In this review, we will be comparing Aria Evo X No1 and 706 S3, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Focal and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Aria Evo X No1 and B&W 706 S3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Focal Aria Evo X No1 | B&W 706 S3 |
|---|
| Brand | Focal
France · founded 1979 | Bowers Wilkins
United Kingdom · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" inverted dome | 1" Decoupled Carbon Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Flax | 6.5" Continuum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-30kHz | 50-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89.5 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-120 watts | 30-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.50kg / 18.7lbs | 8.42kg / 18.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 15-3/8" x 8-7/8" x 11"
391.0 x 225.0 x 280.0mm | 13.6" x 7.6" x 13.1"
345.0 x 192.0 x 334.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Focal Aria Evo X No1 and B&W 706 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* |
Focal Aria Evo X No1 |
B&W 706 S3 |
| 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 Aria Evo X No1 and 706 S3 are 2-way speakers.
Focal Aria Evo X No1B&W 706 S3
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Focal Aria Evo X No1 |
B&W 706 S3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Aria Evo X No1 features a 1" Al/Mg inverted dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Flax Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800 Hz. On the other hand, the 706 S3 features a 1" Decoupled Carbon Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Continuum Woofer.
Frequency Response
Aria Evo X No1 has a frequency range of 55-30kHz whereas 706 S3 has a frequency range of 50-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the 706 S3 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Aria Evo X No1's min frequency of 55Hz.
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
Aria Evo X No1 and 706 S3 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Aria Evo X No1 sensitivity is rated at 89.5 dB and the 706 S3's is at 88 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Focal Aria Evo X No1 a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W 706 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 120 watts RMS, though Aria Evo X No1 is rated 25-120 watts and 706 S3 30-120 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
Both Aria Evo X No1 and 706 S3 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
B&W 706 S3's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Aria Evo X No1 has a front firing port whereas 706 S3 has a rear firing ports. Focal Aria Evo X No1's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to B&W 706 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 Focal Aria Evo X No1's and B&W 706 S3's external dimensions. Focal Aria Evo X No1 has external dimensions of 391.0 x 225.0 x 280.0mm (15-3/8 x 8-⅞ x 11) whereas B&W 706 S3 has external dimensions of 345.0 x 192.0 x 334.0mm (13.6-inch x 7.6-inch x 13.1-inch).
B&W 706 S3 is 33mm narrower and 46mm shorter than Focal Aria Evo X No1 but it is also 54mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Focal Aria Evo X No1 and B&W 706 S3 in scale.
Comparison image of Focal Aria Evo X No1 and B&W 706 S3 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 Focal Aria Evo X No1 is approximately 630.0cm2 / 97.7inch2 and base area of the B&W 706 S3 is approximately 641.3cm2 / 99.4inch2. The Aria Evo X No1 requires 2% less surface area than the 706 S3 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 Focal Aria Evo X No1 and B&W 706 S3 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 Focal Aria Evo X No1 weighs 8.50kg / 18.7lbs and the B&W 706 S3 weighs 8.42kg / 18.5lbs. This makes the Aria Evo X No1 1% heavier than the 706 S3.
Here is a comparison of how Aria Evo X No1 and 706 S3'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 706 S3?
Here are the items that come with the 706 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
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Minimum Impedance |
4.6 ohms
vs
3.7 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Base Surface Area |
630cm2
vs
641cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
345mm
vs
391mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
2199USD
vs
2398USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Focal Aria Evo X No1 |
Bowers & Wilkins 706 S3 |
| Brand |
Focal |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-120 watts |
30-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89.5 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4.6 ohms |
3.7 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55-30kHz |
50-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Flax |
Continuum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
TMD |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
inverted dome |
Decoupled Carbon Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2800 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
391.0mm (15.4") |
345.0mm (13.6") |
| Width |
225.0mm (8.9") |
192.0mm (7.6") |
| Depth |
280.0mm (11") |
334.0mm (13.1") |
| Weight |
8.50kg (18.7lbs) |
8.42kg (18.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black High Gloss, Prime Walnut, Moss Green High Gloss |
Gloss Black,Satin White,Mocha,Rosenut |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
24-26" |
| 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 | B | B&W 706 S3 digs deeper - 50Hz against 55Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Focal Aria Evo X No1 is more sensitive (90dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (120W vs 120W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Focal Aria Evo X No1: bi-amping; B&W 706 S3: bi-amping. B&W 706 S3 sits in a wider range (8 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($2,398 vs $2,199 a pair). |
A Focal Aria Evo X No1 B B&W 706 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 55Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Focal Aria Evo X No1 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.