Strictly hifi is all about reproducing as accurately as possible but, surely it's equally valid to want music reproduced in a way that pleases the listener, regardless of the degree of accuracy. Just a matter of personal preference. If it sounds good to you, it is good, as has often been said in this very forum.
That notion of accuracy is a bit of a myth actually. After a recording, mixing is applied, then compression, etc etc. The producer and/or engineer then decides on what is an acceptable mix for the listener at home.
So let alone live music accuracy, you’re not even getting studio level accuracy, you’re just getting the final product, and it’s up to hifi to reproduce it as well as it can.
Back on topic which is the B&W 606/7 Anniversary, the more ‘commercial sound‘ began with the mk1 version, or even the 685 S2 - before the takeover by Sound United, but around the takeover by the previous owners who oversaw the Formation range - I think it’s under them when the 6 series underwent significant changes.
Trust me, I had the 685 mk1 and it sounded positively ethereal - and I don’t believe I’m the first to describe it as such. It’s to date the best speaker I ever had, it’s scale and clarity unmatched. People often describe soundstage width and depth, but the 685 mk1 had
height as well - and not many much more expensive speakers pull this off.
Then again, the 6 series, and B&W have always had a perception of being bright speakers for 20 odd years now.
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