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B&W 702 S3 vs Wharfedale Elysian 4 Comparison

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B&W 702 S3

Passive Floor-standing | 46-28k Hz

Bowers & Wilkins 702 S3
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Wharfedale Elysian 4

Passive Floor-standing | 30-22k Hz

Wharfedale Elysian 4
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B&W 702 S3 B&W 702 S3
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Wharfedale Elysian 4 Wharfedale Elysian 4
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B&W 702 S3
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Wharfedale Elysian 4
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B&W 702 S3 vs Wharfedale Elysian 4 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing 702 S3 and Elysian 4, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Bowers Wilkins and Wharfedale.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of B&W 702 S3 and Wharfedale Elysian 4 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 )

Wharfedale Elysian 4 Key Specs

  • 3-way Design
  • 27x90mm" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter
  • 6" Midrange
  • 2 x 8.5" Coated Fiberglass Woofer
  • 6" Midrange
  • 30-22k Hz Frequency Response
  • 92 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 4ohms
  • Power Range:15-250watts
  • Weight:49.60kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 1188.0" x 15-13/16" x 18-3/16"( 1188.0 x 402.0 x 462.0mm )

What size room are the B&W 702 S3 and Wharfedale Elysian 4 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 Wharfedale Elysian 4
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 Wharfedale Elysian 4 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 Elysian 4 are 3-way speakers.

Driver B&W 702 S3 Wharfedale Elysian 4
Driver Setup 3-way 3-way
Tweeter 1-inch 27x90mm-inch
Midrange 1 x 6-inch 1 x 6-inch
Woofer 3 x 6.5-inch 2 x 8.5-inch

702 S3 features a 1" Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 3 x 6.5" Aerofoil Woofer . On the other hand, the Elysian 4 features a 27x90mm" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 2 x 8.5" Coated Fiberglass Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 340Hz and 3100Hz.

Frequency Response

702 S3 has a frequency range of 46-28k Hz whereas Elysian 4 has a frequency range of 30-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 30Hz, the Elysian 4 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
Elysian 4
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Floor-standing Speakers

B&W 702 S3
Wharfedale Elysian 4
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 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Elysian 4 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 Elysian 4 can provide this impedance level.

These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. 702 S3 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Elysian 4's is rated at 92 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Elysian 4 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
Elysian 4
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 Elysian 4 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 Elysian 4 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

702 S3 has a rear firing port whereas Elysian 4 has a bottom firing ports. Wharfedale Elysian 4'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 Wharfedale Elysian 4'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 Wharfedale Elysian 4 has external dimensions of 1188.0 x 402.0 x 462.0mm ( 46-3/4 x 15-13/16 x 18-3/16inch) .

Wharfedale Elysian 4 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 210mm wider, 50mm taller and 71mm 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 Wharfedale Elysian 4 is approximately 1857.2cm2 / 287.9inch2. The 702 S3 requires 60% less surface area than the Elysian 4 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 Wharfedale Elysian 4 weighs 49.60kg / 109.1lbs. This makes the Elysian 4 48% heavier than the 702 S3.

Here is a comparison of how 702 S3 and Elysian 4's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.

Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
B&W 702 S3
Wharfedale Elysian 4
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 Wharfedale Elysian 4?

    Here are the items that come with the Elysian 4:
  • Floorstanding loudspeaker
  • Grille
  • 2 Terminal-jumpers (pre-installed)
  • 4 Spike feet
  • User Manual

  • Reasons to choose Bowers & Wilkins 702 S3 over Wharfedale Elysian 4
    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
    Number of Woofers 3 vs 2 More woofers
    High Frequency Response 28k Hz vs 22k Hz Generates higher frequency
    Height 1138mm vs 1188mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 750cm2 vs 1857cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 6998USD vs 9996USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

    Reasons to choose Wharfedale Elysian 4 over Bowers & Wilkins 702 S3

    Sensitivity 92 dB vs 88 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Woofer Size 8.5 inches vs 6.5 inches Larger woofer
    Low Frequency Response 30 Hz vs 46 Hz Generates deeper bass
    B&W 702 S3 vs Wharfedale Elysian 4 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General Bowers & Wilkins 702 S3 Wharfedale Elysian 4
    Brand Bowers Wilkins Wharfedale
    Speaker Type Floor-standing speaker Floor-standing speaker
    Power Range 30-300 watts 15-250 watts
    Sensitivity 90 dB 92 dB
    Impedance 8 ohms 4 ohms
    Impedance 3.1 ohms n/a
    Frequency Response 46-28k Hz 30-22k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 3 2
    Woofer Size 6.5" 8.5"
    Woofer Composition Aerofoil Coated Fiberglass
    Woofer Surround Material Rubber Foamed Rubber
    Tweeter Size 1" 27x90mm"
    Tweeter Type n/a AMT (Ribbon)
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver 6" 6"
    Crossover Frequency n/a 340Hz and 3100Hz
    Firing Direction rear bottom
    Physical Specs
    Height 1138.0mm (44.8") 1188.0mm (46.8")
    Width 192.0mm (7.6") 402.0mm (15.8")
    Depth 391.0mm (15.4") 462.0mm (18.2")
    Weight 33.46kg (73.6lbs) 49.60kg (109.1lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
    Finish MDF/Lacquer MDF/Lacquer
    Available Colors Gloss Black,Satin White,Mocha,Rosenut Piano Black, Piano Walnut,White
    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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