Bowers & Wilkins 700 Series Speakers Review: Reference-Quality Home Audio

Introduction: The Sweet Spot in High-Fidelity Audio

In the world of high-fidelity audio, Bowers & Wilkins has long been recognized as a leader, with their flagship 800 Series representing the absolute pinnacle of speaker design. However, for many audiophiles, the 800 Series is beyond reach both in terms of price and room requirements. Enter the 700 Series—a range that brings much of the 800 Series' technology and performance to a more accessible level.

After extensive listening sessions with multiple models from the 700 Series, I can confidently say that these speakers represent an exceptional value proposition. They deliver the kind of detailed, musical sound that Bowers & Wilkins is known for, at a price point that makes high-end audio more accessible to serious music lovers.

The 700 Series Range: Options for Every Setup

The 700 Series encompasses a comprehensive range of speakers, from compact bookshelf models to floor-standing towers, ensuring there's a solution for every room and listening preference. The range includes:

• 702 S3: Flagship floor-standing speaker with three-way design
• 703 S3: Compact floor-standing speaker, perfect for smaller rooms
• 705 S3: Premium bookshelf speaker with exceptional detail
• HTM71 S3: Dedicated center channel for home theater
• 702 S2: Previous generation floor-standing model (still available)

Each model shares core technologies from the 800 Series, including Continuum cone technology and Decoupled Double Dome tweeters, ensuring consistent sound quality across the range. The design philosophy emphasizes clarity, detail, and musicality—hallmarks of the Bowers & Wilkins sound.

The 702 S3 combines flagship technology with accessible pricing

Key Technologies: Engineering Excellence

The 700 Series incorporates several key technologies that contribute to its exceptional performance:

Continuum Cone Technology: This proprietary material, developed for the 800 Series, replaces traditional materials like Kevlar or paper. The Continuum cone provides exceptional stiffness and damping, resulting in cleaner, more accurate bass response with reduced distortion.

Decoupled Double Dome Tweeter: The tweeter design isolates the aluminum dome from the speaker's main structure, reducing unwanted vibrations and improving high-frequency clarity. This technology, borrowed from the 800 Series, ensures that the 700 Series delivers the same level of detail in the treble range.

Flowport Technology: The rear-mounted Flowport reduces port noise and turbulence, resulting in cleaner bass response. This attention to detail in port design is typical of Bowers & Wilkins' engineering approach.

Matrix Bracing: Internal bracing reduces cabinet vibrations, ensuring that the drivers operate in an optimal environment. This results in cleaner sound and better imaging.

Sound Quality: Reference-Level Performance

During my listening sessions with the 702 S3 floor-standing speakers, I was immediately struck by the level of detail and clarity. These speakers reveal nuances in recordings that many speakers miss, making them ideal for critical listening and music appreciation.

The bass response is particularly impressive. The Continuum cone technology delivers deep, controlled bass that extends well into the lower frequencies. Even without a subwoofer, the 702 S3 provides full-range performance that satisfies all but the most demanding bass enthusiasts.

The midrange is where the 700 Series truly excels. Vocals are rendered with exceptional clarity and presence, making every singer's performance feel immediate and engaging. Instruments are well-separated, allowing you to pick out individual elements in complex arrangements. The soundstage is wide and deep, creating a sense of space that makes music feel immersive.

The treble is crisp and detailed without being harsh. The Decoupled Double Dome tweeter ensures that high frequencies are reproduced with accuracy and clarity, even at higher volumes. This makes the 700 Series suitable for extended listening sessions without fatigue.

One of the most impressive aspects is the speakers' ability to handle different genres with equal finesse. Whether listening to classical symphonies, jazz, rock, or electronic music, the 700 Series delivers a balanced, musical presentation that brings recordings to life.

Setup and Room Integration

Setting up the 700 Series speakers requires careful consideration of room acoustics and positioning. Like all high-quality speakers, they're sensitive to placement and room characteristics. However, with proper setup, they deliver exceptional performance.

The speakers benefit from being positioned away from walls, with some toe-in toward the listening position. The 702 S3, in particular, needs adequate space to breathe, as the rear-mounted Flowport requires clearance from rear walls.

