In this review, we will be comparing Opticon 8 MK2 and BW 603, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from DALI and Bowers Wilkins. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of DALI Opticon 8 II and B&W 603 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the DALI Opticon 8 II and B&W 603 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 DALI Opticon 8 II and B&W 603 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
Both Opticon 8 MK2 and BW 603 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
DALI Opticon 8 II |
B&W 603 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6.5-inch |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Opticon 8 MK2 features a 17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125" Soft-dome + ribbon Hybrid Tweeter , a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 8" Wood Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 380Hz, 2200Hz and 14,000Hz. On the other hand, the BW 603 features a 1" Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Paper Woofer .
Frequency Response
Opticon 8 MK2 has a frequency range of 38-30k Hz whereas BW 603 has a frequency range of 48-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 38Hz, the Opticon 8 MK2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the BW 603's min frequency of 48Hz.
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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing 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
Opticon 8 MK2 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the BW 603 which has a nominal impedance of 8 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 Opticon 8 MK2 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Opticon 8 MK2 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the BW 603's is rated at 88.5 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the B&W 603 a more sensitive speaker compared to DALI Opticon 8 II, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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.
Opticon 8 MK2 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas BW 603 has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the Opticon 8 MK2.
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 Opticon 8 MK2 and BW 603 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
DALI Opticon 8 II's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Opticon 8 MK2 and BW 603 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.
DALI Opticon 8 II Port
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 DALI Opticon 8 II's and B&W 603's external dimensions. DALI Opticon 8 II has external dimensions of 1150.0 x 245.0 x 459.0mm ( 45-1/4 x 9-1/2 x 18-1/16inch) whereas B&W 603 has external dimensions of 985.0 x 190.0 x 340.0mm ( 38.7 x 7.4 x 13.3inch) .
DALI Opticon 8 II is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 55mm wider, 165mm taller and 119mm deeper than B&W 603.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of DALI Opticon 8 II and B&W 603 in scale.
Comparison image of DALI Opticon 8 II and B&W 603 Size and External Dimensions
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 DALI Opticon 8 II is approximately 1124.6cm2 / 174.3inch2 and base area of the B&W 603 is approximately 646.0cm2 / 100.1inch2. The Opticon 8 MK2 requires 74% more surface area than the BW 603 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 DALI Opticon 8 II weighs 37.10kg / 81.6lbs and the B&W 603 weighs 24.14kg / 53.1lbs. This makes the Opticon 8 MK2 54% heavier than the BW 603.
Here is a comparison of how Opticon 8 MK2 and BW 603's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of DALI Opticon 8 II?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Opticon 8 MK2:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille2 Binding post jumpers (pre-installed)4 Outrigger feet4 Spikes (with lock nuts)4 Rubber pads4 ScrewsHex-keyWrenchQuick Start GuideCongratulations Card
What's in the Box of B&W 603?
Here are the items that come with the BW 603:
Floorstanding loudspeaker Grille Plinith (base) 2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed) 4 Rubber feet 4 Spike feet 4 Hex-nuts 4 Screws 4 Washers 4 Lock-washers Two-piece foam port plug Hex-key Manual Bowers & Wilkins brochure Warranty Information
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
38 Hz
vs
48 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Height |
985mm
vs
1150mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
646cm2 (190x340mm)
vs
1124cm2 (245x459mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
DALI Opticon 8 MK2 |
Bowers & Wilkins 603 |
| Brand |
DALI |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
40-300 watts |
30-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
88.5 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
38-30k Hz |
48-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Wood Fiber |
Paper |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-dome + ribbon Hybrid |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6.5" |
6" |
| Crossover Frequency |
380Hz, 2200Hz and 14,000Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1150.0mm (45.3") |
985.0mm (38.8") |
| Width |
245.0mm (9.6") |
190.0mm (7.5") |
| Depth |
459.0mm (18.1") |
340.0mm (13.4") |
| Weight |
37.10kg (81.6lbs) |
24.14kg (53.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Satin Black, Tobacco Oak, Satin White |
Black, White, Oak |
| 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 |