The Bowers & Wilkins 703 S3 loudspeakers have garnered attention in the audiophile community for their impressive design and sound performance. These floorstanding speakers are part of Bowers & Wilkins’ prestigious lineup and have been subjected to rigorous reviews by several audio experts. To provide a comprehensive understanding of their capabilities, here is a synthesized analysis based on these reviews:
Attribute | Sound & Vision | Audiograde | Part-Time Audiophile | The Absolute Sound | AudioGuru |
Soundstage and Imaging | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
Design and Build Quality | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
Ease of Setup | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
Bass Performance | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Midrange Clarity | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
Treble Quality | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
Versatility | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
Overall Performance | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3.6 |
Review Summaries:
Sound & Vision: The 703 S3 was praised for its refined soundstage, imaging, and transparency. It performed exceptionally in multi-channel setups, delivering an accurate sound without requiring equalization or room correction.
Audiograde: This review focused on the technical design, highlighting the Continuum midrange cone and Fixed Suspension Transducer. The speakers were noted for their transparency, neutrality, and dynamic sound without coloration.
Part-Time Audiophile: The design and finish of the 703 S3 were highly appreciated, with unique features like the tweeter-on-top housing. There were minor issues with packaging and back plate lettering, but the overall aesthetic was praised.
The Absolute Sound: The review emphasized the technical aspects, like the decoupled tweeter and new midrange suspension. The speakers were found to be versatile with different amplifiers and genres, excelling in upper midrange and treble.
AudioGuru: The 703 S3 received a 3.6 rating, lauded for its accurate voice reproduction and musical sound, but the treble was noted to be less delicate compared to rivals.