Bookshelf Speakers

B&W 706 S3 Bookshelf Speaker Review

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.

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)

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)

Website:

https://www.bowerswilkins.com/en-us/product/loudspeakers/700-series/706-s3/300524.html

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)

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)

Website:

https://www.bowerswilkins.com/en-us/product/loudspeakers/700-series/htm72-s3/300499.html

Company:

Bowers & Wilkins

MSRP:

USD $1,499

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

Taps Das

Hailing from Toronto, Canada, Taps Das is an art director and designer with over 15 years of experience. He has way too many hobbies: Illustration, Music Production, cooking, DJ-ing, and Hifi. His adolescence was spent immersed in DJ culture in Toronto’s then-burgeoning club scene. He still buys vinyl to this day preferring it as his medium of choice when listening to music. He is happiest when he’s tucked inside his studio spinning vinyl on his turntables, sitting at his desk drawing or in the kitchen cooking up a storm. Taps shares his home with his wife, two hooligan kids, and lovable fat dog Homie.