KEF R2c vs BW HTM72 S2 Comparison

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KEF R2c

Passive Center Channel | 74-28k Hz

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BW HTM72 S2

Passive Center Channel | 70-28k Hz

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KEF R2c

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BW HTM72 S2

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KEF R2c

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BW HTM72 S2

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KEF R2c vs BW HTM72 S2 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing R2c and HTM72 S2, two Passive Center Channel speakers from KEF and Bowers Wilkins.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of KEF R2c and BW HTM72 S2 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

KEF R2c Key Specs

3-way Design

1" Dome Tweeter

5" Midrange

2 x 5.25" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer

74-28k Hz Frequency Response

87 dB Sensitivity

Impedance: 8ohms

Power Range:15-200watts

Weight:16.90kg

Dimensions (H x W x D): 177.0" x 21-11/16" x 12-7/16"( 177.0 x 551.0 x 316.0mm )

BW HTM72 S2 Key Specs

2-way Design

1" Decoupled Carbon Dome Tweeter

2 x 5" Continuum Woofer

70-28k Hz Frequency Response

87 dB Sensitivity

Impedance: 8ohms

Power Range:30-120watts

Weight:9.14kg

Dimensions (H x W x D): 169.0" x 18-15/16" x 10-15/16"( 169.0 x 482.0 x 278.0mm )

What size room are the KEF R2c and BW HTM72 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*	KEF R2c	BW HTM72 S2
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 KEF R2c and BW HTM72 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

One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that R2c is a 3-way design whereas the HTM72 S2 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	KEF R2c	BW HTM72 S2
Driver Setup	3-way	2-way
Tweeter	1-inch	1-inch
Midrange	1 x 5-inch	-
Woofer	2 x 5.25-inch	2 x 5-inch

R2c features a 1" aluminum Dome Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 2 x 5.25" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 400Hz and 2900Hz. On the other hand, the HTM72 S2 features a 1" Decoupled Carbon Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5" Continuum Woofer .

Frequency Response

R2c has a frequency range of 74-28k Hz whereas HTM72 S2 has a frequency range of 70-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 70Hz, the HTM72 S2 can go slightly deeper then the R2c's min frequency of 74Hz.

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

R2c

HTM72 S2

Min

Average

Max

High Frequency

Center Channel Speakers

KEF R2c

BW HTM72 S2

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

R2c and HTM72 S2 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 87 dB.

Sensitivity

Center Channel Speakers

R2c

HTM72 S2

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.

R2c can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas HTM72 S2 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 80 watts less than the R2c.

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 R2c and HTM72 S2 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.

KEF R2c's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Both R2c and HTM72 S2 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 KEF R2c's and BW HTM72 S2's external dimensions. KEF R2c has external dimensions of 177.0 x 551.0 x 316.0mm ( 6-15/16 x 21-11/16 x 12-7/16inch) whereas BW HTM72 S2 has external dimensions of 169.0 x 482.0 x 278.0mm ( 6-5/8 x 18-15/16 x 10-15/16inch) .

KEF R2c is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 69mm wider, 8mm taller and 38mm deeper than BW HTM72 S2.

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 KEF R2c is approximately 1741.2cm² / 269.9inch² and base area of the BW HTM72 S2 is approximately 1340.0cm² / 207.7inch². The R2c requires 30% more surface area than the HTM72 S2 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 KEF R2c weighs 16.90kg / 37.2lbs and the BW HTM72 S2 weighs 9.14kg / 20.1lbs. This makes the R2c 85% heavier than the HTM72 S2.

Here is a comparison of how R2c and HTM72 S2's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.

Weight
All Center Channel Speakers

KEF R2c

BW HTM72 S2

Min

Average

Max

What's in the Box of KEF R2c?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of R2c:

Center-channel loudspeaker

Grille

4 Self-adhesive rubber feet

User Manual

Warranty Information

What's in the Box of BW HTM72 S2?

Here are the items that come with the HTM72 S2:

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

Reasons to choose KEF R2c over Bowers & Wilkins HTM72 S2

Max Input Power	200 watts vs 120 watts	Handle more power from your amplifier
Driver Setup	3-way vs 2-way	Have a dedicated mid-range driver
Woofer Size	5.25 inches vs 5 inches	Larger woofer

Reasons to choose Bowers & Wilkins HTM72 S2 over KEF R2c

Minimum Impedance	4.3 ohms vs 3.2 ohms	Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier
Low Frequency Response	70 Hz vs 74 Hz	Generates deeper bass
Height	169mm vs 177mm	Easier to fit in smaller spaces
Base Surface Area	1340cm² vs 1741cm²	Takes less floor space
Price per pair*	1199USD vs 1300USD	costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

KEF R2c vs BW HTM72 S2 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	KEF R2c	Bowers & Wilkins HTM72 S2
Brand	KEF	Bowers Wilkins
Speaker Type	Center channel speaker	Center channel speaker
Power Range	15-200 watts	30-120 watts
Sensitivity	87 dB	87 dB
Impedance	8 ohms	8 ohms
Impedance	3.2 ohms	4.3 ohms
Frequency Response	74-28k Hz	70-28k Hz
Drivers
Woofer Quantity	2	2
Woofer Size	5.25"	5"
Woofer Composition	Hybrid Aluminum	Continuum
Woofer Surround Material	Rubber	Rubber
Tweeter Size	1"	1"
Tweeter Type	Dome	Decoupled Carbon Dome
Aimable Tweeter	No	No
Midrange Driver	5"	No
Crossover Frequency	400Hz and 2900Hz	n/a
Firing Direction	rear	rear
Physical Specs
Height	177.0mm (7")	169.0mm (6.7")
Width	551.0mm (21.7")	482.0mm (19")
Depth	316.0mm (12.4")	278.0mm (10.9")
Weight	16.90kg (37.2lbs)	9.14kg (20.1lbs)
Enclosure	Acoustic Suspension	Bass Reflex
Available Colors	Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut	Gloss Black, Satin White, Rosenut
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