In this review, we will be comparing 704 S3 and R7, 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 R7 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 )
KEF R7 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Dome Tweeter
- 5" Midrange
- 2 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer
- 5" Midrange
- 48-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:15-250watts
- Weight:31.40kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1113.0" x 8" x 15-5/16"( 1113.0 x 200.0 x 389.0mm )
What size room are the B&W 704 S3 and KEF R7 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 |
KEF R7 |
| 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 KEF R7 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 704 S3 and R7 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
B&W 704 S3 |
KEF R7 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5-inch |
1 x 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 R7 features a 1" aluminum Dome Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 400Hz and 2900Hz.
Frequency Response
704 S3 has a frequency range of 46-28k Hz whereas R7 has a frequency range of 48-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the 704 S3 can go slightly deeper then the R7'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 R7 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 88 dB.
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 R7.
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 R7 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
KEF R7's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both 704 S3 and R7 have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
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 R7'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 R7 has external dimensions of 1113.0 x 200.0 x 389.0mm ( 43-13/16 x 8 x 15-5/16inch) .
KEF R7 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 35mm wider, 149mm taller and 89mm deeper than B&W 704 S3.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of B&W 704 S3 and KEF R7 in scale.
Comparison image of B&W 704 S3 and KEF R7 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 KEF R7 is approximately 778.0cm2 / 120.6inch2. The 704 S3 requires 36% less surface area than the R7 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 R7 weighs 31.40kg / 69.1lbs. This makes the R7 53% heavier than the 704 S3.
Here is a comparison of how 704 S3 and R7'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 R7?
Here are the items that come with the R7:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille2 Foam port plugs4 Outrigger feet4 Spikes4 Protective discs4 Screws4 WashersWrenchHex-keyUser ManualWarranty Information
 Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
48 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
964mm
vs
1113mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
495cm2
vs
778cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
3998USD
vs
4500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Minimum Impedance |
3.2 ohms
vs
3.1 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
|
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| General |
Bowers & Wilkins 704 S3 |
KEF R7 |
| Brand |
Bowers Wilkins |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
30-150 watts |
15-250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.1 ohms |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
46-28k Hz |
48-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aerofoil |
Hybrid Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5" |
5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
400Hz and 2900Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
964.0mm (38") |
1113.0mm (43.8") |
| Width |
165.0mm (6.5") |
200.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
300.0mm (11.8") |
389.0mm (15.3") |
| Weight |
20.53kg (45.2lbs) |
31.40kg (69.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black,Satin White,Mocha,Rosenut |
Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |