Short answer: the Bowers & Wilkins 603 S3. Both are rated 4.1/5 for sound quality (#115 and #112 of 226 floorstanding speakers), and the Bowers & Wilkins 603 S3 costs $2,700 against $2,998 for the SVS Ultra Evolution Tower, and with sound quality even, the cheaper one is the better buy.
The case for the Bowers & Wilkins 603 S3: Floorstanding tower speaker in the 600 Series incorporating dual 6.5-inch paper-cone bass drivers, a dedicated 6-inch Continuum FST midrange, and a decoupled 1-inch Titanium Dome tweeter. Watch for: Rating estimated based on 600 S3 series sibling testing.
What the SVS Ultra Evolution Tower does well: Slim 3-way floorstanding tower with time-aligned curved baffle geometry, a 1-inch diamond-coated aluminum dome tweeter, dual 4.5-inch glass-fiber midranges, and quad force-balanced 5.25-inch woofers. Watch for: 87dB sensitivity is moderate, demanding solid amplification with at least 100W per channel to reach reference home theater volume levels.
Buy the Bowers & Wilkins 603 S3. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $298 less than the SVS Ultra Evolution Tower.
About the ratings: neither speaker has been measured yet, so both ratings are estimated from measured siblings and predecessors (likely ranges: Bowers & Wilkins 603 S3 3.9 to 4.3; SVS Ultra Evolution Tower 3.9 to 4.3). Treat this verdict as provisional.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bowers & Wilkins 603 S3 | SVS Ultra Evolution Tower | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,700 per pair | $2,998 per pair |
| Ranked | #115 of 226 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers Estimated | #112 of 226 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers Estimated |
| Drivers | 1” (25mm) Decoupled Titanium Dome tweeter, 6” (150mm) Continuum FST midrange, 2 x 6.5” (165mm) paper cone woofers | 1” diamond-coated tweeter, dual 4.5” midranges, quad 5.25” woofers |
| Frequency Response | 46Hz - 28kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified) | 30Hz - 40kHz (±3dB) (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 90dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) | 87dB (2.83V @ 1m, 300Hz-3kHz, manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 3.0 ohms minimum (manufacturer specified) | 6 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 46Hz (manufacturer specified) | 30Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Bass Extension (-6dB) | 29Hz (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Dimensions | 38.9”H x 7.5”W x 13.4”D (988 x 190 x 340 mm) | 44.5”H x 8.6”W x 16.7”D (1130 x 218 x 424 mm) |
| Weight | 60.6 lbs (27.5 kg) each | 59.5 lbs (27.0 kg) each |
| DIY Kit | No | - |
| Enclosure | - | ported, rear |
| Cabinet Color | - | Piano Gloss Black, Piano Gloss White, Black Oak |
| Country | - | United States |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How SVS Ultra Evolution Tower compares with other leading options:
- Wharfedale Diamond 12.4i vs SVS Ultra Evolution Tower
- SVS Ultra Evolution Tower vs MartinLogan Motion F20
- Bowers & Wilkins 603 S3 vs KEF Q11 Meta
- Q Acoustics 3050c vs Bowers & Wilkins 603 S3
- JBL Studio 698 vs Q Acoustics 5040
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Bowers & Wilkins 603 S3: $2,700 per pair Estimated B&H Photo Video eBay
Same family: the Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 (smaller bookshelf, estimated 3.6/5), the Bowers & Wilkins 606 S3 (larger bookshelf, estimated 3.9/5) and the Bowers & Wilkins HTM6 S3 (center, estimated 3.4/5). See every Bowers & Wilkins 600 Series generation.
Pros: Floorstanding tower speaker in the 600 Series incorporating dual 6.5-inch paper-cone bass drivers, a dedicated 6-inch Continuum FST midrange, and a decoupled 1-inch Titanium Dome tweeter. Delivers solid dynamic headroom, low distortion, and bass authority down to 46Hz.
Cons: Rating estimated based on 600 S3 series sibling testing. Minimum impedance dips to 3.0 ohms in the mid-bass, demanding an amplifier capable of sustained current into low impedance loads.
Full Bowers & Wilkins 603 S3 review and specifications →
| Released | Aug 2023 (3 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 46Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Bass Extension (-6dB) | 29Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 38.9”H x 7.5”W x 13.4”D (988 x 190 x 340 mm) |
| Drivers | 1” (25mm) Decoupled Titanium Dome tweeter, 6” (150mm) Continuum FST midrange, 2 x 6.5” (165mm) paper cone woofers |
| Frequency Response | 46Hz - 28kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 3.0 ohms minimum (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 90dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 60.6 lbs (27.5 kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
SVS Ultra Evolution Tower: $2,998 per pair Estimated Amazon SVS eBay
Same family: the SVS Ultra Evolution Nano (smaller bookshelf, estimated 3.9/5), the SVS Ultra Evolution Bookshelf (larger bookshelf, estimated 4/5), the SVS Ultra Evolution Titan (larger floorstanding, ranked higher, estimated 4.2/5), the SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle (larger floorstanding, ranked lower, rated 3.8/5), the SVS Ultra Evolution Center (center, estimated 4.1/5) and the SVS Ultra Evolution Elevation (surround, estimated 3.8/5). See every SVS Ultra and Ultra Evolution generation.
Pros: Slim 3-way floorstanding tower with time-aligned curved baffle geometry, a 1-inch diamond-coated aluminum dome tweeter, dual 4.5-inch glass-fiber midranges, and quad force-balanced 5.25-inch woofers. Extends down to 30Hz (±3dB) with 87dB sensitivity and 6 ohm impedance in a more compact footprint than the Titan.
Cons: 87dB sensitivity is moderate, demanding solid amplification with at least 100W per channel to reach reference home theater volume levels. Dual rear-firing ports require clearance from boundaries to avoid bass bloat.
Full SVS Ultra Evolution Tower review and specifications →
| Released | 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 30Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Cabinet Color | Piano Gloss Black, Piano Gloss White, Black Oak |
| Country | United States |
| Dimensions | 44.5”H x 8.6”W x 16.7”D (1130 x 218 x 424 mm) |
| Drivers | 1” diamond-coated tweeter, dual 4.5” midranges, quad 5.25” woofers |
| Enclosure | ported, rear |
| Frequency Response | 30Hz - 40kHz (±3dB) (manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 87dB (2.83V @ 1m, 300Hz-3kHz, manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 59.5 lbs (27.0 kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons