In this review, we will be comparing BW 603 and RTi A9, 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 and Polk RTi A9 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
B&W 603 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:24.14kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 985.0" x 7.4" x 13.3"( 985.0 x 190.0 x 340.0mm )
Polk RTi A9 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Tweeter
- 5.25" Midrange
- 3 x 7" Polymer composite Woofer
- 5.25" Midrange
- 30-26k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:50-500watts
- Weight:34.09kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1221.0" x 10-11/16" x 21-1/2"( 1221.0 x 272.0 x 547.0mm )
What size room are the B&W 603 and Polk RTi A9 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 |
Polk RTi A9 |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Are you nuts? |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Good |
(* 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 and Polk RTi A9 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 BW 603 and RTi A9 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
B&W 603 |
Polk RTi A9 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6-inch |
2 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
3 x 7-inch
|
BW 603 features a 1" Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Paper Woofer . On the other hand, the RTi A9 features a 1" Tweeter , a 5.25" Midrange and 3 x 7" Polymer composite Woofer .
Frequency Response
BW 603 has a frequency range of 48-28k Hz whereas RTi A9 has a frequency range of 30-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 30Hz, the RTi A9 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the BW 603'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
BW 603 and RTi A9 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. BW 603 sensitivity is rated at 88.5 dB and the RTi A9's is at 90 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Polk RTi A9 a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W 603, 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.
BW 603 can handle a max power of 500 watts RMS from the amp the whereas BW 603 has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS , 300 watts less than the RTi A9.
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 BW 603 and RTi A9 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
BW 603 has a rear firing port whereas RTi A9 has a front firing ports. Polk RTi A9's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to B&W 603 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's and Polk RTi A9's external dimensions. B&W 603 has external dimensions of 985.0 x 190.0 x 340.0mm ( 38.7 x 7.4 x 13.3inch) whereas Polk RTi A9 has external dimensions of 1221.0 x 272.0 x 547.0mm ( 48-1/16 x 10-11/16 x 21-1/2inch) .
Polk RTi A9 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 82mm wider, 236mm taller and 207mm deeper than B&W 603.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of B&W 603 and Polk RTi A9 in scale.
Comparison image of B&W 603 and Polk RTi A9 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 is approximately 646.0cm2 / 100.1inch2 and base area of the Polk RTi A9 is approximately 1487.8cm2 / 230.6inch2. The BW 603 requires 57% less surface area than the RTi A9 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.