In this review, we will be comparing Kanta No.2 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 Kanta No.2 and B&W 702 S3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Focal Kanta No.2 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:
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 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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Drivers
Both Kanta No.2 and 702 S3 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Focal Kanta No.2 |
B&W 702 S3 |
|
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 S3 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 S3 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 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
Kanta No.2 and 702 S3 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 S3's is at 90 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Focal Kanta No.2 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.
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. Kanta No.2 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Focal Kanta No.2's Binding post terminals
B&W 702 S3'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 S3 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 S3'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 S3 has external dimensions of 1138.0 x 192.0 x 391.0mm ( 44.8-inch x 7.6-inch x 15.4-inch) .
B&W 702 S3 is 129mm narrower and 86mm less deeper than Focal Kanta No.2 but it is also 20mm 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 Focal Kanta No.2 is approximately 1531.2cm2 / 237.3inch2 and base area of the B&W 702 S3 is approximately 750.7cm2 / 116.4inch2. The Kanta No.2 requires 104% more surface area than the 702 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 Kanta No.2 weighs 35.09kg / 77.2lbs and the B&W 702 S3 weighs 33.46kg / 73.6lbs. This makes the Kanta No.2 5% heavier than the 702 S3.
Here is a comparison of how Kanta No.2 and 702 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 Focal Kanta No.2?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Kanta No.2:
Floorstanding loudspeakerLarge grilleSmall grilleOutrigger feet4 Spikes4 Protective discsUser Manual
What's in the Box of B&W 702 S3?
Here are the items that come with the 702 S3:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrillePlinth (base)2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)Two-piece foam port plug4 Rubber feet4 Spike feet4 Lock-nuts4 Screws4 Washers4 Lock washersHex-keyManualBowers & Wilkins brochureWarranty Information
 Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
88 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 |
 Height |
1118mm
vs
1138mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Base Surface Area |
750cm2 (192x391mm)
vs
1531cm2 (321x477mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
6998USD
vs
14998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Focal Kanta No.2 |
Bowers & Wilkins 702 S3 |
| 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") |
1138.0mm (44.8") |
| Width |
321.0mm (12.6") |
192.0mm (7.6") |
| Depth |
477.0mm (18.8") |
391.0mm (15.4") |
| Weight |
35.09kg (77.2lbs) |
33.46kg (73.6lbs) |
| 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 |
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 |