SVS Ultra Bookshelf vs B&W 706 S2 Comparison

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SVS Ultra Bookshelf

Passive Bookshelf | 45-32k Hz

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B&W 706 S2

Passive Bookshelf | 50-28k Hz

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SVS Ultra Bookshelf

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B&W 706 S2

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SVS Ultra Bookshelf

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B&W 706 S2

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SVS Ultra Bookshelf vs B&W 706 S2 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Ultra Bookshelf and 706 S2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from SVS and Bowers Wilkins.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of SVS Ultra Bookshelf and B&W 706 S2 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

SVS Ultra Bookshelf Key Specs

2-way Design

1" Hard-Dome Tweeter

6.5" Composite glass-fiber Woofer

45-32k Hz Frequency Response

87 dB Sensitivity

Impedance: 8ohms

Power Range:20-150watts

Weight:8.64kg

Dimensions (H x W x D): 380.0" x 8-9/16" x 11-1/16"( 380.0 x 218.0 x 281.0mm )

B&W 706 S2 Key Specs

2-way Design

1" Decoupled Soft-Dome Tweeter

6.5" Continuum Woofer

50-28k Hz Frequency Response

88 dB Sensitivity

Impedance: 8ohms

Power Range:30-120watts

Weight:8.05kg

Dimensions (H x W x D): 340.0" x 7.8" x 11."( 340.0 x 200.0 x 301.0mm )

What size room are the SVS Ultra Bookshelf and B&W 706 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*	SVS Ultra Bookshelf	B&W 706 S2
Near-field	Poor	Poor
Small Room	Average	Average
Mid-size Room	Good	Good
Large Room	Average	Average
Very Large Room	Poor	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 SVS Ultra Bookshelf and B&W 706 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 Ultra Bookshelf and 706 S2 are 2-way speakers.

Driver	SVS Ultra Bookshelf	B&W 706 S2
Driver Setup	2-way	2-way
Tweeter	1-inch	1-inch
Midrange	-	-
Woofer	1 x 6.5-inch	1 x 6.5-inch

Ultra Bookshelf features a 1" aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Composite glass-fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz. On the other hand, the 706 S2 features a 1" Decoupled Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Continuum Woofer .

Frequency Response

Ultra Bookshelf has a frequency range of 45-32k Hz whereas 706 S2 has a frequency range of 50-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the Ultra Bookshelf can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 706 S2's min frequency of 50Hz.

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 Bookshelf class in our database.

Low Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

Ultra Bookshelf

706 S2

Min

Average

Max

High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

SVS Ultra Bookshelf

B&W 706 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

Ultra Bookshelf and 706 S2 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Ultra Bookshelf sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the 706 S2's is at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the B&W 706 S2 a more sensitive speaker compared to SVS Ultra Bookshelf, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

Ultra Bookshelf

706 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.

Ultra Bookshelf can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas 706 S2 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the Ultra Bookshelf.

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 Ultra Bookshelf and 706 S2 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.

SVS Ultra Bookshelf's 5-way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Both Ultra Bookshelf and 706 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 SVS Ultra Bookshelf's and B&W 706 S2's external dimensions. SVS Ultra Bookshelf has external dimensions of 380.0 x 218.0 x 281.0mm ( 14-15/16 x 8-9/16 x 11-1/16inch) whereas B&W 706 S2 has external dimensions of 340.0 x 200.0 x 301.0mm ( 13.5-inch x 7.8-inch x 11.-inch) .

B&W 706 S2 is 18mm narrower and 40mm shorter than SVS Ultra Bookshelf but it is also 20mm deeper.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of SVS Ultra Bookshelf and B&W 706 S2 in scale.

Comparison image of SVS Ultra Bookshelf and B&W 706 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 SVS Ultra Bookshelf is approximately 612.6cm² / 95.0inch² and base area of the B&W 706 S2 is approximately 602.0cm² / 93.3inch². The Ultra Bookshelf requires 2% more surface area than the 706 S2 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.

Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:

Size Comparison image of SVS Ultra Bookshelf and B&W 706 S2 on a Media Console

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 SVS Ultra Bookshelf weighs 8.64kg / 19lbs and the B&W 706 S2 weighs 8.05kg / 17.7lbs. This makes the Ultra Bookshelf 7% heavier than the 706 S2.

Here is a comparison of how Ultra Bookshelf and 706 S2's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers

SVS Ultra Bookshelf

B&W 706 S2

Min

Average

Max

What's in the Box of SVS Ultra Bookshelf?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of Ultra Bookshelf:

2 Bookshelf loudspeakers

2 Grilles

8 Rubber feet

2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)

Owners Manual

SVS brochure

Online Product Registration Card

What's in the Box of B&W 706 S2?

Here are the items that come with the 706 S2:

2 Bookshelf loudspeakers

2 Grilles

2 Two-piece foam port plugs

8 Self-adhesive rubber feet

4 Jumper-straps

Manual

Bowers & Wilkins brochure

Warranty Information

Reasons to choose SVS Ultra Bookshelf over Bowers & Wilkins 706 S2

Max Input Power	150 watts vs 120 watts	Handle more power from your amplifier
Low Frequency Response	45 Hz vs 50 Hz	Generates deeper bass
High Frequency Response	32k Hz vs 28k Hz	Generates higher frequency
Price per pair*	1200USD vs 1999USD	costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

Reasons to choose Bowers & Wilkins 706 S2 over SVS Ultra Bookshelf

Sensitivity	88 dB vs 87 dB	Play louder with same amount of amplification power
Height	340mm vs 380mm	Easier to fit in smaller spaces
Base Surface Area	602cm² vs 612cm²	Takes less floor space

SVS Ultra Bookshelf vs B&W 706 S2 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	SVS Ultra Bookshelf	Bowers & Wilkins 706 S2
Brand	SVS	Bowers Wilkins
Speaker Type	Bookshelf speakers	Bookshelf speakers
Power Range	20-150 watts	30-120 watts
Sensitivity	87 dB	88 dB
Impedance	8 ohms	8 ohms
Impedance	n/a	3.7 ohms
Frequency Response	45-32k Hz	50-28k Hz
Drivers
Woofer Quantity	1	1
Woofer Size	6.5"	6.5"
Woofer Composition	Composite glass-fiber	Continuum
Woofer Surround Material	Rubber	Rubber
Tweeter Size	1"	1"
Tweeter Type	Hard-Dome	Decoupled Soft-Dome
Aimable Tweeter	No	No
Midrange Driver	No	No
Crossover Frequency	2000Hz	n/a
Firing Direction	rear	rear
Physical Specs
Height	380.0mm (15")	340.0mm (13.4")
Width	218.0mm (8.6")	200.0mm (7.9")
Depth	281.0mm (11.1")	301.0mm (11.9")
Weight	8.64kg (19lbs)	8.05kg (17.7lbs)
Enclosure	Bass Reflex	Bass Reflex
Finish	MDF/Oak veneer	MDF/Wood Veneer
Available Colors	Black Oak,Piano Gloss Black,Piano Gloss White	Rosewood, Gloss Black, Satin White
Mounting Bracket	No	No
Recommended Stand Height	22-28"	24-26"
Grille	Yes	Yes
Moisture Resistancy	No	No
Connections
Biamp Inputs	Yes	Yes
Other
Parts Warranty	5 Years	5 Years
Labor Warranty	5 Years	5 Years