B&W 706 S3 Overview

The B&W 706 S3 is a bookshelf speaker with an impressive amount of clarity and accuracy, as well as punchy bass and a clear-sounding midrange. It also has decent connectivity options and a decoupled carbon dome tweeter with an increased breakup threshold of 47 kHz, helping to deliver pinpoint imaging and uncanny accuracy.

New for this year, Bowers & Wilkins has added four more models to its flagship 700 Series range. Three floorstanding models, a stand mount, and a centre channel, each feature the brand's solid body tweeter-on-top technology.

Taking its cues from the 800 Series Diamond, the 700 S3 introduces slimmer cabinets featuring a curved front baffle and drive units mounted in external 'pods' that significantly reduce 'cabinet diffraction' effects, according to B&W. This design, along with a host of other upgrades, has been designed to provide "the very best home music performance possible."

B&W 706 S3 Features

All floor stands in the new range feature updated larger diameter Flowports that offer a more substantial output than their predecessors, delivering a wider soundstage and bigger dynamics. In addition, the floor stands to benefit from a newly developed Biomimetic Suspension that's "more accurate and more powerful" than previous models, ensuring the most neutral performance possible.

Models with mid/bass drive units have been upgraded too, with a re-designed motor system and improved chassis for a cleaner output. They're available with a choice of drive units - the floorstanding 702 S3 features a single 165mm Continuum cone, and the compact 702 S3, 704 S3 and HTM72 S3 have a pair of Aerofoil profile bass drivers.

A key upgrade is a new Tweeter-on-Top enclosure that's machined from an aluminium block, longer than before to reduce distortion and ensure an even cleaner presentation. This is combined with better two-point decoupling to isolate the assembly from the loudspeaker cabinet, allowing for a freer, more open soundstage.

These developments come together in a one-inch decoupled carbon dome tweeter that raises the breakup threshold to 47kHz, giving more precise detail and greater accuracy for clear vocals and instrumentation. It's matched with a carefully upgraded crossover to ensure an accurate and neutral soundstage.

The Continuum cone is another B&W technology that's been introduced across all the stand mounts and centre channel speakers in the 700 S3 range, including the floorstanding 702 S3, 704 S3 and 703 S3. It's a composite material that eliminates abrupt transitions in behaviour that can impair the performance of conventional drive units.

It has vented voice coils and a redesigned magnet to help attenuate distortion. It's also paired with a more elongated tube-loading system to increase power handling, allowing it to be used with an amp up to 120W.

While it doesn't have the same decoupled carbon dome tweeter as the floorstanders, the smaller stand mount 706 S3 is a similarly good performer. It also uses the same 165mm Continuum cone driver as the larger floorstanders and has a claimed sensitivity of 88dB.

The B&W 700 S3 is a great choice for audiophiles looking for a good-sounding bookshelf speaker that's easy to connect to your system. The 165mm Continuum cone is a great match for the redesigned decoupled carbon dome tweeter, providing excellent clarity and accuracy in the highs as well as a clear-sounding midrange.

B&W 706 S3 Specifications