Bowers & Wilkins 703 S3 review

This video is brought to you by AudioQuest:

🎥 Camera #1: John Darko
🎥 Camera #2: Jack Kaminski
🎬 Editor: John Darko
🕺🏻 Motion GFX: John Darko
💰 Ad segment: Jana Dagdagan

0:00 Into
0:54 What is it?
3:47 How does it sound?
7:10 Specs
9:55 I don't often listen to jazz but...
13:57 I learnt something doing this review

👉🏻 As seen in this video...

Bowers & Wilkins 703 S3

Zu Soul 6

Lyngdorf TDAI-3400

Lyngdorf CD-2

Marantz Model 30

Marantz SACD 30n

SolidSteel hi-fi rack

#bowerswilkins #homeaudio #hifi
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[johnnixon]

I have the CM9s2 in my main system and I’m so happy I stumbled across the “mid range” Bowers and Wilkins. They bring excitement to my listening that I haven’t experienced before.

[jaywit]

I demoed these as well as the 704 and the 702 a few months ago. I liked them all and my views are that the 704 is surprisingly good an gets you about 80-90% of the 703 sound for much less$$ (savings). I also strongly believe that the 702 are absolutely worth the extra money over the 703 because the downward firing bass port makes a huge difference to the bass, it’s just “bigger” and better (not bloated or slow, just larger, 🤷🏻‍♂️ words). Good to hear another recommendation on amp pairing too. I heard them with a M5Si and also some model of Hegel and they both sounded great to me. They really are a stellar range of speakers IMO.
Good review 👍

[fredrikb]

I have hade my 702 S3 now since december paired with Hegel H190. I allways had the feeling that something was missing. Had to raise the volume to get decent bass resulting everything else ending up to loud. Now I bought the Rotel Michi x5 series 2 instead. What a difference. Now there is a body to the music. Everything tightens and the high frequencies sounds so much more relaxed

[scottm]

John, thanks for this review. Great point at the end about occasionally re-auditioning components, formats, technologies, etc. I think a lot of us need that reminder.

[yegscaper]

B&W 601's were my first pair of real audiophile speakers 25 years ago as a teen. Since then I have always loved the sound of B&W's even with experience with other brands. Something about them you've tried to describe.

[MrAzeker]

"If you're American, you get the Aluminum version." Comedy gold.

[LKY]

One of the best reviews - clear description, comparison, and plenty of track info that I can access for future reference test. Keep up the good work, John! Thank you!

[DrSinisster]

Honestly I do enjoy this channel, but clicked because the title had me. Nice one mate.

[jean-marcfroehlinger]

Good pairing with the amplifier is surely the key with B&W speakers (same with a lot of speakers). I had the chance to have the store just 100m for my home so I could spend hours in their room to try what was on my taste. When I was ready they let me try in my own room for two weeks: wonderful service ! At the end I chooser a pair of 705 signature (Night blue) with a 2x160W Parasound Hint 6 amplifier and never regret.

[rayfordham]

I haven't heard B&W speakers for quite a few years because it
was a demo and I found the sound could strip wallpaper I don't
mind an up front sound but all I remember is a hard relentless
overbearing sound. The B&W chap doing the demo seemed
quite surprised when we left halfway through.

[syanhc]

Excellent review. And that Eno/Bryne album is just amazing! Absolutely brilliant album. One of my favourites….❤

[bencausey]

You are a very good, articulate communicator of our audiophile world.

[geoffreydebrito]

Very good point about holding on to what may have become an 'obsolete' opinion. So many factors go into the formation of our perceptions; the room, synergy between the components, quality of recording, etc. What a complex journey we have embarked upon with a destination that in some ways is but dimly sensed.

[grahamroscoe]

Again a good review John - The pairing of a Naim Unit Nova with the B&W 702 S3 offers slightly more clarity in my opinion, the 702 tweeter is slightly longer but at a higher cost. Class D amps have come on a lot but the class AB Naim Unit Nova consumes more energy.

[obsoletecd-rom]

I don’t know if Portugal has been a refreshing change of pace from your life in Germany but I really liked the energy you brought to your delivery in this video.

[budgetaudiophilelife-long]

THANKS JOHN🤗, FOR SHARING THIS, AND I APPRECIATE THAT WE ALL NEED TO ⬆️ UPDATE OUR THINKING 🧐👏👏👏💚💚💚

[TheOriginalKnottian]

I literally was asking for a review on these on your last video, and you responded with this beautiful review of equally beautiful speakers. I was the same way with B&W for years until I finally bought the PX7 (based on your review of them actually) and was blown away by how much their sound had changed/improved. Fast forward to today and I’ve got a 705 S2, 607 S2 Anniversary, PX8, etc.

Great lesson to be learned for everyone about writing off brands from decades-old experiences :)

[claylomax]

Lol, Thank you for letting us American fans know we get the aluminium version compared to the aluminyum version over there! Haha! Love the channel! Thanks for the laugh this morning.

[octothorpe]

I like to use the term "Strong opinions, loosely held".

[ibassnote]

Nice bit at the end about revising one’s opinions. Remaining open to change is a simple joy of life. Discovering that one is still capable of change is a gift but it must be cultivated. Letting go of a preconceived notion can sometimes feel like abandoning a life raft that has gotten you far across an ocean of uncertainty but in so you sometimes discover that you can actually swim and move about at will without relying on an inflatable opinion to keep you safe and warm.