B&W 703 S3 vs Sonus Sonetto V Comparison

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B&W 703 S3

Passive Floor-standing | 46-28k Hz

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Sonus Sonetto V

Passive Floor-standing | 38-25k Hz

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B&W 703 S3

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Sonus Sonetto V

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B&W 703 S3

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Sonus Sonetto V

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B&W 703 S3 vs Sonus Sonetto V Speaker Comparison

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.

B&W 703 S3 Key Specs

3-way Design

1" Tweeter

6" Midrange

2 x 6.5" Aerofoil Woofer

46-28k Hz Frequency Response

90 dB Sensitivity

Impedance: 8ohms

Power Range:30-200watts

Weight:28.81kg

Dimensions (H x W x D): 1117.0" x 7.6" x 13.9"( 1117.0 x 192.0 x 353.0mm )

Sonus Sonetto V Key Specs

3-way Design

1.15" high definition DAD Dome Tweeter

6" Midrange

2 x 7" aluminum cone Woofer

6" Midrange

38-25k Hz Frequency Response

90 dB Sensitivity

Impedance: 4ohms

Power Range:50-300watts

Weight:22.60kg

Dimensions (H x W x D): 1072.0" 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.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the B&W 703 S3 and Sonus Sonetto V 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 703 S3 and Sonetto V are 3-way speakers.

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.

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

703 S3

Sonetto V

Min

Average

Max

High Frequency

Floor-standing Speakers

B&W 703 S3

Sonus Sonetto V

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

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

703 S3

Sonetto V

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.

703 S3 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas 703 S3 has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS , 100 watts less than the Sonetto V.

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 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

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 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.

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

B&W 703 S3

Sonus Sonetto V

Min

Average

Max

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

Reasons to choose Bowers & Wilkins 703 S3 over Sonus Faber Sonetto V

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

Reasons to choose Sonus Faber Sonetto V over Bowers & Wilkins 703 S3

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

B&W 703 S3 vs Sonus Sonetto V Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

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