In this review, we will be comparing HTM71 S3 and HDI-4500, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Bowers Wilkins and JBL. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of B&W HTM71 S3 and JBL HDI-4500 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the B&W HTM71 S3 and JBL HDI-4500 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 JBL HDI-4500 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that HTM71 S3 is a 3-way design whereas the HDI-4500 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 |
JBL HDI-4500 |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
- |
Woofer
|
4 x 5-inch
|
4 x 5.25-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 HDI-4500 features a 1" horn-loaded high-frequency compression Tweeter and 4 x 5.25" Advanced Aluminum Matrix cone Woofer .
Frequency Response
HTM71 S3 has a frequency range of 50-28k Hz whereas HDI-4500 has a frequency range of 50-30k Hz.
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 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the HDI-4500 which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the HDI-4500 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. HTM71 S3 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the HDI-4500's is rated at 90 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the JBL HDI-4500 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.
HTM71 S3 can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas HTM71 S3 has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the HDI-4500.
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. HDI-4500 has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both HTM71 S3 and HDI-4500 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 JBL HDI-4500'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 JBL HDI-4500 has external dimensions of 197.0 x 842.0 x 310.0mm ( 7-3/4 x 33-1/8 x 12-3/16inch) .
JBL HDI-4500 is 38mm shorter and 46mm less deeper than B&W HTM71 S3 but it is also 213mm 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 JBL HDI-4500 is approximately 2610.2cm2 / 404.6inch2. The HTM71 S3 requires 14% less surface area than the HDI-4500 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 B&W HTM71 S3 weighs 17.50kg / 38.5lbs and the JBL HDI-4500 weighs 20.15kg / 44.3lbs. This makes the HDI-4500 15% heavier than the HTM71 S3.
Here is a comparison of how HTM71 S3 and HDI-4500'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 JBL HDI-4500?
Here are the items that come with the HDI-4500:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrille2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)Owners Manual
Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
Base Surface Area |
2239cm2 (629x356mm)
vs
2610cm2 (842x310mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Height |
197mm
vs
235mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Price per pair* |
1925USD
vs
2499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
General |
Bowers & Wilkins HTM71 S3 |
JBL HDI-4500 |
Brand |
Bowers Wilkins |
JBL |
Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
Power Range |
30-200 watts |
20-250 watts |
Sensitivity |
89 dB |
90 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
Frequency Response |
50-28k Hz |
50-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
4 |
4 |
Woofer Size |
5" |
5.25" |
Woofer Composition |
Aerofoil Profile |
Advanced Aluminum Matrix cone |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
Solid Body Soft-Dome |
horn-loaded high-frequency compression |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
4" |
N/A" |
Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
235.0mm (9.3") |
197.0mm (7.8") |
Width |
629.0mm (24.8") |
842.0mm (33.1") |
Depth |
356.0mm (14") |
310.0mm (12.2") |
Weight |
17.50kg (38.5lbs) |
20.15kg (44.3lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Available Colors |
Gloss Black |
Walnut |
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 |