In this review, we will be comparing 702 S3 and Lumina V, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Bowers Wilkins and Sonus Faber. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of B&W 702 S3 and Sonus Lumina V first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the B&W 702 S3 and Sonus Lumina V 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 Sonus Lumina V 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 Lumina V are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
B&W 702 S3 |
Sonus Lumina V |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.15-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6-inch |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
3 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
702 S3 features a 1" Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 3 x 6.5" Aerofoil Woofer . On the other hand, the Lumina V features a 1.15" high definition DAD Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" paper cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 260 and 2600 Hz.
Frequency Response
702 S3 has a frequency range of 46-28k Hz whereas Lumina V has a frequency range of 38-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 38Hz, the Lumina V 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 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Lumina V which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Lumina V can provide this impedance level.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 90 dBdB.
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.
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 Lumina V features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
B&W 702 S3's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
702 S3 has a rear firing port whereas Lumina V has a bottom firing ports. Sonus Lumina V'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 Sonus Lumina V'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 Sonus Lumina V has external dimensions of 1049.0 x 280.0 x 373.0mm ( 41.3 x 11 x 14.7inch) .
Sonus Lumina V is 89mm shorter and 18mm less deeper than B&W 702 S3 but it is also 88mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of B&W 702 S3 and Sonus Lumina V in scale.
Comparison image of B&W 702 S3 and Sonus Lumina V 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 Sonus Lumina V is approximately 1044.4cm2 / 161.9inch2. The 702 S3 requires 28% less surface area than the Lumina V 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 Sonus Lumina V weighs 22.50kg / 49.5lbs. This makes the 702 S3 49% heavier than the Lumina V.
Here is a comparison of how 702 S3 and Lumina V'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 Sonus Lumina V?
Here are the items that come with the Lumina V:
Floorstanding loudspeaker1 Manual 2 Jumpers2 Grilles 2 Fabric dust guards4 Spikes 4 Under spikes 4 Spikes locks
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
750cm2 (192x391mm)
vs
1044cm2 (280x373mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
| Low Frequency Response |
38 Hz
vs
46 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1049mm
vs
1138mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
2799USD
vs
6998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Bowers & Wilkins 702 S3 |
Sonus Faber Lumina V |
| Brand |
Bowers Wilkins |
Sonus Faber |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
30-300 watts |
50-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.1 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
46-28k Hz |
38-24k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
3 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aerofoil |
paper cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.15" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
high definition DAD |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6" |
6" |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
260 and 2600 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1138.0mm (44.8") |
1049.0mm (41.3") |
| Width |
192.0mm (7.6") |
280.0mm (11") |
| Depth |
391.0mm (15.4") |
373.0mm (14.7") |
| Weight |
33.46kg (73.6lbs) |
22.50kg (49.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
real multilayer wood |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black,Satin White,Mocha,Rosenut |
Black, Wenge, Walnut |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
|
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
|