Experts recommend Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 more than MartinLogan Motion 40
As of 6 Jan 2025, experts prefer Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 over MartinLogan Motion 40, but both Speakers have solid expert endorsements.
As per this month's meta ranking, Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 received 2 recommendations: from ZD Net (1 Jun 2023) and The Master Switch (11 Oct 2023). MartinLogan Motion 40 was also endorsed 2 times: by Music Critic (16 Feb 2024) and The Sound Junky. However, experts generally ranked MartinLogan Motion 40 lower than Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 in their articles, which caused it to rank lower in ReviewFinder ranking.
| Rank | Change | Price | Speakers | ABT  | BestReviews  | What Hi-Fi  | ZD Net  | The Master Switch  | Music Critic  | Popular Mechanics  | The Sound Junky  | Gadget Review  | World Wide Stereo  |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | - | $1149 |  Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 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. | - | - | - | 2 | 15 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 16 | - | $600 |  MartinLogan Motion 40 The MartinLogan Motion 40 speakers offer clear, dynamic, and precise sound with minimal distortion, making them ideal for audiophiles and home theater setups. | - | - | - | - | - | 7 | - | 5 | - | - |
Curious to see this month's entire Floorstanding Speakers ranking? It's here
Endorsement summary:
- On 1 Jun 2023 ZD Net ranked Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 as #2
Rank Speakers Comment ... ... ... #2 out of 5 Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 Best floor-standing speaker performance... ... ... Source: www.zdnet.com - On 11 Oct 2023 The Master Switch ranked Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 as #15
Rank Speakers ... ... #15 out of 20 Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 ... ... Source: www.themasterswitch.com - On 16 Feb 2024 Music Critic ranked MartinLogan Motion 40 as #7
Rank Speakers ... ... #7 out of 10 MartinLogan Motion 40 ... ... Source: musiccritic.com - The Sound Junky ranked MartinLogan Motion 40 as #5
Rank Speakers Comment ... ... ... #5 out of 9 MartinLogan Motion 40 Best Tower Speakers Under $2000... ... ... Source: www.thesoundjunky.com
After counting and adding up the 80 expert endorsements of the January rankings, Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 outranks MartinLogan Motion 40. This is not to say that MartinLogan Motion 40 is a bad option. Like Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2, it is recommended by experts, but less.
As can be seen below, Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 outranks MartinLogan Motion 40 by 1 position. This indicates that, as of 6 Jan 2025, Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 is more critically acclaimed than MartinLogan Motion 40.
| Rank | Change | Price | Speakers | ABT | BestReviews | What Hi-Fi | ZD Net | The Master Switch |
Music Critic | Popular Mechanics | The Sound Junky | Gadget Review | World Wide Stereo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. | - | 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. | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | 1 | - | - |
| 3 | - | $599 |  SVS Prime Tower | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | 1 |
| 4 | - | 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. | - | 2 | - | - | 9 | 4 | - | - | 7 | - |
| Show all rows | |||||||||||||
Expert reviews [13]
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 |
Expert reviews [6]
Total expert reviews: 6
- with a score: 1
- without a score: 5
| Highest score by HomeTheater Review | 80 |
| Average score based on 6 reviews | 80 |
| Lowest score by HomeTheater Review | 80 |
Score distribution:
| 80-100 | |
| 60-80 | |
| 40-60 | |
| 20-40 | |
| 0-20 |
From Seller:
- PREMIUM, ANNIVERSARY-EDITION TOWER SPEAKER - Drawing on innovative technology, the powerful and sophisticated Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 Floorstanding Speaker enriches your home audio experience, introducing a new dimension to your enjoyment of sound
- Read more
From Seller:
- Folded Motion Tweeter "squeezes" air and requires almost 90% less excursion than the typical 1" dome tweeter, drastically minimizing distortion while providing a lightning fast response time
- The innovative Folded Motion Tweeter is engineered with a large surface area (8-times that of a typical 1" dome tweeter) to create clear, highly dynamic and precise sound
- Read more
B&W 603 S2 Anniversary Edition Speaker Review
Review by Tharbamar
Very popular! 104K views!
Play video review
Bowers and Wilkins 603 S2 Anniversary Edition Review | Audio Home Theater Tower Speaker
Review by OldTrades
Popular! 15K views!
Play video review
The New Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 Anniversary Edition Floorstanding loudspeaker
Review by martinshifi
Popular! 17K views!
Play video review
MartinLogan Motion 40 Floorstanding Speaker – Audio Advisor
Review by Audio Advisor
Popular! 40K views!
Play video review
Martin Logan Motion 40i Floorstanding Speakers | The Listening Post | TLPCHC TLPWLG
Review by The Listening Post Christchurch | TLPCHC
Play video review
General Info
no data Know this info? Contribute!
