In this review, we will be comparing Aria Evo X No2 and 704 S3, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Focal and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Aria Evo X No2 and B&W 704 S3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Focal Aria Evo X No2 | B&W 704 S3 |
|---|
| Brand | Focal
France · founded 1979 | Bowers Wilkins
United Kingdom · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" inverted dome | 1" |
|---|
| Midrange | 6.5" | 5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" Flax | 2 x 5" Aerofoil |
|---|
| Frequency response | 45-30kHz | 46-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91.5 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 40-250 watts | 30-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 25.00kg / 55lbs | 20.53kg / 45.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 40-3/4" x 11-5/8" x 14-5/8"
103.5 x 29.4 x 37.1 cm | 38" x 6.5" x 11.8"
964.0 x 165.0 x 300.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Focal Aria Evo X No2 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* |
Focal Aria Evo X No2 |
B&W 704 S3 |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
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.
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Drivers
Both Aria Evo X No2 and 704 S3 are 3-way speakers.
Focal Aria Evo X No2B&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 |
Focal Aria Evo X No2 |
B&W 704 S3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6.5-inch |
1 x 5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 5-inch
|
Aria Evo X No2 features a 1" Al/Mg inverted dome Tweeter, a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Flax Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 290 Hz - 2400 Hz. On the other hand, the 704 S3 features a 1" Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 2 x 5" Aerofoil Woofer.
Frequency Response
Aria Evo X No2 has a frequency range of 45-30kHz whereas 704 S3 has a frequency range of 46-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the Aria Evo X No2 can go slightly deeper then 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
Aria Evo X No2 and 704 S3 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Aria Evo X No2 sensitivity is rated at 91.5 dB and the 704 S3's is at 88 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Focal Aria Evo X No2 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.
Aria Evo X No2 can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas 704 S3 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the Aria Evo X No2.
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
704 S3 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Aria Evo X No2 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Focal Aria Evo X No2's Binding post terminals
B&W 704 S3's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Aria Evo X No2 has a front firing port whereas 704 S3 has a rear firing ports. Focal Aria Evo X No2's front-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 Focal Aria Evo X No2's and B&W 704 S3's external dimensions. Focal Aria Evo X No2 has external dimensions of 103.5 x 29.4 x 37.1 cm (40-¾ x 11-5/8 x 14-⅝) 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).
Focal Aria Evo X No2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 129mm wider, 71mm taller and 71mm deeper than B&W 704 S3.
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 No2 is approximately 1090.7cm2 / 169.1inch2 and base area of the B&W 704 S3 is approximately 495.0cm2 / 76.7inch2. The Aria Evo X No2 requires 120% 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 Focal Aria Evo X No2 weighs 25.00kg / 55lbs and the B&W 704 S3 weighs 20.53kg / 45.2lbs. This makes the Aria Evo X No2 22% heavier than the 704 S3.
Here is a comparison of how Aria Evo X No2 and 704 S3's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
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 |
250 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
46 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Minimum Impedance |
3.1 ohms
vs
2.9 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
964mm
vs
1035mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
495cm2
vs
1090cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
3998USD
vs
4798USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Focal Aria Evo X No2 |
Bowers & Wilkins 704 S3 |
| Brand |
Focal |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
40-250 watts |
30-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91.5 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
2.9 ohms |
3.1 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
45-30kHz |
46-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Flax |
Aerofoil |
| Woofer Surround Material |
TMD |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
inverted dome |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6.5" |
5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
290 Hz - 2400 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1035.0mm (40.7") |
964.0mm (38") |
| Width |
294.0mm (11.6") |
165.0mm (6.5") |
| Depth |
371.0mm (14.6") |
300.0mm (11.8") |
| Weight |
25.00kg (55lbs) |
20.53kg (45.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Black High Gloss, Prime Walnut, Moss Green High Gloss |
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 | evenly matched | Much the same reach (45Hz vs 46Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | A | Focal Aria Evo X No2 is more sensitive (92dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | A | Focal Aria Evo X No2 takes more power (250W vs 150W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | B&W 704 S3 is easier to place; Focal Aria Evo X No2 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | B&W 704 S3: bi-amping. B&W 704 S3 sits in a wider range (8 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | B&W 704 S3 is cheaper - $3,998 against $4,798, about 17% less. |
A Focal Aria Evo X No2 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?
The usual trade-off: Focal Aria Evo X No2 measures better, B&W 704 S3 costs about about 20% 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. Match it to your room: we rate Focal Aria Evo X No2 the better fit for a very large room, and B&W 704 S3 for a mid-size room. In a large or open-plan room, Focal Aria Evo X No2 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, B&W 704 S3 is the easier speaker to get right.
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.