In this review, we will be comparing HTM71 S3 and Kanta Center, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Bowers Wilkins and Focal. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of B&W HTM71 S3 and Focal Kanta Center first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the B&W HTM71 S3 and Focal Kanta Center 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 B&W HTM71 S3 and Focal Kanta Center 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 S3 is a 3-way design whereas the Kanta Center 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 |
B&W HTM71 S3 |
Focal Kanta Center |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
HTM71 S3 features a 1" Decoupled Carbon Solid Body Soft-Dome Tweeter , a 4" Midrange and 4 x 5" Aerofoil Profile Woofer . On the other hand, the Kanta Center features a 1.1" IAL3 Beryllium Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" flax cone with TMD (Tuned Mass Damping) suspension Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2400 Hz.
Frequency Response
HTM71 S3 has a frequency range of 50-28k Hz whereas Kanta Center has a frequency range of 55-44k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the HTM71 S3 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Kanta Center's min frequency of 55Hz.
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 S3 and Kanta Center have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. HTM71 S3 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Kanta Center's is at 92 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Focal Kanta Center a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W HTM71 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.
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 S3 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Kanta Center has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
B&W HTM71 S3's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Focal Kanta Center's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both HTM71 S3 and Kanta Center 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 B&W HTM71 S3's and Focal Kanta Center's external dimensions. 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 ) whereas Focal Kanta Center has external dimensions of 247.0 x 562.0 x 394.0mm ( 9-11/16inch x 22-1/8inch x 15-1/2inch ) .
B&W HTM71 S3 is 12mm shorter and 38mm less deeper than Focal Kanta Center but it is also 67mm wider.
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 B&W HTM71 S3 is approximately 2239.2cm2 / 347.1inch2 and base area of the Focal Kanta Center is approximately 2214.3cm2 / 343.2inch2. The HTM71 S3 requires 1% more surface area than the Kanta Center 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 B&W HTM71 S3 weighs 17.50kg / 38.5lbs and the Focal Kanta Center weighs 18.00kg / 39.6lbs. This makes the Kanta Center 3% heavier than the HTM71 S3.
Here is a comparison of how HTM71 S3 and Kanta Center'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 B&W HTM71 S3?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of HTM71 S3:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrilleTwo-piece foam port plug4 Self-adhesive rubber feet4 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)ManualBowers & Wilkins brochureWarranty InformationOnline Registration Card
What's in the Box of Focal Kanta Center?
Here are the items that come with the Kanta Center:
Center-channel loudspeaker2 Grilles4 Slicone padsUser Manual
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Number of Woofers |
4
vs
2
|
More woofers |
| Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
235mm
vs
247mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
2499USD
vs
3999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
| Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
44k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
2214cm2 (562x394mm)
vs
2239cm2 (629x356mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Bowers & Wilkins HTM71 S3 |
Focal Kanta Center |
| Brand |
Bowers Wilkins |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
30-200 watts |
40-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
92 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.5 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50-28k Hz |
55-44k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
4 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aerofoil Profile |
flax cone with TMD (Tuned Mass Damping) suspension |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Solid Body Soft-Dome |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
4" |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2400 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
235.0mm (9.3") |
247.0mm (9.7") |
| Width |
629.0mm (24.8") |
562.0mm (22.1") |
| Depth |
356.0mm (14") |
394.0mm (15.5") |
| Weight |
17.50kg (38.5lbs) |
18.00kg (39.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
Multi-ply/Polymer/Veneer |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black |
High-Gloss Carrara White,High-Gloss Black/Deep Black,Matte Walnut/Dark Grey,Matte Walnut/Ivory |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |