In this review, we will be comparing AURA 3 and 702 S3, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Wharfedale and Bowers Wilkins. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale AURA 3 and B&W 702 S3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Wharfedale AURA 3 and B&W 702 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 Wharfedale AURA 3 and B&W 702 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 AURA 3 and 702 S3 are 3-way speakers.
Driver |
Wharfedale AURA 3 |
B&W 702 S3 |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
Tweeter
|
1.0625 x 3.5-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
1 x 6-inch |
Woofer
|
2 x 5-inch
|
3 x 6.5-inch
|
AURA 3 features a 1.0625 x 3.5" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter , a 4" Midrange and 2 x 5" Glass Fiber Matrix Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 460Hz, 3.3kHz. On the other hand, the 702 S3 features a 1" Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 3 x 6.5" Aerofoil Woofer .
Frequency Response
AURA 3 has a frequency range of 39-22k Hz whereas 702 S3 has a frequency range of 46-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 39Hz, the AURA 3 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 702 S3'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
AURA 3 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the 702 S3 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. AURA 3 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the 702 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.
AURA 3 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas AURA 3 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS , 150 watts less than the 702 S3.
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 AURA 3 and 702 S3 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
AURA 3 has a bottom firing port whereas 702 S3 has a rear firing ports. Wharfedale AURA 3's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to B&W 702 S3 with its rear-firing port.
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 Wharfedale AURA 3's and B&W 702 S3's external dimensions. Wharfedale AURA 3 has external dimensions of 1036.0 x 340.0 x 351.0mm ( 40-3/4inch x 13-3/8inch x 13-13/16inch ) whereas B&W 702 S3 has external dimensions of 1138.0 x 192.0 x 391.0mm ( 44.8-inch x 7.6-inch x 15.4-inch) .
Wharfedale AURA 3 is 102mm shorter and 40mm less deeper than B&W 702 S3 but it is also 148mm wider.
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 Wharfedale AURA 3 is approximately 1193.4cm2 / 185.0inch2 and base area of the B&W 702 S3 is approximately 750.7cm2 / 116.4inch2. The AURA 3 requires 59% more surface area than the 702 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 Wharfedale AURA 3 weighs 23.05kg / 50.7lbs and the B&W 702 S3 weighs 33.46kg / 73.6lbs. This makes the 702 S3 45% heavier than the AURA 3.
Here is a comparison of how AURA 3 and 702 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 Wharfedale AURA 3?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of AURA 3:
2 Floorstanding loudspeakers2 Grilles4 Terminal-jumpers8 Spike feet8 Collars 8 Knobs8 Protective discsPair of white glovesUser Manual
What's in the Box of B&W 702 S3?
Here are the items that come with the 702 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
Low Frequency Response |
39 Hz
vs
46 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
Height |
1036mm
vs
1138mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Price per pair* |
3999USD
vs
6998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Base Surface Area |
750cm2 (192x391mm)
vs
1193cm2 (340x351mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
General |
Wharfedale AURA 3 |
Bowers & Wilkins 702 S3 |
Brand |
Wharfedale |
Bowers Wilkins |
Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
Power Range |
up to 150 watts |
30-300 watts |
Sensitivity |
88 dB |
90 dB |
Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
Impedance |
3.1 ohms |
3.1 ohms |
Frequency Response |
39-22k Hz |
46-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
3 |
Woofer Size |
5" |
6.5" |
Woofer Composition |
Glass Fiber Matrix |
Aerofoil |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1.0625 x 3.5" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
AMT (Ribbon) |
n/a |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
4" |
6" |
Crossover Frequency |
460Hz, 3.3kHz |
n/a |
Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
1036.0mm (40.8") |
1138.0mm (44.8") |
Width |
340.0mm (13.4") |
192.0mm (7.6") |
Depth |
351.0mm (13.8") |
391.0mm (15.4") |
Weight |
23.05kg (50.7lbs) |
33.46kg (73.6lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
Multi-layer wood |
MDF/Lacquer |
Available Colors |
Piano Black,Piano Walnut,White Gloss |
Gloss Black,Satin White,Mocha,Rosenut |
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 |