Bowers & Wilkins HTM6 S2 White Centre Speaker

Bowers & Wilkins HTM6 S2 Anniversary Edition Centre Speaker – Matte White

In a home cinema system the centre channel carries most of the dialogue, which makes it the speaker that decides whether a film is easy to follow or tiring to watch. The Bowers & Wilkins HTM6 S2 Anniversary Edition is the dedicated centre speaker of the 600 Series S2 Anniversary Edition range, voiced to match the 603 S2, 606 S2 and 607 S2 models so that voices keep the same character as sound moves across the front of the room. This unit is finished in Matte White with a grey grille, suiting lighter interiors and media units.

The Anniversary Edition marked 25 years of the 600 Series, and the changes were internal as much as cosmetic: the crossover was revised with upgraded components, including capacitors developed with Mundorf, for greater transparency. The cabinet is a two-way vented-box design standing just 160mm tall, so it fits on a shelf or media unit below most screens without blocking the picture.

Key features

• Dedicated centre channel voiced for clear, intelligible dialogue
• 25mm decoupled Double Dome aluminium tweeter
• Two 130mm Continuum cone bass/midrange drivers
• Revised Anniversary Edition crossover with upgraded components
• Flowport rear port with foam bung for placement tuning
• Compact 160mm height for media units and shelves
• Matte White finish with grey grille

Driver technology from the flagship ranges

The Continuum cone material was developed for Bowers & Wilkins’ flagship 800 Series and is used here for both bass/midrange drivers, with FST midrange behaviour that keeps the voice band open and free of cone breakup colouration. Above them, the decoupled Double Dome aluminium tweeter separates the dome from the cabinet to reduce vibration, and its breakup performance extends to 38kHz, well above the audible range, which keeps treble clean within it. Frequency response is 72Hz to 28kHz within ±3dB, with a range of -6dB at 42Hz and 33kHz.

System matching and placement

Sensitivity is 87dB and nominal impedance 8 ohms with a 4.3 ohm minimum, and Bowers & Wilkins recommends amplifier power between 30W and 120W into 8 ohms, figures comfortably inside the capability of most AV receivers. The dimpled Flowport reduces air turbulence at the port, and the supplied foam bung lets you soften the bass if the speaker must sit close to a wall or inside furniture. The cabinet measures 160 x 480 x 255mm and weighs 7.8kg. Position it on the centre line of the screen, angled towards the main seats, and run the receiver’s room calibration so its level and crossover blend smoothly with the front pair.

Paired with 600 Series S2 Anniversary Edition front speakers, the HTM6 S2 White gives a system a centre image that stays locked to the screen, so dialogue remains clear at low evening volumes as well as at full cinema levels.