B&W HTM61 S2 3-Way Centre Channel Speaker, Excellent

$695.00

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Description

Massive B&W HTM61 S2 3-Way Centre Channel Speaker, Excellent Condition

The Bowers & Wilkins HTM61 S2 is the flagship centre channel of the highly regarded 600 Series S2 generation — a genuine three-way design with two 6.5-inch aluminium bass drivers, a dedicated 4-inch FST Kevlar midrange, and B&W’s signature Decoupled Double Dome aluminium tweeter with Nautilus tube loading, presented here in excellent condition.

This is a serious, full-size centre speaker engineered to anchor a true reference-grade home theatre. Where most centres in this price range cut corners with a two-way MTM (midwoofer-tweeter-midwoofer) layout — a configuration well-known for off-axis response problems and dialogue smearing — the HTM61 S2 is built as a proper three-way: dedicated bass drivers handle low frequencies, a separate FST midrange handles the critical vocal range, and the decoupled tweeter handles the highest octaves. The result is dialogue intelligibility, image stability across multiple seating positions, and dynamic headroom that simpler centres simply cannot match.

The driver complement is shared with the larger 683 S2 and 684 S2 floorstanders. The dual 6.5-inch aluminium-cone bass drivers use B&W’s new dual-layer aluminium cone construction, with a second damping cone bonded to the rear of the main cone to push break-up modes well above the operating range. The 4-inch FST (Fixed Suspension Transducer) midrange uses a woven Kevlar cone with no conventional surround, dramatically reducing standing waves at the cone edge and delivering exceptionally clean midrange — the same technology B&W uses in their flagship 800 Series Diamond. The Decoupled Double Dome tweeter rides on a flexible suspension that isolates it from cabinet vibration, with Nautilus tapered tube loading on the rear to absorb back-wave energy.

The cabinet is bass-reflex loaded via B&W’s Flowport — the dimpled-surface port design borrowed from golf-ball aerodynamics, which reduces port turbulence and chuffing at high output levels. The cabinet sits on a substantial base plate with rubber feet for stable, decoupled placement on a centre-channel shelf or AV credenza. At 37.8 lbs, this is a heavy, dense, well-braced enclosure that feels and sounds like the premium product it is.

Specifications:

Design: 3-way vented-box (bass-reflex) centre channel

Drive units: 2 x 6.5 in. (165 mm) dual-layer aluminium cone bass; 1 x 4 in. (100 mm) woven Kevlar FST midrange; 1 x 1 in. (25 mm) Decoupled Double Dome aluminium tweeter with Nautilus tube loading

Frequency response: 50 Hz – 22 kHz (±3 dB on reference axis)

Frequency range: -6 dB at 42 Hz and 50 kHz

Sensitivity: 88 dB SPL (2.83 V, 1 m)

Nominal impedance: 8 ohms (minimum 5.2 ohms)

Crossover frequencies: 400 Hz, 4 kHz

Recommended amplifier power: 30 – 150 W into 8 ohms on unclipped programme

Maximum recommended cable impedance: 0.1 ohm

Bi-wire / bi-amp: Dual binding-post terminals with removable jumpers

Port: Front-firing Flowport

Finish: Black, with magnetic grille

Dimensions (W x H x D): 23.2 x 8.6 x 12 inches (590 x 218 x 304 mm), including grille and terminals
Weight: 37.8 lbs (17.2 kg)

A genuine three-way reference centre channel from B&W’s most successful 600 Series generation — a meaningful upgrade over MTM-format centres at any price, and the natural partner for the 683 S2, 684 S2, 685 S2, or 686 S2 mains. Offered here in excellent condition, ready to anchor a serious home theatre or stereo-plus-centre system.

Backed by Radique Audio’s 90-day warranty and our perpetual trade-back policy, you can purchase with confidence.

Additional information
Weight40 lbs
Dimensions16 × 27.2 × 12.6 in
About brand
B&W at Radique
We service B&W, too. Bring us your own B&W speakers and subwoofers for repair, servicing or restoration (speakers up to 80 lbs each), with a 90-day warranty on the work. See our Audio Service page

Bowers & Wilkins began in Worthing, England, in 1966, founded by John Bowers. The name comes from the Worthing electrical shop he ran with Roy Wilkins. Its 800 Series monitors have been used at Abbey Road Studios since 1980, Abbey Road says. We carry B&W towers, bookshelf speakers, centre channels and stands. We've had more than 200 B&W listings so far. Every used B&W here is inspected, tested and serviced as required, then photographed in-house and covered by our Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty and Perpetual Trade-Back Program. Don't see the model you want? Tell us on First Dibs and we'll email you when one arrives.

The Bowers & Wilkins story, 1966 to today

John Bowers founded B&W in Worthing, England, in 1966, after hand-assembling speakers at the electrical shop he ran with Roy Wilkins. Its first speaker, the P1, used B&W's own cabinet and crossover with bought-in drivers, and the DM1 and DM3 "Domestic Monitors" followed in 1968.

Kevlar and the 801. B&W identified Kevlar as a cone material in 1974, and the DM6 of the mid-1970s used Kevlar cones. The original 801 monitor of 1979 to 1980 made its name in recording studios: Abbey Road says it was the first studio to use it, in 1980, and has used the 800 Series ever since.

Matrix and Nautilus. The Matrix cabinet bracing arrived in the mid-to-late 1980s. John Bowers started the project that became the Nautilus, the spiral-shell flagship, before he died in 1987, and it launched in 1993. The first 600 Series followed in 1995, and diamond-dome tweeters arrived in 2005.

New owners. EVA Automation bought B&W in 2016, Sound United in 2020 and Masimo in 2022, and in September 2025 HARMAN, a Samsung company, completed its purchase of Sound United. The 800 Series Diamond D5, unveiled in June 2026, is built in Worthing.

A Canadian connection. Classé Audio of Montreal was part of the B&W Group from 2001 until B&W closed its Montreal headquarters in 2017.

Which B&W is which?

DM (Domestic Monitor), 1968 onward: from the DM1 and DM3 to models such as the DM6 and DM7. The DM prefix carried into early 600 Series names.

600 Series (1995 to today): B&W's entry hi-fi line; the 2020 Anniversary Edition was its seventh generation. The 606 belongs here.

CDM (mid-1990s to about 2003): such as the CDM 1, with a metal-dome tweeter and a Kevlar cone.

700 Series (about 2003 to 2006): Nautilus technology at mainstream prices, such as the 703 and 705.

CM Series (2006 to 2017): such as the CM1 and the CM4 towers, replaced by the 700 Series S2 in 2017.

800 Series (from 1979 to 1980): from the original 801 through the Matrix, Nautilus 800, Diamond, D3, D4 and D5 generations.

Nautilus (1993): the spiral-shell flagship, still made in small numbers.

Buying used B&W: what to check

Tweeter domes. B&W used metal-dome tweeters in the CDM, 600 and CM lines, and owners report squashed domes. Inspect each dome closely.

Original tweeters. Some CDM-era tweeters are discontinued, and rebuilt or substitute tweeters change the sound. Ask whether the originals are fitted.

Woofer surrounds. Owners report rubber surrounds that have hardened with age. Press each surround gently: it should feel supple.

1970s DM models. Expect crossover capacitors in a 40-year-old DM to need replacing.

Where it was made. The 800 Series is built in Worthing; the 600 and 700 Series are made in China. Check the label before calling a B&W "made in England".

Everything we list is inspected, tested and serviced as required here, and comes with our warranty.