B&W HTM71 S3 vs Klipsch RC-64 III Comparison

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B&W HTM71 S3

Passive Center Channel | 50-28k Hz

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Klipsch RC-64 III

Passive Center Channel | 57-24k Hz

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B&W HTM71 S3

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Klipsch RC-64 III

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B&W HTM71 S3

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Klipsch RC-64 III

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B&W HTM71 S3 vs Klipsch RC-64 III Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing HTM71 S3 and RC-64 III, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Bowers Wilkins and Klipsch.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of B&W HTM71 S3 and Klipsch RC-64 III first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

B&W HTM71 S3 Key Specs

3-way Design

1" Solid Body Soft-Dome Tweeter

4" Midrange

4 x 5" Aerofoil Profile Woofer

50-28k Hz Frequency Response

89 dB Sensitivity

Impedance: 8ohms

Power Range:30-200watts

Weight:17.50kg

Dimensions (H x W x D): 235.0" x 24-3/4" x 14"( 235.0 x 629.0 x 356.0mm )

Klipsch RC-64 III Key Specs

2-way Design

1-3/4" Tractrix horn Tweeter

4 x 6.5" Cerametallic cone Woofer

57-24k Hz Frequency Response

99 dB Sensitivity

Impedance: 8ohms

Power Range:up to 200watts

Weight:25.00kg

Dimensions (H x W x D): 204.0" x 35-3/4" x 15-1/4"( 204.0 x 909.0 x 388.0mm )

What size room are the B&W HTM71 S3 and Klipsch RC-64 III 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*	B&W HTM71 S3	Klipsch RC-64 III
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.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the B&W HTM71 S3 and Klipsch RC-64 III compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.

**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking 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 RC-64 III 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	Klipsch RC-64 III
Driver Setup	3-way	2-way
Tweeter	1-inch	1-3/4-inch
Midrange	1 x 4-inch	-
Woofer	4 x 5-inch	4 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 RC-64 III features a 1-3/4" titanium Tractrix horn Tweeter and 4 x 6.5" Cerametallic cone Woofer .

Frequency Response

HTM71 S3 has a frequency range of 50-28k Hz whereas RC-64 III has a frequency range of 57-24k 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 RC-64 III'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

HTM71 S3

RC-64 III

Min

Average

Max

High Frequency

Center Channel Speakers

B&W HTM71 S3

Klipsch RC-64 III

Min

Average

Max

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 RC-64 III 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 RC-64 III's is at 99 dB. This 10 dB difference makes the Klipsch RC-64 III a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W HTM71 S3, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Center Channel Speakers

HTM71 S3

RC-64 III

Min

Average

Max

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

Both HTM71 S3 and RC-64 III 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

Klipsch RC-64 III's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

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 Klipsch RC-64 III'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 Klipsch RC-64 III has external dimensions of 204.0 x 909.0 x 388.0mm ( 8 x 35-3/4 x 15-1/4inch) .

B&W HTM71 S3 is 280mm narrower and 32mm less deeper than Klipsch RC-64 III but it is also 31mm 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 B&W HTM71 S3 is approximately 2239.2cm² / 347.1inch² and base area of the Klipsch RC-64 III is approximately 3526.9cm² / 546.7inch². The HTM71 S3 requires 37% less surface area than the RC-64 III 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 Klipsch RC-64 III weighs 25.00kg / 55lbs. This makes the RC-64 III 43% heavier than the HTM71 S3.

Here is a comparison of how HTM71 S3 and RC-64 III's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.

Weight
All Center Channel Speakers

B&W HTM71 S3

Klipsch RC-64 III

Min

Average

Max

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 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

What's in the Box of Klipsch RC-64 III?

Here are the items that come with the RC-64 III:

Center channel loudspeaker

Grille

6 Self-adhesive rubber feet

2 Jumpers (pre-installed)

Owners Manual

Reasons to choose Bowers & Wilkins HTM71 S3 over Klipsch RC-64 III

Driver Setup	3-way vs 2-way	Have a dedicated mid-range driver
Low Frequency Response	50 Hz vs 57 Hz	Generates deeper bass
High Frequency Response	28k Hz vs 24k Hz	Generates higher frequency
Base Surface Area	2239cm² vs 3526cm²	Takes less floor space

Reasons to choose Klipsch RC-64 III over Bowers & Wilkins HTM71 S3

Sensitivity	99 dB vs 89 dB	Play louder with same amount of amplification power
Woofer Size	6.5 inches vs 5 inches	Larger woofer
Height	204mm vs 235mm	Easier to fit in smaller spaces
Price per pair*	1829USD vs 2499USD	costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

B&W HTM71 S3 vs Klipsch RC-64 III Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Bowers & Wilkins HTM71 S3	Klipsch RC-64 III
Brand	Bowers Wilkins	Klipsch
Speaker Type	Center channel speaker	Center channel speaker
Power Range	30-200 watts	up to 200 watts
Sensitivity	89 dB	99 dB
Impedance	8 ohms	8 ohms
Frequency Response	50-28k Hz	57-24k Hz
Drivers
Woofer Quantity	4	4
Woofer Size	5"	6.5"
Woofer Composition	Aerofoil Profile	Cerametallic cone
Tweeter Size	1"	1-3/4"
Tweeter Type	Solid Body Soft-Dome	Tractrix horn
Aimable Tweeter	No	No
Midrange Driver	4"	N/A"
Firing Direction	rear	n/a
Physical Specs
Height	235.0mm (9.3")	204.0mm (8")
Width	629.0mm (24.8")	909.0mm (35.8")
Depth	356.0mm (14")	388.0mm (15.3")
Weight	17.50kg (38.5lbs)	25.00kg (55lbs)
Enclosure	Bass Reflex	Passive Radiator
Finish	n/a	furniture grade veneer
Available Colors	Gloss Black	Walnut
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