In this review, we will be comparing BP-9020 and BW 603, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Definitive Technology and Bowers Wilkins. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Definitive BP-9020 and B&W 603 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Definitive BP-9020 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 Definitive BP-9020 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 BP-9020 and BW 603 are 3-way speakers.
Driver |
Definitive BP-9020 |
B&W 603 |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
3 x 3.5-inch |
1 x 6-inch |
Woofer
|
1 x 8-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
BP-9020 features a 1" annealed aluminum dome Tweeter , a 3.5" Midrange and 1 x 8" Polypropelene Woofer . On the other hand, the BW 603 features a 1" Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Paper Woofer .
Frequency Response
BP-9020 has a frequency range of 28-40k Hz whereas BW 603 has a frequency range of 48-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the BP-9020 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
BP-9020 and BW 603 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. BP-9020 sensitivity is rated at 92 dB and the BW 603's is at 88.5 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Definitive BP-9020 a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W 603, 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.
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
BW 603 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. BP-9020 has a 5-Way post, RCA which doesn't feature bi-amping/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 Definitive BP-9020's and B&W 603's external dimensions. Definitive BP-9020 has external dimensions of 904.0 x 281.0 x 351.0mm ( 35-9/16 x 11-1/16 x 13-13/16inch) whereas B&W 603 has external dimensions of 985.0 x 190.0 x 340.0mm ( 38.7 x 7.4 x 13.3inch) .
B&W 603 is 91mm narrower and 11mm less deeper than Definitive BP-9020 but it is also 81mm 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 Definitive BP-9020 is approximately 986.3cm2 / 152.9inch2 and base area of the B&W 603 is approximately 646.0cm2 / 100.1inch2. The BP-9020 requires 53% 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 Definitive BP-9020 weighs 13.64kg / 30lbs and the B&W 603 weighs 24.14kg / 53.1lbs. This makes the BW 603 77% heavier than the BP-9020.
Here is a comparison of how BP-9020 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 Definitive BP-9020?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of BP-9020:
Tower loudspeaker6.5-feet AC power cordTop-plate (installed)Stabilizer base4 Floor guides4 Carpet spikes4 Screws4 NutsOwners ManualWhat Obsession Sounds Like 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
Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
28 Hz
vs
48 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Optional
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
Height |
904mm
vs
985mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
Base Surface Area |
646cm2 (190x340mm)
vs
986cm2 (281x351mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
General |
Definitive Technology BP-9020 |
Bowers & Wilkins 603 |
Brand |
Definitive Technology |
Bowers Wilkins |
Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
Power Range |
50-200 watts |
30-200 watts |
Sensitivity |
92 dB |
88.5 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
Frequency Response |
28-40k Hz |
48-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
2 |
Woofer Size |
8" |
6.5" |
Woofer Composition |
Polypropelene |
Paper |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
dome |
n/a |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
3.5" |
6" |
Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
904.0mm (35.6") |
985.0mm (38.8") |
Width |
281.0mm (11.1") |
190.0mm (7.5") |
Depth |
351.0mm (13.8") |
340.0mm (13.4") |
Weight |
13.64kg (30lbs) |
24.14kg (53.1lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF/Aluminum/Cloth |
MDF/Vinyl |
Available Colors |
Black |
Black, White, Oak |
Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |