Bowers & Wilkins 703 S3 Loudspeakers: Review

With such a lot of high-end loudspeakers to be had to shoppers, it has turn out to be an increasing number of tough to yank one out of the hat the really gives one thing extra. It’s the feeling I am getting at the present time riding into Montreal in search of a excellent bagel or riding thru New Jersey in search of a phenomenal pizza; higher than moderate choices are all over the place however that doesn’t lead them to nice.

Fairmount makes a phenomenal bagel this is price riding six hours for and it’s one thing that I’ve finished for years since the bagels listed below are extraordinarily extraordinary.

The Big name Tavern in Orange, New Jersey, makes the most efficient bar pie this facet of the Mississippi.

One can pressure previous 100 different pizzerias at the as far back as the Jersey Shore however this one will without end earn my cash. And I do know pizza having grown up within the trade and been taught by way of one of the crucial very best.

What does any of this need to do with the Bowers & Wilkins 703 S3 Loudspeakers?

The entirety.

It’s also human nature to dislike a logo in the event you pay attention sufficient negativity about its merchandise; one thing this is amplified by way of the thousands and thousands of reviews on social media on this peculiar, twisted matrix of knowledge that we’ve got created.

However like maximum belongings you learn on-line — they aren’t info. Identical to the BBC’s reporting at the present time.

Enjoy trumps all.

It would marvel some to be informed that I’ve no longer had that a lot enjoy being attentive to Bowers & Wilkins loudspeakers over the process my audiophile adventure and maximum of the ones listening periods passed off when I used to be very younger and no longer even positive what I used to be meant to be listening for.

Over the process a few years, it turned into my “opinion” that Bowers & Wilkins made excellent, however no longer outstanding high-end loudspeakers. There have been a number of different choices to be had from Spendor and Meadowlark Audio that occupied my listening room as an alternative, and there used to be all the time one thing new from MartinLogan to stay me happy for a couple of years.

So it used to be with nice passion that I took supply of the Bowers & Wilkins 703 S3 and in reality prayed for the most efficient taking into account how a lot I believed I would possibly dislike them.

Without a doubt name a chum to lend a hand with the set up of the bottom devices and transferring them round your room. Heavy in the easiest way imaginable.

In contrast to the most efficient pizza and bagels, the Bowers & Wilkins 703 S3 stored me numerous gas and toll fees and that’s slightly scratching the skin in their brilliance.

Dangle on other people. It’s going to be a bumpy night time and I’m all out of Halavah from Jerusalem.

700 S3 Collection

The 703 S3 are a part of the new 700 S3 Collection from Bowers & Wilkins which incorporates 8 new fashions in general designated as S3; which incorporates 3 flooring standers, 3 stand-mount audio system and two middle channel audio system. The entire fashions substitute and give a boost to upon each the former technology 700 S2 (2019) and 700 S2 Signature (2020) strains. 

• 702 S3 – $7,000/pr – Floorstanding loudspeaker with Tweeter-on-Most sensible
• 703 S3 – $6,000/pr – Floorstanding loudspeaker with Tweeter-on-Most sensible
• 704 S3 – $4,000/pr – Floorstanding loudspeaker
• 705 S3 – $3,400/pr – Standmount with Tweeter-on-Most sensible
• 706 S3 – $2,200/pr – Standmount loudspeaker
• 707 S3 – $1,800/pr – Bookshelf/standmount loudspeaker
• HTM71 S3 – $2,500/ea – Middle-channel loudspeaker with Tweeter-on-Most sensible
• HTM72 S3 – $1,500/ea – Middle-channel loudspeaker

Casting off every 703 S3 from its packaging required two other folks as a result of the burden of every loudspeaker and its really extensive cupboard.

The new 700 sequence may well be slimmer however at 44″H x 11.4″W x 14.6″D (which incorporates the plinth and tweeter) and 64 kilos apiece, the 703 S3 are a particularly implementing loudspeaker in any room and wonderfully built.

