Overview

A tower speaker for a large room shouldn't sound strained once the volume comes up, and the Bowers & Wilkins 603 S3 is built to stay composed as the largest model in the current 600 Series lineup.

A newly developed Titanium Dome tweeter handles the highs from a decoupled double-dome design, paired with a 6-inch Continuum cone FST midrange driver that keeps vocals and instruments free of the abrupt behaviour changes that show up in conventional cone materials. Two 6.5-inch paper-cone bass drivers below split the heavy lifting, giving the 603 S3 the scale to fill a large living room or theatre without straining. The tweeter grille mesh borrows its acoustically transparent design from B&W's Signature models, and the rear speaker terminals use the improved layout introduced on the 700 Series for a cleaner signal path.

Frequency response runs 46Hz to 28kHz (±3dB), with distortion under 1% from 100Hz to 22kHz, and the 3-way design pairs well with 30W to 200W amplifiers into its 8-ohm load. Each tower ships with a stabilizing plinth, floor spikes, and rubber feet, and the cabinet is available in Black, White, or Oak.

Simcoe Audio Video Insight

At just over 27 kg and nearly a metre tall, the 603 S3 needs a level, solid floor and enough clearance from the rear wall to let the bass drivers breathe — crowding it into a corner will thicken the low end more than most rooms want. The included plinth and spikes are worth using on carpet, since they anchor the cabinet and tighten bass response noticeably compared to leaving it to sit loose. And because the rear terminals follow the 700 Series layout, bi-wiring or bi-amping is straightforward if your amplifier setup calls for it.

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Why the Bowers & Wilkins 603 S3 Stands Out

Buyer's Guide

Who It's For

• Large Living Rooms and Open-Concept Spaces: Dual bass drivers and a 3-way design give the 603 S3 the output to fill a big room without straining.
• Home Theatre Front Channels: Voice-matched with the HTM6 S3 centre channel for a consistent tonal match across the front soundstage.
• Bi-Amp and Bi-Wire Systems: 700 Series-derived rear terminals are ready for separate amplification without an adapter.

How It Compares

Next to the 703 S3, B&W's largest 700 Series floorstander, the 603 S3 uses a Titanium Dome tweeter and paper-cone bass drivers instead of the 703 S3's Decoupled Carbon Dome tweeter and Aerofoil profile bass cones — a more accessible driver set that still shares the same 3-way vented-box layout and dual bass driver configuration. Stepping up to the 703 S3 buys a higher build tier and more refined driver materials rather than a fundamentally different design.