In this review, we will be comparing R7 Meta and 703 S3, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from KEF and Bowers Wilkins. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF R7 Meta and B&W 703 S3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the KEF R7 Meta and B&W 703 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 KEF R7 Meta and B&W 703 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 R7 Meta and 703 S3 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
KEF R7 Meta |
B&W 703 S3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5-inch |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
R7 Meta features a 1" Aluminum with MAT absorber Vented dome Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 400Hz and 2400Hz. On the other hand, the 703 S3 features a 1" Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Aerofoil Woofer .
Frequency Response
R7 Meta has a frequency range of 48-28k Hz whereas 703 S3 has a frequency range of 46-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the 703 S3 can go slightly deeper then the R7 Meta's min frequency of 48Hz.
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
R7 Meta is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the 703 S3 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the R7 Meta can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. R7 Meta sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the 703 S3's is rated at 90 dB.
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.
R7 Meta can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas 703 S3 has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the R7 Meta.
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
Both R7 Meta and 703 S3 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
KEF R7 Meta's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
B&W 703 S3's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both R7 Meta and 703 S3 have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
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 KEF R7 Meta's and B&W 703 S3's external dimensions. KEF R7 Meta has external dimensions of 1112.0 x 312.0 x 385.0mm ( 43-3/4-inch x 12-1/4-inch x 15-1/8-inch) whereas B&W 703 S3 has external dimensions of 1117.0 x 192.0 x 353.0mm ( 44-inch x 7.6-inch x 13.9-inch) .
B&W 703 S3 is 120mm narrower and 32mm less deeper than KEF R7 Meta but it is also 5mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KEF R7 Meta and B&W 703 S3 in scale.
Comparison image of KEF R7 Meta and B&W 703 S3 Size and External Dimensions
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 KEF R7 Meta is approximately 1201.2cm2 / 186.2inch2 and base area of the B&W 703 S3 is approximately 677.8cm2 / 105.1inch2. The R7 Meta requires 77% more surface area than the 703 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 KEF R7 Meta weighs 29.36kg / 64.6lbs and the B&W 703 S3 weighs 28.81kg / 63.4lbs. This makes the R7 Meta 2% heavier than the 703 S3.
Here is a comparison of how R7 Meta and 703 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 KEF R7 Meta?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of R7 Meta:
R7 Meta Microfiber grille Plinth and spike accessories Port bungs User manual and warranty information
What's in the Box of B&W 703 S3?
Here are the items that come with the 703 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 |
250 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Minimum Impedance |
3.2 ohms
vs
3.1 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Height |
1112mm
vs
1117mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
4998USD
vs
5998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
48 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
677cm2 (192x353mm)
vs
1201cm2 (312x385mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
KEF R7 Meta |
Bowers & Wilkins 703 S3 |
| Brand |
KEF |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
15-250 watts |
30-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
3.1 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
48-28k Hz |
46-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Hybrid Aluminum |
Aerofoil |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Vented dome |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5" |
6" |
| Crossover Frequency |
400Hz and 2400Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1112.0mm (43.8") |
1117.0mm (44") |
| Width |
312.0mm (12.3") |
192.0mm (7.6") |
| Depth |
385.0mm (15.2") |
353.0mm (13.9") |
| Weight |
29.36kg (64.6lbs) |
28.81kg (63.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut, Titanium Gloss Special Edition |
Gloss Black,Satin White,Mocha,Rosenut |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 years |
5 Years |