Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 Anniversary Edition is a 3-way Passive Bass Reflex Floor-standing speaker by Bowers Wilkins. It features a 1" Tweeter, 1 x 6" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Paper Woofer. The speaker has a frequency range of 48-28k Hz and a sensitivity of 88.5 dB. B&W 603 S2 has an MSRP of 2300$ per pair.
What size of room is the B&W 603 S2 speaker good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use the B&W 603 S2 is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated its suitability to various sizes of environments considering its size and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* | Suitability |
|---|---|
| Near-field | Bad |
| Small Room | Poor |
| Mid-size Room | Good |
| Large Room | Good |
| Very Large Room | 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.)
Bowers Wilkins replaced the older BW 603 with this model. Follow the link to read our detailed comparison of these models:
What are the speakers in Bowers Wilkins's 600 S2 Anniversary Edition Series?
603 S2 AE is a member of Bowers Wilkins's 600 S2 Anniversary Edition series of Passive speakers. The first generation of B&W 600 series was introduced in 1996 and sold more than 1 million in 25 years in six different generation. To celebrate the 25th year of the series, B&W introduced the S2 Anniversary Edition, which is the seventh generation of the series. Below you can see the main specs of these speakers.
Bowers Wilkins 600 S2 Anniversary Edition Series Speakers
| Model | Frequency | Sensitivity | Impedance | Woofer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Compare | 52-28k Hz | 88 dB | 8Ω | 1 x 6.5" |
 | Compare | 52-28k Hz | 84 dB | 8Ω | 1 x 5" |
 | | 48-28k Hz | 88.5 dB | 8Ω | 2 x 6.5" |
 | BW HTM6 S2 Compare | 72-28k Hz | 87 dB | 8Ω | 2 x 5" |
**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.
What is the Frequency Response of the B&W 603 S2 speaker?
B&W 603 S2 has a Frequency response range of 48-28k Hz at ±3dB and Power Range of 30-200 watts. At a minimum frequency of 48 Hz, 603 S2 AE will provide an average bass depth so depending on your use case, you may consider supplementing your system with a subwoofer.
To focus on the subwoofers that are in a similar price range with B&W 603 S2, check out the Powered Subwoofers under $3000. Alternatively, find the Full list of Powered Subwoofers regardless of the price.
Here we have a comparison of how 603 S2 AE's Low and High frequency values compare with the average, max and min Low and High frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
B&W 603 S2
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
B&W 603 S2
Min
Average
Max
Among the speakers in our database with a max MSRP price of 3000$ (Pair), these are the 5 Passive Floor-standing speakers that have the deeper bass levels than the B&W 603 S2's 48Hz:
- KLH Kendall with Low Frequency of 25 Hz (Compare w/ 603 S2 AE)
- GoldenEar Triton Five with Low Frequency of 26 Hz (Compare w/ 603 S2 AE)
- KLH Concord with Low Frequency of 28 Hz (Compare w/ 603 S2 AE)
- SVS Ultra Tower with Low Frequency of 28 Hz (Compare w/ 603 S2 AE)
- GoldenEar Triton Seven with Low Frequency of 29 Hz (Compare w/ 603 S2 AE)
What are the Impedance and Sensitivity of the B&W 603 S2? Is it an easy-to-drive speaker?
B&W 603 S2's nominal impedance level is 8 ohms but can go down to as low as 3 ohms, and has a sensitivity of 88.5 dB.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
B&W 603 S2
Min
Max
8 Ohms is pretty much the standard nominal impedance amongst stereo speakers and amplifiers so Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 Anniversary Edition is not considered a difficult to drive speaker from nominal Impedance perspective.
Sensitivity
89dB of Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 Anniversary Edition is an average sensitivity for stereo speaker so it is neither easy nor difficult to drive Sensitivity wise.
Minimum Impedance of B&W 603 S2
Even though the nominal impedance of the 603 S2 AE is 8 ohms, the minimum impedance level of this speaker according to Bowers Wilkins is 3 ohms Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 Anniversary Edition so while choosing an amplifier, you should ideally check if the unit you are considering can provide this impedance level.
