Loudspeakers

The 'voicing' of this latest 703 floorstander has at least been inspired by developments seen in both the D3 and D4 iterations of B&W's 800 series [HFN Oct '16 and Nov '21]. The forward response trend [see Graph 1] shows a familiar series of peaks (and troughs) at ~1.2kHz and ~3.5kHz, that are also picked up as modes on the CSD waterfall [Graph 2], while the latest version of its 'Decoupled Carbon Dome' tweeter sees a hugely extended HF response [pink shaded area, Graph 1] and a fundamental resonance pushed all the way up to 49kHz (+12dB re. mean midband level). The 'bumpy' mid/presence response is reflected in modest ±3.1dB and ±3.0dB errors, respectively – although the averaged trend remains quite flat – and pair matching is a superb ±0.4dB. The full-length grille is almost entirely acoustically transparent [blue trace, Graph 1].

The 703 S3's impedance trend is also indicative, with minima of 2.9ohm at 111Hz and 660Hz (sub-6ohm from 70Hz-1.2kHz) and an EPDR of 1.1ohm/86Hz, while the dip to 4.3ohm/26Hz broadly correlates with the tuning of the rear-facing port. This 4ohm nominal loading feeds into the 703 S3's generous 89dB/1kHz sensitivity and while B&W rates the speaker at 90dB, we inch closer at 89.3dB when averaged across 500kHz-8kHz. Low frequency extension is healthy too, the –6dB bandwidth of the two 165mm Aerofoil woofers reaching across 55Hz-330Hz while reflex-loading pushes the diffraction-corrected bass down to a creditable 34Hz (–6dB re. 200Hz). Finally, distortion is also usefully low, especially through the undulating midrange frequencies at ~0.1% (re. 90dB SPL at 1m). PM