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Bowers & Wilkins 686 Standmount Loudspeakers Another item I’m selling for my mate. He’s going for something larger so this is to go. Small stand mount speakers but is definitely not sounding small in anyway. It has a mature, natural and rich vocal tone and extended bass weight well beyond the driver size would suggest and typical detailed highs you would expect from B&W. Both in great condition. One side’s tweeter was slightly pushed in by tiny finger but was gently pulled out, looks very presentable. This is aesthetic only and does not affect the sound in any way. The other side is perfe
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Bowers & Wilkins traces its origins to 1966 in Worthing, West Sussex, England, when John Bowers, a passionate audio enthusiast and former electronics shop owner, founded the company with the help of a £10,000 bequest from a satisfied customer, Miss Knight. Bowers, who had honed his speaker-building skills as a hobby while running a radio and TV rental shop with partner Roy Wilkins, launched the venture from the back of that very shop. This modest beginning fueled a relentless pursuit of audio perfection, establishing Bowers & Wilkins as a British icon in high-fidelity sound reproduction.
The brand excels in premium loudspeakers, from flagship studio monitors like the legendary 801 series—adopted by Abbey Road Studios in 1979—to accessible Domestic Monitor lines such as the enduring 600 Series. Its portfolio has expanded to encompass high-end headphones, including the iconic P5 and Zeppelin designs, alongside wireless speakers and formation systems, all emphasizing advanced driver technology, precision cabinetry, and Continuum cones for unparalleled clarity.
Positioned firmly in the high-end market, Bowers & Wilkins commands respect among discerning audiophiles for its engineering excellence, musical accuracy, and heritage of innovation. Far from mid-tier or niche, it rivals the elite, blending cutting-edge research from facilities like Steyning with a reputation for reference-grade performance that defines luxury hi-fi.
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