Bowers & Wilkins 707 S3 Bookshelf Speakers - White - Pair

The Smallest 700 Series Standmount, With the Series’ Tweeter

The 707 S3 is a two-way vented-box design and the smallest standmount in the Bowers & Wilkins 700 Series. A 5-inch Continuum cone handles bass and midrange, and a 1-inch Decoupled Carbon Dome tweeter sits above it.

Each cabinet stands 11.8 inches tall and 6.5 wide, and 11.2 inches deep once you count the grille and terminals. Net weight is 13.6 pounds. The baffle curves rather than sitting flat, and each drive unit is mounted in its own pod, an idea B&W took from the 800 Series Diamond.

Carbon Dome, and the 47 kHz Number

B&W built the Carbon Dome tweeter for the 700 Series specifically, and says it raises the breakup threshold to 47 kHz. That is far above anything you can hear, which is rather the point. The dome stays stiff and predictable across the whole audible band.

The Numbers, and What They Ask of You

B&W quotes a frequency range of 45 Hz to 33 kHz, and a response of 50 Hz to 28 kHz within 3 dB. Sensitivity is 84 dB. Nominal impedance is 8 ohms, with a minimum of 4.0 ohms.

Harmonic distortion stays under 0.5 percent between 150 Hz and 20 kHz. B&W recommends 30 to 100 watts into 8 ohms on unclipped programme. It also asks that total speaker cable impedance stay under 0.1 ohms, and that the cable be low in inductance.

The Foam Plug Comes in Two Pieces

A rear Flowport vents each cabinet, and the supplied plug lets you tame it by degrees. Fit the whole assembly for the largest cut in bass, or use only the outer, larger-diameter piece for something gentler.

Who Are These Bookshelf Speakers Best For?

• You want 700 Series sound in a small room — the Carbon Dome tweeter, the Continuum cone, the curved baffle and the drive unit pods are all here, in the smallest standmount cabinet the series offers
• You are thinking about bi-wiring — each cabinet carries two linked pairs of terminals, so you can run one cable now and split the links later without changing speakers
• Your shelf is the only option — B&W built these around its FS-700 S3 stand, but supplies four self-adhesive rubber feet and a two-piece port plug so shelf placement is a real choice rather than a compromise
• You listen at sensible levels — 84 dB sensitivity is modest, and B&W asks for 30 to 100 watts into 8 ohms; give them a proper integrated amplifier rather than the smallest thing that will drive them
• You care how they look — the curved front, the pods and the new grille mesh are the visible part of the 800 Series influence, and this cabinet is slimmer than the model it replaced

How Do They Connect to Your System?

There are two linked pairs of terminals on the back of each cabinet. For a conventional hookup, leave the links in place and connect just one pair to your amplifier. Take the links out and you can bi-wire or bi-amplify instead, which B&W says can improve the resolution of low-level detail.

The posts accept 4 mm banana plugs, 6 mm and 8 mm spades, or bare wire up to 4 mm. Red ring to red, black ring to black, and screw the caps down fully so nothing rattles. Both runs should be the same length.

Pairs Well With

What finishes the setup. These are the categories most 707 S3 owners shop next.

• Speaker stands — what B&W designed these for, and sold separately
• Integrated amplifiers — 30 to 100 watts into 8 ohms is the window
• Speaker cables — under 0.1 ohms total, and low inductance
• Subwoofers — for the bottom octave a 5-inch driver cannot reach

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I bi-wire them?

Yes. Each cabinet has two linked pairs of terminals. Remove the links and run separate cable to each pair, or to separate amplifier channels if you would rather bi-amplify.

What amplifier do they need?

B&W recommends 30 to 100 watts into 8 ohms on unclipped programme. Sensitivity is 84 dB and the load drops to 4.0 ohms, so do not skimp here.

Do stands come with them?

Stands are separate. B&W designed these around its FS-700 S3 floor stand, and says a shelf works but leaves less room to optimize the sound.

How should I position them?

Start with the cabinets 1.5 to 3 meters apart, at least half a meter from the back and side walls, and with the tweeters roughly at ear height when you are seated.

Should I take the grilles off?

B&W suggests removing them for the most discerning listening. Grip the edges and pull gently away from the cabinet. Try it both ways and keep whichever you prefer.

What if I want more bass than this?

Move up to the Bowers & Wilkins 706 S3. It uses a 6.5-inch Continuum cone in a larger cabinet, reads 88 dB sensitivity, and takes up to 120 watts.

See It in Action

Bowers & Wilkins introduces the range these belong to:

Pursuit Perfect System walks the whole 700 Series 3 line, starting with this model:

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