Bowers & Wilkins only uses the Signature name sparingly, reserving it for the rare and radically upgraded versions of its conventional loudspeakers and technologies. Since the brand was founded in 1966, only eight series of loudspeaker have carried the prestigious Signature mark — a reflection of its prestige and exclusivity.
The new Bowers & Wilkins 702 S3 Signature, 705 S3 Signature and HTM71 S3 Signature models build on a heritage that stretches back to the acclaimed Silver Signature loudspeaker of 1991, originally developed as a posthumous tribute to the founder of the company, John Bowers. The new models build on the performance and aesthetic benchmarks of the standard 700 Series models that form the basis of their respective designs, featuring carefully upgraded componentry plus luxurious and beautiful new finishes.
The larger model in the new Signature range is the 702 S3 Signature ($9000 per pair), a three-way floorstanding loudspeaker that builds on the specification of the 702 S3, the flagship model in the 700 Series range.
The heart of the design is its Carbon Dome tweeter, housed in a decoupled Tweeter-on-Top aluminum enclosure and enhanced in this model with the addition of a new protective tweeter grille mesh derived from the 800 Series Signature models, introduced in 2023.
The decoupled Continuum Cone FST midrange drive unit — complete with its acclaimed Biomimetic Suspension, which notably reduces unwanted coloration emanating from behind the drive unit — ensures clean, effortless insight into the midrange and an open, spacious sound. 702 S3 Signature also includes three 165mm (6.5”) Aerofoil Profile bass drivers for full, powerful sounding bass, complete with upgraded drive-unit suspensions (or ‘spiders’) that help improve bass clarity.
As with all Signature models over the years, the 702 S3 Signature benefits from careful upgrades to its crossover aimed at further increasing transparency, with new and upgraded Mundorf capacitors, improved inductors and revised bypass capacitors. Finally, it includes new and upgraded speaker terminal posts featuring high-quality brass cores that ensure a cleaner flow of signal into the speaker.
The 705 S3 Signature brings new standards of performance and capability in a smaller, more room-friendly form factor than its mighty sibling. As with the larger 702 S3 Signature model, the 705 S3 Signature ($4500 per pair) also includes an all-new tweeter grille mesh for more openness and transparency plus an upgraded crossover with new capacitors and resistors plus rearranged bypass capacitors. It shares the improved speaker terminals from 702 S3 Signature and also includes an all-new drive-unit suspension (or spider) for its 165mm (6.5”) drive unit, ensuring both a cleaner midrange and more extended bass.
For the first time, home theater enthusiasts can access the beauty and performance of Signature technology. The new 700 S3 Signature range includes a dedicated center-channel loudspeaker, the HTM71 S3 Signature ($3300 each.)
A three-way design, it features the same Tweeter-on-Top assembly as both the 702 and 705 S3 Signature models, ensuring the best possible integration with the performance of its siblings.
This is complemented by a centrally mounted 130mm (5”) Continuum Cone FST midrange drive unit, also featuring decoupling and Biomimetic suspension. Finally, twin 130mm (5”) Aerofoil Profile bass cones give the HTM71 S3 Signature its powerful, fully extended presentation. Comprehensive upgrades to both its crossover components and its input terminals complete the HTM71 S3 Signature’s performance- orientated specification.
To properly identify their prestigious position within the Bowers & Wilkins portfolio, both the 702 S3 Signature, 705 S3 Signature and HTM71 S3 Signature are only available in two exclusive Signature finishes, complemented by unique identifying Signature logo plates on their rear panels. The Midnight Blue Metallic paint is the same as offered on the iconic Nautilus loudspeaker and the 800 Series Signature models. Alternatively, all three loudspeakers can be purchased in a lustrous Datuk Gloss wood veneer. Exclusive to the new 700 Series Signature models, both finishes feature vibrant gold trims to their drive units and tweeter housings, further highlighting their Signature status.
As with all Signature loudspeakers over the decades, all three new 700 Series Signature models are the perfect embodiment of Bowers & Wilkins’ product philosophy and are a proud addition to the brand’s heritage in this category. The engineering team at Bowers & Wilkins remains passionate about providing the best, truest listening experience available, and the 700 Series Signature models are the next step toward achieving this goal.
Commenting on the launch, Dave Sheen, brand president of Bowers & Wilkins said: “Any Signature launch is an incredibly proud moment for everyone at Bowers & Wilkins. The new 700 Series Signature range represents a significant expansion of our Signature portfolio and I’m sure it will be enthusiastically received by both reviewers and our customers worldwide.”
Available from March 27 from selected dealers, 700 Series Signature is available in two special finishes: Midnight Blue Metallic and Datuk Gloss.
