In this review, we will be comparing HTM6 S3 and AE307, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Bowers Wilkins and Acoustic Energy.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of BW HTM6 S3 and AE307 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
BW HTM6 S3 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Decoupled Double Dome Tweeter
- 2 x 5" Continuum Woofer
- 72-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:30-120watts
- Weight:7.70kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 160.0" x 18.9" x 11.2"( 160.0 x 480.0 x 283.0mm )
AE307 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1.1" dome with waveguide Tweeter
- 2 x 5.2" ceramic aluminium sandwich Woofer
- 42Hz - 30kHz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:up to 175watts
- Weight:9.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 175.0" x 18.1" x 10.2"( 175.0 x 460.0 x 260.0mm )
What size room are the BW HTM6 S3 and AE307 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* |
BW HTM6 S3 |
AE307 |
| 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 BW HTM6 S3 and AE307 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 HTM6 S3 and AE307 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
BW HTM6 S3 |
AE307 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5-inch
|
2 x 5.2-inch
|
HTM6 S3 features a 1" Titanium Decoupled Double Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5" Continuum Woofer . On the other hand, the AE307 features a 1.1" aluminium dome with waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 5.2" ceramic aluminium sandwich Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2560Hz.
Frequency Response
HTM6 S3 has a frequency range of 72-28k Hz whereas AE307 has a frequency range of 42Hz - 30kHz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the AE307 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the HTM6 S3's min frequency of 72Hz.
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 Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
High Frequency
Center Channel 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
HTM6 S3 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the AE307 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. HTM6 S3 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the AE307's is rated at 89 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the AE307 a more sensitive speaker compared to BW HTM6 S3 , hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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.
HTM6 S3 can handle a max power of 175 watts RMS from the amp the whereas HTM6 S3 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS , 55 watts less than the AE307.
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.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both HTM6 S3 and AE307 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 BW HTM6 S3 's and AE307's external dimensions. BW HTM6 S3 has external dimensions of 160.0 x 480.0 x 283.0mm ( 6.3 x 18.9 x 11.2inch) whereas AE307 has external dimensions of 175.0 x 460.0 x 260.0mm ( 6.9 x 18.1 x 10.2inch) .
AE307 is 20mm narrower and 23mm less deeper than BW HTM6 S3 but it is also 15mm taller.
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 BW HTM6 S3 is approximately 1358.4cm2 / 210.6inch2 and base area of the AE307 is approximately 1196.0cm2 / 185.4inch2. The HTM6 S3 requires 14% more surface area than the AE307 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.