In this review, we will be comparing 705 S3 and Kanta No.1, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Bowers Wilkins and Focal.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of B&W 705 S3 and Focal Kanta No.1 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
B&W 705 S3 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Decoupled Carbon Dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Continuum Woofer
- 50-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:30-120watts
- Weight:9.58kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 413.0" x 7.6" x 13.3"( 413.0 x 192.0 x 297.0mm )
Focal Kanta No.1 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1.1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Flax Woofer
- 46-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:25-150watts
- Weight:13.05kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 609.6" x 9-1/4" x 15-7/16"( 609.6 x 228.6 x 393.0mm )
What size room are the B&W 705 S3 and Focal Kanta No.1 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 705 S3 |
Focal Kanta No.1 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| 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 705 S3 and Focal Kanta No.1 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 705 S3 and Kanta No.1 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
B&W 705 S3 |
Focal Kanta No.1 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
705 S3 features a 1" Decoupled Carbon Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Continuum Woofer . On the other hand, the Kanta No.1 features a 1.1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Flax Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2400 Hz.
Frequency Response
705 S3 has a frequency range of 50-28k Hz whereas Kanta No.1 has a frequency range of 46-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the Kanta No.1 can go slightly deeper then the 705 S3's min frequency of 50Hz.
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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf 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
705 S3 and Kanta No.1 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 88 dB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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.
705 S3 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas 705 S3 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS , 30 watts less than the Kanta No.1.
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
705 S3 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Kanta No.1 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
B&W 705 S3's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Focal Kanta No.1's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both 705 S3 and Kanta No.1 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 705 S3's and Focal Kanta No.1's external dimensions. B&W 705 S3 has external dimensions of 413.0 x 192.0 x 297.0mm ( 16.3-inch x 7.6-inch x 13.3-inch) whereas Focal Kanta No.1 has external dimensions of 609.6 x 228.6 x 393.0mm ( 24-28inch x 9-1/4inch x 15-7/16inch ) .
Focal Kanta No.1 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 36.6mm wider, 196.6mm taller and 96mm deeper than B&W 705 S3.
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 705 S3 is approximately 570.2cm2 / 88.4inch2 and base area of the Focal Kanta No.1 is approximately 898.4cm2 / 139.3inch2. The 705 S3 requires 37% less surface area than the Kanta No.1 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 705 S3 weighs 9.58kg / 21.1lbs and the Focal Kanta No.1 weighs 13.05kg / 28.7lbs. This makes the Kanta No.1 36% heavier than the 705 S3.
Here is a comparison of how 705 S3 and Kanta No.1's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of B&W 705 S3?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 705 S3:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers2 Grilles2 Two-piece foam port plugs8 Self-adhesive rubber feet4 Jumper-straps Manual Bowers & Wilkins brochureWarranty Information
What's in the Box of Focal Kanta No.1?
Here are the items that come with the Kanta No.1:
Bookshelf loudspeakerGrillePort plug4 Slicone padsUser Manual
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
413mm
vs
609mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
570cm2
vs
898cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
3398USD
vs
7998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Minimum Impedance |
3.9 ohms
vs
3.1 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| General |
Bowers & Wilkins 705 S3 |
Focal Kanta No.1 |
| Brand |
Bowers Wilkins |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-120 watts |
25-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.1 ohms |
3.9 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50-28k Hz |
46-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Continuum |
Flax |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Decoupled Carbon Dome |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2400 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
413.0mm (16.3") |
609.6mm (24") |
| Width |
192.0mm (7.6") |
228.6mm (9") |
| Depth |
297.0mm (11.7") |
393.0mm (15.5") |
| Weight |
9.58kg (21.1lbs) |
13.05kg (28.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
Multi-ply/Polymer/Veneer |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black,Satin White,Mocha,Rosenut |
High-Gloss Carrara White, High-Gloss Black/Deep Black, Matte Walnut/Dark Grey,Matte Walnut/Ivory |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-26" |
24-28" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |