In this review, we will be comparing Vestia No4 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 Vestia No4 and B&W 704 S3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Focal Vestia No4 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Focal Vestia No4 and B&W 704 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 Vestia No4 and 704 S3 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Focal Vestia No4 |
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 8-inch
|
2 x 5-inch
|
Vestia No4 features a 1" Al/Mg inverted dome Tweeter , a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 8" Slatefiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 280Hz and 2800Hz. On the other hand, the 704 S3 features a 1" Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 2 x 5" Aerofoil Woofer .
Frequency Response
Vestia No4 has a frequency range of 40-30k Hz whereas 704 S3 has a frequency range of 46-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the Vestia No4 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 704 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
Vestia No4 and 704 S3 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Vestia No4 sensitivity is rated at 92 dB and the 704 S3's is at 88 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Focal Vestia No4 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. 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 No4 can handle a max power of 350 watts RMS from the amp the whereas 704 S3 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 200 watts less than the Vestia 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.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Vestia No4 has a front firing port whereas 704 S3 has a rear firing ports. Focal Vestia No4'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
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 No4's and B&W 704 S3's external dimensions. Focal Vestia No4 has external dimensions of 1128.0 x 305.0 x 429.0mm ( 44-3/8-inch x 12-inch x 16-7/8-inch) 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 Vestia No4 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 140mm wider, 164mm taller and 129mm 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 Vestia No4 is approximately 1308.5cm2 / 202.8inch2 and base area of the B&W 704 S3 is approximately 495.0cm2 / 76.7inch2. The Vestia No4 requires 164% 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 Vestia No4 weighs 31.50kg / 69.3lbs and the B&W 704 S3 weighs 20.53kg / 45.2lbs. This makes the Vestia No4 53% heavier than the 704 S3.
Here is a comparison of how Vestia No4 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 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
 Max Input Power |
350 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 |
8 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
40 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
2.6 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
1128mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
495cm2 (165x300mm)
vs
1308cm2 (305x429mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
3998USD
vs
4398USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Focal Vestia No4 |
Bowers & Wilkins 704 S3 |
| Brand |
Focal |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
40-350 watts |
30-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
92 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
2.6 ohms |
3.1 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
40-30k Hz |
46-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Slatefiber |
Aerofoil |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
inverted dome |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6.5" |
5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
280Hz and 2800Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1128.0mm (44.4") |
964.0mm (38") |
| Width |
305.0mm (12") |
165.0mm (6.5") |
| Depth |
429.0mm (16.9") |
300.0mm (11.8") |
| Weight |
31.50kg (69.3lbs) |
20.53kg (45.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Black High Gloss, Dark Wood, Light Wood |
Gloss Black,Satin White,Mocha,Rosenut |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |