In this review, we will be comparing Aria Evo X No4 and 702 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 No4 and B&W 702 S3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Focal Aria Evo X No4 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" inverted dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Midrange
- 2 x 6.5" Flax Woofer
- 37-30kHz Frequency Response
- 92.5 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:40-350watts
- Weight:35.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1150.0" x 14-5/8" x 15-1/4"( 115 x 37.1 x 42 cm )
B&W 702 S3 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Tweeter
- 6" Midrange
- 3 x 6.5" Aerofoil Woofer
- 6" Midrange
- 46-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:30-300watts
- Weight:33.46kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1138.0" x 7.6" x 15.4"( 1138.0 x 192.0 x 391.0mm )
What size room are the Focal Aria Evo X No4 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* |
Focal Aria Evo X No4 |
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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Focal Aria Evo X No4 and B&W 702 S3 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Aria Evo X No4 and 702 S3 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Focal Aria Evo X No4 |
B&W 702 S3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6.5-inch |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
3 x 6.5-inch
|
Aria Evo X No4 features a 1" Al/Mg inverted dome Tweeter , a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Flax Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 280 Hz - 2600 Hz. On the other hand, the 702 S3 features a 1" Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 3 x 6.5" Aerofoil Woofer .
Frequency Response
Aria Evo X No4 has a frequency range of 37-30kHz whereas 702 S3 has a frequency range of 46-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 37Hz, the Aria Evo X No4 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 702 S3's min frequency of 46Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Aria Evo X No4 and 702 S3 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Aria Evo X No4 sensitivity is rated at 92.5 dB and the 702 S3's is at 90 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the Focal Aria Evo X No4 a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W 702 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. While using
an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the
max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Aria Evo X No4 can handle a max power of 350 watts RMS from the amp the whereas 702 S3 has a max power handling value of 300 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Aria Evo X No4.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
702 S3 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Aria Evo X No4 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Focal Aria Evo X No4's Binding post terminals
B&W 702 S3's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Aria Evo X No4 has a front firing port whereas 702 S3 has a rear firing ports. Focal Aria Evo X No4's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to B&W 702 S3 with its rear-firing port.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become 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 No4's and B&W 702 S3's external dimensions. Focal Aria Evo X No4 has external dimensions of 115 x 37.1 x 42 cm ( 45-¼ x 14-⅝ x 16-½) 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) .
Focal Aria Evo X No4 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 179mm wider, 12mm taller and 29mm deeper than B&W 702 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 No4 is approximately 1558.2cm2 / 241.5inch2 and base area of the B&W 702 S3 is approximately 750.7cm2 / 116.4inch2. The Aria Evo X No4 requires 108% more surface area than the 702 S3 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.