Bowers & Wilkins 703 S3 Floorstanding Speaker - Each
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Bowers & Wilkins 703 S3 Floorstanding Speaker - Each
700 Series Steps Up to Tweeter-on-Top, in the Compact Tower
The Bowers & Wilkins 703 S3 is a three-way floorstanding speaker with B&W's iconic Tweeter-on-Top configuration, new to this size of the 700 Series. A 1-inch Carbon Dome tweeter sits in its own pod above the cabinet, over a 6-inch Continuum FST midrange and two 6.5-inch Aerofoil Profile bass cones. It is sold each, so a stereo pair is two.
The cabinet is 7.6 inches wide and 44.0 inches tall with the tweeter housing and plinth in place, and it weighs 63.5 pounds. Sensitivity is 90 dB into a nominal 8 ohms, and B&W recommends 30 to 200 watts of amplifier power.
Putting the tweeter on top, rather than in the baffle, moves it away from cabinet vibration and diffraction off the front edges. It is the same idea B&W uses on its flagship towers, brought down to the 703 S3 for the first time in this generation.
Where the Tweeter-on-Top Layout Earns Its Keep
A Midrange With Biomimetic Suspension
The 6-inch Continuum cone handles only the midrange, decoupled from the cabinet in its own pod. The S3 generation adds Biomimetic Suspension, a surround modeled on the shape of a flexed human eardrum, in place of a conventional fabric spider.
Two Aerofoil Profile bass cones, thicker where the stress is greatest, sit below it in the main cabinet. The elongated Tweeter-on-Top housing itself carries a longer tube-loading system than the outgoing model, part of what B&W credits for the extended treble.
The Numbers, and What They Ask of Your Amplifier
B&W quotes a frequency range of 30 Hz to 33 kHz. Response is 46 Hz to 28 kHz within 3 dB. Nominal impedance is 8 ohms with a 3.1-ohm minimum. A solid amplifier matters more than a huge one. Keep total speaker cable impedance under 0.1 ohms.
The Flowport ships with a two-piece foam plug for tuning the bass to the room. The plinth is not optional: B&W says it must always be fitted, with the supplied spikes for carpet or rubber feet for a hard floor.
What Reviewers Are Saying
Drew Kalbach, The Absolute Sound, January 2, 2024: "I had a ton of fun throwing music at them just to see what stuck—and pretty much everything did. That’s the mark of a real good pair of speakers."
Mark Henninger, Sound & Vision, December 20, 2023, called the 703 S3 "speakers that reveal music’s emotional core, allowing you to connect with it on a deeper level."
He also noted a somewhat low sensitivity, and that Atmos modules can't sit on top of the cabinets. EISA, quoted on B&W's own product page: "Delivers an engaging and emotional listen."
Who Is This Floorstanding Speaker Best For?
- You want the Tweeter-on-Top B&W look and sound — the signature pod-mounted tweeter arrives at this size for the first time in the S3 generation
- Midrange clarity is what you listen for — a dedicated, decoupled Continuum midrange with the new Biomimetic Suspension surround
- Your amplifier is good rather than enormous — 90 dB sensitivity and a 30 to 200 watt window mean a quality integrated amplifier is all it needs
- You may bi-wire or bi-amplify later — two linked pairs of terminals on each cabinet let you start with one cable and split the links whenever you are ready
- You want cinema-depth bass from the towers alone — the 703 S3 is rated to 30 Hz, which covers music comfortably. For the lowest octave in a home theater, add one of our subwoofers and let the towers do what they do best
How Does It Connect to Your System?
Fit the plinth and feet first. Then stand the pair 5 to 10 feet apart and at least 20 inches from the back and side walls. Each cabinet has two linked pairs of binding posts for banana plugs, spades or bare wire. For a normal hookup leave the links in and connect one pair to your amplifier, red to red and black to black.
Remove the links to bi-wire or bi-amplify. Either way, screw the caps down fully so nothing rattles. Give the drivers about 15 hours of play before you judge the bass.
Two cables, two speakers, and you are listening.
Pairs Well With
What finishes the system around a pair of 703 S3:
- Integrated amplifiers — 30 to 200 watts into 8 ohms is the window B&W gives
- Stereo amplifiers — a separate power amp if you plan to bi-amplify
- Speaker cables — low inductance, under 0.1 ohms total, in matched lengths
- Speaker isolation feet — an alternative to spikes on a wood or tile floor
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the price for one speaker or a pair?
One. The 703 S3 is sold each, so order two for a stereo pair, or one to match an existing speaker.
What comes in the box?
The speaker, its plinth and fixing hardware, spike feet and rubber feet, a two-piece foam port plug and a grille.
What amplifier do I need?
