In this review, we will be comparing 702 S3 and Triton Two+, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Bowers Wilkins and GoldenEar. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of B&W 702 S3 and GoldenEar Triton Two+ first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the B&W 702 S3 and GoldenEar Triton Two+ 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the B&W 702 S3 and GoldenEar Triton Two+ compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both 702 S3 and Triton Two+ are 3-way speakers.
Driver |
B&W 702 S3 |
GoldenEar Triton Two+ |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
-inch
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6-inch |
1 x 4.5-inch |
Woofer
|
3 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
702 S3 features a 1" Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 3 x 6.5" Aerofoil Woofer . On the other hand, the Triton Two+ features a " High-Velocity Folded Ribbon Tweeter , a 4.5" Midrange and 1 x 5" Polymer Woofer .
Frequency Response
702 S3 has a frequency range of 46-28k Hz whereas Triton Two+ has a frequency range of 16-35k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 16Hz, the Triton Two+ 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
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Impedance and Sensitivity
702 S3 and Triton Two+ 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 Triton Two+'s is at 91 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the GoldenEar Triton Two+ a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W 702 S3, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
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 500 watts RMS from the amp the whereas 702 S3 has a max power handling value of 300 watts RMS , 200 watts less than the Triton Two+.
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. Triton Two+ has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/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 GoldenEar Triton Two+'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 GoldenEar Triton Two+ has external dimensions of 1232.0 x 297.0 x 486.0mm ( 48-1/2 x 11-11/16 x 19-1/8inch) .
GoldenEar Triton Two+ is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 105mm wider, 94mm taller and 95mm 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 GoldenEar Triton Two+ is approximately 1443.4cm2 / 223.7inch2. The 702 S3 requires 48% less surface area than the Triton Two+ 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 GoldenEar Triton Two+ weighs 27.27kg / 60lbs. This makes the 702 S3 23% heavier than the Triton Two+.
Here is a comparison of how 702 S3 and Triton Two+'s weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of B&W 702 S3?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 702 S3:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrillePlinth (base)2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)Two-piece foam port plug4 Rubber feet4 Spike feet4 Lock-nuts4 Screws4 Washers4 Lock washersHex-keyManualBowers & Wilkins brochureWarranty Information
What's in the Box of GoldenEar Triton Two+?
Here are the items that come with the Triton Two+:
Floorstanding loudspeaker9-feet AC power cordBase4 Rubber feet (pre-installed on base)4 Spikes4 Locking nuts4 Screws4 WashersOwners Manual
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Number of Woofers |
3
vs
1
|
More woofers |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
Height |
1138mm
vs
1232mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
750cm2 (192x391mm)
vs
1443cm2 (297x486mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Max Input Power |
500 watts
vs
300 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Low Frequency Response |
16 Hz
vs
46 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Passive Radiator |
two 7-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
Price per pair* |
4498USD
vs
6998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
General |
Bowers & Wilkins 702 S3 |
GoldenEar Triton Two+ |
Brand |
Bowers Wilkins |
GoldenEar |
Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
Power Range |
30-300 watts |
20-500 watts |
Sensitivity |
90 dB |
91 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
Impedance |
3.1 ohms |
n/a |
Frequency Response |
46-28k Hz |
16-35k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
3 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5" |
Woofer Composition |
Aerofoil |
Polymer |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
- |
Tweeter Type |
n/a |
High-Velocity Folded Ribbon |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
6" |
4.5" |
Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
1138.0mm (44.8") |
1232.0mm (48.5") |
Width |
192.0mm (7.6") |
297.0mm (11.7") |
Depth |
391.0mm (15.4") |
486.0mm (19.1") |
Weight |
33.46kg (73.6lbs) |
27.27kg (60lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Passive Radiator |
Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
MDF/Lacquer |
Available Colors |
Gloss Black,Satin White,Mocha,Rosenut |
Gloss Black |
Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |