In this review, we will be comparing Vestia No1 and 707 S3, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Focal and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Vestia No1 and B&W 707 S3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Focal Vestia No1 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" inverted dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Slatefiber Woofer
- 56-30k Hz Frequency Response
- 89.5 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:25-120watts
- Weight:7.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 388.0" x 8-5/8" x 10-1/4"( 388.0 x 220.0 x 261.0mm )
B&W 707 S3 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Decoupled Carbon Dome Tweeter
- 5" Continuum Woofer
- 50-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 84 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:30-100watts
- Weight:6.16kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 300.0" x 6.5" x 11.2"( 300.0 x 165.0 x 284.0mm )
What size room are the Focal Vestia No1 and B&W 707 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 Vestia No1 |
B&W 707 S3 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Bad |
(* 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 Vestia No1 and B&W 707 S3 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 Vestia No1 and 707 S3 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Focal Vestia No1 |
B&W 707 S3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
Vestia No1 features a 1" Al/Mg inverted dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Slatefiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz. On the other hand, the 707 S3 features a 1" Decoupled Carbon Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Continuum Woofer .
Frequency Response
Vestia No1 has a frequency range of 56-30k Hz whereas 707 S3 has a frequency range of 50-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the 707 S3 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Vestia No1's min frequency of 56Hz.
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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf 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
Vestia No1 and 707 S3 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Vestia No1 sensitivity is rated at 89.5 dB and the 707 S3's is at 84 dB. This 6 dB difference makes the Focal Vestia No1 a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W 707 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. 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.
Vestia No1 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS from the amp the whereas 707 S3 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the Vestia No1.
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.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Vestia No1 has a front firing port whereas 707 S3 has a rear firing ports. Focal Vestia No1's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to B&W 707 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 Vestia No1's and B&W 707 S3's external dimensions. Focal Vestia No1 has external dimensions of 388.0 x 220.0 x 261.0mm ( 15-1/4-inch x 8-5/8-inch x 10-1/4-inch) whereas B&W 707 S3 has external dimensions of 300.0 x 165.0 x 284.0mm ( 1.8-inch x 6.5-inch x 11.2-inch) .
B&W 707 S3 is 55mm narrower and 88mm shorter than Focal Vestia No1 but it is also 23mm deeper.
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 Vestia No1 is approximately 574.2cm2 / 89.0inch2 and base area of the B&W 707 S3 is approximately 468.6cm2 / 72.6inch2. The Vestia No1 requires 23% more surface area than the 707 S3 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.