John Pickford auditions the biggest floorstander within the British speaker specialist’s new mid-price vary…
Bowers & Wilkins
702 S3 Ground Standing Loudspeakers
USD $3,499.50 /every
What is the distinction between a studio monitor and a home hi-fi loudspeaker? As a studio engineer, it is a query I have been requested a number of occasions over time. There are numerous solutions, none of which I’ll bore you with right here, besides to say that whereas the superbly completed 702 S3 is aimed squarely at aficionados of hi-fidelity sound at house, B&Ws top-of-the-range fashions are the displays of alternative at Abbey Highway Studiosarguably essentially the most well-known recording facility on the earth. And because the new 700 sequence now incorporates expertise cascaded from the flagship 800 Sequence Diamond vary, the 702 S3 actually is, as the corporate says, “impressed by recording studios and made for residing rooms…”
IN DEPTH
The 702 S3 is the biggest mannequin within the new 700 Sequence and boasts essentially the most trickle-down tech from the 800 Diamond Sequence. Retailing at $3,499.50 USD (every), it’s the most costly 700 S3 product and positively seems to be spectacular with its array of three 165mm bass drivers, a devoted 150mm midrange unit and 25mm decoupled ‘Tweeter-on-Prime’ high-frequency unit.
The latter is a factor of magnificence in itself, the housing milled from a single strong block of aluminium with a sleeker design incorporating an extended tube-loading system. The decoupling is claimed to enhance the S2 design to higher resist resonance, whereas the brand new carbon dome has a break-up threshold of 47kHz, far increased than the earlier aluminium dome, taking its efficiency nearer to the diamond-equipped tweeter discovered within the 800 Sequence.
The devoted, decoupled midrange driver is identical unit used within the flagship sequence, utilising proprietary B&W expertise such because the Continuum cone and so-called Biomimetic suspension, the latter solely launched on the 800 Sequence Diamond simply eighteen months in the past. For the trio of bass drivers, a ‘worth engineered’ paper-skinned model of the extra pricey carbon-skinned Aerofoil bass cone has been designed; its variable thickness is to offer the stiffness and rigidity required for deep and dynamic bass, the corporate says.
This 3-way vented design sports activities a downward firing port that fires right into a devoted plinth which aids the 702 S3’s bass response. The plinth connects to the cupboard by way of 30mm metallic legs, whereas sturdy chrome steel spikes are used to isolate the speaker from floor-bound vibrations. The plinth raises the peak of the speaker to 1,138mm, which brings the tweeter nicely above ear stage in most seated conditions. You might really feel initially (as I did) {that a} booster seat is required; nevertheless, when you cease listening together with your eyes, the entire system integrates impeccably as soon as optimally positioned.
Aesthetically, the S3 has a slimmer, extra elegant profile than the S2, constructed with a narrower cupboard and curved baffle to melt the sides and lose the moderately boxy look of the outdated mannequin. The midrange and bass drivers now protrude from the entrance baffle, which additionally contributes to the extra engaging look of the speaker in addition to enhancing total efficiency. Our assessment pattern got here in Gloss Black, whereas Satin White and Mocha finishes are additionally out there.
Different enhancements to the 702 S3 embody upgraded motor chassis and crossovers, together with a refined terminal tray. There are 4 chunky terminals on the rear baffle of every loudspeaker to allow bi-wiring or bi-amping, and for individuals who use a single size of cable, metallic jumpers are supplied. For an in-depth have a look at how the brand new 700 Sequence 3 advantages from expertise trickled down from B&W’s flagship 800 D4 vary, try our Function right here.
The 702 S3’s full frequency vary is quoted as 28Hz to 33kHz, whereas B&W’s measured +/- 3dB response is 46Hz to 28kHz. Said nominal impedance is 8 ohms and sensitivity is 90dB; beneficial amplifier energy is 30W to 300W. Like many audio system with studio monitor-like attributes, a pair of those needs to be towed-in to the listening place moderately than hearth straight down into the room; they carry out finest in free house, nicely away from rear and aspect partitions.
My assessment pair arrived simply as I used to be coming to the top of my time with the superb 50W Audio Analysis I/50 valve built-in amplifier, so I spent a couple of hours listening, having change into accustomed to the sound of I/50 powering my common Tannoy Berkeleys. I quickly found that utilizing solid-state amps with the next energy score was a extra synergistic match. Even my Naim NAIT XS3 transistor built-in supplied a extra managed sound, which leads me to consider that regardless of the 702 S3’s amp-friendly specs, it hasn’t been designed as a dreamboat for valves. Certainly, I can think about fans finessing the efficiency of this speaker with solid-state amps the dimensions of a small bungalow!