Sound Quality
Sensitivity Measured in decibels, or dB, sensitivity measures a speaker’s ability to convert power to volume. Lower sensitivity speakers require more power from the amplifier to achieve higher volumes. Higher sen ... Show more
no data Know this info? Contribute!
Frequency Response Range Given as a range in Hertz (Hz), frequency response is a measurement of the range of sound a speaker can reproduce. For reference, the human ear can hear a frequency range of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz (shorte
... Show more
no data Know this info? Contribute!
40–25,000 Hz
Impedance Impedance is a key electrical measurement, provided in ohms. This number describes the electrical resistance provided by the speaker to the power signal sent by your amplifier. A common analogy used f ... Show more
no data Know this info? Contribute!
Maximum Power Handling Power handling, or peak power, is the highest wattage a speaker can accept from an amplifier before it burns out or becomes damaged. This number is given in watts. It’s recorded by measuring how loud ... Show more
no data Know this info? Contribute!
Physical Features
Enclosure Type The type of enclosure, or cabinet, plays a key role in determining the focus of your sound. Do you prefer accurate bass or loud, “boomy” bass? There are three types of enclosures to consider when purc ... Show more
no data Know this info? Contribute!
Bass Reflex
Finish The type of finish describes the material used on the exterior surface of the cabinet. There is no recommended material; it is purely aesthetic and dependent on your tastes and style. The most importa ... Show more
no data Know this info? Contribute!
Piano finish
Dimensions
no data Know this info? Contribute!
Loading product dimensions...
Weight
no data Know this info? Contribute!
49 lbs
Tweeters
no data Know this info? Contribute!
Tweeter Type For the true audiophile, choosing the right tweeter shape is key to getting the best out of your speaker. Different tweeter styles distribute sound more effectively throughout the room, and because hi ... Show more
no data Know this info? Contribute!
Other
Folded Motion tweeter
Tweeter Composition In addition to the shape of the tweeter, the material has a big impact on the type of sound emitted. The two most popular materials are metals (aluminum, titanium, beryllium etc.) and soft textiles (s ... Show more
no data Know this info? Contribute!
Advanced resolution Folded Motion tweeter
Mids
no data Know this info? Contribute!
Midrange Size Speakers with midrange drivers (i.e., at least three-way speakers) have a distinct advantage over two-way speakers. Adding a midrange driver to the mix allows tweeters and woofers to focus on the soun ... Show more
no data Know this info? Contribute!
Woofers
no data Know this info? Contribute!
Woofer Size A critical element of a floor standing speaker is its woofer. This is the driver responsible for low frequency sounds and bass. It is the biggest driver in size and is usually shaped like a cone. When ... Show more
no data Know this info? Contribute!
Woofer Composition Woofers are built with a variety of materials, such as paper, plastic, polypropylene, Kevlar, or metal. Some are even made with more unique materials like wood. They key to quality in a woofer materia ... Show more
no data Know this info? Contribute!
Dual 6-1/2" aluminum cone woofers
Powered Subwoofer Some floor standing speakers contain a built-in powered subwoofer as part of the overall speaker design. Typically when you’re building a home theater system, the subwoofer is purchased as a separate ... Show more
no data Know this info? Contribute!
Connections and Controls
Receiver Inputs The type of connectors or terminals on the speaker determine how you connect the speaker to your receiver. There are two main types: spring clips and binding posts. Spring Clips: Spring clips are desi ... Show more
no data Know this info? Contribute!
Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts
Banana Plug Compatible Banana plugs are a type of connector for speaker wire. They are often regarded as more beneficial than bare wire, which can fray and degrade over time. Banana plugs allow you to insert the bare wire i ... Show more
no data Know this info? Contribute!
Inputs Some speakers have other inputs in addition to the binding posts or terminals. This may include HDMI, auxiliary jack, and/or optical inputs. An example of how this may be beneficial is the auxiliary c ... Show more
no data Know this info? Contribute!
Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts
Bi Amp/Bi Wire Capable For the more sophisticated listener, you may want to bi-wire or bi-amp your speakers. For bi-wiring: If the speaker has dual binding posts or terminals, you may be able to use two wires to connect to ... Show more
no data Know this info? Contribute!
Remote Control
Does the speaker come with a remote?
no data Know this info? Contribute!
Wireless Connections
Bluetooth Enabled Speakers with built-in Bluetooth allow you to stream audio content directly from a device (e.g., smartphone, tablet, laptop) on the speakers. This feature behaves just like any other Bluetooth-enabled ... Show more
no data Know this info? Contribute!
Wireless Connectivity Some floor standing speakers may come with the option to connect to your TV wirelessly or via your Wi-Fi network. The benefit to this set up is the absence of wires, which makes setup simple and clean ... Show more
no data Know this info? Contribute!
Additional Details
Additional Features
Any other features included.
no data Know this info? Contribute!
- Precision Vojtko with a custom air core coil
- Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts