In this review, we will be comparing AURA 3 and 704 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 704 S3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Wharfedale AURA 3 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1.0625 x 3.5" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter
- 4" Midrange
- 2 x 5" Glass Fiber Matrix Woofer
- 39-22k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:up to 150watts
- Weight:23.05kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1036.0" x 13-3/8" x 13-13/16"( 1036.0 x 340.0 x 351.0mm )
B&W 704 S3 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Tweeter
- 5" Midrange
- 2 x 5" Aerofoil Woofer
- 5" Midrange
- 46-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:30-150watts
- Weight:20.53kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 964.0" x 6.5" x 11.8"( 964.0 x 165.0 x 300.0mm )
What size room are the Wharfedale AURA 3 and B&W 704 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:
| Listening Environment* |
Wharfedale AURA 3 |
B&W 704 S3 |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| 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 Wharfedale AURA 3 and B&W 704 S3 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 AURA 3 and 704 S3 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Wharfedale AURA 3 |
B&W 704 S3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.0625 x 3.5-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
1 x 5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5-inch
|
2 x 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 704 S3 features a 1" Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 2 x 5" Aerofoil Woofer .
Frequency Response
AURA 3 has a frequency range of 39-22k Hz whereas 704 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 704 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 704 S3 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 88 dBdB.
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 AURA 3 and 704 S3 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Wharfedale AURA 3's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
B&W 704 S3's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
AURA 3 has a bottom firing port whereas 704 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 704 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 704 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 704 S3 has external dimensions of 964.0 x 165.0 x 300.0mm ( 38-inch x 6.5-inch x 11.8-inch) .
Wharfedale AURA 3 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 175mm wider, 72mm taller and 51mm deeper than B&W 704 S3.
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 704 S3 is approximately 495.0cm2 / 76.7inch2. The AURA 3 requires 141% more surface area than the 704 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 704 S3 weighs 20.53kg / 45.2lbs. This makes the AURA 3 12% heavier than the 704 S3.
Here is a comparison of how AURA 3 and 704 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 704 S3?
Here are the items that come with the 704 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 |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
964mm
vs
1036mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
495cm2
vs
1193cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
3998USD
vs
3999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wharfedale AURA 3 |
Bowers & Wilkins 704 S3 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 150 watts |
30-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
88 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 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
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" |
5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
460Hz, 3.3kHz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1036.0mm (40.8") |
964.0mm (38") |
| Width |
340.0mm (13.4") |
165.0mm (6.5") |
| Depth |
351.0mm (13.8") |
300.0mm (11.8") |
| Weight |
23.05kg (50.7lbs) |
20.53kg (45.2lbs) |
| 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 |