THE LISTENING
Apart from the sheer scale and majesty of the sound that this speaker produces, the very first thing to seize my consideration was the bass efficiency. I will nail my colors to the mast and say that the 702 S3 delivers the cleanest, most articulate bass I’ve heard from any floorstanding loudspeaker in my listening room thus far. I am satisfied that is as a result of downward firing port and plinth association, which assists the three woofers with out including any flub, overhang or chuffing related to extra conventionally ported designs. It is a high quality I affiliate with sealed-box (infinite baffle) designs and electrostatics that haven’t any field in any respect.
The place it bests these designs, although, is in its absolute authority, making certain a agency low-frequency basis from which the remainder of the sound spectrum can develop. Bob Dylan’s Most Of The Time is a dense, swampy manufacturing that may sound each overblown and vague within the decrease registers via looser-sounding audio system. But, the 702 S3 maintained management with a agency grasp, permitting the feel and depth of the bass notes to be heard with out waffle. Dylan’s vocals had been superbly projected with out sounding compelled or ahead, emphasising his phrasing and the resigned emotion of his supply.
As there isn’t a dialled-in mid-bass enhance, such as you usually get with smaller audio system, the underside finish integrates seamlessly with the midrange making certain a clean, lump-free presentation. On the draw back, bass-shy recordings – most nineteen-sixties pop, for instance – should not fleshed-out in any means, so in true monitor fashion, you do hear the recording with out synthetic sweetening.
That stated, a play-through of the 2022 remix of The Beatles’ Revolver was a pleasure, permitting this groundbreaking album to be heard in high-quality stereo for the primary time since its launch in 1966 – which by the way is the 12 months Bowers & Wilkins entered the loudspeaker market. Whereas there’s little in the best way of deep bass happening, the dexterity of Paul McCartney’s bass work was replayed with a fluidity that has but to be bettered in my room, and I heard new-found readability and musical separation within the group’s excellent vocal harmonies. In the meantime, Ringo Starr’s good drumming performed to this loudspeaker’s many strengths.
Readability is a phrase that cropped up in my listening notes constantly. The excellent midrange driver from the flagship 800 Diamond sequence interacts brilliantly with the all-new carbon dome tweeter to supply tremendous clear and clear copy. It is not simply that the 702 S3 is faithfully clear to the recording; it unveils the filigree element usually masked via much less succesful techniques, peeling again layers to disclose subtleties even in acquainted recordings.
When it comes to timbre, the 702 S3 is extraordinarily correct and sincere. Far East Swimsuit by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra was an enthralling hear, the full-range presentation of the speaker enthusiastically expressing all of the life and vitality of the efficiency with no bleaching of tonal colors. This recording highlighted the rock-solid soundstaging with glorious picture stability, albeit not fairly the pin-point precision of a degree supply.
There’s uncanny realism to the acoustic house created, as I found when listening to Neil Younger’s Carnegie Corridor 1970 dwell efficiency. No, it wasn’t like he was within the room with me; nevertheless, with eyes closed, I may simply think about myself midway again, centrally seated within the auditorium – it was a totally convincing expertise.
Character smart, the 702 S3 is troublesome to pigeonhole. It is neither heat nor shiny tonally, and whereas I would not describe it as ‘fast-sounding’, it conveys rhythms in truth with no exaggerated pleasure. It definitely is not sluggish and is remarkably time- and phase-coherent for a loudspeaker with a number of drive models alongside the entrance baffle. There is a barely cool perspective to the midrange the place vocals and outstanding lead devices reside, which makes music sound recent and invigorating, like air con for the ears.
THE VERDICT
The technological developments of the newest S3 model of Bowers & Wilkins’ well-respected 702 take this mannequin into a brand new league, the place it presents a great deal of the efficiency of the corporate’s top-flight 800 Sequence Diamond at a way more inexpensive value. Its studio monitor-style presentation means you are not in for a comfortable and cosseting musical experience, but it surely by no means strays into the ‘brutally frank’ faculty of over-analytical copy that sucks the enjoyment out of listening. As an alternative, it doesn’t matter what you play, it does the music proud.
