Bowers & Wilkins has launched the new 707 S3 Prestige Edition bookshelf speaker, and it can absolutely have pride of place within our audio set-up.
The newest addition to the 700 Series, which is already available for £1,500, is described as a ‘compact loudspeaker’. It’s an upgrade on the existing model through the integration some of components from the high-end 705 S3.
However, it’s that aesthetic as much as the sound that’s likely to draw as many positive comments as the sumptuous audio. There’s a Santos Gloss finish that uses 12 layers of paint and lacquer. The British company says the finish is inspired by the Santos Rosewood featured within the 805 D3 model Prestige Edition. In a media release on Wednesday, the company says the speakers retain the Carbon Dome tweeters, a 6-inch Continuum cone mid-base drive unit and curved baffle or the original 2022 model.
As for those those upgraded internals? B&W says that “to deliver an even more refined and spacious sound than the standard model, the 707 Prestige Edition adds the carefully optimised high-frequency tweeter grille mesh and upgraded, low-loss speaker terminals used in the multi-award-winning 705 S3 Signature. The result is an elegant, compact loudspeaker that is inspiring to both look at and listen to.”
They’ll look fabulous on a bookshelf, but if you prefer the free-standing option, the FS-7000 S3 floor stands are compatible too. . It’s not yet clear whether they’ll make it to the United States. However, the 707 S3 speakers were released in mid-2022 as the entry-level model in the 700 Series. They can still be nabbed stateside for $2,000.
