In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by Bowers Wilkins. Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 Anniversary Edition is a Floor-standing speaker whereas the HTM6 S2 is a Center Channel speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of B&W 603 S2 and BW HTM6 S2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
B&W 603 S2 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Tweeter
- 6" Midrange
- 2 x 6.5" Paper Woofer
- 48-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 88.5 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:30-200watts
- Weight:24.10kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1055.0" x 7-1/2" x 14-5/8"( 1055.0 x 190.0 x 372.0mm )
BW HTM6 S2 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Decoupled Double Dome Tweeter
- 2 x 5" Continuum Woofer
- 72-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:30-120watts
- Weight:7.82kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 162.0" x 18-15/16" x 11-1/16"( 162.0 x 482.0 x 281.0mm )
603 S2 AE and HTM6 S2 are members of Bowers Wilkins's 600 S2 Anniversary Edition series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
What size room are the B&W 603 S2 and BW HTM6 S2 speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
B&W 603 S2 |
BW HTM6 S2 |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2, Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: > 400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening position, speaker locations, etc.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the B&W 603 S2 and BW HTM6 S2 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that 603 S2 AE is a 3-way design whereas the HTM6 S2 is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
B&W 603 S2 |
BW HTM6 S2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 5-inch
|
603 S2 AE features a 1" Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Paper Woofer . On the other hand, the HTM6 S2 features a 1" Decoupled Double Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5" Continuum Woofer .
Frequency Response
603 S2 AE has a frequency range of 48-28k Hz whereas HTM6 S2 has a frequency range of 72-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the 603 S2 AE can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the HTM6 S2's min frequency of 72Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
603 S2 AE and HTM6 S2 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. 603 S2 AE sensitivity is rated at 88.5 dB and the HTM6 S2's is at 87 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the B&W 603 S2 a more sensitive speaker compared to BW HTM6 S2 , hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
603 S2 AE can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas HTM6 S2 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 80 watts less than the 603 S2 AE.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both 603 S2 AE and HTM6 S2 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
B&W 603 S2's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
BW HTM6 S2 's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both 603 S2 AE and HTM6 S2 have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare B&W 603 S2's and BW HTM6 S2 's external dimensions. B&W 603 S2 has external dimensions of 1055.0 x 190.0 x 372.0mm ( 41-1/2 x 12-5/8 x 14-5/8inch) whereas BW HTM6 S2 has external dimensions of 162.0 x 482.0 x 281.0mm ( 6-3/8 x 18-15/16 x 11-1/16inch) .
BW HTM6 S2 is 893mm shorter and 91mm less deeper than B&W 603 S2 but it is also 292mm wider.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the B&W 603 S2 is approximately 706.8cm2 / 109.6inch2 and base area of the BW HTM6 S2 is approximately 1354.4cm2 / 209.9inch2. The 603 S2 AE requires 48% less surface area than the HTM6 S2 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of B&W 603 S2?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 603 S2 AE:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrillePlinith (base)2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)4 Rubber feet4 Spike feet4 Hex-nuts4 Screws4 Washers4 Lock-washersTwo-piece foam port plugHex-keyManualBowers & Wilkins brochureWarranty Information
What's in the Box of BW HTM6 S2 ?
Here are the items that come with the HTM6 S2:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrille (pre-installed)Two-piece foam plug4 Self-adhesive rubber feet2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)ManualWarranty InformationBowers Wilkins brochure
Max Input Power 
Driver Setup 
Sensitivity 
Woofer Size 
Base Surface Area 
Minimum Impedance 
Height 
Price per pair*