Floorstanding loudspeakers — B&W (Bowers & Wilkins) 702 S3

The 702 S3 is a floorstanding loudspeaker from the third-generation Bowers & Wilkins 700 Series. This ported three-way model has its tweeter mounted in a separate housing above the cabinet, and its midrange driver is identical to the unit used in the 802 D4 from the 800 Series Diamond.

Key specs that matter

The speaker carries five drivers - a 25 mm Decoupled Carbon Dome tweeter, a 150 mm Continuum cone FST midrange and three 165 mm Aerofoil Profile bass units. Frequency response is 46 Hz to 28 kHz plus or minus 3 dB, while the -6 dB range stretches from 28 Hz to 33 kHz. Sensitivity is 90 dB SPL at 2.83 V and 1 m. The impedance is 8 ohm nominal, dipping to 3.1 ohm. Measured at 90 dB and 1 m on axis, second and third harmonics stay under 1% from 86 Hz to 28 kHz and under 0.5% from 110 Hz to 20 kHz. The cabinet is 1010 mm tall, 192 mm wide and 354 mm deep; with tweeter and plinth fitted, the speaker stands 1138 mm high, 290 mm wide and 410 mm deep. It weighs 33.46 kg.

Engineering and use context

The Solid Body Tweeter-on-Top housing is milled from a single aluminium block and isolates the tweeter mechanically from the main enclosure, so the manual warns it can seem loose straight out of the carton. Inside, a 30 micron aluminium dome is reinforced by carbon, which the company says lifts breakup to 47 kHz. The midrange is also decoupled from the cabinet, and its woven Continuum composite targets stiffness, low mass and self-damping. Cone thickness in the Aerofoil Profile bass drivers varies across the surface, a shape arrived at through computer modelling. Port output passes through a Flowport with a golf-ball style dimpled surface that reduces turbulence. The 702 S3 is meant to be floor mounted only, and the supplied plinth must always be fitted, with spike or rubber feet screwed into it rather than into the cabinet; a tommy bar and spanner for the spikes are packed only with this model. Gloss Black, Satin White and Mocha are offered, with a grey grille for the white version and black for the others.

Pairing

Bowers & Wilkins lists a recommended amplifier power of 30 W to 300 W on unclipped programme, and cable impedance should be kept below 0.1 ohm. Twin linked terminal pairs support bi-wiring or bi-amplification once the links are removed, accepting banana plugs, spades and bare wire.

Alternatives

The Bowers & Wilkins 703 S3 is a smaller three-way 700 Series tower fitted with two bass drivers and a 28.81 kg weight.