In this review, we will be comparing 704 S3 and Silver 200 7G, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Bowers Wilkins and Monitor Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of B&W 704 S3 and Monitor Audio Silver 200 7G 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 )
Monitor Audio Silver 200 7G Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" gold dome C-CAM with uniform dispersion (UD) waveguide Tweeter
- 2 x 5.25" C-CAM RST II Woofer
- 34-35k Hz Frequency Response
- 87.5 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:60-150watts
- Weight:13.77kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 920.0" x 9-15/16" x 13-1/16"( 920.0 x 253.0 x 332.0mm )
What size room are the B&W 704 S3 and Monitor Audio Silver 200 7G 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 |
Monitor Audio Silver 200 7G |
| 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the B&W 704 S3 and Monitor Audio Silver 200 7G 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 Silver 200 7G 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 |
Monitor Audio Silver 200 7G |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
704 S3 features a 1" Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 2 x 5" Aerofoil Woofer . On the other hand, the Silver 200 7G features a 1" gold dome C-CAM with uniform dispersion (UD) waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" C-CAM RST II Woofer .
Frequency Response
704 S3 has a frequency range of 46-28k Hz whereas Silver 200 7G has a frequency range of 34-35k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 34Hz, the Silver 200 7G 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
Monitor Audio Silver 200 7G
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 Silver 200 7G 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 Silver 200 7G's is at 87.5 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.
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 Silver 200 7G 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 Monitor Audio Silver 200 7G'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 Monitor Audio Silver 200 7G has external dimensions of 920.0 x 253.0 x 332.0mm ( 36-3/16 x 9-15/16 x 13-1/16inch) .
B&W 704 S3 is 88mm narrower and 32mm less deeper than Monitor Audio Silver 200 7G but it is also 44mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of B&W 704 S3 and Monitor Audio Silver 200 7G in scale.
Comparison image of B&W 704 S3 and Monitor Audio Silver 200 7G 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 Monitor Audio Silver 200 7G is approximately 840.0cm2 / 130.2inch2. The 704 S3 requires 41% less surface area than the Silver 200 7G 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 Monitor Audio Silver 200 7G weighs 13.77kg / 30.3lbs. This makes the 704 S3 49% heavier than the Silver 200 7G.
Here is a comparison of how 704 S3 and Silver 200 7G's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Monitor Audio Silver 200 7G
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 Monitor Audio Silver 200 7G?
Here are the items that come with the Silver 200 7G:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille4 Outrigger feet4 Rubber feet (pre-installed on outrigger feet)4 Spikes4 Bolts4 Machine screws2 Foam port plugs2 Hex-keysOwners ManualImportant Safety Instructions
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Base Surface Area |
495cm2
vs
840cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
34 Hz
vs
46 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
920mm
vs
964mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
2100USD
vs
3998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Bowers & Wilkins 704 S3 |
Monitor Audio Silver 200 7G |
| Brand |
Bowers Wilkins |
Monitor Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
30-150 watts |
60-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
87.5 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.1 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
46-28k Hz |
34-35k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aerofoil |
C-CAM RST II |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
gold dome C-CAM with uniform dispersion (UD) waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5" |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
964.0mm (38") |
920.0mm (36.2") |
| Width |
165.0mm (6.5") |
253.0mm (10") |
| Depth |
300.0mm (11.8") |
332.0mm (13.1") |
| Weight |
20.53kg (45.2lbs) |
13.77kg (30.3lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black,Satin White,Mocha,Rosenut |
Oak |
| 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 |