Bowers & Wilkins 700 manual Positioning, Measured Performance, System Matching, Overall Score 89%

[Review ] B&W 703 loudspeaker

SET-UP

0.8-1m0.8-1m

2-3m

1-1.5m1-1.5m

3-4m

POSITIONING

For the smoothest and most even bass delivery, this speaker design ought really to be kept well clear of walls if at all possible. If domestic considerations dictate some wall proximity, bungs are supplied to block up the ports. However, the ports here are tuned to a low 35Hz, while close-to-wall bass reinforcement occurs rather

Detail

Alloy dome tweeter is mounted externally, coming with its own loading tube and grille

165mm FST	Enclosure slightly
	narrower at rear
(surroundless)
	than front
Kevlar cone
midrange driver

101cm	2x 165mm
	paper/Kevlar
	cone/dome
	bass drivers

Twin terminals set nice and low, for bi-wiring/

amping

‘Flowport’ reflex port

Solid base provides secure spike accommodation

23cm

higher up, in the 50-100Hz octave, so results are unlikely to be smooth.

MEASURED PERFORMANCE

B&W’s claim for a 90dB sensitivity is fully justified

– even marginally pessimistic perhaps – but the

generous figure is compromised by a rather

demanding load, which hits a three-ohm

minimum at around 100Hz, which is a power-

hungry part of the spectrum, and remains low

between 80Hz and 350Hz.

The in-room far-field averaged responses look very

promising, however. With the speakers mounted

well clear of walls, and the ports left open, the

bass comes across as unusually smooth (+/-4dB

throughout, in spite of room modes), and also

very well extended (-3dB at 20Hz in-room). The

lower midband is a little lean, but strengthens

between 500Hz and 1.5kHz. The presence zone is

slightly recessed at 1.5-3.5kHz, but then peaks up

quite strongly at 4-6kHz, although these trends

are obvious enough, both in measurement and

Q Once properly in the groove, the 703

showed some delightful characteristics, and

an overall standard of performance that

stands well out from the two-grand crowd.

There’s still arguably a touch too much

strength at the top end here – it’s certainly a

dB or two stronger than the 704 here, for

example – and this can occasionally prove a

trial with bright and edgy recordings,

especially if you want to play them loud. But

by the same token it often adds some

welcome extra ‘bite’ and clarity to the

musical proceedings.

It was interesting to have the 704 on hand,

and many will prefer the slightly warmer and

more laid-back balance and restrained treble

of the less expensive model (reviewed next

month). But direct comparison immediately

highlights the obvious superiority of the 703’s

FST midrange, which reproduces voices in

particular with much greater clarity and

disappointed when it finished.

If the midband is something a bit special, the bass end is arguably even better. It’s dry, clean, deep and even, all of which is quite unusual and impressive. Even better, it’s very, very fast and always agile, bringing truly propulsive momentum and drive to a bass-led album like the Easy Star All-Stars’ Dub Side Of The Moon. Even an overblown recording like Wyclef Jean’s The Carnival managed to sound quite crisp and controlled – and very, very clean and clear.

Do check first that this speaker’s slightly cool, thin and bright balance suits your personal taste and system. If it does, you’ll be rewarded with a wonderfully analytical and entertaining speaker, with superb agility and an exceptionally wide dynamic range. HFC

Paul Messenger

audible terms.

SYSTEM MATCHING

Although this speaker has a decent enough sensitivity, the impedance dips to a low three ohms in the bass and lower midband. It’s therefore not really suitable for use with lower power valve amps such as single-

expression, with a significantly wider dynamic

resolution window. It’s not entirely free

from coloration – there’s a certain

amount of nasality here – but it

is very expressive, and stereo

imaging is beautifully spacious

and superbly free from boxiness.

A very complex modern

composition involving several choirs

–Idmen, by Iannis Xenakis, since you didn’t ask – came over the BBC

VERDICT

SOUND >> 91%

EASE OF DRIVE >> 66%

BUILD >> 95%

VALUE >> 88%

RPRO

Classy floorstander has artfully shaped enclosure and very advanced drive units. Superb imaging and an exceptional dynamic range, with expressive midband, and fast, clean and deep bass.

SCON

Sound is dry, cool and a touch thin – the top end a mite strong, giving a character which can become aggressive.

ended and direct-coupled types, and is better partnered with solid state amplifiers that have relatively generous current delivery capabilities.

airwaves late one summer’s evening, and the separation and clarity which the 703s brought to the complex vocal parts was really quite transfixing. This is far from familiar or indeed comfortable music for late

night listening, yet I was genuinely

CONCLUSION

Classy floorstander with very advanced drivers delivers superb imaging and exceptional dynamic range, with a very expressive midband and fast, clean bass, though its bright top end can become aggressive when played loud.

OVERALL SCORE >> 89%

HI-FI CHOICE november 2003