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.
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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the B&W 704 S3 and ELAC VELA FS 407 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 704 S3 and VELA FS 407 are 3-way speakers.
| 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.
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
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. 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.
704 S3 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas VELA FS 407 has a max power handling value of 130 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the 704 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 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
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 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 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 ELAC VELA FS 407?
Here are the items that come with the VELA FS 407:
Floorstanding loudspeakerBase plate2 Jumper straps (pre-installed)4 Spikes4 Pucks4 Rubber pads4 Machine screws4 WashersHex-keyOperating 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 (165x300mm)
vs
613cm2 (224x274mm)
|
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 |