Audio T Verdict
The Bowers & Wilkins 707 S3 delivers a remarkably spacious, detailed and confident presentation from the smallest cabinet in the 700 Series.
Its Carbon Dome tweeter provides a crisp and precisely focused treble, while the 130mm Continuum cone bass and midrange driver gives voices and instruments clarity, body and impressive control.
The 84dB sensitivity means amplifier quality and power matter more than the compact dimensions might suggest. Partner the 707 S3 with a capable amplifier, solid stands and careful positioning to hear it at its best.
Bowers & Wilkins 707 S3 Standmount Speakers
The 707 S3 is the most compact standmount loudspeaker in the Bowers & Wilkins 700 Series.
Its two-way design combines a 25mm Decoupled Carbon Dome tweeter with a 130mm Continuum cone bass and midrange driver.
The space-friendly cabinet makes the 707 S3 particularly suitable for smaller listening rooms, secondary systems and home cinema installations where a larger loudspeaker would be impractical.
Decoupled Carbon Dome Tweeter
High frequencies are reproduced by a 25mm Decoupled Carbon Dome tweeter developed for the Bowers & Wilkins 700 Series.
The Carbon Dome construction raises the first break-up frequency to approximately 47kHz, well beyond the audible range.
This allows the tweeter to remain more rigid through the audible frequencies, helping the 707 S3 reproduce fine detail, ambience and precise stereo positioning.
Continuum Cone Bass and Midrange Driver
A 130mm Continuum cone driver handles the bass and midrange frequencies.
The composite Continuum cone is designed to avoid the abrupt changes in behaviour that can affect more conventional cone materials.
This helps the 707 S3 reproduce voices and instruments with an open, neutral and consistent character while providing useful bass extension from its compact cabinet.
Flowport Bass-Reflex Design
The 707 S3 uses a two-way vented-box enclosure with Bowers & Wilkins Flowport technology.
The dimpled surface of the rear-facing port is designed to manage airflow and reduce unwanted turbulence as bass output increases.
The distance between the speaker and the rear wall will influence its low-frequency balance, so small changes in position can make a noticeable difference.
Curved Cabinet Baffle
The front baffle uses a curved profile inspired by design ideas developed for the Bowers & Wilkins 800 Series Diamond.
The shape reduces the amount of flat cabinet surface surrounding the drive units and helps provide a cleaner transition between the speakers and the room.
This supports more precise stereo imaging and helps reduce the influence of the cabinet on the sound produced by the drivers.
Individual Drive-Unit Mounting
The Carbon Dome tweeter and Continuum cone are mounted within individual surrounds on the curved front baffle.
This creates a more controlled interface between the drive units and the cabinet while reducing unnecessary surface area around each driver.
The arrangement contributes to the 707 S3’s clean appearance and helps voices and instruments remain focused within the stereo image.
Compact Cabinet, Impressive Scale
Each 707 S3 measures 300mm high, 165mm wide and 284mm deep including the grille and rear terminals.
Its compact dimensions make it the easiest 700 Series model to accommodate, but the solid cabinet and 130mm Continuum cone allow it to produce a presentation that sounds larger than its physical size might suggest.
The 707 S3 is particularly suitable for smaller rooms, although the final result will depend on listening distance, speaker positioning and preferred volume.
Speaker Stands and Placement
The 707 S3 will normally perform best on rigid, stable speaker stands that position the tweeter close to seated ear height.
A useful starting point is to:
- Position both speakers the same distance from the listening seat
- Place the tweeters close to seated ear height
- Leave some space between the speakers and the rear wall
- Avoid placing either speaker tightly into a corner
- Keep both stands level and stable
- Experiment with small changes in toe-in
- Move the speakers a few centimetres at a time
Moving the speakers closer to the rear wall will normally increase bass output. Pulling them further into the room will usually improve openness, bass definition and image depth.
Speaker Stands Are Not Included
The Bowers & Wilkins FS-700 S3 stands are designed for the standmount speakers in the 700 Series and are sold separately.
They are available in black and silver finishes. Audio T can also advise on stand filling, floor protection, isolation and positioning.
Amplifier Matching
Bowers & Wilkins recommends amplifiers rated between 30 and 100 watts into 8 ohms on unclipped programme material.
The 707 S3 has a sensitivity of 84dB, a nominal impedance of 8 ohms and a minimum impedance of 4 ohms.
The 4-ohm minimum impedance is relatively manageable for a good-quality amplifier, but the low sensitivity means more amplifier power is required to achieve a given listening level than with the larger 706 S3 or 705 S3.
A capable amplifier will help the 707 S3 produce tighter bass, greater dynamic control and a more stable stereo image, particularly when listening from further away or at higher volume.
Amplifier power alone does not determine compatibility. Room size, listening distance, preferred volume and the tonal character of the complete system should also be considered during a demonstration.
