In this review, we will be comparing 702 S3 and S50, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Bowers Wilkins and Polk Audio. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of B&W 702 S3 and Polk S50 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the B&W 702 S3 and Polk S50 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 Polk S50 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that 702 S3 is a 3-way design whereas the S50 is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
Driver |
B&W 702 S3 |
Polk S50 |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6-inch |
- |
Woofer
|
3 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
702 S3 features a 1" Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 3 x 6.5" Aerofoil Woofer . On the other hand, the S50 features a 1" Terylene Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
702 S3 has a frequency range of 46-28k Hz whereas S50 has a frequency range of 33-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 33Hz, the S50 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
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 S50 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 S50's is at 89 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Polk S50 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 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas S50 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 150 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 S50 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
702 S3 has a rear firing port whereas S50 has a bottom firing ports. Polk S50's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to B&W 702 S3 with its rear-firing port.
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 Polk S50'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 Polk S50 has external dimensions of 951.0 x 262.0 x 281.0mm ( 37-7/16 x 10-5/16 x 11-1/16inch) .
Polk S50 is 187mm shorter and 110mm less deeper than B&W 702 S3 but it is also 70mm wider.
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 Polk S50 is approximately 736.2cm2 / 114.1inch2. The 702 S3 requires 2% more surface area than the S50 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Polk S50 weighs 14.50kg / 31.9lbs. This makes the 702 S3 131% heavier than the S50.
Here is a comparison of how 702 S3 and S50'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 Polk S50?
Here are the items that come with the S50:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille (attached)4 Feet (pre-installed)Owners ManualOnline Product Registration
Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Low Frequency Response |
33 Hz
vs
46 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Height |
951mm
vs
1138mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
736cm2 (262x281mm)
vs
750cm2 (192x391mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
General |
Bowers & Wilkins 702 S3 |
Polk Audio Signature S50 |
Brand |
Bowers Wilkins |
Polk Audio |
Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
Power Range |
30-300 watts |
20-150 watts |
Sensitivity |
90 dB |
89 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
Impedance |
3.1 ohms |
n/a |
Frequency Response |
46-28k Hz |
33-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
3 |
2 |
Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
Woofer Composition |
Aerofoil |
Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Butyl rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
6" |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2500Hz |
Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
1138.0mm (44.8") |
951.0mm (37.4") |
Width |
192.0mm (7.6") |
262.0mm (10.3") |
Depth |
391.0mm (15.4") |
281.0mm (11.1") |
Weight |
33.46kg (73.6lbs) |
14.50kg (31.9lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
Meddite MDF |
Available Colors |
Gloss Black,Satin White,Mocha,Rosenut |
Black |
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 |