In this review, we will be comparing 703 S3 and Sonetto 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 703 S3 and Sonus Sonetto V first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | B&W 703 S3 | Sonus Sonetto V |
|---|
| Brand | Bowers Wilkins
United Kingdom · founded 1966 | Sonus faber
Italy · founded 1983 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" | 1.15" high definition DAD Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 6" | 6" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" Aerofoil | 2 x 7" aluminum cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 46-28k Hz | 38-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-200 watts | 50-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 28.81kg / 63.4lbs | 22.60kg / 49.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 44" x 7.6" x 13.9"
1117.0 x 192.0 x 353.0mm | 42" x 10" x 16"
1072.0 x 258.0 x 409.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the B&W 703 S3 and Sonus Sonetto 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:
| Listening Environment* |
B&W 703 S3 |
Sonus Sonetto V |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both 703 S3 and Sonetto V are 3-way speakers.
B&W 703 S3Sonus Sonetto V
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
B&W 703 S3 |
Sonus Sonetto V |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.15-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6-inch |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 7-inch
|
703 S3 features a 1" Tweeter, a 6" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Aerofoil Woofer. On the other hand, the Sonetto V features a 1.15" high definition DAD Dome Tweeter, a 6" Midrange and 2 x 7" aluminum cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 235 and 3.000 Hz.
Frequency Response
703 S3 has a frequency range of 46-28k Hz whereas Sonetto V has a frequency range of 38-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 38Hz, the Sonetto V can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 703 S3's min frequency of 46Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
703 S3 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Sonetto 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 Sonetto 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Sonetto V can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS, whereas 703 S3 has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the Sonetto V.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both 703 S3 and Sonetto V 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
Sonus Sonetto V's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
703 S3 has a rear firing port whereas Sonetto V has a bottom firing ports. Sonus Sonetto V's bottom-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
The size of a speaker can sometimes be 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 Sonus Sonetto V'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 Sonus Sonetto V has external dimensions of 1072.0 x 258.0 x 409.0mm (42 x 10 x 16inch).
B&W 703 S3 is 66mm narrower and 56mm less deeper than Sonus Sonetto V but it is also 45mm taller.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Sonus Sonetto V needs about 56% more floor or shelf area. Sonus Sonetto V is 56mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. B&W 703 S3 is 45mm taller.
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 Sonus Sonetto V is approximately 1055.2cm2 / 163.6inch2. The 703 S3 requires 36% less surface area than the Sonetto 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 703 S3 weighs 28.81kg / 63.4lbs and the Sonus Sonetto V weighs 22.60kg / 49.7lbs. This makes the 703 S3 27% heavier than the Sonetto V.
Here is a comparison of how 703 S3 and Sonetto 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 703 S3?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 703 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 Sonus Sonetto V?
Here are the items that come with the Sonetto V:
- 8 Spikes
- 8 Under Spikes
- 8 Spike locks
- 2 Masks
- 2 Fabric dust guards
- 2 Basis
- 16 Locking screws
- 2 Jumpers
- 1 Allen Wrench
- 1 Manual
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
677cm2
vs
1055cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
7 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
38 Hz
vs
46 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1072mm
vs
1117mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
4499USD
vs
5998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Bowers & Wilkins 703 S3 |
Sonus faber Sonetto V |
| Brand |
Bowers Wilkins |
Sonus faber |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
30-200 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 |
38-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
7" |
| 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 |
235 and 3.000 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1117.0mm (44") |
1072.0mm (42.2") |
| Width |
192.0mm (7.6") |
258.0mm (10.2") |
| Depth |
353.0mm (13.9") |
409.0mm (16.1") |
| Weight |
28.81kg (63.4lbs) |
22.60kg (49.7lbs) |
| 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 |
|
A generation apart: B&W 703 S3 is the newer design, against a 2018 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Sonus Sonetto V digs deeper - 38Hz against 46Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Sonus Sonetto V is more sensitive (90dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | B&W 703 S3 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | B | Sonus Sonetto V takes more power (300W vs 200W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | B&W 703 S3 is easier to place; Sonus Sonetto V is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | B&W 703 S3: bi-amping; Sonus Sonetto V: bi-amping. Sonus Sonetto V sits in a wider range (11 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Sonus Sonetto V is cheaper - $4,499 against $5,998, about 25% less. |
A B&W 703 S3 B Sonus Sonetto V
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Sonus Sonetto V is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take B&W 703 S3 if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 46Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate B&W 703 S3 the better fit for a mid-size room, and Sonus Sonetto V for a very large room.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.