B&W 703 S3 Loudspeaker More Channels

More Channels

B&W's new 700 series continues the tradition of ensuring its loudspeaker families cater to both hi-fi and home theatre enthusiasts through the addition of dedicated centre channel speakers. There are two options, the £1000 HTM72 S3 and £1700 HTM71 S3, and the latter is the clear match for the 703 S3, as this – like the floorstander – gains a tweeter-on-top for the first time. It's therefore now possible for 700 series buyers to assemble a 5.1 system with matching high-frequency drivers, in addition to identical mid and bass units; something previously only possible with the flagship 800 series. In such a set-up, B&W's 705 S3 standmounts would be deployed as the surround channel speakers while the DB4S subwoofer, with its 250mm Aerofoil bass driver and 1kW-rated Hypex Class D amplifier, would handle the LFE channel.

There's one area of home theatre sound where the manufacturer is slightly less accommodating, however, and that's in the expanding universe of Dolby Atmos. Unlike rival marques including KEF and Monitor Audio, B&W hasn't yet engineered a speaker with an 'upfiring' driver to create the impression of overhead sound via reflection. Instead, B&W's approach is more traditional, involving the use of in-ceiling speakers for the Atmos height layer. In its CCM (in-ceiling) range are models with carbon dome tweeters and Continuum cone bass/mid units, suited to use with its 700 series.

COMPANY INFO
B&W Group Ltd
West Sussex
Supplied by: B&W Group Ltd
0800 232 1513
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