In this review, we will be comparing 603 S2 AE and Opticon 6 MK2, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Bowers Wilkins and DALI.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of B&W 603 S2 and DALI Opticon 6 II 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 )
DALI Opticon 6 II Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125" Soft-dome + ribbon Hybrid Tweeter
- 2 x 6.5" Wood Fiber Woofer
- 49-30k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:25-200watts
- Weight:19.30kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1010.0" x 7-5/8" x 13-3/8"( 1010.0 x 195.0 x 340.0mm )
What size room are the B&W 603 S2 and DALI Opticon 6 II 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 |
DALI Opticon 6 II |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| 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 DALI Opticon 6 II compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both 603 S2 AE and Opticon 6 MK2 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
B&W 603 S2 |
DALI Opticon 6 II |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
603 S2 AE features a 1" Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Paper Woofer . On the other hand, the Opticon 6 MK2 features a 17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125" Soft-dome + ribbon Hybrid Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Wood Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 800Hz, 2200Hz and 14,000Hz.
Frequency Response
603 S2 AE has a frequency range of 48-28k Hz whereas Opticon 6 MK2 has a frequency range of 49-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the 603 S2 AE can go slightly deeper then the Opticon 6 MK2's min frequency of 49Hz.
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 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Opticon 6 MK2 which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Opticon 6 MK2 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. 603 S2 AE sensitivity is rated at 88.5 dB and the Opticon 6 MK2's is rated at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the B&W 603 S2 a more sensitive speaker compared to DALI Opticon 6 II, 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.
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 Opticon 6 MK2 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
DALI Opticon 6 II's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both 603 S2 AE and Opticon 6 MK2 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.
DALI Opticon 6 II Port
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 DALI Opticon 6 II'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 DALI Opticon 6 II has external dimensions of 1010.0 x 195.0 x 340.0mm ( 39-3/4 x 7-5/8 x 13-3/8inch) .
DALI Opticon 6 II is 45mm shorter and 32mm less deeper than B&W 603 S2 but it is also 5mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of B&W 603 S2 and DALI Opticon 6 II in scale.
Comparison image of B&W 603 S2 and DALI Opticon 6 II Size and External Dimensions
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 DALI Opticon 6 II is approximately 663.0cm2 / 102.8inch2. The 603 S2 AE requires 7% more surface area than the Opticon 6 MK2 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The B&W 603 S2 weighs 24.10kg / 53lbs and the DALI Opticon 6 II weighs 19.30kg / 42.5lbs. This makes the 603 S2 AE 25% heavier than the Opticon 6 MK2.
Here is a comparison of how 603 S2 AE and Opticon 6 MK2's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
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 DALI Opticon 6 II?
Here are the items that come with the Opticon 6 MK2:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille2 Binding post jumpers (pre-installed)4 Outrigger feet4 Spikes (with lock nuts)4 Rubber pads4 ScrewsHex-keyWrenchQuick Start GuideCongratulations Card
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Low Frequency Response |
48 Hz
vs
49 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
2300USD
vs
2500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
1010mm
vs
1055mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
663cm2
vs
706cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 Anniversary Edition |
DALI Opticon 6 MK2 |
| Brand |
Bowers Wilkins |
DALI |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
30-200 watts |
25-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88.5 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
48-28k Hz |
49-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper |
Wood Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Soft-dome + ribbon Hybrid |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6" |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
800Hz, 2200Hz and 14,000Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1055.0mm (41.5") |
1010.0mm (39.8") |
| Width |
190.0mm (7.5") |
195.0mm (7.7") |
| Depth |
372.0mm (14.6") |
340.0mm (13.4") |
| Weight |
24.10kg (53lbs) |
19.30kg (42.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Matte Black, Matte White, Oak, Red Cherry |
Satin Black, Tobacco Oak, Satin White |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |