In this review, we will be comparing Concord and 603 S2 AE, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from KLH and Bowers Wilkins. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KLH Concord and B&W 603 S2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KLH Concord 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.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Concord is a 2-way design whereas the 603 S2 AE is a 3-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 |
KLH Concord |
B&W 603 S2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Concord features a 1" anodized aluminum Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Kevlar 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
Concord has a frequency range of 28-23k Hz whereas 603 S2 AE has a frequency range of 48-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the Concord 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
Concord and 603 S2 AE have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Concord sensitivity is rated at 94 dB and the 603 S2 AE's is at 88.5 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the KLH Concord 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.
Concord can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Concord has a max power handling value of watts RMS , 200 watts less than the 603 S2 AE.
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. Concord has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KLH Concord's 5-Way post 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 KLH Concord's and B&W 603 S2's external dimensions. KLH Concord has external dimensions of 1026.0 x 212.0 x 380.0mm ( 40-3/8 x 8-5/16 x 14-15/16inch) 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) .
B&W 603 S2 is 22mm narrower and 8mm less deeper than KLH Concord but it is also 29mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KLH Concord and B&W 603 S2 in scale.
Comparison image of KLH Concord and B&W 603 S2 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 KLH Concord is approximately 805.6cm2 / 124.9inch2 and base area of the B&W 603 S2 is approximately 706.8cm2 / 109.6inch2. The Concord requires 14% more surface area than the 603 S2 AE 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 KLH Concord weighs 20.45kg / 45lbs and the B&W 603 S2 weighs 24.10kg / 53lbs. This makes the 603 S2 AE 18% heavier than the Concord.
Here is a comparison of how Concord and 603 S2 AE'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 KLH Concord?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Concord:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille4 Spike feet (w/ locking nut attached)4 Protective discs4 Rubber feetPort plugManualATTENTION! note
What's in the Box of B&W 603 S2?
Here are the items that come with the 603 S2 AE:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrillePlinith (base)2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)4 Rubber feet4 Spike feet4 Hex-nuts4 Screws4 Washers4 Lock-washersTwo-piece foam port plugHex-keyManualBowers & Wilkins brochureWarranty Information
 Sensitivity |
94 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
28 Hz
vs
48 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1026mm
vs
1055mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
1000USD
vs
2300USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Base Surface Area |
706cm2 (190x372mm)
vs
805cm2 (212x380mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
KLH Concord |
Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 Anniversary Edition |
| Brand |
KLH |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 225 watts |
30-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
94 dB |
88.5 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
28-23k Hz |
48-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Kevlar |
Paper |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Butyl Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
6" |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1026.0mm (40.4") |
1055.0mm (41.5") |
| Width |
212.0mm (8.3") |
190.0mm (7.5") |
| Depth |
380.0mm (15") |
372.0mm (14.6") |
| Weight |
20.45kg (45lbs) |
24.10kg (53lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Matte Black, Matte White, Oak, Red Cherry |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
10 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
10 Years |
5 Years |