If you are in the market for a pair of high-end floor standing loudspeakers and your budget can handle the $6,000 hit — the Bowers & Wilkins 703 S3 offer a rather compelling reason to upgrade.
Having resisted the urge for years to review loudspeakers over $5,000 because they no longer really fit into my system building ethos which is now focused on systems aimed at entry-level and mid-tier buyers like myself with 3 children and very high education bills each month (will have 2 in college next semester) — I decided that my first review of a Bowers & Wilkins loudspeaker in over 24 years of covering consumer A/V had to be something that would create a benchmark for any future reviews of their less expensive models.
That didn’t work out so well.
There was so much to admire about these loudspeakers that I decided to start building my slush fund so that I can order a pair in 2024.
No veal sandwiches, cheesesteaks or unnecessary movie and music purchases for 5 months. Please forgive me Neil’s Kitchen, Music Direct, Criterion and Jack’s Music Shoppe.
You can read my extensive review here.
What makes me so enthusiastic about them is that I’m confident that I’ve only heard about 90% of their performance capabilities so far based on what I had in-house at the time in terms of source components.
The 703 S3 are part of the new 700 S3 Series from Bowers & Wilkins which includes eight new models in total designated as S3; which includes three floor standers, three stand-mount speakers and two center channel speakers. All of the models replace and improve upon both the previous generation 700 S2 (2019) and 700 S2 Signature (2020) lines.
The new 700 series might be slimmer but at 44″H x 11.4″W x 14.6″D (which includes the plinth and tweeter) and 64 pounds apiece, the 703 S3 are an extremely imposing loudspeaker in any room and beautifully constructed.
The new Mocha finish of the review sample is one of the most attractive I have seen on any pair of loudspeakers in many years and certainly the one that I would select if buying these loudspeakers.
The grain and seamless quality of the finish is what one should expect for $6,000 and Bowers & Wilkins have really gone the extra mile with these speakers.
These are loudspeakers that love power and low end control from whichever amplifier is on the other end; products like the Cambridge Audio Edge A were designed for loudspeakers like these and it should surprise not a soul that they worked extremely well together.
From a tonal perspective, one will be fine with neutral to warmer sounding amplifiers with the 703 S3 but I would certainly not go for anything that is on the cooler side; especially if your sources also lean that way as well.
Are they worth $6,000?
There are very few expensive floor standing speakers on the market right now outside of a few models from Boenicke, DeVore Fidelity, and ATC that I would consider for my final journey as an audiophile; the Bowers & Wilkins 703 S3 might be near the top of that list.
Outstanding loudspeakers from a great legacy brand that still cares deeply about engineering excellence and sound quality.
Where to buy: $5,999/pair at Crutchfield | Bowers & Wilkins (available in black, white, and mocha).
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John Dietmann
December 4, 2023 at 10:13 am
At that price I’ll keep my beautiful bi-wired B&W P4 floorstanding speakers. My CXN v2 and Rega Brio amp love it as I do.
Ian White
December 4, 2023 at 2:50 pm
John,
That sounds like a very good system. The 703 S3 are not inexpensive and one would need a really powerful amplifier to do them justice. Your Rega/Cambridge rig is solid. Love both of those components.
Best,
Ian White