The new Mocha end of the evaluate pattern is without doubt one of the most fascinating I’ve observed on any pair of loudspeakers in a few years and undoubtedly the one who I’d make a choice if purchasing those loudspeakers. The grain and seamless high quality of the end is what one must be expecting for $6,000 and Bowers & Wilkins have actually long past the additional mile with those audio system.

Mocha joins the Gloss Black and Satin White finishes up to now presented to finish the variety of choices for many markets.

The 703 S3 are a three-way vented field with a quoted frequency reaction of 46Hz – 28kHz ±3dB, with a sensitivity score of 90dB (2.83Vrms @1m) and impedance of 8 ohms.

The impedance, then again, drops to a few ohms and the 30 to 200 watts/channel advice proved to be quite constructive even in my 16′ x 13′ x 9′ listening room.

My Cambridge Audio Edge A Built-in Amplifier ($6,499 at Crutchfield) used to be the one amplifier in my assortment to pressure the 703 S3 correctly and it proved to be a very good fit from a tonal stability standpoint. In line with how the Edge A carried out, the Rotel Michi X5 or X3 would even be excellent doable fits.

Era

The motive force supplement contains Bowers & Wilkins’ 1-inch decoupled Carbon Dome tweeter, 1 x 6-inch Continuum cone FST midrange driving force, and a pair of x 6.5-inch Aerofoil Profile bass drivers.

The tweeter-on-top shape itself has been comprehensively re-engineered within the new vary. Machined from a unmarried, forged block of aluminum, the new 700 Collection 3 tweeter-on-top enclosure has been considerably lengthened with the purpose of lowering distortion.

This longer shape is additional enhanced by way of the advent of advanced two-point decoupling that higher isolates the meeting from the loudspeaker cupboard.

The decoupling additionally implies that the tweeter module shifts moderately which would possibly frighten customers into believing that they broke one thing taking the loudspeakers out in their packaging.

One problem to this implementation of the tweeter-on-top configuration is that you must position the loudspeakers on one thing increased and comfortable as a way to set up the bottom and set up the toes with out scratching the pretty cabinetry.

It will make extra sense for Bowers & Wilkins to pre-install the bottom sooner than its get packaged for transport however that isn’t a part of the deal.

Excluding the mechanical enhancements, the tweeter-on-top diaphragm keeps the Bowers & Wilkins Carbon Dome tweeter, with vented voice coils with new, upgraded magnets.

Even fashions that function tweeters fastened within the baffle – 707 S3, 706 S3, 704 S3 and HTM72 S3 – get pleasure from a lot of these adjustments, along a considerably elongated tube-loading machine that, as with the tweeter-on-top, works to scale back distortion and make sure a cleaner sound.

In a primary for the 700 Collection, the new vary introduces slimmer cupboards that includes a curved entrance baffle and pressure devices fastened in exterior ‘pods’ that shape an immediate visible and technical hyperlink to the 800 Collection Diamond vary.

The aim of the slimmer cupboard is to attenuate the have an effect on of the loudspeaker baffle on sound high quality by way of minimizing the extent of diffraction in regard to the drivers and the cupboard.

The Bowers & Wilkins 703 S3 makes use of a new biomimetic suspension, which used to be first published ultimate within the new 800 Collection Diamond vary.

Changing the normal material spider discovered within the suspension of virtually all loudspeakers constructed over contemporary many years, the biomimetic suspension used to be designed to dramatically scale back undesirable noise from the output of the spider because the midrange cone operates.

The upgraded speaker terminals function extra really extensive touch connections and are higher laid out to be used with spade-terminated speaker cable; one thing that I showed with somewhat thick units of loudspeaker cables from Clarus, Research Plus, and Kimber.

The Clarus cables proved to be essentially the most impartial possibility connecting the loudspeakers to my Cambridge Audio Edge A Built-in Amplifier.

