In this review, we will be comparing Dymension DM80 and 702 S3, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Definitive Technology and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Definitive Dymension DM80 and B&W 702 S3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Definitive Dymension DM80 | B&W 702 S3 |
|---|
| Brand | Definitive Technology
United States · founded 1990 | Bowers Wilkins
United Kingdom · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" 2 x Hard-Dome | 1" |
|---|
| Midrange | 4 x 5.25" | 6" |
|---|
| Woofer | 12" Polypropelene | 3 x 6.5" Aerofoil |
|---|
| Frequency response | 28-23 kHz | 46-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50-300 watts | 30-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 37.70kg / 82.9lbs | 33.46kg / 73.6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 49.4" x 11.3" x 16"
1255 x 287 x 407 mm | 44.8" x 7.6" x 15.4"
1138.0 x 192.0 x 391.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Definitive Dymension DM80 and B&W 702 S3 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* |
Definitive Dymension DM80 |
B&W 702 S3 |
| Near-field |
Are you nuts? |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Good |
Average |
(* 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 Dymension DM80 and 702 S3 are 3-way speakers.
Definitive Dymension DM80B&W 702 S3
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Definitive Dymension DM80 |
B&W 702 S3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
4 x 5.25-inch |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 12-inch
|
3 x 6.5-inch
|
Dymension DM80 features a 1" aluminum oxide 2 x Hard-Dome Tweeter, a 5.25" Midrange and 1 x 12" Polypropelene Woofer. On the other hand, the 702 S3 features a 1" Tweeter, a 6" Midrange and 3 x 6.5" Aerofoil Woofer.
Frequency Response
Dymension DM80 has a frequency range of 28-23 kHz whereas 702 S3 has a frequency range of 46-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the Dymension DM80 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 702 S3's min frequency of 46Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing 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
Dymension DM80 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the 702 S3 which has a nominal impedance of 8 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 Dymension DM80 can provide this impedance level.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 90 dBdB.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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 300 watts RMS, though Dymension DM80 is rated 50-300 watts and 702 S3 30-300 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.
Definitive Dymension DM80
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
702 S3 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Dymension DM80 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Definitive Dymension DM80's Binding post terminals
B&W 702 S3's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
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 Definitive Dymension DM80's and B&W 702 S3's external dimensions. Definitive Dymension DM80 has external dimensions of 1255 x 287 x 407 mm (49.4 x 11.3 x 16.0 in) whereas B&W 702 S3 has external dimensions of 1138.0 x 192.0 x 391.0mm (44.8-inch x 7.6-inch x 15.4-inch).
Definitive Dymension DM80 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 95mm wider, 117mm taller and 16mm deeper than B&W 702 S3.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Definitive Dymension DM80 needs about 56% more floor or shelf area. Definitive Dymension DM80 is 16mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Definitive Dymension DM80 is 117mm taller.
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 Definitive Dymension DM80 is approximately 1168.1cm2 / 181.1inch2 and base area of the B&W 702 S3 is approximately 750.7cm2 / 116.4inch2. The Dymension DM80 requires 56% more surface area than the 702 S3 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Definitive Dymension DM80 weighs 37.70kg / 82.9lbs and the B&W 702 S3 weighs 33.46kg / 73.6lbs. This makes the Dymension DM80 13% heavier than the 702 S3.
Here is a comparison of how Dymension DM80 and 702 S3's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Definitive Dymension DM80
What's in the Box of Definitive Dymension DM80?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Dymension DM80:
- 4 Adjustable hard floor glides
- 4 Adjustable carpet spikes
What's in the Box of B&W 702 S3?
Here are the items that come with the 702 S3:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- Plinth (base)
- 2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)
- Two-piece foam port plug
- 4 Rubber feet
- 4 Spike feet
- 4 Lock-nuts
- 4 Screws
- 4 Washers
- 4 Lock washers
- Hex-key
- Manual
- Bowers & Wilkins brochure
- Warranty Information
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
28 Hz
vs
46 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Passive Radiator |
2 x 12-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Optional
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
 Price per pair* |
4998USD
vs
6998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Number of Woofers |
3
vs
1
|
More woofers |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
1138mm
vs
1255mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
750cm2
vs
1168cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Definitive Technology Dymension DM80 |
Bowers & Wilkins 702 S3 |
| Brand |
Definitive Technology |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
50-300 watts |
30-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.1 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
28-23 kHz |
46-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
3 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropelene |
Aerofoil |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
2 x Hard-Dome |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5.25" |
6" |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1255.0mm (49.4") |
1138.0mm (44.8") |
| Width |
287.0mm (11.3") |
192.0mm (7.6") |
| Depth |
407.0mm (16") |
391.0mm (15.4") |
| Weight |
37.70kg (82.9lbs) |
33.46kg (73.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Gloss Black,Satin White,Mocha,Rosenut |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
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 | A | Definitive Dymension DM80 digs deeper - 28Hz against 46Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Definitive Dymension DM80 is more sensitive (90dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | B&W 702 S3 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (300W vs 300W). |
| Size | depends | B&W 702 S3 is easier to place; Definitive Dymension DM80 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Passive Radiator vs Ported. |
| Expandability | depends | Definitive Dymension DM80: Atmos drivers; B&W 702 S3: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Definitive Dymension DM80 is cheaper - $4,998 against $6,998, about 29% less. |
A Definitive Dymension DM80 B B&W 702 S3
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?
Definitive Dymension DM80 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 46Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Definitive Dymension DM80 the better fit for a very large room; elsewhere the two are rated the same.
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.