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Focal Kanta No.2 vs B&W 702 S2 Comparison

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Focal Kanta No.2

Passive Floor-standing | 35-40k Hz

Focal Kanta No.2
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B&W 702 S2

Passive Floor-standing | 46-28k Hz

Bowers & Wilkins 702 S2
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Focal Kanta No.2 Focal Kanta No.2
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B&W 702 S2 B&W 702 S2
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Focal Kanta No.2
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B&W 702 S2
See at AMAZON
Focal Kanta No.2 vs B&W 702 S2 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Kanta No.2 and 702 S2, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Focal and Bowers Wilkins.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Focal Kanta No.2 and B&W 702 S2 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Focal Kanta No.2 Key Specs

  • 3-way Design
  • 1.1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
  • 6.5" Midrange
  • 2 x 6.5" Flax Woofer
  • 35-40k Hz Frequency Response
  • 91 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:40-300watts
  • Weight:35.09kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 1118.0" x 12-5/8" x 18-3/4"( 1118.0 x 321.0 x 477.0mm )

B&W 702 S2 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:29.50kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 1087.0" x 14-7/16" x 14.3"( 1087.0 x 200.0 x 364.0mm )

What size room are the Focal Kanta No.2 and B&W 702 S2 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 Kanta No.2 B&W 702 S2
Near-field Bad Bad
Small Room Poor Poor
Mid-size Room Average Average
Large Room Good Good
Very Large Room Average 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 Kanta No.2 and B&W 702 S2 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.


**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


Drivers

Both Kanta No.2 and 702 S2 are 3-way speakers.

Driver Focal Kanta No.2 B&W 702 S2
Driver Setup 3-way 3-way
Tweeter 1.1-inch 1-inch
Midrange 1 x 6.5-inch 1 x 6-inch
Woofer 2 x 6.5-inch 3 x 6.5-inch

Kanta No.2 features a 1.1" IAL3 Beryllium Hard-Dome Tweeter , a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Flax Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 260 Hz - 2700 Hz. On the other hand, the 702 S2 features a 1" Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 3 x 6.5" Aerofoil Woofer .

Frequency Response

Kanta No.2 has a frequency range of 35-40k Hz whereas 702 S2 has a frequency range of 46-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 35Hz, the Kanta No.2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 702 S2'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

Kanta No.2
702 S2
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Floor-standing Speakers

Focal Kanta No.2
B&W 702 S2
Min
Average
Max

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

Kanta No.2 and 702 S2 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Kanta No.2 sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the 702 S2's is at 90 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Focal Kanta No.2 a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W 702 S2, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Floor-standing Speakers

Kanta No.2
702 S2
Min
Average
Max

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.

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 S2 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Kanta No.2 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

Focal Kanta No.2 Terminals
Focal Kanta No.2's Binding post terminals

B&W 702 S2 Terminals
B&W 702 S2's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Kanta No.2 has a Front firing port whereas 702 S2 has a rear firing ports.

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 Kanta No.2's and B&W 702 S2's external dimensions. Focal Kanta No.2 has external dimensions of 1118.0 x 321.0 x 477.0mm ( 44inch x 12-5/8inch x 18-3/4inch ) whereas B&W 702 S2 has external dimensions of 1087.0 x 200.0 x 364.0mm ( 42.8-inch x 14-7/16-inch x 14.3-inch) .

Focal Kanta No.2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 121mm wider, 31mm taller and 113mm deeper than B&W 702 S2.

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 Kanta No.2 is approximately 1531.2cm2 / 237.3inch2 and base area of the B&W 702 S2 is approximately 728.0cm2 / 112.8inch2. The Kanta No.2 requires 110% more surface area than the 702 S2 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 Kanta No.2 weighs 35.09kg / 77.2lbs and the B&W 702 S2 weighs 29.50kg / 64.9lbs. This makes the Kanta No.2 19% heavier than the 702 S2.

Here is a comparison of how Kanta No.2 and 702 S2's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.

Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Focal Kanta No.2
B&W 702 S2
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of Focal Kanta No.2?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of Kanta No.2:
  • Floorstanding loudspeaker
  • Large grille
  • Small grille
  • Outrigger feet
  • 4 Spikes
  • 4 Protective discs
  • User Manual
  • What's in the Box of B&W 702 S2?

    Here are the items that come with the 702 S2:
  • 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

  • Reasons to choose Focal Kanta No.2 over Bowers & Wilkins 702 S2
    Sensitivity 91 dB vs 90 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Low Frequency Response 35 Hz vs 46 Hz Generates deeper bass
    High Frequency Response 40k Hz vs 28k Hz Generates higher frequency

    Reasons to choose Bowers & Wilkins 702 S2 over Focal Kanta No.2

    Number of Woofers 3 vs 2 More woofers
    Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring Yes vs No Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections
    Height 1087mm vs 1118mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 728cm2 vs 1531cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 6000USD vs 14998USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
    Focal Kanta No.2 vs B&W 702 S2 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General Focal Kanta No.2 Bowers & Wilkins 702 S2
    Brand Focal Bowers Wilkins
    Speaker Type Floor-standing speaker Floor-standing speaker
    Power Range 40-300 watts 30-300 watts
    Sensitivity 91 dB 90 dB
    Impedance 8 ohms 8 ohms
    Impedance 3.1 ohms 3.1 ohms
    Frequency Response 35-40k Hz 46-28k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 2 3
    Woofer Size 6.5" 6.5"
    Woofer Composition Flax Aerofoil
    Woofer Surround Material Rubber Rubber
    Tweeter Size 1.1" 1"
    Tweeter Type Hard-Dome n/a
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver 6.5" 6"
    Crossover Frequency 260 Hz - 2700 Hz n/a
    Firing Direction Front rear
    Physical Specs
    Height 1118.0mm (44") 1087.0mm (42.8")
    Width 321.0mm (12.6") 200.0mm (7.9")
    Depth 477.0mm (18.8") 364.0mm (14.3")
    Weight 35.09kg (77.2lbs) 29.50kg (64.9lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
    Finish Multi-ply/Polymer/Veneer MDF/Lacquer
    Available Colors High-Gloss Carrara White, High-Gloss Black/Deep Black, Matte Walnut/Dark Grey,Matte Walnut/Ivory Rosewood, Gloss Black, Satin White
    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

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