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B&W 702 S3 vs Focal Aria 948 Comparison

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B&W 702 S3

Passive Floor-standing | 46-28k Hz

Bowers & Wilkins 702 S3
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Focal Aria 948

Passive Floor-standing | 37-28k Hz

Focal Aria 948
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B&W 702 S3 B&W 702 S3
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Focal Aria 948 Focal Aria 948
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B&W 702 S3
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Focal Aria 948
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B&W 702 S3 vs Focal Aria 948 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing 702 S3 and Aria 948, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Bowers Wilkins and Focal.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of B&W 702 S3 and Focal Aria 948 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

B&W 702 S3 Key Specs

  • 3-way Design
  • 1" Tweeter
  • 6" Midrange
  • 3 x 6.5" Aerofoil Woofer
  • 46-28k Hz Frequency Response
  • 90 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:30-300watts
  • Weight:33.46kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 1138.0" x 7.6" x 15.4"( 1138.0 x 192.0 x 391.0mm )

Focal Aria 948 Key Specs

  • 3-way Design
  • 1" inverted dome Tweeter
  • 6.5" Midrange
  • 2 x 8.25" Flax Woofer
  • 6.5" Midrange
  • 37-28k Hz Frequency Response
  • 92.5 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:50-350watts
  • Weight:35.00kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 1150.0" x 14-5/8" x 16-9/16"( 1150.0 x 372.0 x 421.0mm )

What size room are the B&W 702 S3 and Focal Aria 948 speakers good for?

The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size and max power parameters:

Listening Environment* B&W 702 S3 Focal Aria 948
Near-field Bad Are you nuts?
Small Room Poor Poor
Mid-size Room Average Average
Large Room Good Good
Very Large Room Average Good

(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2, Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: > 400 sq. ft / 36 m2. Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening position, speaker locations, etc.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the B&W 702 S3 and Focal Aria 948 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.


**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


Drivers

Both 702 S3 and Aria 948 are 3-way speakers.

Driver B&W 702 S3 Focal Aria 948
Driver Setup 3-way 3-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1-inch
Midrange 1 x 6-inch 1 x 6.5-inch
Woofer 3 x 6.5-inch 2 x 8.25-inch

702 S3 features a 1" Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 3 x 6.5" Aerofoil Woofer . On the other hand, the Aria 948 features a 1" TNF Al/Mg inverted dome Tweeter , a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 8.25" Flax Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 280Hz and 2,600Hz.

Frequency Response

702 S3 has a frequency range of 46-28k Hz whereas Aria 948 has a frequency range of 37-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 37Hz, the Aria 948 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 702 S3's min frequency of 46Hz.

Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.

Low Frequency

Floor-standing Speakers

702 S3
Aria 948
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Floor-standing Speakers

B&W 702 S3
Focal Aria 948
Min
Average
Max

None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.

Impedance and Sensitivity

702 S3 and Aria 948 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. 702 S3 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Aria 948's is at 92.5 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the Focal Aria 948 a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W 702 S3, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Floor-standing Speakers

702 S3
Aria 948
Min
Average
Max

Power Range

Power range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.

702 S3 can handle a max power of 350 watts RMS from the amp the whereas 702 S3 has a max power handling value of 300 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the Aria 948.

Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.

Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring

702 S3 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Aria 948 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

B&W 702 S3 Terminals
B&W 702 S3's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

Physical Specs

Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare B&W 702 S3's and Focal Aria 948's external dimensions. B&W 702 S3 has external dimensions of 1138.0 x 192.0 x 391.0mm ( 44.8-inch x 7.6-inch x 15.4-inch) whereas Focal Aria 948 has external dimensions of 1150.0 x 372.0 x 421.0mm ( 45-1/4 x 14-5/8 x 16-9/16inch) .

Focal Aria 948 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 180mm wider, 12mm taller and 30mm deeper than B&W 702 S3.

Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited. The base surface area of the B&W 702 S3 is approximately 750.7cm2 / 116.4inch2 and base area of the Focal Aria 948 is approximately 1566.1cm2 / 242.7inch2. The 702 S3 requires 52% less surface area than the Aria 948 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.

Weight Comparison

The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The B&W 702 S3 weighs 33.46kg / 73.6lbs and the Focal Aria 948 weighs 35.00kg / 77lbs. This makes the Aria 948 5% heavier than the 702 S3.

Here is a comparison of how 702 S3 and Aria 948's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.

Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
B&W 702 S3
Focal Aria 948
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of B&W 702 S3?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of 702 S3:
  • Floorstanding loudspeaker
  • Grille
  • Plinth (base)
  • 2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)
  • Two-piece foam port plug
  • 4 Rubber feet
  • 4 Spike feet
  • 4 Lock-nuts
  • 4 Screws
  • 4 Washers
  • 4 Lock washers
  • Hex-key
  • Manual
  • Bowers & Wilkins brochure
  • Warranty Information
  • What's in the Box of Focal Aria 948?

    Here are the items that come with the Aria 948:
  • Floorstanding loudspeaker
  • Grille
  • Base
  • 4 Spike feet (pre-installed in base)
  • 4 Plastic feet
  • 4 Screws
  • Allen-key
  • Hex-tool
  • User Manual

  • Reasons to choose Bowers & Wilkins 702 S3 over Focal Aria 948
    Minimum Impedance 3.1 ohms vs 2.5 ohms Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier
    Number of Woofers 3 vs 2 More woofers
    Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring Yes vs No Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections
    Height 1138mm vs 1150mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 750cm2 vs 1566cm2 Takes less floor space

    Reasons to choose Focal Aria 948 over Bowers & Wilkins 702 S3

    Max Input Power 350 watts vs 300 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    Sensitivity 93 dB vs 88 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Woofer Size 8.25 inches vs 6.5 inches Larger woofer
    Low Frequency Response 37 Hz vs 46 Hz Generates deeper bass
    Price per pair* 6598USD vs 6998USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
    B&W 702 S3 vs Focal Aria 948 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General Bowers & Wilkins 702 S3 Focal Aria 948
    Brand Bowers Wilkins Focal
    Speaker Type Floor-standing speaker Floor-standing speaker
    Power Range 30-300 watts 50-350 watts
    Sensitivity 90 dB 92.5 dB
    Impedance 8 ohms 8 ohms
    Impedance 3.1 ohms 2.5 ohms
    Frequency Response 46-28k Hz 37-28k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 3 2
    Woofer Size 6.5" 8.25"
    Woofer Composition Aerofoil Flax
    Woofer Surround Material Rubber Rubber
    Tweeter Size 1" 1"
    Tweeter Type n/a inverted dome
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver 6" 6.5"
    Crossover Frequency n/a 280Hz and 2,600Hz
    Firing Direction rear n/a
    Physical Specs
    Height 1138.0mm (44.8") 1150.0mm (45.3")
    Width 192.0mm (7.6") 372.0mm (14.6")
    Depth 391.0mm (15.4") 421.0mm (16.6")
    Weight 33.46kg (73.6lbs) 35.00kg (77lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
    Finish MDF/Lacquer MDF/Glass/Leather
    Available Colors Gloss Black,Satin White,Mocha,Rosenut Gloss Black
    Grille Yes Yes
    Moisture Resistancy No No
    Connections
    Biamp Inputs Yes No
    Other
    Parts Warranty 5 Years 5 Years
    Labor Warranty 5 Years 5 Years

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