The biding posts hook up with upgraded crossovers that proceed to make use of Mundorf capacitors as sooner than, however at the moment are enhanced with more than one bypass capacitors and advanced warmth sinking for even cleaner efficiency.

On paper, the 703 S3 are very spectacular however specs and a posh end don’t quantity to anything else greater than a mean bar pie if the efficiency for $6,000 isn’t smartly above different audio system in the similar worth vary.

Sound

On account of their measurement, I used to be moderately hesitant to tug the 703 S3 too a ways into my room as a result of it could turn out to be an excessive amount of of a goal for Tyrion the West Highland Terrier.

The Q Acoustics 5040 that we simply reviewed carried out smartly at the concrete slabs that I bought from House Depot and I found out that the 703 S3 didn’t require greater than 30″ from the entrance wall to sound fairly balanced within the room.

The concrete slabs did carry the audio system by way of virtually 1.5 inches however my peak (6’3″) and listening place enable you to alter to tweeters which might be farther from the ground.

On account of the site of the slabs, I settled at the 703 S3 being positioned greater than 84 inches aside and greater than 48″ from the facet partitions with the loudspeakers pointed directly forward.

Having a look on the provided specs, it used to be quite cheap to be expecting that the 703 S3 would possibly overload my room with an excessive amount of bass output, however that proved by no means to be the case.

When the use of my Magnepan LRS, the low finish is augmented with a unmarried REL T/5x Subwoofer and that aggregate has labored smartly over the last few years; bass notes are smartly outlined, fast, and while they don’t overpower the room with extraordinarily visceral low finish have an effect on, bass notes nonetheless provide a basis to the remainder of the track.

Taking note of Tangerine Dream, Kraftwerk, Speaking Heads, and Instrument, I found out that the 703 S3 didn’t overpower the room in any respect; bass knowledge used to be robust and smartly outlined and didn’t bleed up into the higher bass or decrease midrange in any respect.

Male vocals had been specifically smartly rendered; Sam Cooke, Nick Cave, Robert Smith, Jonatan Alvarado, and Robbie Robertson had been driven ahead of the loudspeakers however with layers of texture and really correct timbre.

Alvarado is probably not acquainted to maximum, however his Voces de Bronce free up (TIDAL, 16-bit/44.1kHz) from 2023 is a hauntingly stunning recording that stuffed my listening area from one facet of the room to the opposite.

The mic placement (despite the fact that it might be the Dolby Atmos-encoding) does appear to push him again into the soundstage however that didn’t rob the track of its richness and tool.

Nick Cave used to be driven lifeless middle and locked firmly in position with layers of growl and depth. Piano notes had energy, element, and discernible decay that held simply lengthy sufficient within the air to sound unique.

The 703 S3 proved to be somewhat succesful with digital track, vintage rock, and techno — essentially since the bass vary is so smartly balanced and articulate.

Did Bowers & Wilkins play it protected right here or good?

If I had a miles higher listening area, the addition of a subwoofer may well be logical however within the context of my 16′ x 13′ x 9′ room — it by no means crushed the remainder of the track and that shocked me from one of these massive loudspeaker.

Bass notes retained their definition and element even if I raised the amount smartly above dialog ranges and maximum listeners can be greater than happy.

The bar pie abides.

Upper and Upper

Feminine vocals are a undeniable power of the 703 S3; wealthy, detailed, and not etched even with some lower than stellar recordings.

The treble vary, then again, isn’t highest and there’s no query that there’s a small dip that takes one of the crucial chew out of the full presentation, however it’s not one who persists for many of the height finish.

At the plus facet, there are not any obtrusive peaks that create a hardness when being attentive to cymbals or hi-hat however the treble vary isn’t fully impartial in its total presentation.

