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B&W 706 S2 vs BW HTM72 S2 Comparison

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Speaker to replace
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B&W 706 S2

Passive Bookshelf | 50-28k Hz

Bowers & Wilkins 706 S2
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BW HTM72 S2

Passive Center Channel | 70-28k Hz

Bowers & Wilkins HTM72 S2
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B&W 706 S2 B&W 706 S2
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BW HTM72 S2 BW HTM72 S2
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B&W 706 S2
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BW HTM72 S2
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B&W 706 S2 vs BW HTM72 S2 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by Bowers Wilkins. Bowers & Wilkins 706 S2 is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the HTM72 S2 is a Center Channel speaker.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of B&W 706 S2 and BW HTM72 S2 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

B&W 706 S2 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" Decoupled Soft-Dome Tweeter
  • 6.5" Continuum Woofer
  • 50-28k Hz Frequency Response
  • 88 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:30-120watts
  • Weight:8.05kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 340.0" x 7.8" x 11."( 340.0 x 200.0 x 301.0mm )

BW HTM72 S2 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" Decoupled Carbon Dome Tweeter
  • 2 x 5" Continuum Woofer
  • 70-28k Hz Frequency Response
  • 87 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:30-120watts
  • Weight:9.14kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 169.0" x 18-15/16" x 10-15/16"( 169.0 x 482.0 x 278.0mm )

706 S2 and HTM72 S2 are members of Bowers Wilkins's 700 S2 Anniversary Edition series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.

Bowers Wilkins 700 S2 Anniversary Edition Series History
Model Body Frequency SensitivityImpedance Woofer
B&W 706 S2
Bookshelf 50-28k Hz 88 dB8Ω 1 x 6.5"
B&W 703 S2
  
Floor-standing 46-28k Hz 89 dB8Ω 2 x 6.5"
B&W 704 S2
  
Floor-standing 48-28k Hz 88 dB8Ω 2 x 5"
B&W 707 S2
  
Bookshelf 50-28k Hz 84 dB8Ω 1 x 5"
B&W 705 S2
  
Bookshelf 50-28k Hz 88 dB8Ω 1 x 6.5"
B&W 702 S2
  
Floor-standing 46-28k Hz 90 dB8Ω 3 x 6.5"
BW HTM71 S2
  
Center Channel 50-28k Hz 89 dB8Ω 2 x 6.5"
BW HTM72 S2
Center Channel 70-28k Hz 87 dB8Ω 2 x 5"

What size room are the B&W 706 S2 and BW HTM72 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:

Listening Environment* B&W 706 S2 BW HTM72 S2
Near-field Poor Poor
Small Room Average Average
Mid-size Room Good Good
Large Room Average Average
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 706 S2 and BW HTM72 S2 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 706 S2 and HTM72 S2 are 2-way speakers.

Driver B&W 706 S2 BW HTM72 S2
Driver Setup 2-way 2-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1-inch
Midrange - -
Woofer 1 x 6.5-inch 2 x 5-inch

706 S2 features a 1" Decoupled Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Continuum Woofer . On the other hand, the HTM72 S2 features a 1" Decoupled Carbon Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5" Continuum Woofer .

Frequency Response

706 S2 has a frequency range of 50-28k Hz whereas HTM72 S2 has a frequency range of 70-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the 706 S2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the HTM72 S2's min frequency of 70Hz.

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 Bookshelf class in our database.

Low Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

706 S2
HTM72 S2
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

B&W 706 S2
BW HTM72 S2
Min
Average
Max

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

706 S2 and HTM72 S2 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. 706 S2 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the HTM72 S2's is at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the B&W 706 S2 a more sensitive speaker compared to BW HTM72 S2, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

706 S2
HTM72 S2
Min
Average
Max

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.

706 S2 and HTM72 S2 has the same power range of 30-120 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 706 S2 and HTM72 S2 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Both 706 S2 and HTM72 S2 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 706 S2's and BW HTM72 S2's external dimensions. B&W 706 S2 has external dimensions of 340.0 x 200.0 x 301.0mm ( 13.5-inch x 7.8-inch x 11.-inch) whereas BW HTM72 S2 has external dimensions of 169.0 x 482.0 x 278.0mm ( 6-5/8 x 18-15/16 x 10-15/16inch) .

BW HTM72 S2 is 171mm shorter and 23mm less deeper than B&W 706 S2 but it is also 282mm wider.

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 706 S2 is approximately 602.0cm2 / 93.3inch2 and base area of the BW HTM72 S2 is approximately 1340.0cm2 / 207.7inch2. The 706 S2 requires 55% less surface area than the HTM72 S2 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.

What's in the Box of B&W 706 S2?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of 706 S2:
  • 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
  • 2 Grilles
  • 2 Two-piece foam port plugs
  • 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
  • 4 Jumper-straps
  • Manual
  • Bowers & Wilkins brochure
  • Warranty Information
  • What's in the Box of BW HTM72 S2?

    Here are the items that come with the HTM72 S2:
  • Center-channel loudspeaker
  • Grille
  • Two-piece foam port plug
  • 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
  • 4 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)
  • Manual
  • Bowers Wilkins brochure
  • Warranty Information

  • Reasons to choose Bowers & Wilkins 706 S2 over Bowers & Wilkins HTM72 S2
    Sensitivity 88 dB vs 87 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Woofer Size 6.5 inches vs 5 inches Larger woofer
    Low Frequency Response 50 Hz vs 70 Hz Generates deeper bass
    Base Surface Area 602cm2 vs 1340cm2 Takes less floor space

    Reasons to choose Bowers & Wilkins HTM72 S2 over Bowers & Wilkins 706 S2

    Minimum Impedance 4.3 ohms vs 3.7 ohms Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier
    Number of Woofers 2 vs 1 More woofers
    Height 169mm vs 340mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Price per pair* 1199USD vs 1999USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
    B&W 706 S2 vs BW HTM72 S2 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General Bowers & Wilkins 706 S2 Bowers & Wilkins HTM72 S2
    Brand Bowers Wilkins Bowers Wilkins
    Speaker Type Bookshelf speakers Center channel speaker
    Power Range 30-120 watts 30-120 watts
    Sensitivity 88 dB 87 dB
    Impedance 8 ohms 8 ohms
    Impedance 3.7 ohms 4.3 ohms
    Frequency Response 50-28k Hz 70-28k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 2
    Woofer Size 6.5" 5"
    Woofer Composition Continuum Continuum
    Woofer Surround Material Rubber Rubber
    Tweeter Size 1" 1"
    Tweeter Type Decoupled Soft-Dome Decoupled Carbon Dome
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver No No
    Firing Direction rear rear
    Physical Specs
    Height 340.0mm (13.4") 169.0mm (6.7")
    Width 200.0mm (7.9") 482.0mm (19")
    Depth 301.0mm (11.9") 278.0mm (10.9")
    Weight 8.05kg (17.7lbs) 9.14kg (20.1lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
    Finish MDF/Wood Veneer n/a
    Available Colors Rosewood, Gloss Black, Satin White Gloss Black, Satin White, Rosenut
    Mounting Bracket No No
    Recommended Stand Height 24-26" n/a
    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

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