In this review, we will be comparing 704 S3 and VELA FS 407, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Bowers Wilkins and ELAC.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of B&W 704 S3 and ELAC VELA FS 407 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | B&W 704 S3 | ELAC VELA FS 407 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" | handmade JET 5 folded ribbon |
|---|
| Midrange | 5" | 6" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5" Aerofoil | 6" Aluminum/Paper |
|---|
| Frequency response | 46-28k Hz | 30-50k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-150 watts | 40-130 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 20.53kg / 45.2lbs | 19.14kg / 42.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 38" x 6.5" x 11.8"
964.0 x 165.0 x 300.0mm | 40-1/4" x 8-13/16" x 10-3/4"
1023.0 x 224.0 x 274.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the B&W 704 S3 and ELAC VELA FS 407 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 704 S3 |
ELAC VELA FS 407 |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
(* 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.
**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both 704 S3 and VELA FS 407 are 3-way speakers.
B&W 704 S3ELAC VELA FS 407
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 704 S3 |
ELAC VELA FS 407 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5-inch |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5-inch
|
1 x 6-inch
|
704 S3 features a 1" Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 2 x 5" Aerofoil Woofer. On the other hand, the VELA FS 407 features a " handmade JET 5 folded ribbon Tweeter, a 6" Midrange and 1 x 6" Aluminum/Paper Woofer.
Frequency Response
704 S3 has a frequency range of 46-28k Hz whereas VELA FS 407 has a frequency range of 30-50k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 30Hz, the VELA FS 407 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 704 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
704 S3 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the VELA FS 407 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 VELA FS 407 can provide this impedance level.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 88 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.
704 S3 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas VELA FS 407 has a max power handling value of 130 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the 704 S3.
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 704 S3 and VELA FS 407 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
B&W 704 S3's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
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 704 S3's and ELAC VELA FS 407's external dimensions. B&W 704 S3 has external dimensions of 964.0 x 165.0 x 300.0mm (38-inch x 6.5-inch x 11.8-inch) whereas ELAC VELA FS 407 has external dimensions of 1023.0 x 224.0 x 274.0mm (40-1/4 x 8-13/16 x 10-3/4inch).
B&W 704 S3 is 59mm narrower and 59mm shorter than ELAC VELA FS 407 but it is also 26mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of B&W 704 S3 and ELAC VELA FS 407 in scale.
Comparison image of B&W 704 S3 and ELAC VELA FS 407 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 704 S3 is approximately 495.0cm2 / 76.7inch2 and base area of the ELAC VELA FS 407 is approximately 613.8cm2 / 95.1inch2. The 704 S3 requires 19% less surface area than the VELA FS 407 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 704 S3 weighs 20.53kg / 45.2lbs and the ELAC VELA FS 407 weighs 19.14kg / 42.1lbs. This makes the 704 S3 7% heavier than the VELA FS 407.
Here is a comparison of how 704 S3 and VELA FS 407'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 704 S3?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 704 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 ELAC VELA FS 407?
Here are the items that come with the VELA FS 407:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Base plate
- 2 Jumper straps (pre-installed)
- 4 Spikes
- 4 Pucks
- 4 Rubber pads
- 4 Machine screws
- 4 Washers
- Hex-key
- Operating And Safety Instructions
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
130 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
 Height |
964mm
vs
1023mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
495cm2
vs
613cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
3998USD
vs
5800USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
|
Woofer Size |
6 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
30 Hz
vs
46 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
50k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| General |
Bowers & Wilkins 704 S3 |
ELAC VELA FS 407 |
| Brand |
Bowers Wilkins |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
30-150 watts |
40-130 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.1 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
46-28k Hz |
30-50k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
6" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aerofoil |
Aluminum/Paper |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
- |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
handmade JET 5 folded ribbon |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5" |
6" |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
964.0mm (38") |
1023.0mm (40.3") |
| Width |
165.0mm (6.5") |
224.0mm (8.8") |
| Depth |
300.0mm (11.8") |
274.0mm (10.8") |
| Weight |
20.53kg (45.2lbs) |
19.14kg (42.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
MDF/Aluminum |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black,Satin White,Mocha,Rosenut |
Gloss Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
A generation apart: B&W 704 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 |
ELAC VELA FS 407 digs deeper - 30Hz against 46Hz. |
| Amplifier needs |
evenly matched |
Similar sensitivity (88dB vs 88dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match |
A |
B&W 704 S3 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom |
evenly matched |
Similar power handling (150W vs 130W). |
| Size |
depends |
B&W 704 S3 is easier to place; ELAC VELA FS 407 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability |
depends |
B&W 704 S3: bi-amping; ELAC VELA FS 407: bi-amping. B&W 704 S3 sits in a wider range (8 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price |
A |
B&W 704 S3 is cheaper - $3,998 against $5,800, about 31% less. |
A B&W 704 S3
B ELAC VELA FS 407
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 46Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper B&W 704 S3 much easier to justify. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, B&W 704 S3 is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.