A couple of of my contemporary Blue Word Tone Poet acquisitions together with some nice releases from Donald Byrd, Dexter Gordon, and Andrew Hill introduced the 703 S3 with a bit of of a problem and uncovered some warts at the height finish.

My Thorens TD-160 Tremendous used to be just lately upgraded with a Goldring Eroica HX that provides a extra full of life and clear presentation from height to backside.

The Eroica HX does be offering an excessively clear sounding presentation this is wealthy with element, however it’s additionally no longer essentially the most colourful copy of what’s within the grooves — your ultimate outcome with certainly be influenced by way of the phono level and the machine at the different finish.

Dexter Gordon’s One Flight Up (Blue Word Tone Poet Collection) and Andrew Hill’s Passing Ships (Blue Word Tone Poet Collection) presented me the chance to look how the 703 S3 treated horns and piano.

Horns got here throughout with abundant power, presence, and simply sufficient element not to crush; despite the fact that there have been a couple of circumstances after I felt the 703 S3 used to be being too well mannered and I inserted a unique phono pre-amplifier into the chain to look if the wrongdoer used to be the loudspeaker or the cartridge/phono pre-amp.

Is it honest to name the 703 S3 too well mannered within the treble vary?

Those that choose an excessively full of life height finish this is ripe with unending element would possibly in finding the 703 S3 quite restrained in that regard, however I’d counsel that the loudspeaker is a extra preferable long-term concentrate as a result of it.

Piano notes had superb weight and timbre; Herbie Hancock, Bud Powell, and Mingus stored me up way past my bedtime (11 pm…I’m getting outdated) and what inspired me essentially the most concerning the 703 S3’s used to be how smartly they treated the converting tempos and scale of the tool.

Only a few loudspeakers reproduce the size and timbre of the piano in a way that feels completely convincing and getting it proper is more difficult than one would possibly suppose; the 703 S3 do so like few loudspeakers I’ve heard in its worth vary.

Pacing is very good in the course of the 703 S3 and while they won’t ship the rate and snap of the Magnepan LRS or a couple of electrostatic loudspeakers, they don’t fight maintaining with hard subject material.

Go out Degree Left?

All over my contemporary evaluate of the Q Acoustics 5040 Loudspeakers, I used to be struck by way of how simply how spacious those slender flooring status loudspeakers may just sound with numerous recordings. As a result of I typically choose a close to box listening enjoy, soundstage width isn’t one in every of my height standards for any pair of loudspeakers.

The 703 S3 thrust track in entrance and to the perimeters of every loudspeaker and I’m an increasing number of satisfied that if my room allowed for it — those sublime towers may just envelop one of their spaciousness.

Imaging used to be somewhat actual with performers and tools locked somewhat firmly of their respective spots inside the soundstage and the full stereo separation used to be superb.

Ultimate Ideas

$6,000 loudspeakers are a large stretch financially for the majority of listeners and there’s no query that one would want a somewhat really extensive funding in amplification and supply parts to justify a couple of loudspeakers just like the Bowers & Wilkins 703 S3.

Those are loudspeakers that love energy and coffee finish regulate from whichever amplifier is at the different finish; merchandise just like the Cambridge Audio Edge A had been designed for loudspeakers like those and it must marvel no longer a soul that they labored extraordinarily smartly in combination.

From a tonal standpoint, one can be nice with impartial to hotter sounding amplifiers with the 703 S3 however I’d under no circumstances opt for anything else this is at the cooler facet; particularly in case your resources additionally lean that method as smartly.

The 703 S3 utterly modified my belief of Bowers & Wilkins’ merchandise and those should be thought to be a compulsory concentrate in case your price range levels from $6,000 to $10,000 USD.

Will have to I ever have a bigger listening area that might permit those unusual loudspeakers to fully let their hair down — those may well be what I in the end experience while consuming my bar pie and giving Tyrion the evil eye as he edges ever nearer.

The place to shop for: $5,999/pair at Crutchfield (black, white or mocha)