid/bass driver contributes to strong vocal clarity and natural midrange integration, while the aluminium tweeter provides crisp detail and spacious stereo imaging.

Compared with the larger 685 S1, the 686 S1 offers:

• a more compact cabinet,
• easier room placement,
• slightly faster perceived transient response,
• and greater suitability for smaller listening environments.

The speaker performs particularly well in:

• compact stereo systems,
• desktop hi-fi applications,
• smaller dedicated listening rooms,
• and as surround or height channels in premium home theatre systems.

The rear Flowport design also helps minimise port turbulence, contributing to cleaner and more controlled bass behaviour at higher listening levels.

A compact and versatile bookshelf speaker delivering classic Bowers & Wilkins detail, imaging, and musical coherence in a room-friendly format.

Condition: Fair

Colour: Black

Note: Unit does not include original packaging or additional accessories.