In this review, we will be comparing 704 S3 and Chora 826, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Bowers Wilkins and Focal.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of B&W 704 S3 and Focal Chora 826 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
B&W 704 S3 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Tweeter
- 5" Midrange
- 2 x 5" Aerofoil Woofer
- 46-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:30-150watts
- Weight:20.53kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 964.0" x 6.5" x 11.8"( 964.0 x 165.0 x 300.0mm )
Focal Chora 826 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" inverted dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Midrange
- 2 x 6.5" Slatefiber Woofer
- 6.5" Midrange
- 48-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 91 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:40-250watts
- Weight:21.15kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1053.0" x 12" x 15-7/8"( 1053.0 x 305.0 x 404.0mm )
What size room are the B&W 704 S3 and Focal Chora 826 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 |
Focal Chora 826 |
| 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 704 S3 and Focal Chora 826 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 Chora 826 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
B&W 704 S3 |
Focal Chora 826 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5-inch |
1 x 6.5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
704 S3 features a 1" Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 2 x 5" Aerofoil Woofer . On the other hand, the Chora 826 features a 1" TNF Al/Mg inverted dome Tweeter , a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Slatefiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 270Hz and 2700Hz.
Frequency Response
704 S3 has a frequency range of 46-28k Hz whereas Chora 826 has a frequency range of 48-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the 704 S3 can go slightly deeper then the Chora 826's min frequency of 48Hz.
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 and Chora 826 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. 704 S3 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Chora 826's is at 91 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Focal Chora 826 a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W 704 S3, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
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 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas 704 S3 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS , 100 watts less than the Chora 826.
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
704 S3 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Chora 826 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
B&W 704 S3's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Focal Chora 826's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
704 S3 has a rear firing port whereas Chora 826 has a front firing ports. Focal Chora 826's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to B&W 704 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 704 S3's and Focal Chora 826'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 Focal Chora 826 has external dimensions of 1053.0 x 305.0 x 404.0mm ( 41-1/2 x 12 x 15-7/8inch) .
Focal Chora 826 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 140mm wider, 89mm taller and 104mm deeper than B&W 704 S3.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of B&W 704 S3 and Focal Chora 826 in scale.
Comparison image of B&W 704 S3 and Focal Chora 826 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 Focal Chora 826 is approximately 1232.2cm2 / 191.0inch2. The 704 S3 requires 60% less surface area than the Chora 826 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.