In this review, we will be comparing ESL 9 and 703 S2, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from MartinLogan and Bowers Wilkins. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of MartinLogan ESL 9 and B&W 703 S2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the MartinLogan ESL 9 and B&W 703 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the MartinLogan ESL 9 and B&W 703 S2 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that ESL 9 is a 2-way design whereas the 703 S2 is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
MartinLogan ESL 9 |
B&W 703 S2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
9.2 x 44-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
ESL 9 features a 9.2 x 44" curved electrostatic transducer Tweeter and 2 x 8" high-excursion paper cone Woofer . On the other hand, the 703 S2 features a 1" Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Aerofoil Woofer .
Frequency Response
ESL 9 has a frequency range of 34-23k Hz whereas 703 S2 has a frequency range of 46-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 34Hz, the ESL 9 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 703 S2'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
ESL 9 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the 703 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 ESL 9 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. ESL 9 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the 703 S2's is rated at 89 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the MartinLogan ESL 9 a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W 703 S2, 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.
ESL 9 can handle a max power of 400 watts RMS from the amp the whereas 703 S2 has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 200 watts less than the ESL 9.
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 ESL 9 and 703 S2 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
MartinLogan ESL 9's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
B&W 703 S2's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
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 MartinLogan ESL 9's and B&W 703 S2's external dimensions. MartinLogan ESL 9 has external dimensions of 1520.0 x 266.0 x 647.0mm ( 59-13/16 x 10-7/16 x 25-7/16inch) whereas B&W 703 S2 has external dimensions of 1025.0 x 200.0 x 321.0mm ( 40.4-inch x 12-11/16-inch x 12.6-inch) .
MartinLogan ESL 9 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 66mm wider, 495mm taller and 326mm deeper than B&W 703 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 MartinLogan ESL 9 is approximately 1721.0cm2 / 266.8inch2 and base area of the B&W 703 S2 is approximately 642.0cm2 / 99.5inch2. The ESL 9 requires 168% more surface area than the 703 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 MartinLogan ESL 9 weighs 35.45kg / 78lbs and the B&W 703 S2 weighs 25.00kg / 55lbs. This makes the ESL 9 42% heavier than the 703 S2.
Here is a comparison of how ESL 9 and 703 S2'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 MartinLogan ESL 9?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of ESL 9:
Floorstanding hybrid electrostatic loudspeakerAC power adapter (w/ attached 10-feet DC cord)Grille4 Spike FeetUsers ManualProduct Registration Card
What's in the Box of B&W 703 S2?
Here are the items that come with the 703 S2:
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 |
400 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
34 Hz
vs
46 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
1025mm
vs
1520mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
642cm2 (200x321mm)
vs
1721cm2 (266x647mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
5000USD
vs
7000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
MartinLogan Masterpiece Classic ESL 9 |
Bowers & Wilkins 703 S2 |
| Brand |
MartinLogan |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
20-400 watts |
30-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.1 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
34-23k Hz |
46-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
high-excursion paper cone |
Aerofoil |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
9.2 x 44" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
curved electrostatic transducer |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
6" |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1520.0mm (59.8") |
1025.0mm (40.4") |
| Width |
266.0mm (10.5") |
200.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
647.0mm (25.5") |
321.0mm (12.6") |
| Weight |
35.45kg (78lbs) |
25.00kg (55lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Composite |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black |
Rosewood, Gloss Black, Satin White |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years w/ Registration |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years w/ Registration |
5 Years |