In this review, we will be comparing Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB and 704 S3, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from ELAC and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB and B&W 704 S3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB | B&W 704 S3 |
|---|
| Brand | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 | Bowers Wilkins
United Kingdom · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | JET 6 AMT | 1" |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 7" AS XR cone | 2 x 5" Aerofoil |
|---|
| Frequency response | 28-50k Hz | 46-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88.5 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | Up to 220 watts | 30-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 27.10kg / 59.6lbs | 20.53kg / 45.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 45" x 10.9" x 13"
1142 x 276 x 332 mm | 38" x 6.5" x 11.8"
964.0 x 165.0 x 300.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB and B&W 704 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* |
Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB |
B&W 704 S3 |
| Near-field |
Are you nuts? |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Good |
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 Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB and 704 S3 are 3-way speakers.
Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GBB&W 704 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 |
Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB |
B&W 704 S3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 7-inch
|
2 x 5-inch
|
Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB features a " JET 6 AMT Tweeter and 2 x 7" AS XR cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 450Hz and 2550 Hz. On the other hand, the 704 S3 features a 1" Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 2 x 5" Aerofoil Woofer.
Frequency Response
Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB has a frequency range of 28-50k Hz whereas 704 S3 has a frequency range of 46-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 704 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
Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the 704 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 Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB sensitivity is rated at 88.5 dB and the 704 S3's is rated at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W 704 S3, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
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.
Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB can handle a max power of 220 watts RMS, whereas 704 S3 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 70 watts less than the Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB.
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.
Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB has a bottom firing port whereas 704 S3 has a rear firing ports. Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to B&W 704 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 Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB's and B&W 704 S3's external dimensions. Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB has external dimensions of 1142 x 276 x 332 mm (44.96 x 10.87 x 13.07 inches) whereas B&W 704 S3 has external dimensions of 964.0 x 165.0 x 300.0mm (38-inch x 6.5-inch x 11.8-inch).
Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 111mm wider, 178mm taller and 32mm deeper than B&W 704 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.
Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB needs about 85% more floor or shelf area. Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB is 32mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB is 178mm 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 Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB is approximately 916.3cm2 / 142.0inch2 and base area of the B&W 704 S3 is approximately 495.0cm2 / 76.7inch2. The Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB requires 85% more surface area than the 704 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 Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB weighs 27.10kg / 59.6lbs and the B&W 704 S3 weighs 20.53kg / 45.2lbs. This makes the Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB 32% heavier than the 704 S3.
Here is a comparison of how Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB and 704 S3's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB
What's in the Box of B&W 704 S3?
Here are the items that come with the 704 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
 Max Input Power |
220 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Minimum Impedance |
3.2 ohms
vs
3.1 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
7 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
28 Hz
vs
46 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
50k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Height |
964mm
vs
1142mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
495cm2
vs
916cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
3998USD
vs
6999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB |
Bowers & Wilkins 704 S3 |
| Brand |
ELAC |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
Up to 220 watts |
30-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88.5 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
3.1 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
28-50k Hz |
46-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
7" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
AS XR cone |
Aerofoil |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
JET 6 AMT |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
450Hz and 2550 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1142.0mm (45") |
964.0mm (38") |
| Width |
276.0mm (10.9") |
165.0mm (6.5") |
| Depth |
332.0mm (13.1") |
300.0mm (11.8") |
| Weight |
27.10kg (59.6lbs) |
20.53kg (45.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Black High Gloss, White High Gloss, Walnut High Gloss |
Gloss Black,Satin White,Mocha,Rosenut |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB costs roughly 1.8x what B&W 704 S3 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB digs deeper - 28Hz against 46Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (89dB vs 88dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | B&W 704 S3 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | A | Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB takes more power (220W vs 150W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | B&W 704 S3 is easier to place; Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | B&W 704 S3: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | B&W 704 S3 is cheaper - $3,998 against $6,999, about 43% less; arguably a different class. |
A Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB B B&W 704 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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 46Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper B&W 704 S3 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB the better fit for a very large room, and B&W 704 S3 for a mid-size room.
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.