In this review, we will be comparing 703 S3 and PerformaBe F226Be, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Bowers Wilkins and Revel. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of B&W 703 S3 and Revel PerformaBe F226Be first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the B&W 703 S3 and Revel PerformaBe F226Be 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 703 S3 and Revel PerformaBe F226Be 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 703 S3 and PerformaBe F226Be are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
B&W 703 S3 |
Revel PerformaBe F226Be |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6-inch |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
703 S3 features a 1" Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Aerofoil Woofer . On the other hand, the PerformaBe F226Be features a 1" beryllium dome with proprietary acoustic lens waveguide Tweeter , a 5.25" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" DCC Aluminum Woofer .
Frequency Response
703 S3 has a frequency range of 46-28k Hz whereas PerformaBe F226Be has a frequency range of 50-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the 703 S3 can go slightly deeper then the PerformaBe F226Be's min frequency of 50Hz.
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
703 S3 and PerformaBe F226Be have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 88 dB.
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 703 S3 and PerformaBe F226Be features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
B&W 703 S3's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
703 S3 has a rear firing port whereas PerformaBe F226Be has a front firing ports. Revel PerformaBe F226Be's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to B&W 703 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 703 S3's and Revel PerformaBe F226Be's external dimensions. B&W 703 S3 has external dimensions of 1117.0 x 192.0 x 353.0mm ( 44-inch x 7.6-inch x 13.9-inch) whereas Revel PerformaBe F226Be has external dimensions of 1050.0 x 250.0 x 350.0mm ( 41-5/16 x 9-13/16 x 13-3/4inch) .
Revel PerformaBe F226Be is 67mm shorter and 3mm less deeper than B&W 703 S3 but it is also 58mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of B&W 703 S3 and Revel PerformaBe F226Be in scale.
Comparison image of B&W 703 S3 and Revel PerformaBe F226Be 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 703 S3 is approximately 677.8cm2 / 105.1inch2 and base area of the Revel PerformaBe F226Be is approximately 875.0cm2 / 135.6inch2. The 703 S3 requires 23% less surface area than the PerformaBe F226Be 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 703 S3 weighs 28.81kg / 63.4lbs and the Revel PerformaBe F226Be weighs 26.36kg / 58lbs. This makes the 703 S3 9% heavier than the PerformaBe F226Be.
Here is a comparison of how 703 S3 and PerformaBe F226Be'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 703 S3?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 703 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 Revel PerformaBe F226Be?
Here are the items that come with the PerformaBe F226Be:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille4 Spike feet4 Locking rings4 Washers2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)Foam port plugOwners Manual
 Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
677cm2 (192x353mm)
vs
875cm2 (250x350mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
5998USD
vs
7700USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Height |
1050mm
vs
1117mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
Bowers & Wilkins 703 S3 |
Revel PerformaBe F226Be |
| Brand |
Bowers Wilkins |
Revel |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
30-200 watts |
50-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.1 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
46-28k Hz |
50-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aerofoil |
DCC Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
dome with proprietary acoustic lens waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6" |
5.25" |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1117.0mm (44") |
1050.0mm (41.3") |
| Width |
192.0mm (7.6") |
250.0mm (9.8") |
| Depth |
353.0mm (13.9") |
350.0mm (13.8") |
| Weight |
28.81kg (63.4lbs) |
26.36kg (58lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
Wood/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black,Satin White,Mocha,Rosenut |
Gloss 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 |