The new Bowers and Wilkins signature bookshelf speakers are out, and these have quite a few upgrades over the previous line. They have the potential to be better than the 801 D4 Signature speakers, which cost ten times more.
Specs
| Weight(lbs) | 22.8 |
| Dimensions(mm) | 345 x 192 x 297 |
| Frequency Range | 45Hz and 33kHz |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz-28kHz±3dB |
| Sensitivity | 88 dB SPL (2.83Vrms, 1m) |
| Nominal Impedance | 8Ω (minimum 3.7Ω) |
| Drive Units | 1x ø25mm (1 in) Decoupled Carbon Dome high-frequency 1x ø165mm (6.5 in) Continuum cone bass/midrange |
| Technical Features | Decoupled Carbon Dome tweeter Solid Body Tweeter-on-Top Continuum™ cone bass/midrange Flowport™ |
Review
The Bowers and Wilkins 705 S3 Signature gets upgrades to its crossover, the suspension system for the woofer, and a new grille for the tweeter, which improves transparency. It has two finishes, which are Midnight Blue Metallic, and Datuk Gloss.
For setup, Bowers and Wilkins provide a manual on how to best place the speakers in your room. They recommend placing the speakers about 1.5-3m apart, with the space between your walls and the speakers being more than 0.5m. These recommendations fit almost any room, and this was the spacing I did, and the 705 S3 Signatures performed beautyfulyl. You can also experiment by changing the spacing, and the direction the speakers are facing in to find the sound you like best.
The speakers have a 1-inch decoupled carbon dome tweeter, a 6 ½ inch Continuum cone woofer, and a solid body tweeter on the top. You don’t need a very high-powered amp for these speakers, and I would recommend the Marantz Model M1 if you’re buying an amplifier.
The Bowers and Wilkins 705 S3 Signatures don’t have a lot of bass, they work well in small to medium-sized rooms, but for some high-level listening in large rooms like home theatres, you will need a subwoofer.
The midrange frequency response is mostly linear, there is a dip between 2 and 3 kHz but it isn’t noticeable. The 705 S3 Signatures perform just as well as their more expensive counterparts, just get a good amplifier and subwoofer, and you’re good to go. Even without a subwoofer, these speakers sound amazing, very few speakers can sound like Bowers and Wilkins. These speakers have a neutral tone to them, and musical instruments like guitars sound brilliant with these speakers. The tweeter ranks on top in its class, dispersion is also excellent. The soundstage is good and these speakers add a good level of transparency. The center stage is excellent, it sounds like there is an extra center speaker present.
Verdict
The Bowers and Wilkins 705 S3 Signature speakers are some amazing bookshelf speakers and are the best in this price range. With a good subwoofer and amplifier, they can compete with the more expensive B&W speakers. They sound perfect and don’t take up much space in your room. They retail for $4500 per pair, and I recommend beginners get these for the best sound.