In this review, we will be comparing 603 S2 AE and R700, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Bowers Wilkins and Polk Audio. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of B&W 603 S2 and Polk R700 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the B&W 603 S2 and Polk R700 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the B&W 603 S2 and Polk R700 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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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both 603 S2 AE and R700 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
B&W 603 S2 |
Polk R700 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6-inch |
1 x 6.5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 8-inch
|
603 S2 AE features a 1" Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Paper Woofer . On the other hand, the R700 features a 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter , a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 8" Polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 350Hz and 2700Hz.
Frequency Response
603 S2 AE has a frequency range of 48-28k Hz whereas R700 has a frequency range of 38-38k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 38Hz, the R700 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 603 S2 AE's min frequency of 48Hz.
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 R700 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 R700's is at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the B&W 603 S2 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk R700, 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 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas 603 S2 AE has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS , 100 watts less than the R700.
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 R700 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
Polk R700's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
603 S2 AE has a rear firing port whereas R700 has a bottom firing ports. Polk R700's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to B&W 603 S2 with its rear-firing port.
Polk R700 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 Polk R700'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 Polk R700 has external dimensions of 1143.8 x 320.7 x 428.3mm ( 45 x 12.6 x 16.9inch) .
Polk R700 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 130.7mm wider, 88.8mm taller and 56.3mm deeper than B&W 603 S2.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of B&W 603 S2 and Polk R700 in scale.
Comparison image of B&W 603 S2 and Polk R700 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 Polk R700 is approximately 1373.6cm2 / 212.9inch2. The 603 S2 AE requires 49% less surface area than the R700 which gives it a small advantage 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 Polk R700 weighs 35.90kg / 79lbs. This makes the R700 49% heavier than the 603 S2 AE.
Here is a comparison of how 603 S2 AE and R700'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 Polk R700?
Here are the items that come with the R700:
Floorstanding loudspeaker
4 Outrigger feet (pre-installed)
4 Rubber feet (pre-installed)
4 Spike feet (pre-installed)
Grille
Hex-key
Owner's Manual
Online Registration
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Height |
1055mm
vs
1143mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
706cm2 (190x372mm)
vs
1373cm2 (320x428mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Minimum Impedance |
3.6 ohms
vs
3 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
38 Hz
vs
48 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
38k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
2198USD
vs
2300USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 Anniversary Edition |
Polk Audio Reserve R700 |
| Brand |
Bowers Wilkins |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
30-200 watts |
50-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88.5 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3 ohms |
3.6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
48-28k Hz |
38-38k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper |
Polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Pinnacle Ring Radiator |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6" |
6.5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
350Hz and 2700Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1055.0mm (41.5") |
1143.8mm (45") |
| Width |
190.0mm (7.5") |
320.7mm (12.6") |
| Depth |
372.0mm (14.6") |
428.3mm (16.9") |
| Weight |
24.10kg (53lbs) |
35.90kg (79lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Matte Black, Matte White, Oak, Red Cherry |
Black, Walnut, 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 |