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Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 £599
The smallest and most affordable of B&W’s 600 range, the 607 S3 replaces the previous Award-winning 607 S2 Anniversary Edition standmounters. We hesitate to call the new speakers truly ‘budget’, but these are still B&W’s entry-level pair and pack in more than enough punch to justify the outlay.
B&W has stuck with the same compact footprint (30 x 16.5 x 20.7cm), keeping the 607 S3 a great option for smaller spaces. The build quality is excellent and for the price they look elegant and premium.
First and foremost of many updates is the use of titanium in the 25mm decoupled double dome tweeter assembly. 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 says the switch to titanium from aluminium in the 600 speakers should allow for sweeter, more refined and better detail at the higher end.
The tube-loading system at the back of the tweeter has been elongated to reduce further unwanted, rearward standing waves from affecting the front output of the tweeter unit. A new tweeter grille design taken from the new flagship 800 Signature Series is incorporated, too. Both upgrades are claimed to result in a more open sound. The 13cm Continuum mid/bass driver returns, backed by a more powerful motor assembly inspired by the step-up 700 S3 range, and the crossover has been updated with higher-quality components to aid transparency.
Clarity and refinement
The new 607 S3 sound incredibly fun. There’s clarity and refinement to a really admirable level, but we are struck by just how entertaining, zippysound, B&W has managed to meld these elements together into a capable and entertaining package.
