In this review, we will be comparing Synchrony T800 and 702 S2, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from PSB and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of PSB Synchrony T800 and B&W 702 S2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
PSB Synchrony T800 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Dome Tweeter
- 5.25" Midrange
- 3 x 8" Cast Basket Carbon Fibre Cone Woofer
- 21-23k Hz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:20-300watts
- Weight:45.40kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1212.0" x 14 7/8" x 15 5/8"( 1212 x 377 x 396mm )
B&W 702 S2 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Tweeter
- 6" Midrange
- 3 x 6.5" Aerofoil Woofer
- 6" Midrange
- 46-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:30-300watts
- Weight:29.50kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1087.0" x 14-7/16" x 14.3"( 1087.0 x 200.0 x 364.0mm )
What size room are the PSB Synchrony T800 and B&W 702 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* |
PSB Synchrony T800 |
B&W 702 S2 |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Average |
(* 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 PSB Synchrony T800 and B&W 702 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
Both Synchrony T800 and 702 S2 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
PSB Synchrony T800 |
B&W 702 S2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.25-inch |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
3 x 8-inch
|
3 x 6.5-inch
|
Synchrony T800 features a 1" titanium with ferrofluid cooling and neodymium magnet Dome Tweeter , a 5.25" Midrange and 3 x 8" Cast Basket Carbon Fibre Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 450Hz and 1800Hz. On the other hand, the 702 S2 features a 1" Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 3 x 6.5" Aerofoil Woofer .
Frequency Response
Synchrony T800 has a frequency range of 21-23k Hz whereas 702 S2 has a frequency range of 46-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 21Hz, the Synchrony T800 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 702 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
Synchrony T800 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the 702 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 Synchrony T800 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Synchrony T800 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the 702 S2's is rated at 90 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the B&W 702 S2 a more sensitive speaker compared to PSB Synchrony T800, 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.
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 Synchrony T800 and 702 S2 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
PSB Synchrony T800's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
B&W 702 S2's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Synchrony T800 and 702 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 PSB Synchrony T800's and B&W 702 S2's external dimensions. PSB Synchrony T800 has external dimensions of 1212 x 377 x 396mm ( 47 3/4 x 14 7/8 x 15 5/8-inch) whereas B&W 702 S2 has external dimensions of 1087.0 x 200.0 x 364.0mm ( 42.8-inch x 14-7/16-inch x 14.3-inch) .
PSB Synchrony T800 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 177mm wider, 125mm taller and 32mm deeper than B&W 702 S2.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of PSB Synchrony T800 and B&W 702 S2 in scale.
Comparison image of PSB Synchrony T800 and B&W 702 S2 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 PSB Synchrony T800 is approximately 1492.0cm2 / 231.3inch2 and base area of the B&W 702 S2 is approximately 728.0cm2 / 112.8inch2. The Synchrony T800 requires 105% more surface area than the 702 S2 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.