Room treatment can enhance performance, but the 700 Series is more forgiving than some high-end speakers. They work well in a variety of room sizes and configurations, though larger rooms allow the speakers to truly shine.

Amplification is an important consideration. While the 700 Series isn't particularly difficult to drive, they benefit from quality amplification. A good integrated amplifier or separate preamp and power amp combination will allow these speakers to reach their full potential.

Home Theater Applications

While the 700 Series is designed with music listening in mind, it excels in home theater applications as well. The HTM71 S3 center channel speaker is specifically designed to match the tonal characteristics of the 700 Series floor-standing and bookshelf models, creating a cohesive front soundstage.

When configured as a 5.1 or 7.1 system, the 700 Series delivers exceptional home theater performance. The clarity and detail that make these speakers great for music also enhance dialogue clarity and sound effects in movies. The wide soundstage creates an immersive experience that rivals dedicated home theater speakers.

The bass response is sufficient for most home theater applications, though adding a subwoofer can enhance the low-frequency impact for action movies. Bowers & Wilkins offers matching subwoofers that integrate seamlessly with the 700 Series.

Comparison with Competitors

The 700 Series competes in a crowded market that includes products from KEF, Focal, Dynaudio, and Monitor Audio. While each brand has its strengths, the 700 Series distinguishes itself through its combination of technologies and musical presentation.

KEF's R Series offers similar performance at comparable prices, with the Uni-Q driver technology providing excellent imaging. However, the 700 Series' Continuum cone technology and Decoupled Double Dome tweeter give it an edge in detail and clarity.

Focal's Aria series offers excellent build quality and sound, but the 700 Series' midrange clarity and overall musicality give it an advantage for music listening. Dynaudio's Evoke series is similarly priced and offers excellent performance, but the 700 Series' treble detail and soundstage width are superior.

Build Quality and Design

As expected from Bowers & Wilkins, the build quality across the 700 Series is exceptional. Each speaker feels substantial and well-constructed, with attention to detail evident in every aspect. The cabinets are rigid and well-braced, reducing unwanted vibrations.

The finish options—Gloss Black, Satin White, and Oak—are all executed to a high standard. The gloss finishes are particularly impressive, with a deep, mirror-like quality that adds to the speakers' premium feel.

The design is clean and modern, with the speakers able to blend into contemporary interiors or stand out as statement pieces. The attention to detail in the driver mounting and overall construction reflects Bowers & Wilkins' commitment to quality.

Value Proposition

At their price points, the 700 Series represents exceptional value. While not inexpensive, they deliver performance that approaches the 800 Series at a fraction of the cost. The technologies borrowed from the flagship range ensure that you're getting genuine Bowers & Wilkins performance.

For serious music lovers who want reference-quality audio without the extreme cost of the 800 Series, the 700 Series is an excellent choice. The combination of technologies, build quality, and sound performance makes them a compelling option in the high-end audio market.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Exceptional detail and clarity
• Technologies borrowed from flagship 800 Series
• Excellent bass response without subwoofer
• Wide, deep soundstage
• Musical, engaging presentation
• Excellent build quality and finish
• Comprehensive range of models
• Works well for both music and home theater

Cons:

• Premium pricing places them in high-end market
• Requires quality amplification for best performance
• Room placement and setup important
• Large floor-standing models need adequate space
• May reveal shortcomings in source material

Final Verdict: Reference-Quality Audio Made Accessible

The Bowers & Wilkins 700 Series represents an exceptional achievement in speaker design. It successfully brings much of the 800 Series' technology and performance to a more accessible price point, making reference-quality audio available to a wider audience.

For serious music lovers who want the best possible sound quality without the extreme cost of flagship models, the 700 Series is an excellent choice. The combination of advanced technologies, exceptional build quality, and musical presentation makes these speakers a compelling option in the high-end audio market.

Whether you're building a dedicated music listening system or a high-end home theater, the 700 Series has models to suit your needs. The consistency of sound quality across the range ensures that you can build a complete system with matching components.

If you're serious about audio quality and want speakers that will reveal the full potential of your music collection, the Bowers & Wilkins 700 Series should be at the top of your list. They're an investment in your listening experience that will provide years of musical enjoyment.