Check the amplifiers that are in a similar price range to the B&W 603 S2:
- Integrated Amps under 2000 USD
- Integrated Amps under 3000 USD
- Integrated Amps under 5000 USD
- All Integrated Amplifiers
Input Type
603 S2 AE has Binding post type connectors and lets bi-amping/bi-wiring. Bi-wiring can provide improvements in the overall transparency of your loudspeakers by running separate speaker wires to the low & high frequency drivers from a single amplifier. Bi-amping allows the use of separate amplifiers for the high & low frequency drivers of your loudspeaker which may result in greater dynamic range & lower distortion.
B&W 603 S2 External Dimensions and Weight
B&W 603 S2 has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 41-1/2 x 12-5/8 x 14-5/8inch (1055.0 x 190.0 x 372.0mm ).
Base Surface Area
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited. The base area of B&W 603 S2 is approximately 706.8cm2 / 109.6inch2.
To get a better perspective on the real life size of B&W 603 S2, let's compare it with a standard size Compact Disc which has a diameter of 4.7inch (120mm).
Here we place the B&W 603 S2 virtually next to a standard width amplifier and turntable on a media center to get a better idea about the size.
Weight
The B&W 603 S2 weighs 24.10kg / 53lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how 603 S2 AE's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
B&W 603 S2
Min
Average
Max
Weight
Floor-standing Speakers under $3000
B&W 603 S2
Min
Average
Max
How does the B&W 603 S2 compare to the Bowers & Wilkins 703 S2?
One of the natural alternative to the B&W 603 S2 is the which is located one step higher in Bowers Wilkins's Passive Floor-standing selection.
Check the for more details.
Cabinet type and Materials
B&W 603 S2 has a Bass Reflex type cabinet and a MDF/Vinyl finish. Bass Reflex type loudspeakers (aka Ported, Vented or Reflex Port) have enclosures that uses a port, hole or vent cut into the cabinet. Ported designs are generally more efficient than the Sealed designs.
Speaker Feet
B&W 603 S2 comes with the parts below which you can use to secure your loudspeaker on the surface that you are putting on:
It is always recommended to use some kind of feet under all types of speakers. Besides limiting the movement of the speakers, it also compensates for non-flat surfaces and limits the contact surface area of the speaker. Rubber based feet also help isolating the vibrations within certain frequency ranges.
Port Position
B&W 603 S2 is a rear-firing port speaker so you have to make sure you leave enough space between the back of the speaker and wall or bookshelf so that it has room to breathe. 603 S2 AE comes with 2 Two-piece foam port plugs so if you don't have any choice but place the speakers too close to the walls or other surfaces, you can use these plugs in order to avoid boomy or too much bass.
Available colors
B&W 603 S2 is available in Matte Black, Matte White, Oak and Red Cherry.
Does the B&W 603 S2 come with a Grille?
603 S2 AE comes with magnetic grilles. The purpose of the grille is to protect the delicate driver elements from external impacts while still allowing the sound to pass as clearly as possible. Since the included grille of the 603 S2 AE is magnetic type, it is very easy to put it on and off.
What's in the Box of B&W 603 S2?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 603 S2 AE:
Recommended Accessories
Here is a list of accessories that we think you may need for the Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 Anniversary Edition.
- Speaker Cable and Connectors
- Speaker Cables with Banana Plugs: If you know the lenght of the cable you need, this is the easier option to connect your speakers with your amp.
- Speaker Cables without Connectors: If you are not sure about the lenght or need longer than standard cables with plugs, choose this option.
- Banana Connectors and Plugs: If you chose the cables without connectors option or already have some cable around, pick the banana plugs separately.
- Vibration Isolators: IsoAcoustics isolators more affordable options too.
- Acoustic Panels and Treatments: Your room is as important as your stereo equipment so acoustic treatments goes a long way in improving the overall performance.
User's Manual
For more information about how to setup, use and maintain the Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 Anniversary Edition, use the direct link below to download the official manual document:
Download User Manual for B&W 603 S2
Official Brochure
Here is a link to download the official brochure for the Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 Anniversary Edition speaker:
Official Brochure for B&W 603 S2
Official Product Page
Official manufacturer's product page for the Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 Anniversary Edition speaker can be found below:
Official Product Page for B&W 603 S2
Warranty
5 Years of parts warranty and 5 Years of labor warranty is generally provided by the manufacturer.
