About The Bowers & Wilkins 702 S3 Signature Speakers
The 702 S3 Signature is the new flagship of the 700 S3 range. It is nothing less than a state-of-the-art floorstanding speaker that redefines standards for performance in its class.
Its Carbon Dome tweeter is housed in a redesigned Solid Body Tweeter assembly, derived from the latest generation of 800 Series Diamond. This ensures even more realistic treble, while its decoupled midrange assembly, enhanced here with B&W's revolutionary Biomimetic Suspension, provides outstanding midrange transparency and openness. And thanks to its new downward-firing port configuration and its trio of Aerofoil Profile bass cones, 702 S3 Signature can deliver bass that's both profoundly deep and endlessly articulate. If you want the best, this is it.
700 Series Signature Upgrades
The 700 Series Signature models employ a series of carefully designed and engineered upgrades designed to deliver the best possible sound and visual presentation.
Aesthetically, the Signature models are finished in lustrous Midnight Blue Metallic paint or Datuk Gloss veneer, with multiple coats of paint or lacquer to deliver a supremely rich and desirable finish. Metal component parts, such as the tweeter body, are finished in Satin Black.
Drive unit pods and tweeter grilles are trimmed with a gold colour diamond cut trim bezel while Tweeter grilles adopt the same advanced design and hole pattern found on the 801 and 805 D4 Signature models. Each unit also features new brass speaker terminal posts for a cleaner signal path along with a Signature logo above the speaker terminal plate designed to highlight its exclusivity.
The Crossover is the main area of significant audio improvement over the standard models and includes the following upgrades:
- New Mundorf EVO Silver Gold Oil capacitors with Angelique wire lead-outs for High Frequencies
- New Mundorf EVO Silver Gold Oil capacitors with Angelique wire lead-outs and new Bevenbi MPAZ-E polypropylene capacitors with zinc foil for Midrange Frequencies
- New air-core inductors for Low Frequency drive units
- Upgraded poles on Mid and Low Frequency motor systems with larger venting and lower inductance
- Bypass capacitors reconfigured and located in series with each other on each board
As with all Signature technologies, none of these components will be made available for 'retro-fit' to current products or added as a running change into existing 700 Series S3 products.
A Closer Look
Solid Body Tweeter: The 702 S3 Signature features the latest generation of B&W's iconic Solid Body Tweeter-on-Top housing. Its redesigned, more elongated form incorporates a longer tube-loading system to produce an even more free and open sound with high frequencies. The carefully decoupled housing is milled from a single solid block of aluminium to better resist resonance.
Carbon Dome Tweeters: Carbon Dome tweeters are purpose-built for the 700 Series. Delivering a dramatic improvement on the aluminium double dome tweeter, they raise the breakup threshold to 47kHz, for pinpoint imaging accuracy and detail.
Biomimetic Suspension: Sometimes, making a big difference takes unconventional thinking. The transition from B&W's famous yellow Aramid Fibre midrange cones to the Continuum cone technology resulted in a massive improvement to midrange performance. Now, B&W have turned their attention to another crucial element in a loudspeaker cone: the fabric spider. The unique Biomimetic Suspension revolutionises midrange cone performance by greatly reducing the unwanted air pressure and coloration that a conventional fabric spider can generate. The result? Midrange transparency you wouldn't believe possible.
Continuum™ Cone: Thanks to its composite construction, the Continuum™ cone avoids the abrupt transitions in behaviour that can impair the performance of a conventional drive unit. The result is a more open, neutral performance that delivers voices and instruments with precision and transparency.
Decoupled Midrange Assembly: The 702 S3 Signature has a dedicated midrange cone using four key Bowers & Wilkins technologies: the Continuum cone, FST™, Biomimetic Suspension and midrange decoupling, the latter ensuring minimal interference from the operation of the loudspeaker's bass drivers.
Aerofoil™ Profile Bass Cone: Developed using advanced computer modelling techniques, the Aerofoil™ Profile bass cone has variable thickness, providing stiffness and rigidity where it's needed most. The result: deep and dynamic bass.