B&W recommends 30 to 200 watts into 8 ohms. Sensitivity is 90 dB and the impedance dips to 3.1 ohms, so choose an amplifier that stays composed into a 4-ohm load.
Can I bi-wire or bi-amplify?
Yes. Remove the links between the two pairs of terminals and run a separate cable, or a separate amplifier channel, to each pair.
Do I have to use the spikes?
Use the plinth always, but choose your feet. Spikes for carpet, the supplied rubber feet for wood or tile. Adjust them until the cabinet stands without rocking.
How far from the wall should it stand?
Start at 20 inches or more from the back and side walls. Moving closer adds bass, and the foam plug trims it again if the room is boomy.
See It in Action
Darko Audio reviews the 703 S3 and its Tweeter-on-Top design in detail:
Home Cinema King reviews and demonstrates the Bowers & Wilkins 703 S3.
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Learn More
Want to learn more about speaker placement, bi-wiring, or matching an amplifier to your speakers? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.
Audio Performance
Signature Tweeter-on-Top Design — The 1-inch Carbon Dome tweeter sits in its own solid aluminum housing on top of the cabinet, decoupled from vibrations below. This gives high frequencies room to breathe, producing an open, spacious sound with pinpoint imaging. The carbon dome pushes the breakup threshold to 47kHz for clean, distortion-free treble.
Continuum Cone Midrange with Biomimetic Suspension — The 6-inch midrange driver uses Bowers & Wilkins’ Continuum composite cone material and their Fixed Suspension Transducer (FST) technology, which replaces a conventional rubber surround for smoother, more consistent performance across the cone’s surface. The Biomimetic Suspension — borrowed directly from the 800 Series Diamond — replaces the traditional fabric spider with an open skeletal design that reduces unwanted air pressure and coloration behind the cone. The result is a midrange that’s remarkably transparent and natural.
Twin Aerofoil Profile Bass Drivers — Two 6.5-inch woofers use computer-modeled variable-thickness cones for deep, controlled bass. The variable thickness provides stiffness where it matters most, so you get powerful low frequencies without the cone flexing or distorting.
Tunable Bass Port — A rear-firing reflex port extends the low end, and included foam plugs let you dial in the bass response for your specific room.
Design & Build
Elegant Slim Cabinet — A narrower design with a curved front baffle and drivers mounted in individual pod-style housings, derived from the 800 Series Diamond. This reduces the cabinet’s acoustic impact and looks stunning in any room.
Premium Finish — This Gloss Black version features a high-quality lacquer finish over an MDF cabinet. Also available in Satin White and Mocha wood veneer.
Magnetic Grille — The included grille attaches magnetically for easy removal. Many owners prefer the look without the grille, as the driver arrangement is part of the speaker’s striking visual design.
Connectivity
Bi-Wire / Bi-Amp Ready — Dual gold-plated binding post terminals accept banana plugs (4mm), spades (6mm and 8mm), or bare wire (up to 4mm). Jumper cables included for single-wire use.
- Type: 3-way vented-box (bass reflex) floorstanding speaker
- Tweeter: 1x 1″ (25mm) Decoupled Carbon Dome, tweeter-on-top
- Midrange: 1x 6″ (150mm) Continuum Cone FST with Biomimetic Suspension
- Bass: 2x 6.5″ (165mm) Aerofoil Profile Cone
- Frequency Range: 30Hz – 33kHz
- Frequency Response: 46Hz – 28kHz (±3dB)
- Sensitivity: 90dB (2.83Vrms @ 1m)
- Harmonic Distortion: <1% (90Hz–22kHz); <0.5% (120Hz–20kHz) at 90dB, 1m
- Impedance: 8Ω nominal (3.1Ω minimum)
- Crossover Frequencies: 200Hz, 2,860Hz
- Recommended Amplification: 30W – 200W into 8Ω
- Bi-Wire / Bi-Amp: Yes — dual binding posts
- Max Cable Impedance: 0.1Ω
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 44″ x 11.4″ x 14.6″ (112 x 29 x 37.2 cm) — including tweeter, plinth, grille, and terminals
- Cabinet Only (H x W x D): 39.8″ x 7.6″ x 12.4″ (101 x 19.2 x 31.6 cm)
- Weight: 63.5 lbs (28.8 kg) each
- Finish: Gloss Black (MDF/Lacquer). Also available in Satin White and Mocha.
- Warranty: 5 years (manufacturer)
What’s in the Box
- Bowers & Wilkins 703 S3 floorstanding speaker (1)
- Plinth with mounting hardware
- M6 stainless steel carpet spikes (4)
- Rubber feet (4)
- Two-piece foam port plug
- Magnetic grille
- Binding post jumper cables
- Owner’s manual
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