A Separate Amplifier Is Required
The 707 S3 is a passive loudspeaker and does not contain built-in amplification, network streaming or Bluetooth.
It must be connected to a suitable stereo amplifier, streaming amplifier, pre-amplifier and power-amplifier combination, or home cinema receiver.
Running In
New loudspeaker drive units can change as their suspensions settle through normal use.
Allow the 707 S3 time to settle before making final decisions about speaker positioning, bass balance or system matching.
Normal listening at sensible volume levels is sufficient. There is no need to play the speakers continuously or at unusually high volume.
Stereo Hi-Fi and Home Cinema
The 707 S3 can be used as the main pair in a compact, high-quality two-channel Hi-Fi system.
Its small cabinet also makes it particularly useful for the surround channels of a premium home cinema installation.
The matching Bowers & Wilkins HTM72 S3 centre speaker can be added to maintain a consistent tonal character across the front soundstage. The larger 704 S3 floorstanders or 706 S3 standmount speakers can be used for the main front channels where greater scale is required.
Finish Options
Current manufacturer finish options include:
- Gloss Black with a black grille
- Satin White with a grey grille
- Mocha with a black grille
Finish availability should be confirmed when ordering.
Key Features
- Compact two-way passive standmount loudspeaker
- Smallest model in the Bowers & Wilkins 700 Series
- 25mm Decoupled Carbon Dome tweeter
- Approximately 47kHz tweeter break-up frequency
- 130mm Continuum cone bass and midrange driver
- Flowport bass-reflex technology
- Curved cabinet baffle
- Individual drive-unit mounting
- Two-way vented-box enclosure
- 45Hz–33kHz published frequency range
- 84dB sensitivity
- 8-ohm nominal impedance
- 4-ohm minimum impedance
- 30–100-watt amplifier recommendation
- Suitable for compact stereo Hi-Fi systems
- Suitable for home cinema surround channels
- Compatible with Bowers & Wilkins FS-700 S3 stands
- Supplied as a stereo pair
- Five-year limited manufacturer’s warranty
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the Bowers & Wilkins 707 S3 speakers supplied as a pair?
Yes. They are supplied as a stereo pair of passive standmount speakers.
Are speaker stands included?
No. Suitable speaker stands are recommended and sold separately.
Which speaker stands are recommended?
The matching Bowers & Wilkins FS-700 S3 stands are designed for the standmount speakers in the 700 Series.
Can the 707 S3 speakers be placed on a bookshelf?
They can be placed on sufficiently deep, rigid and stable furniture, but dedicated stands normally provide better positioning, isolation and stereo imaging. Space should also be left around the rear-facing Flowport.
Do the 707 S3 speakers need an amplifier?
Yes. They require a separate stereo amplifier, streaming amplifier, pre-amplifier and power-amplifier combination, or home cinema receiver.
What amplifier power is recommended?
Bowers & Wilkins recommends an amplifier rated between 30 and 100 watts into 8 ohms on unclipped programme material.
Are the 707 S3 speakers difficult to drive?
The 4-ohm minimum impedance is reasonably manageable, but the low 84dB sensitivity means they benefit from a capable amplifier with adequate power and control.
Can the 707 S3 be positioned near a wall?
Yes, although the rear-facing Flowport means the final distance should be chosen according to the room’s bass response.
What size room suits the 707 S3?
The compact cabinet is particularly suitable for smaller rooms, subject to listening distance and preferred volume.
How does the 707 S3 differ from the 706 S3?
The 707 S3 uses a smaller cabinet and 130mm Continuum driver. The larger 706 S3 uses a 165mm driver and has higher sensitivity, giving it greater bass weight, scale and output capability.
Does the 707 S3 have Tweeter-on-Top?
No. Its Decoupled Carbon Dome tweeter is mounted within the curved front baffle. Tweeter-on-Top is used by the larger 705 S3.
Can the 707 S3 be used in a home cinema system?
Yes. A pair can be used as compact front speakers or as surround speakers alongside the matching HTM72 S3 centre speaker and other models from the 700 Series.
How large is each speaker?
Each speaker measures 300mm high, 165mm wide and 284mm deep including the grille and rear terminals.
How much does each speaker weigh?
Each speaker weighs 6.16kg.
What finishes are available?
The 707 S3 is available in Gloss Black, Satin White and Mocha finishes.
What warranty is included?
Bowers & Wilkins provides a five-year limited warranty for passive loudspeakers, subject to its warranty terms and conditions.
Related Bowers & Wilkins Products and Audio T Guides
Why Buy From Audio T?
- In-store Bowers & Wilkins demonstrations
- Amplifier and system-matching advice
- Speaker stand and isolation guidance
- Room positioning and setup advice
- Stereo and home cinema system planning
- Speaker cable and termination advice
- Part exchange on suitable existing equipment
- Ongoing setup and after-sales support
Contact your local Audio T store to arrange a demonstration of the Bowers & Wilkins 707 S3.