Bowers & Wilkins 707 Prestige Edition

Bowers & Wilkins is one of the most recognisable British loudspeaker brands, with a long standing presence both in domestic audio systems and in professional recording studios. The company made its name with the 800 Series Diamond and with the broader 600 and 700 Series ranges, which transfer many solutions from its reference designs into more attainable home loudspeakers. In the case of the 707 Prestige Edition the first thing that draws the eye is the Santos Gloss finish. Inspired by the Santos Rosewood veneer used on the iconic 805 D3 Prestige Edition, it nods towards some of the most striking designs in the brand's history. The cabinets are treated with twelve layers of paint and lacquer, which gives the surface unusual depth and a high gloss sheen that is rarely seen at this price level. The look is completed by an elegant rear nameplate that discreetly underlines the model's status as part of an exclusive Prestige Edition.

Behind the decorative, carefully crafted enclosure lies the familiar technical platform of the 707 S3. The 707 Prestige Edition uses the same refined acoustic architecture, which already drew heavily on solutions first developed for the 800 Series Diamond. The design is a two way standmount with a rear firing bass reflex port, a compact cabinet and a gently curved front baffle that helps to reduce cabinet edge diffraction and associated resonances and colouration. In terms of drivers, Bowers & Wilkins has deployed its key proprietary technologies. High frequencies are handled by a 25 mm Carbon Dome tweeter engineered to combine high rigidity with low moving mass, which is intended to deliver clean and precise treble. Midrange and bass are entrusted to a Continuum cone driver known for its controlled behaviour over a wide frequency band and for its smooth transition between the midrange and low frequency regions, which together are meant to provide a natural, transparent midband and a well organised, articulate low end.

The Prestige Edition treatment goes beyond the cabinet finish. To push the 707 Prestige Edition above the standard 707 S3, the engineers have introduced a series of refinements derived from the 705 S3 Signature and from the 800 Series Diamond. The new version features an optimised tweeter grille mesh designed to improve high frequency dispersion and resolution and upgraded low loss speaker terminals developed to minimise energy losses and preserve signal clarity. Although modest in terms of mechanical changes, these upgrades are claimed to translate in practice into a more clearly defined soundstage and an overall sense of greater openness and ease compared with the base model.

From a technical perspective the 707 Prestige Edition remains a representative of compact standmount loudspeakers in this class. Frequency response extends from 45 Hz to 33 kHz, nominal impedance is 8 ohms and recommended amplifier power is between 30 and 100 watts. Sensitivity of 84 dB means the speakers are at their best when partnered with capable electronics, yet in a well matched system they should reward the listener with a precise and orderly presentation. In terms of room integration the 707 Prestige Edition can be placed on a sturdy shelf or on the dedicated FS 700 S3 stands, which Bowers & Wilkins has designed as the natural companion for 700 Series models. Thanks to its compact footprint the new speaker is easy to accommodate in a living room, study or dedicated listening room, taking up relatively little space while acting as a distinctive visual accent in the interior. In Europe the Bowers & Wilkins 707 Prestige Edition is priced at €1750/$2000/£1550 per pair, with availability through selected authorised dealers. Info and pictures by Bowers & Wilkins.