In this review, we will be comparing 702 S3 and Sonetto III, 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 Sonetto III first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the B&W 702 S3 and Sonus Sonetto III 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 Sonetto III 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 Sonetto III are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
B&W 702 S3 |
Sonus Sonetto III |
|
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-inch
|
702 S3 features a 1" Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 3 x 6.5" Aerofoil Woofer . On the other hand, the Sonetto III features a 1.15" high definition DAD Dome Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 2 x 6" aluminum cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 220 and 3.250 Hz.
Frequency Response
702 S3 has a frequency range of 46-28k Hz whereas Sonetto III has a frequency range of 42-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the Sonetto III can go slightly deeper then 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 Sonetto III 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 Sonetto III can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. 702 S3 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Sonetto III's is rated at 89 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Sonus Sonetto III 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 Sonetto III 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 Sonetto III 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
Sonus Sonetto III's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
702 S3 has a rear firing port whereas Sonetto III has a bottom firing ports. Sonus Sonetto III'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 Sonetto III'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 Sonetto III has external dimensions of 1018.0 x 219.0 x 305.0mm ( 40 x 9 x 12inch) .
Sonus Sonetto III is 120mm shorter and 86mm less deeper than B&W 702 S3 but it is also 27mm 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 Sonus Sonetto III is approximately 668.0cm2 / 103.5inch2. The 702 S3 requires 12% more surface area than the Sonetto III 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 Sonus Sonetto III weighs 16.00kg / 35.2lbs. This makes the 702 S3 109% heavier than the Sonetto III.
Here is a comparison of how 702 S3 and Sonetto III'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 Sonetto III?
Here are the items that come with the Sonetto III:
8 Spikes8 Under Spikes8 Spike locks2 Masks2 Fabric dust guards2 Basis16 Locking screws2 Jumpers1 Allen Wrench1 Manual
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
250 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
| Low Frequency Response |
42 Hz
vs
46 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1018mm
vs
1138mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
668cm2 (219x305mm)
vs
750cm2 (192x391mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Bowers & Wilkins 702 S3 |
Sonus Faber Sonetto III |
| Brand |
Bowers Wilkins |
Sonus Faber |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
30-300 watts |
50-250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.1 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
46-28k Hz |
42-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
3 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aerofoil |
aluminum cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.15" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
high definition DAD Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6" |
6" |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
220 and 3.250 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1138.0mm (44.8") |
1018.0mm (40.1") |
| Width |
192.0mm (7.6") |
219.0mm (8.6") |
| Depth |
391.0mm (15.4") |
305.0mm (12") |
| Weight |
33.46kg (73.6lbs) |
16.00kg (35.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black,Satin White,Mocha,Rosenut |
Wood, White, Black, Wenge |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
|
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
|