Paradigm 500C vs BW HTM6 S2 Comparison

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Paradigm 500C

Passive Center Channel | 73-25k Hz

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BW HTM6 S2

Passive Center Channel | 72-28k Hz

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Paradigm 500C

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BW HTM6 S2

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Paradigm 500C

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BW HTM6 S2

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Paradigm 500C vs BW HTM6 S2 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Premier 500C and HTM6 S2, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Paradigm and Bowers Wilkins.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Paradigm 500C and BW HTM6 S2 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Paradigm 500C Key Specs

3-way Design

1" X-PAL dome with PPA (Perforated Phase-Aligning) lens Tweeter

4" Midrange

2 x 5.5" carbon-infused polypropylene Woofer

73-25k Hz Frequency Response

92 dB Sensitivity

Impedance: 8ohms

Power Range:15-120watts

Weight:11.82kg

Dimensions (H x W x D): 189.0" x 20-1/16" x 12-11/16"( 189.0 x 510.0 x 323.0mm )

BW HTM6 S2 Key Specs

2-way Design

1" Decoupled Double Dome Tweeter

2 x 5" Continuum Woofer

72-28k Hz Frequency Response

87 dB Sensitivity

Impedance: 8ohms

Power Range:30-120watts

Weight:7.82kg

Dimensions (H x W x D): 162.0" x 18-15/16" x 11-1/16"( 162.0 x 482.0 x 281.0mm )

What size room are the Paradigm 500C and BW HTM6 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*	Paradigm 500C	BW HTM6 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 Paradigm 500C and BW HTM6 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 Premier 500C is a 3-way design whereas the HTM6 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	Paradigm 500C	BW HTM6 S2
Driver Setup	3-way	2-way
Tweeter	1-inch	1-inch
Midrange	1 x 4-inch	-
Woofer	2 x 5.5-inch	2 x 5-inch

Premier 500C features a 1" aluminum X-PAL dome with PPA (Perforated Phase-Aligning) lens Tweeter , a 4" Midrange and 2 x 5.5" carbon-infused polypropylene Woofer . On the other hand, the HTM6 S2 features a 1" Decoupled Double Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5" Continuum Woofer .

Frequency Response

Premier 500C has a frequency range of 73-25k Hz whereas HTM6 S2 has a frequency range of 72-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 72Hz, the HTM6 S2 can go slightly deeper then the Premier 500C's min frequency of 73Hz.

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

Premier 500C

HTM6 S2

Min

Average

Max

High Frequency

Center Channel Speakers

Paradigm 500C

BW HTM6 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

Premier 500C and HTM6 S2 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Premier 500C sensitivity is rated at 92 dB and the HTM6 S2's is at 87 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the Paradigm 500C a more sensitive speaker compared to BW HTM6 S2 , hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Center Channel Speakers

Premier 500C

HTM6 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.

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

HTM6 S2 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Premier 500C has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

Paradigm 500C's Binding post terminals

BW HTM6 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 Paradigm 500C's and BW HTM6 S2 's external dimensions. Paradigm 500C has external dimensions of 189.0 x 510.0 x 323.0mm ( 7-7/16 x 20-1/16 x 12-11/16inch) whereas BW HTM6 S2 has external dimensions of 162.0 x 482.0 x 281.0mm ( 6-3/8 x 18-15/16 x 11-1/16inch) .

Paradigm 500C is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 28mm wider, 27mm taller and 42mm deeper than BW HTM6 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 Paradigm 500C is approximately 1647.3cm² / 255.3inch² and base area of the BW HTM6 S2 is approximately 1354.4cm² / 209.9inch². The Premier 500C requires 22% more surface area than the HTM6 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 Paradigm 500C weighs 11.82kg / 26lbs and the BW HTM6 S2 weighs 7.82kg / 17.2lbs. This makes the Premier 500C 51% heavier than the HTM6 S2.

Here is a comparison of how Premier 500C and HTM6 S2's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.

Weight
All Center Channel Speakers

Paradigm 500C

BW HTM6 S2

Min

Average

Max

What's in the Box of Paradigm 500C?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of Premier 500C:

Center-channel loudspeaker

Grille

2 Binding-post jumpers (pre-installed)

4 Rubber feet

Owners Manual

Online Registration Card

What's in the Box of BW HTM6 S2 ?

Here are the items that come with the HTM6 S2:

Center-channel loudspeaker

Grille (pre-installed)

Two-piece foam plug

4 Self-adhesive rubber feet

2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)

Manual

Warranty Information

Bowers Wilkins brochure

Reasons to choose Paradigm Premier 500C over Bowers & Wilkins HTM6 S2 Anniversary Edition

Driver Setup	3-way vs 2-way	Have a dedicated mid-range driver
Sensitivity	92 dB vs 87 dB	Play louder with same amount of amplification power
Woofer Size	5.5 inches vs 5 inches	Larger woofer
Price per pair*	850USD vs 899USD	costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

Reasons to choose Bowers & Wilkins HTM6 S2 Anniversary Edition over Paradigm Premier 500C

Low Frequency Response	72 Hz vs 73 Hz	Generates deeper bass
High Frequency Response	28k Hz vs 25k Hz	Generates higher frequency
Height	162mm vs 189mm	Easier to fit in smaller spaces
Base Surface Area	1354cm² vs 1647cm²	Takes less floor space

Paradigm 500C vs BW HTM6 S2 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Paradigm Premier 500C	Bowers & Wilkins HTM6 S2 Anniversary Edition
Brand	Paradigm	Bowers Wilkins
Speaker Type	Center channel speaker	Center channel speaker
Power Range	15-120 watts	30-120 watts
Sensitivity	92 dB	87 dB
Impedance	8 ohms	8 ohms
Impedance	n/a	4.3 ohms
Frequency Response	73-25k Hz	72-28k Hz
Drivers
Woofer Quantity	2	2
Woofer Size	5.5"	5"
Woofer Composition	carbon-infused polypropylene	Continuum
Woofer Surround Material	n/a	Rubber
Tweeter Size	1"	1"
Tweeter Type	X-PAL dome with PPA (Perforated Phase-Aligning) lens	Decoupled Double Dome
Aimable Tweeter	No	No
Midrange Driver	4"	No
Firing Direction	n/a	rear
Physical Specs
Height	189.0mm (7.4")	162.0mm (6.4")
Width	510.0mm (20.1")	482.0mm (19")
Depth	323.0mm (12.7")	281.0mm (11.1")
Weight	11.82kg (26lbs)	7.82kg (17.2lbs)
Enclosure	Acoustic Suspension	Bass Reflex
Available Colors	Gloss White	Black, White, Oak
Grille	Yes	Yes
Moisture Resistancy	No	No
Connections
Biamp Inputs	n/a	Yes
Other
Parts Warranty	5 Years	5 Years
Labor Warranty	5 Years	5 Years