ReviewFinder Floorstanding Speakers

Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2

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13 Verified Hands-On Reviews

To combat fake reviews we only accept video reviews from verified channels. Each review must show the product and the face of the reviewer.

Expert reviews [13]

92
Total expert reviews: 13
  • with a score: 4
  • without a score: 9
Highest score by What Hi-Fi
100
Average score based on 13 reviews
92
Lowest score by Audioholics
70

Score distribution:

80-100
60-80
40-60
20-40
0-20
ReviewFinder: authentic product reviews summarized by a powerful AI engine.

Expert consensus

The Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 Anniversary Edition speakers offer exceptional sound quality and modern design, making them a top-of-the-line option for audiophiles.

The Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 Anniversary Edition speakers are a top-of-the-line option for audiophiles who value exceptional sound quality and modern design. They offer an even and balanced sound across the frequency range, with good extension in the treble and bass, making them suitable for a wide range of genres and large rooms or home theaters.

The speakers are constructed with high-quality materials and have a sophisticated and luxurious look that is suitable for modern and elegant home decor. They have a power range of 30-200 watts and a sensitivity rating of 88. 5 dB, making them versatile for different types of audio setups. The speaker has a frequency range of 48-28k Hz at ±3dB, with a well-engineered and controlled bass response that runs very deep but is unemphasized, with tight, focused, and clean bass.

The Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 is a versatile speaker that can work well with a variety of amplifiers and receivers, making it a great choice for home audio systems. It is a traditional passive floorstanding speaker that requires speaker wire connections to an amplifier or receiver and can be connected to a home theater system.

Overall, the Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 Anniversary Edition speakers are a great investment for anyone looking to enhance their listening experience with exceptional sound quality and modern design.

Sound quality

The Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 Anniversary Edition speakers offer even and balanced sound across the frequency range, with good extension in the treble and bass, making them a high-quality option for audiophiles.

The Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 Anniversary Edition speakers are praised for their even and balanced sound across the frequency range, with good extension in the treble and bass. The bass is tight, focused, and clean, and the overall sound quality is described as dynamic and immersive.

The speakers perform well with a variety of genres, including rock-n-roll and classical music. The sound quality remains consistent even at high volume levels, making them suitable for large rooms or home theaters. While a subwoofer is not essential, it could be employed to add more foundation to the overall presentation.

Overall, the Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 speakers are a high-quality option for audiophiles looking for a sleek and modern design with impressive sound performance.

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Size and design

The Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 speakers have a sophisticated and modern design with high-quality materials, making them suitable for a wide range of interior styles while delivering powerful sound.

The Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 speakers have external dimensions of 41-1/2 x 12-5/8 x 14-5/8 inches and are constructed with high-quality materials like the Continuum™ cone midrange and laser-etched tweeter bezel. These materials contribute to the sophisticated and luxurious look of the speakers, which are suitable for modern and elegant home decor.

The silver trim around the tweeter and black bass drivers contrast nicely, resulting in an elegant and modern appearance. The design of the speakers is fresh and befitting of current design trends and taste, making them suitable for a wide range of interior styles.

Overall, the Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 speakers are ideal for those who want a visually sophisticated and luxurious package that delivers powerful and majestic sound.

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Power handling

The Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 speakers have a power range of 30-200 watts and a sensitivity rating of 88.5 dB, making them suitable for a variety of audio setups with reliable power handling capabilities.

The Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 speakers have a power range of 30-200 watts and a sensitivity rating of 88. 5 dB. Pursuitperfectsystem. com notes that the speakers have a power handling capability of 200 watts program. These specifications make the Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 speakers suitable for use in a variety of settings, from small home theaters to larger entertainment spaces.

They can handle a range of power inputs, making them versatile for different types of audio setups. Overall, the Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 speakers are a solid choice for those looking for a high-quality audio experience with reliable power handling capabilities.

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Frequency response

The Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 speaker has a well-engineered and controlled bass response, a unique decoupled Double Dome aluminum tweeter and Continuum cone midrange driver, and a smooth and easy-going sound, making it suitable for use in a showroom demo, as well as for music and movie playback, but users may consider supplementing their system with a subwoofer for a more immersive experience.

The Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 speaker has a frequency range of 48-28k Hz at ±3dB, with a basically flat characteristic over a wide band. The speaker has a well-engineered and controlled bass response that runs very deep but is unemphasized, with tight, focused, and clean bass. The unique decoupled Double Dome aluminum tweeter and Continuum cone midrange driver enhance the frequency response.

