In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by Bowers Wilkins. Bowers & Wilkins HTM82 D4 is a Center Channel speaker whereas the 803 D4 is a Floor-standing speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Bowers & Wilkins HTM82 D4 and Bowers & Wilkins 803 D4 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Bowers & Wilkins HTM82 D4 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Diamond dome Tweeter
- 5" Midrange
- 2 x 6.5" Aerofoil Woofer
- 45-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:50-200watts
- Weight:25.15kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 11-3/8" x 28-1/8" x 14-1/2" ( 289.0 x 715.0 x 369.0mm )
Bowers & Wilkins 803 D4 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Diamond dome Tweeter
- 5" Midrange
- 2 x 7" Aerofoil Woofer
- 5" Midrange
- 19-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:50-500watts
- Weight:62.15kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 45-7/8" x 14-1/16" x 20-1/8" ( 1165.0 x 357.0 x 511.0mm )
HTM82 D4 and 803 D4 are members of Bowers Wilkins's 800 D4 series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Bowers Wilkins 800 D4 Series
History
What size room are the Bowers & Wilkins HTM82 D4 and Bowers & Wilkins 803 D4 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* |
Bowers & Wilkins HTM82 D4 |
Bowers & Wilkins 803 D4 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
(* 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 Bowers & Wilkins HTM82 D4 and Bowers & Wilkins 803 D4 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
Both HTM82 D4 and 803 D4 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Bowers & Wilkins HTM82 D4 |
Bowers & Wilkins 803 D4 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5-inch |
1 x 5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 7-inch
|
HTM82 D4 features a 1" Diamond Diamond dome Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Aerofoil Woofer . On the other hand, the 803 D4 features a 1" Diamond Diamond dome Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 2 x 7" Aerofoil Woofer .
Frequency Response
HTM82 D4 has a frequency range of 45-28k Hz whereas 803 D4 has a frequency range of 19-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 19Hz, the 803 D4 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the HTM82 D4's min frequency of 45Hz.
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
Bowers & Wilkins HTM82 D4
Impedance and Sensitivity
HTM82 D4 and 803 D4 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. HTM82 D4 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the 803 D4's is at 90 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Bowers & Wilkins 803 D4 a more sensitive speaker compared to Bowers & Wilkins HTM82 D4, 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.
HTM82 D4 can handle a max power of 500 watts RMS from the amp the whereas HTM82 D4 has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS , 300 watts less than the 803 D4.
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 HTM82 D4 and 803 D4 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both HTM82 D4 and 803 D4 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 Bowers & Wilkins HTM82 D4's and Bowers & Wilkins 803 D4's external dimensions. Bowers & Wilkins HTM82 D4 has external dimensions of 289.0 x 715.0 x 369.0mm ( 11-3/8 x 28-1/8 x 14-1/2inch) whereas Bowers & Wilkins 803 D4 has external dimensions of 1165.0 x 357.0 x 511.0mm ( 45-7/8 x 14-1/16 x 20-1/8inch) .
Bowers & Wilkins HTM82 D4 is 876mm shorter and 142mm less deeper than Bowers & Wilkins 803 D4 but it is also 358mm 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 Bowers & Wilkins HTM82 D4 is approximately 2638.4cm2 / 409.0inch2 and base area of the Bowers & Wilkins 803 D4 is approximately 1824.3cm2 / 282.8inch2. The HTM82 D4 requires 45% more surface area than the 803 D4 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.