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B&W 702 S3 vs Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G Comparison

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B&W 702 S3

Passive Floor-standing | 46-28k Hz

Bowers & Wilkins 702 S3
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Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G

Passive Floor-standing | 27-35k Hz

Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G
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B&W 702 S3 B&W 702 S3
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Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G Monitor Audio Silver...
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B&W 702 S3
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Monitor Audio Silver...
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B&W 702 S3 vs Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing 702 S3 and Silver 500 7G, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Bowers Wilkins and Monitor Audio.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of B&W 702 S3 and Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G 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 )

Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G Key Specs

  • 3-way Design
  • 1" gold dome C-CAM with Uniform Dispersion (UD) Waveguide II Tweeter
  • 3" Midrange
  • 2 x 8" C-CAM RST II Woofer
  • 3" Midrange
  • 27-35k Hz Frequency Response
  • 90.5 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:80-250watts
  • Weight:22.53kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 1085.0" x 12-11/16" x 15-7/16"( 1085.0 x 323.0 x 393.0mm )

What size room are the B&W 702 S3 and Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G 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 Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G
Near-field Bad Bad
Small Room Poor Poor
Mid-size Room Average Average
Large Room Good Good
Very Large Room Average Average

(* 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 Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G 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 Silver 500 7G are 3-way speakers.

Driver B&W 702 S3 Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G
Driver Setup 3-way 3-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1-inch
Midrange 1 x 6-inch 1 x 3-inch
Woofer 3 x 6.5-inch 2 x 8-inch

702 S3 features a 1" Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 3 x 6.5" Aerofoil Woofer . On the other hand, the Silver 500 7G features a 1" gold dome C-CAM with Uniform Dispersion (UD) Waveguide II Tweeter , a 3" Midrange and 2 x 8" C-CAM RST II Woofer .

Frequency Response

702 S3 has a frequency range of 46-28k Hz whereas Silver 500 7G has a frequency range of 27-35k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 27Hz, the Silver 500 7G 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
Silver 500 7G
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Floor-standing Speakers

B&W 702 S3
Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G
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 Silver 500 7G 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 Silver 500 7G's is at 90.5 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G 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
Silver 500 7G
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 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Silver 500 7G has a max power handling value of 250 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the 702 S3.

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

Both 702 S3 and Silver 500 7G features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.

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

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Both 702 S3 and Silver 500 7G have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.

If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.

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 Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G'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 Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G has external dimensions of 1085.0 x 323.0 x 393.0mm ( 42-11/16 x 12-11/16 x 15-7/16inch) .

B&W 702 S3 is 131mm narrower and 2mm less deeper than Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G but it is also 53mm taller.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of B&W 702 S3 and Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G in scale.

B&W 702 S3 vs Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of B&W 702 S3 and Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G Size and External Dimensions

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 Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G is approximately 1269.4cm2 / 196.8inch2. The 702 S3 requires 41% less surface area than the Silver 500 7G 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 Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G weighs 22.53kg / 49.6lbs. This makes the 702 S3 49% heavier than the Silver 500 7G.

Here is a comparison of how 702 S3 and Silver 500 7G's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.

Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
B&W 702 S3
Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G
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 Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G?

    Here are the items that come with the Silver 500 7G:
  • Floorstanding loudspeaker
  • Grille
  • 4 Outrigger feet
  • 4 Rubber feet (pre-installed on outrigger feet)
  • 4 Spikes
  • 4 Bolts
  • 4 Machine screws
  • 2 Foam port plugs
  • 2 Hex-keys
  • Owners Manual
  • Important Safety Instructions

  • Reasons to choose Bowers & Wilkins 702 S3 over Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G
    Max Input Power 300 watts vs 250 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    Number of Woofers 3 vs 2 More woofers
    Base Surface Area 750cm2 vs 1269cm2 Takes less floor space

    Reasons to choose Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G over Bowers & Wilkins 702 S3

    Sensitivity 91 dB vs 88 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Woofer Size 8 inches vs 6.5 inches Larger woofer
    Low Frequency Response 27 Hz vs 46 Hz Generates deeper bass
    High Frequency Response 35k Hz vs 28k Hz Generates higher frequency
    Height 1085mm vs 1138mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Price per pair* 3200USD vs 6998USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
    B&W 702 S3 vs Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General Bowers & Wilkins 702 S3 Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G
    Brand Bowers Wilkins Monitor Audio
    Speaker Type Floor-standing speaker Floor-standing speaker
    Power Range 30-300 watts 80-250 watts
    Sensitivity 90 dB 90.5 dB
    Impedance 8 ohms 8 ohms
    Impedance 3.1 ohms n/a
    Frequency Response 46-28k Hz 27-35k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 3 2
    Woofer Size 6.5" 8"
    Woofer Composition Aerofoil C-CAM RST II
    Woofer Surround Material Rubber Rubber
    Tweeter Size 1" 1"
    Tweeter Type n/a gold dome C-CAM with Uniform Dispersion (UD) Waveguide II
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver 6" 3"
    Firing Direction rear rear
    Physical Specs
    Height 1138.0mm (44.8") 1085.0mm (42.7")
    Width 192.0mm (7.6") 323.0mm (12.7")
    Depth 391.0mm (15.4") 393.0mm (15.5")
    Weight 33.46kg (73.6lbs) 22.53kg (49.6lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
    Finish MDF/Lacquer MDF/Wood veneer
    Available Colors Gloss Black,Satin White,Mocha,Rosenut Oak
    Grille Yes Yes
    Moisture Resistancy No No
    Connections
    Biamp Inputs Yes Yes
    Other
    Parts Warranty 5 Years 5 Years
    Labor Warranty 5 Years 5 Years

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