Tower Speaker Reviews

Bowers & Wilkins 683 S2 Speaker System Test Bench

Test Bench

L/R Sensitivity: 87.5 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

Center Sensitivity: 88 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

Surround Sensitivity: 87.5 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

1014bwsp.meas.jpg

This graph shows the quasi-anechoic (employing close-miking of all woofers) frequency response of the 683 S2 L/R (purple trace), ASW610XP subwoofer (blue trace), HTM61 S2 center channel (green trace), and 685 S2 surround (red trace). All passive loudspeakers were measured with grilles at a distance of 1 meter with a 2.83-volt input and scaled for display purposes.

The 683 S2’s listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +1.60/–4.55 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz. The –3dB point is at 51 Hz, and the –6dB point is at 38 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 3.63 ohms at 120 Hz and a phase angle of –47.80 degrees at 4.7 kHz.

The HTM61 S2’s listening-window response measures +1.87/–6.52 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. An average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal responses measures +2.00/–6.98 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3dB point is at 60 Hz, and the –6dB point is at 50 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 3.73 ohms at 351 Hz and a phase angle of –88.66 degrees at 82 Hz.

The 685 S2’s listening-window response measures +1.33/–5.17 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3dB point is at 58 Hz, and the –6dB point is at 47 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 4.45 ohms at 18.6 kHz and a phase angle of –60.15 degrees at 4.1 kHz.

The ASW610XP’s close-miked response, normalized to the level at 80 Hz, indicates that the lower –3dB point is at 19 Hz and the –6dB point is at 16 Hz. The upper –3dB point is at 123 Hz with the Bass Extension switch set to A, the EQ switch set to B, and the Low-Pass Filter switch set to Out.—MJP

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Bowers & Wilkins
(800) 370-3740
bowers-wilkins.com
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COMMENTS
gmustain's picture
Submitted by gmustain on October 29, 2014 - 7:05am

I purchased a full 600 series 1 surround set-up in the mid 1990's so I am not sure what "Original 600 series" this guy reviewed 6 years ago.

vqworks's picture
Submitted by vqworks on November 13, 2014 - 10:51am

I'm with sathishadht with this B&W package. The good value-for-money claim just can't be made for this setup according to the average consumer's standards. Of course, even if I was in the habit of buying much more expensive equipment I still don't see the value.

The response of the speakers is ragged for the price. The sense of dynamic range is fine for movies but if it lacks the upper midrange/lower treble attack on the leading edge of high-end transients, this would be very obvious when listeners are focused on percussion-laden music.

At the price, response should be a hell of a lot flatter for the ensemble and the subwoofer's performance should be better. Hopefully, this isn't part of a trend for B&W.

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