In this review, we will be comparing HTM71 S2 and Aria CC 900, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Bowers Wilkins and Focal. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of BW HTM71 S2 and Focal Aria CC 900 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the BW HTM71 S2 and Focal Aria CC 900 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the BW HTM71 S2 and Focal Aria CC 900 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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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that HTM71 S2 is a 3-way design whereas the Aria CC 900 is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
BW HTM71 S2 |
Focal Aria CC 900 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-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 Aria CC 900 features a 1" TNF aluminum/magnesium inverted dome Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" flax/fiberglass Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz.
Frequency Response
HTM71 S2 has a frequency range of 50-28k Hz whereas Aria CC 900 has a frequency range of 57-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the HTM71 S2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Aria CC 900's min frequency of 57Hz.
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 Aria CC 900 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 Aria CC 900's is at 91 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Focal Aria CC 900 a more sensitive speaker compared to BW HTM71 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.
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
HTM71 S2 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Aria CC 900 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both HTM71 S2 and Aria CC 900 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 Focal Aria CC 900'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 Focal Aria CC 900 has external dimensions of 202.0 x 532.0 x 285.0mm ( 7-15/16 x 20-15/16 x 11-3/16inch) .
BW HTM71 S2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 59mm wider, 26mm taller and 17mm deeper than Focal Aria CC 900.
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 Focal Aria CC 900 is approximately 1516.2cm2 / 235.0inch2. The HTM71 S2 requires 18% more surface area than the Aria CC 900 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 HTM71 S2 weighs 18.05kg / 39.7lbs and the Focal Aria CC 900 weighs 10.45kg / 23lbs. This makes the HTM71 S2 73% heavier than the Aria CC 900.
Here is a comparison of how HTM71 S2 and Aria CC 900'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 loudspeakerGrille2 Two-piece foam port plugs4 Self-adhesive rubber feet4 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)ManualBowers Wilkins brochureWarranty Information
What's in the Box of Focal Aria CC 900?
Here are the items that come with the Aria CC 900:
Center-channel loudspeaker Grille 4 Rubber feet User Manual
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
57 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Minimum Impedance |
4.3 ohms
vs
3.0 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Height |
202mm
vs
228mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1516cm2 (532x285mm)
vs
1784cm2 (591x302mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1099USD
vs
1999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Bowers & Wilkins HTM71 S2 |
Focal Aria CC 900 |
| Brand |
Bowers Wilkins |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
30-200 watts |
40-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
91 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.0 ohms |
4.3 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50-28k Hz |
57-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aerofoil Profile |
flax/fiberglass |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Decoupled Carbon Dome |
inverted dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
4" |
N/A" |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2800Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
228.0mm (9") |
202.0mm (8") |
| Width |
591.0mm (23.3") |
532.0mm (20.9") |
| Depth |
302.0mm (11.9") |
285.0mm (11.2") |
| Weight |
18.05kg (39.7lbs) |
10.45kg (23lbs) |
| 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 |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |