Bowers & Wilkins 706 S3 Bookshelf Speakers - Pair

The Standmount B&W Built for a Bigger Room

Most standmounts are compromises made for small rooms. The 706 S3 is not. B&W calls it the ideal stand-mount for larger spaces, and the reason sits behind the grille: a 6.5-inch Continuum cone doing bass and midrange.

Above it is a 1-inch Decoupled Carbon Dome tweeter, and the crossover between them was reworked for this generation. Each cabinet measures 13.6 inches tall, 7.6 wide and 13.1 deep with the grille and terminals fitted, and weighs 18.6 pounds.

Carbon Dome, and the 47 kHz Number

B&W built the Carbon Dome tweeter for the 700 Series specifically, and says it raises the breakup threshold to 47 kHz. That is well past anything you can hear, which is the point. The dome stays stiff and predictable across the whole audible band.

The Numbers, and What They Ask of You

B&W quotes a frequency range of 45 Hz to 33 kHz, and a response of 50 Hz to 28 kHz within 3 dB. Sensitivity is 88 dB, which is generous for a cabinet this size. Nominal impedance is 8 ohms, with a minimum of 3.7 ohms.

Harmonic distortion stays under 1 percent from 100 Hz to 22 kHz, and under 0.5 percent between 150 Hz and 20 kHz. The recommendation is 30 to 120 watts into 8 ohms on unclipped programme, with total cable impedance under 0.1 ohms.

The Foam Plug Comes in Two Pieces

A rear Flowport vents each cabinet, and the supplied plug lets you tame it by degrees. Fit the whole assembly for the largest cut in bass, or use only the outer, larger-diameter piece when you want something gentler.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Andre Revilla gave the 706 S3 five stars out of five for Pocket-lint on April 19, 2024. On imaging he wrote: "Each instrument can be distinguished, and the voices carry in an almost angelic way".

Who Are These Bookshelf Speakers Best For?

• Your room is bigger than a standmount usually suits — the 6.5-inch Continuum cone and the larger cabinet are there to fill space, which is exactly what B&W designed this model to do
• You want to bi-wire, now or later — each cabinet carries two linked pairs of terminals, so you can run a single cable today and split the links whenever your amplifier can take it
• You are pairing them with a real amplifier — 88 dB sensitivity and a 30 to 120 watt window give you room to work with, and one of our integrated amplifiers in that range will not hold them back
• They are going on a shelf, not a stand — B&W built these around its FS-700 S3 stand, but supplies four self-adhesive rubber feet and a two-piece port plug so a shelf is a real option
• You care how they look — the curved baffle and the individual drive unit pods come straight from the 800 Series Diamond, and they are there to cut cabinet coloration as much as to catch the eye

How Do They Connect to Your System?

There are two linked pairs of terminals on the back of each cabinet. For a conventional hookup, leave the links in place and connect just one pair to your amplifier. Take the links out and you can bi-wire or bi-amplify instead, which B&W says can improve the resolution of low-level detail.

The posts accept 4 mm banana plugs, 6 mm and 8 mm spades, or bare wire up to 4 mm. Red ring to red, black ring to black, and screw the caps down fully so nothing rattles. Both runs should be the same length.

Pairs Well With

What finishes the setup. These are the categories most 706 S3 owners shop next.

• Speaker stands — what B&W designed these for, and sold separately
• Integrated amplifiers — 30 to 120 watts into 8 ohms is the window
• Speaker cables — under 0.1 ohms total, and low inductance
• Subwoofers — for the bottom octave below 45 Hz

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I bi-wire them?

Yes. Each cabinet has two linked pairs of terminals. Remove the links and run separate cable to each pair, or to separate amplifier channels if you would rather bi-amplify.

What amplifier do they need?

B&W recommends 30 to 120 watts into 8 ohms on unclipped programme. Sensitivity is 88 dB and the load drops to 3.7 ohms, so a competent amplifier matters more than a huge one.

Do stands come with them?

Stands are separate. B&W designed these around its FS-700 S3 floor stand, and says a shelf works but leaves less room to optimize the sound.

How should I position them?

Start with the cabinets 1.5 to 3 meters apart, at least half a meter from the back and side walls, and with the tweeters roughly at ear height when you are seated.

Should I take the grilles off?

B&W suggests removing them for the most discerning listening. Grip the edges and pull gently away from the cabinet. Try it both ways and keep whichever you prefer.

What does the next model up add?

The Bowers & Wilkins 705 S3 uses the same drivers and the same electrical specification, but moves the tweeter into a Solid Body Tweeter-on-Top housing above the cabinet.

See It in Action

Taps Das reviews the 706 S3 for Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity:

Bowers & Wilkins introduces the range these belong to:

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