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.
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 )
Wharfedale Elysian 1 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 27x90mm" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter
- 7" Coated Fiberglass Woofer
- 49-22k Hz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:25-175watts
- Weight:15.03kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 458.0" 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the B&W 705 S3 and Wharfedale Elysian 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 Elysian 1 are 2-way speakers.
| 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.
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 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. 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 175 watts RMS from the amp the whereas 705 S3 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS , 55 watts less than the Elysian 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
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
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 Wharfedale Elysian 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 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) .
Wharfedale Elysian 1 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 72mm wider, 45mm taller and 19mm deeper than B&W 705 S3.
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 570.2cm2 / 88.4inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale Elysian 1 is approximately 834.2cm2 / 129.3inch2. The 705 S3 requires 32% less surface area than the Elysian 1 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.