In this review, we will be comparing 603 S3 and EVO4.4, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Bowers Wilkins and Wharfedale. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of B&W 603 S3 and Wharfedale EVO4.4 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the B&W 603 S3 and Wharfedale EVO4.4 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 Wharfedale EVO4.4 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
Both 603 S3 and EVO4.4 are 3-way speakers.
Driver |
B&W 603 S3 |
Wharfedale EVO4.4 |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.18x2.36-inch
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6-inch |
1 x 2-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 EVO4.4 features a 1.18x2.36" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter , a 2" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Kevlar Woofer .
Frequency Response
603 S3 has a frequency range of 46-28k Hz whereas EVO4.4 has a frequency range of 44-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the EVO4.4 can go slightly deeper then the 603 S3's min frequency of 46Hz.
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 EVO4.4 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 EVO4.4's is at 89 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the B&W 603 S3 a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale EVO4.4, 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 EVO4.4 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 EVO4.4 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
603 S3 has a rear firing port whereas EVO4.4 has a bottom firing ports. Wharfedale EVO4.4's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to B&W 603 S3 with its rear-firing 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 S3's and Wharfedale EVO4.4'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 Wharfedale EVO4.4 has external dimensions of 1060.0 x 250.0 x 36.0mm ( 41.7 x 9.8 x 1.4inch) .
B&W 603 S3 is 60mm narrower and 75mm shorter than Wharfedale EVO4.4 but it is also 332mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of B&W 603 S3 and Wharfedale EVO4.4 in scale.
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 Wharfedale EVO4.4 is approximately 90.0cm2 / 14.0inch2. The 603 S3 requires 677% more surface area than the EVO4.4 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 S3 weighs 27.50kg / 60.5lbs and the Wharfedale EVO4.4 weighs 25.60kg / 56.3lbs. This makes the 603 S3 7% heavier than the EVO4.4.
Here is a comparison of how 603 S3 and EVO4.4'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 Wharfedale EVO4.4?
Here are the items that come with the EVO4.4:
Floorstanding loudspeaker Grille 4 Outrigger feet (pre-installed) 4 Spikes (pre-installed) 4 Isolation pucks 2 Jumper-bars (pre-installed) Pair of white cloth gloves User Manual
Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Height |
985mm
vs
1060mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Minimum Impedance |
4.3 ohms
vs
3 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
Low Frequency Response |
44 Hz
vs
46 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
Base Surface Area |
90cm2 (250x36mm)
vs
699cm2 (190x368mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
2198USD
vs
2500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
General |
Bowers & Wilkins 603 S3 |
Wharfedale EVO4.4 |
Brand |
Bowers Wilkins |
Wharfedale |
Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
Power Range |
30-200 watts |
30-200 watts |
Sensitivity |
90 dB |
89 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
Impedance |
3 ohms |
4.3 ohms |
Frequency Response |
46-28k Hz |
44-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
Woofer Composition |
Paper |
Kevlar |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.18x2.36" |
Tweeter Type |
Decoupled Double Dome |
AMT (Ribbon) |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
6" |
2" |
Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
985.0mm (38.8") |
1060.0mm (41.7") |
Width |
190.0mm (7.5") |
250.0mm (9.8") |
Depth |
368.0mm (14.5") |
36.0mm (1.4") |
Weight |
27.50kg (60.5lbs) |
25.60kg (56.3lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
Available Colors |
Matte Black, Matte White, Oak, Red Cherry |
Walnut |
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 |