In this review, we will be comparing 603 S3 and 603 S2 AE, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by Bowers Wilkins Let's have a brief look at the main features
of B&W 603 S3 and B&W 603 S2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the B&W 603 S3 and B&W 603 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the B&W 603 S3 and B&W 603 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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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both 603 S3 and 603 S2 AE are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
B&W 603 S3 |
B&W 603 S2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6-inch |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
603 S3 features a 1" Titanium Decoupled Double Dome Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Paper Woofer . On the other hand, the 603 S2 AE features a 1" Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Paper Woofer .
Frequency Response
603 S3 has a frequency range of 46-28k Hz whereas 603 S2 AE has a frequency range of 48-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the 603 S3 can go slightly deeper then 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 S3 and 603 S2 AE have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. 603 S3 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the 603 S2 AE's is at 88.5 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the B&W 603 S3 a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W 603 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 S3 and 603 S2 AE has the same power range of 30-200 watts.
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 S3 and 603 S2 AE features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
B&W 603 S3's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
B&W 603 S2's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both 603 S3 and 603 S2 AE 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 S3's and B&W 603 S2's external dimensions. B&W 603 S3 has external dimensions of 985.0 x 190.0 x 368.0mm ( 38.8 x 7.5 x 14.5inch) whereas 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) .
Below you can see the front view size comparison of B&W 603 S3 and B&W 603 S2 in scale.
Comparison image of B&W 603 S3 and B&W 603 S2 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 S3 is approximately 699.2cm2 / 108.4inch2 and base area of the B&W 603 S2 is approximately 706.8cm2 / 109.6inch2. The 603 S3 requires 1% less surface area than the 603 S2 AE 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 S3 weighs 27.50kg / 60.5lbs and the B&W 603 S2 weighs 24.10kg / 53lbs. This makes the 603 S3 14% heavier than the 603 S2 AE.
Here is a comparison of how 603 S3 and 603 S2 AE'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 S3?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 603 S3:
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 B&W 603 S2?
Here are the items that come with the 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
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
48 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
985mm
vs
1055mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
699cm2 (190x368mm)
vs
706cm2 (190x372mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
2300USD
vs
2500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Bowers & Wilkins 603 S3 |
Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 Anniversary Edition |
| Brand |
Bowers Wilkins |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
30-200 watts |
30-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
88.5 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3 ohms |
3 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
46-28k Hz |
48-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper |
Paper |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Decoupled Double Dome |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6" |
6" |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
985.0mm (38.8") |
1055.0mm (41.5") |
| Width |
190.0mm (7.5") |
190.0mm (7.5") |
| Depth |
368.0mm (14.5") |
372.0mm (14.6") |
| Weight |
27.50kg (60.5lbs) |
24.10kg (53lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Matte Black, Matte White, Oak, Red Cherry |
Matte Black, Matte White, Oak, Red Cherry |
| 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 |