In this review, we will be comparing 705 S3 and Elysian 1, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Bowers Wilkins and Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of B&W 705 S3 and Wharfedale Elysian 1 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | B&W 705 S3 | Wharfedale Elysian 1 |
|---|
| Brand | Bowers Wilkins
United Kingdom · founded 1966 | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Decoupled Carbon Dome | 27x90mm" AMT (Ribbon) |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Continuum | 7" Coated Fiberglass |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50-28k Hz | 49-22k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-120 watts | 25-175 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 9.58kg / 21.1lbs | 15.03kg / 33.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 16.3" x 7.6" x 13.3"
413.0 x 192.0 x 337.0mm | 18-24" x 10-3/8" x 12-7/16"
458.0 x 264.0 x 316.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the B&W 705 S3 and Wharfedale Elysian 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 |
Wharfedale Elysian 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both 705 S3 and Elysian 1 are 2-way speakers.
B&W 705 S3Wharfedale Elysian 1
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
B&W 705 S3 |
Wharfedale Elysian 1 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
27x90mm-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 7-inch
|
705 S3 features a 1" Decoupled Carbon Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Continuum Woofer. On the other hand, the Elysian 1 features a 27x90mm" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter and 1 x 7" Coated Fiberglass Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
705 S3 has a frequency range of 50-28k Hz whereas Elysian 1 has a frequency range of 49-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 49Hz, the Elysian 1 can go slightly deeper then the 705 S3's min frequency of 50Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
705 S3 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Elysian 1 which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Elysian 1 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. 705 S3 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Elysian 1's is rated at 89 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Elysian 1 a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W 705 S3, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Elysian 1 can handle a max power of 175 watts RMS, whereas 705 S3 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 55 watts less than the Elysian 1.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both 705 S3 and Elysian 1 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
B&W 705 S3's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Wharfedale Elysian 1's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
705 S3 has a rear firing port whereas Elysian 1 has a bottom firing ports. Wharfedale Elysian 1's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to B&W 705 S3 with its rear-firing port.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be 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 Wharfedale Elysian 1's external dimensions. B&W 705 S3 has external dimensions of 413.0 x 192.0 x 337.0mm (16.3-inch x 7.6-inch x 13.3-inch) whereas Wharfedale Elysian 1 has external dimensions of 458.0 x 264.0 x 316.0mm (18-24 x 10-3/8 x 12-7/16inch).
B&W 705 S3 is 72mm narrower and 45mm shorter than Wharfedale Elysian 1 but it is also 21mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of B&W 705 S3 and Wharfedale Elysian 1 in scale.
Comparison image of B&W 705 S3 and Wharfedale Elysian 1 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 705 S3 is approximately 647.0cm2 / 100.3inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale Elysian 1 is approximately 834.2cm2 / 129.3inch2. The 705 S3 requires 22% less surface area than the Elysian 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 Wharfedale Elysian 1 weighs 15.03kg / 33.1lbs. This makes the Elysian 1 57% heavier than the 705 S3.
Here is a comparison of how 705 S3 and Elysian 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 loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 2 Two-piece foam port plugs
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- 4 Jumper-straps
- Manual
- Bowers & Wilkins brochure
- Warranty Information
What's in the Box of Wharfedale Elysian 1?
Here are the items that come with the Elysian 1:
- 2 Stand-mount loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Terminal-jumpers (pre-installed)
- User Manual
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
413mm
vs
458mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
647cm2
vs
834cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
3398USD
vs
4995USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
175 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Minimum Impedance |
3.8 ohms
vs
3.1 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
7 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
49 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Bowers & Wilkins 705 S3 |
Wharfedale Elysian 1 |
| Brand |
Bowers Wilkins |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-120 watts |
25-175 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.1 ohms |
3.8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50-28k Hz |
49-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
7" |
| Woofer Composition |
Continuum |
Coated Fiberglass |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Foamed Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
27x90mm" |
| Tweeter Type |
Decoupled Carbon Dome |
AMT (Ribbon) |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
413.0mm (16.3") |
458.0mm (18") |
| Width |
192.0mm (7.6") |
264.0mm (10.4") |
| Depth |
337.0mm (13.3") |
316.0mm (12.4") |
| Weight |
9.58kg (21.1lbs) |
15.03kg (33.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black,Satin White,Mocha,Rosenut |
Piano Black, Piano Walnut,White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-26" |
18-24" |
| 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 |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (50Hz vs 49Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (88dB vs 89dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | A | B&W 705 S3 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | B | Wharfedale Elysian 1 takes more power (175W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | B&W 705 S3 is easier to place; Wharfedale Elysian 1 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | B&W 705 S3: bi-amping; Wharfedale Elysian 1: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | B&W 705 S3 is cheaper - $3,398 against $4,995, about 32% less. |
A B&W 705 S3 B Wharfedale Elysian 1
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. In a large or open-plan room, Wharfedale Elysian 1 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, B&W 705 S3 is the easier speaker to get right. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, B&W 705 S3 is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.