In this review, we will be comparing 704 S3 and Q950, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Bowers Wilkins and KEF. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of B&W 704 S3 and KEF Q950 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the B&W 704 S3 and KEF Q950 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 KEF Q950 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that 704 S3 is a 3-way design whereas the Q950 is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
Driver |
B&W 704 S3 |
KEF Q950 |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.5-inch
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5-inch |
- |
Woofer
|
2 x 5-inch
|
2 x 8.0-inch
|
704 S3 features a 1" Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 2 x 5" Aerofoil Woofer . On the other hand, the Q950 features a 1.5" vented aluminum Dome Tweeter and 2 x 8.0" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200Hz.
Frequency Response
704 S3 has a frequency range of 46-28k Hz whereas Q950 has a frequency range of 44-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the Q950 can go slightly deeper then 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 and Q950 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 Q950's is at 91 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the KEF Q950 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 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas 704 S3 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the Q950.
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. Q950 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
704 S3 has a rear firing port whereas Q950 has a front firing ports. KEF Q950'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 KEF Q950'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 KEF Q950 has external dimensions of 1117.0 x 362.0 x 315.0mm ( 43-15/16 x 14-1/4 x 12-3/8inch) .
KEF Q950 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 197mm wider, 153mm taller and 15mm deeper than B&W 704 S3.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of B&W 704 S3 and KEF Q950 in scale.
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 KEF Q950 is approximately 1140.3cm2 / 176.7inch2. The 704 S3 requires 57% less surface area than the Q950 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 KEF Q950 weighs 20.68kg / 45.5lbs. This makes the Q950 1% heavier than the 704 S3.
Here is a comparison of how 704 S3 and Q950'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 KEF Q950?
Here are the items that come with the Q950:
Floorstanding loudspeaker2 Outrigger feet4 Spikes6 Screws6 Washers4 Rubber insertsHex-keyOwners ManualWarranty Information
Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
Height |
964mm
vs
1117mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
495cm2 (165x300mm)
vs
1140cm2 (362x315mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Minimum Impedance |
3.2 ohms
vs
3.1 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
Woofer Size |
8.0 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
44 Hz
vs
46 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
Passive Radiator |
2 x 8-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Optional
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
Price per pair* |
2200USD
vs
3998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
General |
Bowers & Wilkins 704 S3 |
KEF Q950 |
Brand |
Bowers Wilkins |
KEF |
Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
Power Range |
30-150 watts |
15-200 watts |
Sensitivity |
88 dB |
91 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
Impedance |
3.1 ohms |
3.2 ohms |
Frequency Response |
46-28k Hz |
44-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
Woofer Size |
5" |
8.0" |
Woofer Composition |
Aerofoil |
Aluminum |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.5" |
Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
5" |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2200Hz |
Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
964.0mm (38") |
1117.0mm (44") |
Width |
165.0mm (6.5") |
362.0mm (14.3") |
Depth |
300.0mm (11.8") |
315.0mm (12.4") |
Weight |
20.53kg (45.2lbs) |
20.68kg (45.5lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Passive Radiator |
Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
Available Colors |
Gloss Black,Satin White,Mocha,Rosenut |
Walnut |
Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |