BW HTM6 S3 vs Polk XT30 Comparison

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BW HTM6 S3

Passive Center Channel | 72-28k Hz

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Polk XT30

Passive Center Channel | 55-40k Hz

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BW HTM6 S3

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Polk XT30

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BW HTM6 S3

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Polk XT30

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BW HTM6 S3 vs Polk XT30 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing HTM6 S3 and Monitor XT30, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Bowers Wilkins and Polk Audio.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of BW HTM6 S3 and Polk XT30 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 )

Polk XT30 Key Specs

2-way Design

1" High-res dome Tweeter

2 x 5.25" bi-laminate paper cone Woofer

55-40k Hz Frequency Response

89 dB Sensitivity

Impedance: 8ohms

Power Range:30-200watts

Weight:5.91kg

Dimensions (H x W x D): 166.0" x 19-1/16" x 8-3/16"( 166.0 x 485.0 x 208.0mm )

What size room are the BW HTM6 S3 and Polk XT30 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	Polk XT30
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 Polk XT30 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 Monitor XT30 are 2-way speakers.

Driver	BW HTM6 S3	Polk XT30
Driver Setup	2-way	2-way
Tweeter	1-inch	1-inch
Midrange	-	-
Woofer	2 x 5-inch	2 x 5.25-inch

HTM6 S3 features a 1" Titanium Decoupled Double Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5" Continuum Woofer . On the other hand, the Monitor XT30 features a 1" Terylene High-res dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" bi-laminate paper cone Woofer .

Frequency Response

HTM6 S3 has a frequency range of 72-28k Hz whereas Monitor XT30 has a frequency range of 55-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the Monitor XT30 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

HTM6 S3

Monitor XT30

Min

Average

Max

High Frequency

Center Channel Speakers

BW HTM6 S3

Polk XT30

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

HTM6 S3 and Monitor XT30 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. HTM6 S3 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Monitor XT30's is at 89 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Polk XT30 a more sensitive speaker compared to BW HTM6 S3 , hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Center Channel Speakers

HTM6 S3

Monitor XT30

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.

HTM6 S3 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas HTM6 S3 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS , 80 watts less than the Monitor XT30.

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

HTM6 S3 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Monitor XT30 has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

BW HTM6 S3 's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

Polk XT30's 5-Way post terminals

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Both HTM6 S3 and Monitor XT30 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 Polk XT30'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 Polk XT30 has external dimensions of 166.0 x 485.0 x 208.0mm ( 6-1/2 x 19-1/16 x 8-3/16inch) .

BW HTM6 S3 is 5mm narrower and 6mm shorter than Polk XT30 but it is also 75mm deeper.

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 Polk XT30 is approximately 1008.8cm² / 156.4inch². The HTM6 S3 requires 35% more surface area than the Monitor XT30 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 BW HTM6 S3 weighs 7.70kg / 16.9lbs and the Polk XT30 weighs 5.91kg / 13lbs. This makes the HTM6 S3 30% heavier than the Monitor XT30.

Here is a comparison of how HTM6 S3 and Monitor XT30's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.

Weight
All Center Channel Speakers

BW HTM6 S3

Polk XT30

Min

Average

Max

What's in the Box of BW HTM6 S3 ?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of HTM6 S3:

Center-channel loudspeaker

Grille (pre-installed)

Two-piece foam plug

4 Self-adhesive rubber feet

2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)

Manual

Warranty Information

Bowers Wilkins brochure

What's in the Box of Polk XT30?

Here are the items that come with the Monitor XT30:

Center-channel loudspeaker

Grille (attached)

4 Self-adhesive rubber feet

Owners Manual

Online Product Registration

Wall-Mount Template

Reasons to choose Bowers & Wilkins HTM6 S3 over Polk Audio Monitor XT30

Height	160mm vs 166mm	Easier to fit in smaller spaces

Reasons to choose Polk Audio Monitor XT30 over Bowers & Wilkins HTM6 S3

Max Input Power	200 watts vs 120 watts	Handle more power from your amplifier
Sensitivity	89 dB vs 87 dB	Play louder with same amount of amplification power
Woofer Size	5.25 inches vs 5 inches	Larger woofer
Low Frequency Response	55 Hz vs 72 Hz	Generates deeper bass
High Frequency Response	40k Hz vs 28k Hz	Generates higher frequency
Base Surface Area	1008cm² vs 1358cm²	Takes less floor space
Price per pair*	199USD vs 899USD	costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

BW HTM6 S3 vs Polk XT30 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Bowers & Wilkins HTM6 S3	Polk Audio Monitor XT30
Brand	Bowers Wilkins	Polk Audio
Speaker Type	Center channel speaker	Center channel speaker
Power Range	30-120 watts	30-200 watts
Sensitivity	87 dB	89 dB
Impedance	8 ohms	8 ohms
Impedance	4.3 ohms	n/a
Frequency Response	72-28k Hz	55-40k Hz
Drivers
Woofer Quantity	2	2
Woofer Size	5"	5.25"
Woofer Composition	Continuum	bi-laminate paper cone
Woofer Surround Material	Rubber	n/a
Tweeter Size	1"	1"
Tweeter Type	Decoupled Double Dome	High-res dome
Aimable Tweeter	No	No
Midrange Driver	No	N/A"
Firing Direction	rear	rear
Physical Specs
Height	160.0mm (6.3")	166.0mm (6.5")
Width	480.0mm (18.9")	485.0mm (19.1")
Depth	283.0mm (11.1")	208.0mm (8.2")
Weight	7.70kg (16.9lbs)	5.91kg (13lbs)
Enclosure	Bass Reflex	Bass Reflex
Available Colors	Black, White, Oak	Black
Grille	Yes	Yes
Moisture Resistancy	No	No
Connections
Biamp Inputs	Yes	n/a
Other
Parts Warranty	5 Years	5 Years
Labor Warranty	5 Years	5 Years