B&W unveils 700 S3 Signature Series
The company explains that it only uses the Signature name for: “the rare and radically upgraded versions” of its conventional loudspeakers and technologies. Since the brand was founded in 1966, only eight series of loudspeaker have carried the prestigious Signature mark – a reflection of its prestige.
The 702 S3 Signature is a three-way floorstander with a 25mm Carbon Dome tweeter, housed in a decoupled Tweeter-on-Top aluminium enclosure enhanced with the addition of a new protective tweeter grille mesh derived from the 800 Series Signature models, introduced in 2023. The 150mm decoupled Continuum Cone FST midrange drive unit – complete with its Biomimetic Suspension was designed to reduce unwanted coloration emanating from behind the drive unit in a bid to ensure: “clean, effortless insight into the midrange and an open, spacious sound”.
The 702 S3 Signature also includes three 165mm Aerofoil Profile bass drivers complete with upgraded drive-unit suspensions (or ‘spiders’) designed to help improve bass clarity and benefits from upgrades to its crossover aimed at further increasing transparency, with new and upgraded Mundorf capacitors, improved inductors and revised bypass capacitors. Sensitivity is quoted as 90dB with 8ohm nominal impedance. Additionally, it includes new and upgraded speaker terminal posts featuring high-quality brass cores.
B&W says the 705 S3 Signature: “brings new standards of performance and capability in a smaller, more room-friendly form factor”. As with the larger 702 S3 Signature, the 705 S3 Signature standmount includes the same 25mm high-frequency driver with an all-new tweeter grille mesh for more openness and transparency. An upgraded crossover with new capacitors and resistors, and rearranged bypass capacitors are also included. It shares the improved speaker terminals from the 702 S3 Signature and also includes an all-new drive-unit suspension(or spider) for its 165mm mid/bass drive unit.
All models are available in two exclusive Signature finishes, complemented by unique identifying Signature logo plates on their rear panels. The Midnight Blue Metallic paint is the same as that offered on the company’s Nautilus loudspeaker and the 800 Series Signature models. Alternatively, all three loudspeakers can be purchased in a Datuk Gloss wood veneer. All finishes feature gold trims to their drive units and tweeter housings.
The floorstanding 702 S3 Signature loudspeaker is priced at £7,000 per pair while the 705 S3 Signature standmount will set you back £3,400.
Available to buy now, you can find out more about Bowers & Wilkins 700 S3 Signature Series here.
Inside this month's issue:
Pro-Ject Debut EVO 2 turntable, Advance Paris sub-£500 X-i50 BT integrated amp, DALI's stunning Rubikore standmount loudspeakers, Triangle Capella wireless active speakers, EAT's Fortissimo turntable with F-Note tonearm, our headphone Group Test and much, much more... |