In this review, we will be comparing Reva 2 and 706 S2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale Reva 2 and B&W 706 S2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale Reva 2 | B&W 706 S2 |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | Bowers Wilkins
United Kingdom · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1" Decoupled Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" Woven Glass Fiber | 6.5" Continuum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 48-20k Hz | 50-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-80 watts | 30-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.82kg / 17.2lbs | 8.05kg / 17.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14-1/16" x 7-7/8" x 12-13/16"
358.0 x 201.0 x 326.0mm | 13.5" x 7.8" x 11.9"
340.0 x 200.0 x 301.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale Reva 2 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* |
Wharfedale Reva 2 |
B&W 706 S2 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Reva 2 and 706 S2 are 2-way speakers.
Wharfedale Reva 2B&W 706 S2
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Wharfedale Reva 2 |
B&W 706 S2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Reva 2 features a 1" woven textile Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Woven Glass Fiber Woofer. On the other hand, the 706 S2 features a 1" Decoupled Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Continuum Woofer.
Frequency Response
Reva 2 has a frequency range of 48-20k Hz whereas 706 S2 has a frequency range of 50-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the Reva 2 can go slightly deeper then the 706 S2's min frequency of 50Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Reva 2 and 706 S2 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Reva 2 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the 706 S2's is at 88 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the B&W 706 S2 a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale Reva 2, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
706 S2 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas Reva 2 has a max power handling value of 80 watts RMS, 40 watts less than the 706 S2.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Reva 2 and 706 S2 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Wharfedale Reva 2's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Reva 2 has a bottom firing port whereas 706 S2 has a rear firing ports. Wharfedale Reva 2's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to B&W 706 S2 with its rear-firing port.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be 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 Reva 2's and B&W 706 S2's external dimensions. Wharfedale Reva 2 has external dimensions of 358.0 x 201.0 x 326.0mm (14-1/16 x 7-7/8 x 12-13/16inch) 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).
Wharfedale Reva 2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 1mm wider, 18mm taller and 25mm deeper than B&W 706 S2.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale Reva 2 and B&W 706 S2 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale Reva 2 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 Wharfedale Reva 2 is approximately 655.3cm2 / 101.6inch2 and base area of the B&W 706 S2 is approximately 602.0cm2 / 93.3inch2. The Reva 2 requires 9% more surface area than the 706 S2 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is 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 Wharfedale Reva 2 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 Wharfedale Reva 2 weighs 7.82kg / 17.2lbs and the B&W 706 S2 weighs 8.05kg / 17.7lbs. This makes the 706 S2 3% heavier than the Reva 2.
Here is a comparison of how Reva 2 and 706 S2's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Wharfedale Reva 2?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Reva 2:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles (pre-installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- 4 Jumper bars (pre-installed)
- Pair of white gloves
- User-feets Manual
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
 Low Frequency Response |
48 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
999USD
vs
1999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
80 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
340mm
vs
358mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
602cm2
vs
655cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Wharfedale Reva 2 |
Bowers & Wilkins 706 S2 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-80 watts |
30-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.7 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
48-20k Hz |
50-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Glass Fiber |
Continuum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Decoupled Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
358.0mm (14.1") |
340.0mm (13.4") |
| Width |
201.0mm (7.9") |
200.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
326.0mm (12.8") |
301.0mm (11.9") |
| Weight |
7.82kg (17.2lbs) |
8.05kg (17.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Wood composite laminate |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black |
Rosewood, Gloss Black, Satin White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24" |
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 |
These sit in different price classes - B&W 706 S2 costs roughly 2x what Wharfedale Reva 2 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (48Hz vs 50Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | B | B&W 706 S2 is more sensitive (88dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | B | B&W 706 S2 takes more power (120W vs 80W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Wharfedale Reva 2: bi-amping; B&W 706 S2: bi-amping. B&W 706 S2 sits in a wider range (8 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Wharfedale Reva 2 is cheaper - $999 against $1,999, about 50% less; arguably a different class. |
A Wharfedale Reva 2 B B&W 706 S2
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
The usual trade-off: B&W 706 S2 measures better, Wharfedale Reva 2 costs about about 100% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. Match it to your room: we rate Wharfedale Reva 2 the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and B&W 706 S2 for a mid-size room and a large room. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, B&W 706 S2 is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.