Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3
B&W’s newest, smallest, entry-level speakers are a delight
Standmount speakers | £599 | whf.cm/607_S3
Bowers & Wilkins’ entry-level 600 series of speakers has a storied history with us at What Hi-Fi? Now in its eighth generation, this speaker range has a slew of five-star reviews and Award wins to its name over the years, with B&W hitting upon just the right formula of great sound and affordable price tag to deliver a crowd-pleasing speaker.
The smallest and most affordable of the range, the new Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3, now replaces our current Award-winning 607 S2 Anniversary Edition model. A quick look at the review score and effusive verdict already hint at the new successor’s talents, but that barely scratches the surface of these speakers’ capabilities.
It shouldn’t be too much of a surprise that prices have risen since the 600 series’ last iteration three years ago. However, the new 607 S3 speaker – which has always been the baby of the range – now costs a fairly substantial £599 per pair. That’s quite a chunky increase over the previous-gen 607 S2 Anniversary Edition’s original price tag of £449 (launched in 2020). While we would hesitate to call the new speakers truly ‘budget’, these are still B&W’s entry-level pair and, in our opinion, pack in more than enough punch to justify the extra outlay.
Crisp aesthetics
On the face of it, the 607 S3 looks near-identical to its predecessor. From the crisp aesthetics and the dimensions to the two-way configuration – the 607 speaker remains the same in concept.
We love that B&W has stuck with the same compact footprint (each speaker measures 30 x 16.5 x 20.7cm), keeping the 607 S3 a great option for smaller spaces. The build quality is excellent and the pair look rather elegant and premium for their price bracket. The speakers come in three vinyl finishes: black, white or our review sample’s oak (the last with a contrasting white front panel).
This is B&W though, a brand with a strong history of using trickle-down technology and concepts from its premium ranges into even its most entry-level products. And it’s the same here, with the 607 S3 model filled to the brim with updates inside.
First and foremost is the use of titanium in the 25mm decoupled double dome tweeter assembly for the first time. The tweeter’s two-part design uses a thin 25-micron main dome reinforced by a 30-micron ring – both made with titanium. B&W has traditionally use
