In this review, we will be comparing 707 S3 and LS50 Meta, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Bowers Wilkins and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of B&W 707 S3 and KEF LS50 Meta first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | B&W 707 S3 | KEF LS50 Meta |
|---|
| Brand | Bowers Wilkins
United Kingdom · founded 1966 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 12th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Decoupled Carbon Dome | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" Continuum | 5.25" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50-28k Hz | 79-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 84 dB | 85 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-100 watts | 40-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.16kg / 13.6lbs | 7.82kg / 17.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11.8" x 6.5" x 11.2"
300.0 x 165.0 x 284.0mm | 11-15/16" x 7.875" x 11-1/16"
303.0 x 201.0 x 281.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the B&W 707 S3 and KEF LS50 Meta 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 707 S3 |
KEF LS50 Meta |
| Near-field |
Average |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
Bad |
(* 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.
**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both 707 S3 and LS50 Meta are 2-way speakers.
B&W 707 S3KEF LS50 Meta
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 707 S3 |
KEF LS50 Meta |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
707 S3 features a 1" Decoupled Carbon Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Continuum Woofer. On the other hand, the LS50 Meta features a 1" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2100Hz.
Frequency Response
707 S3 has a frequency range of 50-28k Hz whereas LS50 Meta has a frequency range of 79-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the 707 S3 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the LS50 Meta's min frequency of 79Hz.
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
707 S3 and LS50 Meta have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. 707 S3 sensitivity is rated at 84 dB and the LS50 Meta's is at 85 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the KEF LS50 Meta a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W 707 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.
Both handle the same maximum of 100 watts RMS, though 707 S3 is rated 30-100 watts and LS50 Meta 40-100 watts.
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
707 S3 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. LS50 Meta has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
B&W 707 S3's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
KEF LS50 Meta's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both 707 S3 and LS50 Meta 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
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 707 S3's and KEF LS50 Meta's external dimensions. B&W 707 S3 has external dimensions of 300.0 x 165.0 x 284.0mm (1.8-inch x 6.5-inch x 11.2-inch) whereas KEF LS50 Meta has external dimensions of 303.0 x 201.0 x 281.0mm (11-15/16 x 7.875 x 11-1/16inch).
B&W 707 S3 is 36mm narrower and 3mm shorter than KEF LS50 Meta but it is also 3mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of B&W 707 S3 and KEF LS50 Meta in scale.
Comparison image of B&W 707 S3 and KEF LS50 Meta 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 707 S3 is approximately 468.6cm2 / 72.6inch2 and base area of the KEF LS50 Meta is approximately 564.8cm2 / 87.5inch2. The 707 S3 requires 17% less surface area than the LS50 Meta which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of B&W 707 S3 and KEF LS50 Meta on a Media Console
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 707 S3 weighs 6.16kg / 13.6lbs and the KEF LS50 Meta weighs 7.82kg / 17.2lbs. This makes the LS50 Meta 27% heavier than the 707 S3.
Here is a comparison of how 707 S3 and LS50 Meta'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 707 S3?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 707 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 KEF LS50 Meta?
Here are the items that come with the LS50 Meta:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Foam port plugs
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Warranty Registration Card
 Minimum Impedance |
4.0 ohms
vs
3.5 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
79 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
300mm
vs
303mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
468cm2
vs
564cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
85 dB
vs
84 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Price per pair* |
1600USD
vs
1799USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Bowers & Wilkins 707 S3 |
KEF LS50 Meta |
| Brand |
Bowers Wilkins |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-100 watts |
40-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
84 dB |
85 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4.0 ohms |
3.5 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50-28k Hz |
79-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Continuum |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Decoupled Carbon Dome |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2100Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
300.0mm (11.8") |
303.0mm (11.9") |
| Width |
165.0mm (6.5") |
201.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
284.0mm (11.2") |
281.0mm (11.1") |
| Weight |
6.16kg (13.6lbs) |
7.82kg (17.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
MDF/Polymer |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black,Satin White,Mocha,Rosenut |
Carbon Black,Titanium Grey,Royal Blue,Mineral White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-26" |
25-30" |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
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 | A | B&W 707 S3 digs deeper - 50Hz against 79Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (84dB vs 85dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (100W vs 100W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | A | B&W 707 S3: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | KEF LS50 Meta is cheaper - $1,600 against $1,799, about 11% less. |
A B&W 707 S3 B KEF LS50 Meta
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?
The usual trade-off: B&W 707 S3 measures better, KEF LS50 Meta costs about about 12% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 79Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper KEF LS50 Meta much easier to justify.
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.