Curved Baffle: The 700 S3 range features a curved front baffle for the first time. This allows the midrange and bass drivers to be located in individual pod-type housings that sit proud of the speaker baffle. When combined with the curvature of the structure, this advanced approach – derived from the 800 Series Diamond – reduces the audible impact of the cabinet, creating a cleaner, more open and more immersive sound.
About The 700 Series 3 Range
The Bowers & Wilkins 700 S3 range of loudspeakers is defined by elegance and driven by performance. Every model in the range is inspired by the recording studio and enabled by cutting-edge technologies first developed for B&W's flagship 800 Series Diamond.
The 700 Series contains eight models: there's a speaker to suit every home and every requirement, whether your passion is high-performance stereo, immersive home cinema or a mix of both. Every model combines slim, elegant proportions with a choice of exquisite finishes.
With the 700 Series 3, Studio Sound comes home.
Precision Sound: 700 Series uses a wealth of state-of-the-art technologies derived from B&W's award-winning 800 Series Diamond range to provide a best-in-class audio experience.
Bring Hollywood Home: With two centre channel speakers to choose from plus the option of matching subwoofers, in-wall and in-ceiling speakers, the 700 Series performs brilliantly in any home cinema set-up.
Meaningful Design: Thanks to its svelte proportions, premium detailing and subtly curved cabinet form – plus the option of an all new Mocha finish – the 700 Series range is both beautiful and effortlessly elegant.
Studio Sound, Your Way: This is B&W's most extensive range: 700 Series range features floorstanding, standmount and bookshelf speakers, meaning you can get precision sound in any size of room, however you prefer to listen.
Our Take On The Bowers & Wilkins 702 S3 Signature Speakers
And we thought the standard 702 S3's were special. The 702 S3 Signature rewrites the book, again, and makes you wonder why you would ever need anything more, apart from maybe a couple of subs for the very lowest frequencies that no speaker can reach. Having said that, the new down-firing port and trio of Aerofoil Profile bass cones deliver bass that is both profoundly deep and endlessly articulate. Further up, the freedom from box colouration, especially with the revised crossovers in the Signature, is breathtaking with an enhanced beauty of midrange tone and shimmer of airy treble that must be experienced to be believed. And talking of beauty, the subtly rounded front baffles have a surprisingly large and positive impact on the way this speaker blends into a room in an almost sculptural way. Also, the beautiful new lustrous Midnight Blue Metallic paint or Datuk Gloss veneer finishes need to be seen to be truly appreciated. All-in-all this flagship lives up to expectations and then some. An audition is a must. Drive, fly, crawl – get here any way you can and have a listen. You will not be disappointed.
Main Features & Specifications
- Design: Signature 3-Way Vented-Box Floorstanding Speakers
- Significantly Upgraded Crossover Design
- Stunning New Finishes
- Decoupled Carbon Dome Tweeter
- Solid Body Tweeter-on-Top
- Continuum™ Cone FST™ Midrange
- Decoupled Midrange
- Aerofoil™ Profile Bass Cones
- Flowport™
- Drive Units
- 25mm (1") Decoupled Carbon Dome High-Frequency Driver
- 150mm (6") Continuum Cone FST Midrange
- 3 x 165mm (6.5") Aerofoil Profile Bass Drivers
- Frequency Range: 28Hz to 33kHz
- Frequency Response: 46Hz - 28kHz (+/-3dB from reference axis)
- Sensitivity: 90dB (on axis at 2.83Vrms at 1m)
- Harmonic Distortion: 2nd and 3rd harmonics (90dB, 1m on axis)
- <1% 86Hz - 28kHz
- <0.5% 110Hz - 20kHz
- Nominal Impedance: 8Ω (minimum 3.1Ω)
- Recommended Amplifier Power: 30W - 300W into 8Ω on unclipped programme
- Cabinet Finishes: Midnight Blue Metallic paint or Datuk Gloss veneer both with a black grille
- Width
- 192mm cabinet only
- 290mm including plinth
- Height
- 1,010mm cabinet only
- 1,138mm including tweeter & plinth
- Depth
- 354mm cabinet only
- 391mm including grille and terminals
- 410mm including plinth
- Weight 33.5 kg each
- Manufacturer's Warranty: 5 Years
Note: Features & Specifications Subject To Change Without Notice. E&OE.