Bowers & Wilkins
607 S3 Bookshelf Loudspeakers
AUD $1,149 RRP
The model new 607 S3 that you just see right here is essentially the most reasonably priced approach into possession of a brand new pair of Bowers & Wilkins passive loudspeakers. Regardless of being known as ‘Collection 3’, it’s truly the corporate’s eighth era of entry-level hi-fi audio system, however we gained’t get slowed down within the backstory right here. As an alternative, the important thing level is that – as with earlier generations – it’s successfully the brand new funds field to beat. You may make certain that all of B&W’s rivals could have their sights ranged firmly on this.
UP CLOSE
At a look, the 607 S3 is similar to the 607 S2 Anniversary mannequin it replaces. The 300x165x207mm [HxWxD] dimensions are so near the outgoing speaker that they might as nicely be equivalent, and the aesthetic of this two-way mannequin is as soon as once more cleanly businesslike. The black, white or oak vinyl-wrapped cupboards are crisp in execution and end, and the contrasting white entrance panel of the oak model contrives to look fairly upmarket. Construct high quality is impeccable on the worth, which is what all of us count on from Bowers & Wilkins lately, and in addition what we insist on when parting with this a lot cash for any small speaker now.
The 607 S3’s entrance baffle is kitted out with a 25mm titanium double-dome tweeter, which is the primary time this specific know-how has trickled all the way down to the Bowers & Wilkins entry-level speaker line. A 25-micron dome is bolstered by a 30-micron ring, each of that are constituted of titanium. This can be a departure from the aluminium domed design that’s beforehand been utilized in 600 Collection tweeters and will supply better treble refinement and element than the aluminium different can muster. The rear of the tweeter is tube-loaded, and for the S3, the system is lengthened in an effort to minimise rearward standing waves. On the entrance, the tweeter sits behind a redesigned grille impressed by that fitted to the corporate’s 800 Signature Collection of loudspeakers. It makes use of much less materials than earlier than and so is extra open as a consequence, says the corporate.
Beneath the brand new tweeter is a 130mm model of the Continuum mid/bass driver that has been part of the 600 Collection story for almost 5 years now; it proved a significant improve on the corporate’s earlier Kevlar cones thanks to raised breakup traits. For the S3 implementation, it now comes backed by a heftier motor meeting. The crossover has are available for consideration, too, with pricier elements deployed in a drive for better transparency. This loudspeaker’s two drive items are actually mounted so shut collectively that there’s an overlap between every driver’s trim ring, fairly like a Venn diagram. That is performed to attain optimum driver integration, working in direction of the aim of constructing each items act collectively like a degree supply.
On the rear of the cupboard, there’s a bass reflex port above bi-wireable speaker binding posts. That is of the identical round, dimpled design that Bowers & Wilkins has been persevering with for years now – the corporate values the association for its clean airflow and resistance to chuffing. The binding posts are organized horizontally and settle for naked wire, spade, or 4mm banana plug connections. The cupboard itself enjoys revised bracing in an effort to enhance rigidity, B&W says.
The upshot is a handsome, tidily completed loudspeaker with a claimed frequency response of 52Hz to 28kHz. Sensitivity is put at 84dB, and nominal impedance is alleged to be 8 ohms with a 3 ohm minimal. That is simply common in small-speaker phrases, and a few rivals are extra environment friendly and/or don’t drop so low in load phrases. Nonetheless, provided that trendy solid-state built-in and energy amplifiers are so gutsy these days, this actually shouldn’t be a difficulty for many customers. Bowers & Wilkins says that something between 30 and 100W RMS is sufficient to let this child field give off its greatest.
THE LISTENING
You need to handle your expectations the place the 607 S3 is anxious. That’s as a result of the illustrious model identify, mixed with the eager asking worth, primes one for stellar efficiency with huge room-filling scale. But this a small speaker of modest inside quantity, with good high quality however nonetheless bodily small drive items. So, you probably have a medium-to-large listening room, you’d be higher suggested to think about one of many bigger designs within the vary. This mannequin works greatest with small-to-medium sized listening rooms, and could seem a little bit misplaced in bigger ones.
All the identical, in the precise sized room, mounted on a good speaker stand and sited within the appropriate place, the 607 S3 is critically good. A hearken to The Violent Femmes’ eponymous debut album tells you a large number about this speaker’s perspective and talent. This recording seeks to underplay its personal virtuosity, and as a substitute current itself as fairly hectic. This Bowers & Wilkins speaker will get absolutely on board, and offers a convincing rendition. I’ll contact on particular features of its efficiency quickly sufficient, however what’s most instantly evident is how a lot enjoyable the 607 S3 appears to be having. Energetic and interesting, it’s greater than able to conveying the total emotional expression of this recording.
Low frequencies are surprisingly deep and stable contemplating the bodily dimensions of the cupboard, and the speaker’s punchiness is augmented by straight-edged management of transients. Which means that rhythms are precisely described, even when a recording is admittedly motoring alongside. The midrange is open and detailed, so the dedication of a vocalist’s efficiency is revealed simply as readily as their method – or lack thereof. The reworked tweeter association makes good on its promise of finesse to associate with substance, and of transparency allied to assault.
The 607 S3’s tonal stability is properly judged, and together with a crossover level that’s all however indiscernible, it makes for a properly coherent efficiency of pronounced singularity. Take heed to a CD of Warren Zevon’s shiny The Hula-Hula Boysand this speaker presents it as a unified complete, with spectacular element ranges and all of the recording’s sheen intact. But, for all of the intentional lustre of the recording, this child Bowers & Wilkins field can establish and contextualise the grit within the pearl. It has enough dynamic efficiency to go loud when known as upon and divulges the smaller variations that much less attentive audio system simply lose sight of.
A TIDAL stream of Eartheater’s Supersoaker is served up confidently, too, the stability between poise and drive correctly struck and the stage convincingly laid out. There’s a really nice sensation of stream to the 607 S3’s sound, even when a recording is as unhelpfully staccato and abrupt in its transitions as this one. There’s a level of agility and manoeuvrability right here that’s not particularly frequent, even if you happen to’re spending significantly extra money than this.
The 607 S3 isn’t super-fussy about the place it’s put, however it’s value taking a second to get a pair of them sympathetically positioned in your room. Take a little bit care, and also you’ll be rewarded with a respectably huge, deep soundstage and an excellent sensation of house between the competing components of a recording. The temptation with a loudspeaker of this measurement is to think about it as a shelf-mounting choice, however except your cabinets are particularly deep, then I might counsel the boundary of the rear wall can be too near the speaker’s bass port, with a skewing of the frequency vary being the inevitable consequence. And anyway, you didn’t spend all this cash on loudspeakers as completed as these to stay them on a shelf, did you?
THE VERDICT
Bowers & Wilkins’ new 607 S3 standmounter is – to make use of the technical jargon so beloved of the audio reviewing occupation – a bloody marvellous little loudspeaker. It might analyse a recording if that’s what you need, make it easy to comply with and supply respectable perception into its innermost workings – however simply as importantly, it has a number of enjoyable doing so. Not each funds speaker is aware of how you can have an excellent time, however right here’s one which does. As such, if you happen to’re on the lookout for an reasonably priced, compact two-way for a modestly sized room, this needs to be on the prime of your listening listing.
