In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by Bowers Wilkins. Bowers & Wilkins HTM71 S2 is a Center Channel speaker whereas the 704 S2 is a Floor-standing speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of BW HTM71 S2 and B&W 704 S2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
BW HTM71 S2 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Decoupled Carbon Dome Tweeter
- 4" Midrange
- 2 x 6.5" Aerofoil Profile Woofer
- 50-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:30-200watts
- Weight:18.05kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 228.0" x 23-1/4" x 11-7/8"( 228.0 x 591.0 x 302.0mm )
B&W 704 S2 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Tweeter
- 5" Midrange
- 2 x 5" Aerofoil Woofer
- 5" Midrange
- 48-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:30-150watts
- Weight:18.50kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 959.0" x 6.5" x 10.9"( 959.0 x 165.0 x 277.0mm )
HTM71 S2 and 704 S2 are members of Bowers Wilkins's 700 S2 Anniversary Edition series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
What size room are the BW HTM71 S2 and B&W 704 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* |
BW HTM71 S2 |
B&W 704 S2 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| 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 HTM71 S2 and B&W 704 S2 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 HTM71 S2 and 704 S2 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
BW HTM71 S2 |
B&W 704 S2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
1 x 5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 5-inch
|
HTM71 S2 features a 1" Decoupled Carbon Dome Tweeter , a 4" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Aerofoil Profile Woofer . On the other hand, the 704 S2 features a 1" Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 2 x 5" Aerofoil Woofer .
Frequency Response
HTM71 S2 has a frequency range of 50-28k Hz whereas 704 S2 has a frequency range of 48-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the 704 S2 can go slightly deeper then the HTM71 S2's min frequency of 50Hz.
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
HTM71 S2 and 704 S2 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. HTM71 S2 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the 704 S2's is at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the BW HTM71 S2 a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W 704 S2, 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.
HTM71 S2 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas 704 S2 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the HTM71 S2.
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 HTM71 S2 and 704 S2 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both HTM71 S2 and 704 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 BW HTM71 S2's and B&W 704 S2's external dimensions. BW HTM71 S2 has external dimensions of 228.0 x 591.0 x 302.0mm ( 8-15/16 x 23-1/4 x 11-7/8inch) whereas B&W 704 S2 has external dimensions of 959.0 x 165.0 x 277.0mm ( 37.8-inch x 6.5-inch x 10.9-inch) .
B&W 704 S2 is 426mm narrower and 25mm less deeper than BW HTM71 S2 but it is also 731mm 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 HTM71 S2 is approximately 1784.8cm2 / 276.6inch2 and base area of the B&W 704 S2 is approximately 457.1cm2 / 70.9inch2. The HTM71 S2 requires 290% more surface area than the 704 S2 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of BW HTM71 S2?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of HTM71 S2:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrille2 Two-piece foam port plugs4 Self-adhesive rubber feet4 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)ManualBowers Wilkins brochureWarranty Information
What's in the Box of B&W 704 S2?
Here are the items that come with the 704 S2:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrillePlinth (base)2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)Two-piece foam port plug4 Rubber feet4 Spike feet4 Lock-nuts4 Screws4 Washers4 Lock washersHex-keyManualBowers & Wilkins brochureWarranty Information
Max Input Power 
Sensitivity 
Woofer Size 
Height 
Price per pair* 
Minimum Impedance 
Base Surface Area