KEF R7 Meta vs B&W 704 S2 Comparison

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KEF R7 Meta

Passive Floor-standing | 48-28k Hz

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B&W 704 S2

Passive Floor-standing | 48-28k Hz

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KEF R7 Meta

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B&W 704 S2

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KEF R7 Meta

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B&W 704 S2

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KEF R7 Meta vs B&W 704 S2 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing R7 Meta and 704 S2, 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 704 S2 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

KEF R7 Meta Key Specs

3-way Design

12th Generation Uni-Q Driver

1" Vented dome Tweeter

5" Midrange

2 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer

48-28k Hz Frequency Response

88 dB Sensitivity

Impedance: 4ohms

Power Range:15-250watts

Weight:29.36kg

Dimensions (H x W x D): 1112.0" x 12-1/4" x 15-1/8"( 1112.0 x 312.0 x 385.0mm )

B&W 704 S2 Key Specs

3-way Design

1" Tweeter

5" Midrange

2 x 5" Aerofoil Woofer

5" Midrange

48-28k Hz Frequency Response

88 dB Sensitivity

Impedance: 8ohms

Power Range:30-150watts

Weight:18.50kg

Dimensions (H x W x D): 959.0" x 6.5" x 10.9"( 959.0 x 165.0 x 277.0mm )

What size room are the KEF R7 Meta and B&W 704 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*	KEF R7 Meta	B&W 704 S2
Near-field	Bad	Bad
Small Room	Poor	Poor
Mid-size Room	Average	Good
Large Room	Good	Good
Very Large Room	Average	Poor

(* 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 KEF R7 Meta and B&W 704 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 R7 Meta and 704 S2 are 3-way speakers.

Driver	KEF R7 Meta	B&W 704 S2
Driver Setup	3-way	3-way
Tweeter	1-inch	1-inch
Midrange	1 x 5-inch	1 x 5-inch
Woofer	2 x 6.5-inch	2 x 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 704 S2 features a 1" Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 2 x 5" Aerofoil Woofer .

Frequency Response

R7 Meta and 704 S2 has exactly the same frequency range of 48-28k Hz.

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

R7 Meta

704 S2

Min

Average

Max

High Frequency

Floor-standing Speakers

KEF R7 Meta

B&W 704 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

R7 Meta is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the 704 S2 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.

On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 88 dBdB.

Sensitivity

Floor-standing Speakers

R7 Meta

704 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.

R7 Meta can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas 704 S2 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 100 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 704 S2 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

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Both R7 Meta and 704 S2 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 704 S2'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 704 S2 has external dimensions of 959.0 x 165.0 x 277.0mm ( 37.8-inch x 6.5-inch x 10.9-inch) .

KEF R7 Meta is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 147mm wider, 153mm taller and 108mm deeper than B&W 704 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 KEF R7 Meta is approximately 1201.2cm² / 186.2inch² and base area of the B&W 704 S2 is approximately 457.1cm² / 70.9inch². The R7 Meta requires 163% more surface area than the 704 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 KEF R7 Meta weighs 29.36kg / 64.6lbs and the B&W 704 S2 weighs 18.50kg / 40.7lbs. This makes the R7 Meta 59% heavier than the 704 S2.

Here is a comparison of how R7 Meta and 704 S2's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.

Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers

KEF R7 Meta

B&W 704 S2

Min

Average

Max

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 704 S2?

Here are the items that come with the 704 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 KEF R7 Meta over Bowers & Wilkins 704 S2

Max Input Power	250 watts vs 150 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
Woofer Size	6.5 inches vs 5 inches	Larger woofer

Reasons to choose Bowers & Wilkins 704 S2 over KEF R7 Meta

Nominal Impedance	8 ohms vs 4 ohms	Less selective with amplifiers
Height	959mm vs 1112mm	Easier to fit in smaller spaces
Base Surface Area	457cm² vs 1201cm²	Takes less floor space
Price per pair*	3500USD vs 4998USD	costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

KEF R7 Meta vs B&W 704 S2 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	KEF R7 Meta	Bowers & Wilkins 704 S2
Brand	KEF	Bowers Wilkins
Speaker Type	Floor-standing speaker	Floor-standing speaker
Power Range	15-250 watts	30-150 watts
Sensitivity	88 dB	88 dB
Impedance	4 ohms	8 ohms
Impedance	3.2 ohms	3.1 ohms
Frequency Response	48-28k Hz	48-28k Hz
Drivers
Woofer Quantity	2	2
Woofer Size	6.5"	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"	5"
Crossover Frequency	400Hz and 2400Hz	n/a
Firing Direction	rear	rear
Physical Specs
Height	1112.0mm (43.8")	959.0mm (37.8")
Width	312.0mm (12.3")	165.0mm (6.5")
Depth	385.0mm (15.2")	277.0mm (10.9")
Weight	29.36kg (64.6lbs)	18.50kg (40.7lbs)
Enclosure	Bass Reflex	Bass Reflex
Finish	n/a	MDF/Lacquer
Available Colors	Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut, Titanium Gloss Special Edition	Rosewood, Gloss Black, Satin White
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