Description

B&W 684 S2 Floorstanding Speakers – Compact, Nautilus Tweeters

Slim B&W 684 S2 floorstanders delivering room-filling, articulate sound with included plinths for added stability and control.

The B&W 684 S2 is a 2-way vented-box floorstanding loudspeaker from the 600 Series S2, designed to offer serious hi-fi performance in a slim, décor-friendly cabinet. Using a decoupled double-dome aluminum tweeter with Nautilus tube loading and dual 5-inch woven Kevlar bass/midrange drivers, the 684 S2 combines clarity, dynamics, and low-frequency reach that make it equally at home in music-first systems and as front channels in home theater setups. This pair, finished in black ash, includes the original matching plinths, which broaden the footprint and significantly improve stability on hard floors and carpet, helping the speakers lock in imaging and bass response. Condition is very good, with only light cosmetic wear consistent with careful use.

At 87 dB sensitivity and an 8-ohm nominal impedance (4 ohms minimum), the 684 S2 is a friendly load for quality modern integrated amplifiers and AVRs in the 50–150 watt range, yet revealing enough to show the benefits of higher-grade amplification. Reviewers consistently praised the S2 update for its improved tweeter resolution and more open midrange versus the original 684, noting its ability to project a wide, stable soundstage from a relatively compact cabinet footprint. The front-mounted Flowport reflex port allows more forgiving placement near rear walls compared with rear-ported designs, which is particularly helpful in real-world rooms. In practice, the 684 S2 offers convincing bass weight for most musical genres at normal listening levels, yet integrates well with a subwoofer in home theater applications.

The slim tower format and black ash finish help these speakers blend neatly into living spaces while still looking purposeful and modern. Bi-wire capable terminals allow users to experiment with bi-wiring or bi-amping if desired, while the supplied plinths and spikes or rubber feet provide a solid mechanical foundation. This pair has been fully tested and is performing as intended, ready to drop into a high-quality two-channel or home theater system.

Key Specifications:

Design: 2-way vented-box floorstanding loudspeaker

Drive units: 1 x 25 mm aluminum dome high-frequency, decoupled double-dome tweeter with Nautilus tube loading; 2 x 130 mm woven Kevlar cone bass/midrange drivers

Frequency range: -6 dB at 45 Hz and 50 kHz

Frequency response: 72 Hz – 22 kHz ±3 dB on reference axis

Sensitivity: 87 dB SPL (2.83 V, 1 m)

Nominal impedance: 8 ohms (minimum 4 ohms)

Recommended amplifier power: 25 W – 150 W into 8 ohms on unclipped program

Crossover frequency: 4 kHz

Cabinet: MDF enclosure with front-firing Flowport reflex port

Plinths: Included, with provision for spikes or rubber feet

Terminals: Bi-wire capable binding posts with removable links

Finish: Black ash

Condition: Very good, fully tested

Dimensions: (Height x Width x Depth, cabinet only) 920 x 160 x 234 mm (36.2 x 6.3 x 9.2 inches)

Weight: 14.2 kg (31.2 lbs) each

At 14.2 kg per speaker, the 684 S2 has enough mass to feel solidly planted, with cabinet rigidity and internal bracing that support clean midrange and controlled bass. The included plinths broaden the footprint for enhanced stability, especially on carpet, making these particularly well suited to medium-sized listening rooms or living spaces where slim, visually unobtrusive speakers are preferred over large enclosures.

This pair of B&W 684 S2 in black ash with plinths offers an excellent blend of musical refinement, dynamic capability, and room-friendly proportions, making them a strong choice for listeners stepping into serious loudspeakers or upgrading from compact standmounts.

Backed by Radique Audio’s 90-day warranty and our perpetual trade-back policy, you can purchase with confidence; asking $1095.

Additional information
Weight65 lbs
Dimensions13.2 × 18.6 × 40.2 in
About brand
B&W at Radique
We service B&W, too. Bring us your own B&W speakers and subwoofers for repair, servicing or restoration (speakers up to 80 lbs each), with a 90-day warranty on the work. See our Audio Service page

Bowers & Wilkins began in Worthing, England, in 1966, founded by John Bowers. The name comes from the Worthing electrical shop he ran with Roy Wilkins. Its 800 Series monitors have been used at Abbey Road Studios since 1980, Abbey Road says. We carry B&W towers, bookshelf speakers, centre channels and stands. We've had more than 200 B&W listings so far. Every used B&W here is inspected, tested and serviced as required, then photographed in-house and covered by our Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty and Perpetual Trade-Back Program. Don't see the model you want? Tell us on First Dibs and we'll email you when one arrives.

The Bowers & Wilkins story, 1966 to today

John Bowers founded B&W in Worthing, England, in 1966, after hand-assembling speakers at the electrical shop he ran with Roy Wilkins. Its first speaker, the P1, used B&W's own cabinet and crossover with bought-in drivers, and the DM1 and DM3 "Domestic Monitors" followed in 1968.

Kevlar and the 801. B&W identified Kevlar as a cone material in 1974, and the DM6 of the mid-1970s used Kevlar cones. The original 801 monitor of 1979 to 1980 made its name in recording studios: Abbey Road says it was the first studio to use it, in 1980, and has used the 800 Series ever since.

Matrix and Nautilus. The Matrix cabinet bracing arrived in the mid-to-late 1980s. John Bowers started the project that became the Nautilus, the spiral-shell flagship, before he died in 1987, and it launched in 1993. The first 600 Series followed in 1995, and diamond-dome tweeters arrived in 2005.

New owners. EVA Automation bought B&W in 2016, Sound United in 2020 and Masimo in 2022, and in September 2025 HARMAN, a Samsung company, completed its purchase of Sound United. The 800 Series Diamond D5, unveiled in June 2026, is built in Worthing.

A Canadian connection. Classé Audio of Montreal was part of the B&W Group from 2001 until B&W closed its Montreal headquarters in 2017.

Which B&W is which?

DM (Domestic Monitor), 1968 onward: from the DM1 and DM3 to models such as the DM6 and DM7. The DM prefix carried into early 600 Series names.

600 Series (1995 to today): B&W's entry hi-fi line; the 2020 Anniversary Edition was its seventh generation. The 606 belongs here.

CDM (mid-1990s to about 2003): such as the CDM 1, with a metal-dome tweeter and a Kevlar cone.

700 Series (about 2003 to 2006): Nautilus technology at mainstream prices, such as the 703 and 705.

CM Series (2006 to 2017): such as the CM1 and the CM4 towers, replaced by the 700 Series S2 in 2017.

800 Series (from 1979 to 1980): from the original 801 through the Matrix, Nautilus 800, Diamond, D3, D4 and D5 generations.

Nautilus (1993): the spiral-shell flagship, still made in small numbers.

Buying used B&W: what to check

Tweeter domes. B&W used metal-dome tweeters in the CDM, 600 and CM lines, and owners report squashed domes. Inspect each dome closely.

Original tweeters. Some CDM-era tweeters are discontinued, and rebuilt or substitute tweeters change the sound. Ask whether the originals are fitted.

Woofer surrounds. Owners report rubber surrounds that have hardened with age. Press each surround gently: it should feel supple.

1970s DM models. Expect crossover capacitors in a 40-year-old DM to need replacing.

Where it was made. The 800 Series is built in Worthing; the 600 and 700 Series are made in China. Check the label before calling a B&W "made in England".

Everything we list is inspected, tested and serviced as required here, and comes with our warranty.