The 603 S2 is more accurate and truthful than other speakers, with no treble peaking and a smooth and easy-going sound. It may not be as bright in high treble as other speakers, but it is more natural. The 603 S2 is suitable for use in a showroom demo, as well as for music and movie playback.

However, at a minimum frequency of 48 Hz, the 603 S2 AE will provide an average bass depth, so users may consider supplementing their system with a subwoofer for a more immersive experience.

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Compatibility

The Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 Anniversary Edition is a versatile speaker that is easy to drive and compatible with a variety of amplifiers and receivers.

The Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 Anniversary Edition is a speaker that is easy to drive from a nominal impedance perspective, with a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. It should be compatible with tube, solid-state, or hybrid amplifiers as long as they can provide the required impedance level.

The speaker should also work well with receivers from different brands such as Yamaha, Denon, or Onkyo, due to its nominal impedance of 8 ohms and sensitivity of 88. 5 dB. There are no known compatibility issues with other components when using Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 speakers. The speaker has binding post type connectors that support bi-wiring and bi-amping, which can improve the overall transparency and dynamic range of the loudspeakers.

Overall, the Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 is a versatile speaker that can work well with a variety of amplifiers and receivers, making it a great choice for home audio systems.

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Connectivity

The Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 is a passive floorstanding speaker with traditional wired connectivity options and a nominal impedance of 8 ohms, making it a great option for connecting to a home theater system.

The Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 is a traditional passive floorstanding speaker that requires speaker wire connections to an amplifier or receiver. It does not have any wireless connectivity options or Bluetooth connectivity. The speaker features two pairs of binding posts that can accommodate bi-wiring or bi-amping, as well as a single bass port on the rear panel.

It can be connected to a home theater system as it has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms and can handle up to 150 watts of power. However, it is important to note that the minimum impedance level of this speaker according to Bowers & Wilkins is 3 ohms, so it's important to choose an amplifier that can provide this impedance level.

Overall, the Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 is a great option for those who prefer a traditional wired speaker setup and want to connect it to a home theater system.

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Position in ranking

We maintain a monthly ranking that sums up expert recommendations for all floorstanding speakers.

Rank Change Price Speakers
ABT
BestReviews
What Hi-Fi
ZD Net
The Master Switch
Music Critic
Popular Mechanics
The Sound Junky
Gadget Review
stereocheck.com
1
- $228
Sony SSCS3
The Sony SSCS3 floor-standing speakers offer decent sound quality, strong imaging, and respectable bass for a small tower speaker, making them a great budget-friendly option for music and movie enthusiasts.
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3
-
5
2
-
2
-
5
-
2
- $1000
SVS Ultra Tower
The SVS Ultra Tower speakers offer exceptional sound quality, sleek design, and compatibility with various audio systems, making them a top choice for audiophiles and home theater enthusiasts.
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-
-
1
-
-
-
1
-
-
3
- Check price
Dayton Audio T652
The Dayton Audio T652 tower speakers are a budget-friendly and versatile option for those looking for clear and dynamic audio reproduction with a sleek and modern design.
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2
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-
9
4
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7
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4
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Q Acoustics 5040
The Q Acoustics 5040 speakers receive high praise for their exceptional sound quality, compact size, and versatile compatibility, making them a recommended choice for those seeking powerful home theater sound in a compact package.
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1
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-
-
5
-
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-
Show all rows
Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 ranks #17 out of 14 in this month's ranking:
Best floor-standing speaker performance
1 Jun 2023 (1 year ago)
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Price
The Sony SSCS3 floor-standing speakers offer decent sound quality, strong imaging, and respectable bass for a small tower speaker, making them a great budget-friendly option for music and movie enthusiasts. The SVS Ultra Tower speakers offer exceptional sound quality, sleek design, and compatibility with various audio systems, making them a top choice for audiophiles and home theater enthusiasts. The Dayton Audio T652 tower speakers are a budget-friendly and versatile option for those looking for clear and dynamic audio reproduction with a sleek and modern design. The Q Acoustics 5040 speakers receive high praise for their exceptional sound quality, compact size, and versatile compatibility, making them a recommended choice for those seeking powerful home theater sound in a compact package.
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