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The classic B&W 685 S1 was my favorite bookshelf speaker. Then I reviewed the B&W 606 S3, and that blew my old 685 out of the water.

Bowers & Wilkins 706 S3 Bookshelf Speakers Angle Living Room Lifestyle View

More resolution, tighter bass, beautiful mids…

And now, I have the 706 S3s in their place.

At twice the price of the 606s, do they blow them out of the water?

It should be noted that I had to send back the 606s before receiving the 706s. So, a direct comparison wasn’t possible. Also. I’m in a different space, with different amplification. So, I only have my memory to go off of. The 706 S3 Bookshelf was sent along with their matching stands and the matching center channel speaker the HTM72 S3.

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B&W 706 S3 Bookshelf Speaker Specifications
Technical Features:

Decoupled Double Dome Titanium tweeter.
Continuum cone bass/midrange
Flowport

Description:

2-way vented-box system

Drive units:

1x ø25mm (1 in) Decoupled Carbon Dome high-frequency
1x ø165mm (6.5 in) Continuum cone bass/midrange

Frequency range:

-6dB 45Hz – 33kHz

Frequency response (+/-3dB from reference axis):

50Hz – 28kHz ±3dB

Sensitivity (on axis at 2.83Vrms at 1m):

88dB

Harmonic distortion:

2nd and 3rd harmonics (90dB, 1m on axis)
<1% 100Hz - 22kHz
<0.5% 150Hz - 20kHz

Nominal impedance:

8Ω (minimum 3.7Ω)

Recommended amplifier power:

30W – 100W into 8Ω on unclipped program

Max recommended cable impedance:

0.1Ω

Dimensions:

Height: 345mm (13.6in) cabinet only 192mm (7.6in) cabinet only
Width: 297mm (11.7in) cabinet only
Depth: 334mm (13.1in) including grille and terminals

Cabinet:

Gloss black, Satin white, Mocha

Grille:

Black, Grey (Satin White only)

Net weight:

8.4kg (18.6lbs)

MSRP:

USD $2100.00/ Pair

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HTM72 S3 Center Channel Speaker Specifications
Technical Features:

Decoupled Double Dome Titanium tweeter.
Continuum cone bass/midrange.
Flowport

Description:

2-way vented-box system

Drive units:

1x ø25mm (1 in) Decoupled Carbon Dome high-frequency
1x ø130mm (4 in) Continuum cone bass/midrange

Frequency range:

48Hz – 33kHz

Frequency response (+/-3dB from reference axis):

70Hz – 28kHz ±3dB

Sensitivity (on axis at 2.83Vrms at 1m):

87dB

Harmonic distortion:

2nd and 3rd harmonics (90dB, 1m on axis)
<1% 100Hz - 22kHz
<0.5% 200Hz - 22kHz

Nominal impedance:

8Ω (minimum 4.3Ω)

Recommended amplifier power:

30W – 100W into 8Ω on unclipped programme

Max recommended cable impedance:

0.1Ω

Dimensions:

Height: 165mm (6.5in) cabinet only
Width: 477mm (18.8in) cabinet only
Depth: 266mm (10.5in) cabinet only, 302mm (11.9in) including grille and terminals

Cabinet:

Gloss black, Satin white, Mocha

Grille:

Black, Grey (Satin White only)

Net weight:

9.7kg (21.3lbs)

Company:

Bowers & Wilkins

MSRP:

USD $1,499

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bowers & wilkins, b&w, bookshelf speakers, loudspeakers, 700 series