In this review, we will be comparing BP-9040 and 603 S2 AE, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Definitive Technology and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Definitive BP-9040 and B&W 603 S2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Definitive BP-9040 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" dome Tweeter
- 4.5" Midrange
- 8" Polypropelene Woofer
- 22-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 92 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:50-300watts
- Weight:16.36kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 993.0" x 11-1/16" x 13-13/16"( 993.0 x 281.0 x 351.0mm )
B&W 603 S2 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Tweeter
- 6" Midrange
- 2 x 6.5" Paper Woofer
- 6" Midrange
- 48-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 88.5 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:30-200watts
- Weight:24.10kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1055.0" x 7-1/2" x 14-5/8"( 1055.0 x 190.0 x 372.0mm )
What size room are the Definitive BP-9040 and B&W 603 S2 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* |
Definitive BP-9040 |
B&W 603 S2 |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
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 Definitive BP-9040 and B&W 603 S2 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 BP-9040 and 603 S2 AE are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Definitive BP-9040 |
B&W 603 S2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
3 x 4.5-inch |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 8-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
BP-9040 features a 1" annealed aluminum dome Tweeter , a 4.5" Midrange and 1 x 8" Polypropelene Woofer . On the other hand, the 603 S2 AE features a 1" Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Paper Woofer .
Frequency Response
BP-9040 has a frequency range of 22-40k Hz whereas 603 S2 AE has a frequency range of 48-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 22Hz, the BP-9040 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 603 S2 AE'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-9040 and 603 S2 AE have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. BP-9040 sensitivity is rated at 92 dB and the 603 S2 AE's is at 88.5 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Definitive BP-9040 a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W 603 S2, 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.
BP-9040 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas 603 S2 AE has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the BP-9040.
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
603 S2 AE features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. BP-9040 has a 5-Way post, RCA which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Definitive BP-9040's 5-Way post, RCA terminals
B&W 603 S2'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 Definitive BP-9040's and B&W 603 S2's external dimensions. Definitive BP-9040 has external dimensions of 993.0 x 281.0 x 351.0mm ( 39-1/16 x 11-1/16 x 13-13/16inch) whereas B&W 603 S2 has external dimensions of 1055.0 x 190.0 x 372.0mm ( 41-1/2 x 12-5/8 x 14-5/8inch) .
Definitive BP-9040 is 62mm shorter and 21mm less deeper than B&W 603 S2 but it is also 91mm 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 Definitive BP-9040 is approximately 986.3cm2 / 152.9inch2 and base area of the B&W 603 S2 is approximately 706.8cm2 / 109.6inch2. The BP-9040 requires 40% more surface area than the 603 S2 AE which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.