In this review, we will be comparing HTM71 S2 and HTM71 S3, two Passive Center Channel speakers by Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of BW HTM71 S2 and B&W HTM71 S3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | BW HTM71 S2 | B&W HTM71 S3 |
|---|
| Brand | Bowers Wilkins
United Kingdom · founded 1966 | Bowers Wilkins
United Kingdom · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Decoupled Carbon Dome | 1" Solid Body Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 4" | 4" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" Aerofoil Profile | 4 x 5" Aerofoil Profile |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50-28k Hz | 50-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-200 watts | 30-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 18.05kg / 39.7lbs | 17.50kg / 38.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 8-15/16" x 23-1/4" x 11-7/8"
228.0 x 591.0 x 302.0mm | 9-1/4" x 24-3/4" x 14"
235.0 x 629.0 x 356.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the BW HTM71 S2 and B&W HTM71 S3 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 HTM71 S3 |
| 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both HTM71 S2 and HTM71 S3 are 3-way speakers.
BW HTM71 S2B&W HTM71 S3
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
BW HTM71 S2 |
B&W HTM71 S3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
1 x 4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
4 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 HTM71 S3 features a 1" Decoupled Carbon Solid Body Soft-Dome Tweeter, a 4" Midrange and 4 x 5" Aerofoil Profile Woofer.
Frequency Response
HTM71 S2 and HTM71 S3 has exactly the same frequency range of 50-28k Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
HTM71 S2 and HTM71 S3 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 89 dB.
Sensitivity
Center Channel Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
HTM71 S2 and HTM71 S3 have the same power range of 30-200 watts.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both HTM71 S2 and HTM71 S3 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
B&W HTM71 S3's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both HTM71 S2 and HTM71 S3 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
The size of a speaker can sometimes be 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 HTM71 S3'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 HTM71 S3 has external dimensions of 235.0 x 629.0 x 356.0mm (9-1/4inch x 24-3/4inch x 14inch).
B&W HTM71 S3 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 38mm wider, 7mm taller and 54mm deeper than BW HTM71 S2.
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 HTM71 S3 is approximately 2239.2cm2 / 347.1inch2. The HTM71 S2 requires 20% less surface area than the HTM71 S3 which gives it a small advantage 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 HTM71 S2 weighs 18.05kg / 39.7lbs and the B&W HTM71 S3 weighs 17.50kg / 38.5lbs. This makes the HTM71 S2 3% heavier than the HTM71 S3.
Here is a comparison of how HTM71 S2 and HTM71 S3's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of BW HTM71 S2?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of HTM71 S2:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 2 Two-piece foam port plugs
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- 4 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)
- Manual
- Bowers Wilkins brochure
- Warranty Information
What's in the Box of B&W HTM71 S3?
Here are the items that come with the HTM71 S3:
- 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
- Online Registration Card
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Height |
228mm
vs
235mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1784cm2
vs
2239cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1999USD
vs
2499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
|
Number of Woofers |
4
vs
2
|
More woofers |
| General |
Bowers & Wilkins HTM71 S2 |
Bowers & Wilkins HTM71 S3 |
| Brand |
Bowers Wilkins |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
30-200 watts |
30-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.0 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
50-28k Hz |
50-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
4 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aerofoil Profile |
Aerofoil Profile |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Decoupled Carbon Dome |
Solid Body Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
4" |
4" |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
228.0mm (9") |
235.0mm (9.3") |
| Width |
591.0mm (23.3") |
629.0mm (24.8") |
| Depth |
302.0mm (11.9") |
356.0mm (14") |
| Weight |
18.05kg (39.7lbs) |
17.50kg (38.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black, Satin White, Rosenut |
Gloss Black |
| 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 |
A generation apart: B&W HTM71 S3 is the newer design, against a 2017 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (50Hz vs 50Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (89dB vs 89dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (200W vs 200W). |
| Size | depends | BW HTM71 S2 is easier to place; B&W HTM71 S3 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | BW HTM71 S2: bi-amping; B&W HTM71 S3: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | BW HTM71 S2 is cheaper - $1,999 against $2,499, about 20% less. |
A BW HTM71 S2 B B&W HTM71 S3
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.