Bowers & Wilkins 706 S3 Bookshelf Speaker Review and Specs (2024)

Bowers & Wilkins 706 S3 is a 2-way Passive Bass Reflex Bookshelf speaker by Bowers Wilkins. It features a 1" Decoupled Carbon Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Continuum Woofer. The speaker has a frequency range of 50-28k Hz and a sensitivity of 88 dB. B&W 706 S3 has an MSRP of 2199$ per pair.

What size of room is the B&W 706 S3 speaker good for?

The size of the room in which you are planning to use the B&W 706 S3 is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated its suitability to various sizes of environments considering its size and max power parameters:

(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m², Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m², Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m², Very Large: > 400 sq. ft / 36 m². Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening position, speaker locations, etc.)

Bowers Wilkins replaced the older 706 S2 with this model. Follow the link to read our detailed comparison of these models:

What are the speakers in Bowers Wilkins's 700 S3 Series?

706 S3 is a member of Bowers Wilkins's 700 S3 series of Passive speakers. Below you can see the main specs of these speakers.

Bowers Wilkins 700 S3 Series Speakers

	Model	Frequency	Sensitivity	Impedance	Woofer
	Compare	46-28k Hz	90 dB	8Ω	3 x 6.5"
	Compare	46-28k Hz	88 dB	8Ω	2 x 5"
		50-28k Hz	88 dB	8Ω	1 x 6.5"
	Compare	46-28k Hz	90 dB	8Ω	2 x 6.5"
	Compare	50-28k Hz	84 dB	8Ω	1 x 5"
	Compare	50-28k Hz	88 dB	8Ω	1 x 6.5"
	Compare	50-28k Hz	89 dB	8Ω	4 x 5"
	Compare	70-28k Hz	87 dB	8Ω	2 x 5"

What is the Frequency Response of the B&W 706 S3 speaker?

B&W 706 S3 has a Frequency response range of 50-28k Hz at ±3dB and Power Range of 30-120 watts. At a minimum frequency of 50 Hz, 706 S3 will provide an average bass depth so depending on your use case, you may consider supplementing your system with a subwoofer.

To focus on the subwoofers that are in a similar price range with B&W 706 S3, check out the Powered Subwoofers under $3000. Alternatively, find the Full list of Powered Subwoofers regardless of the price.

Here we have a comparison of how 706 S3's Low and High frequency values compare with the average, max and min Low and High frequency values in its class.

What are the Impedance and Sensitivity of the B&W 706 S3? Is it an easy-to-drive speaker?

B&W 706 S3's nominal impedance level is 8 ohms but can go down to as low as 3.7 ohms, and has a sensitivity of 88 dB.

8 Ohms is pretty much the standard nominal impedance amongst stereo speakers and amplifiers so Bowers & Wilkins 706 S3 is not considered a difficult to drive speaker from nominal Impedance perspective.

Sensitivity

88dB of Bowers & Wilkins 706 S3 is an average sensitivity for stereo speaker so it is neither easy nor difficult to drive Sensitivity wise.

Minimum Impedance of B&W 706 S3

Even though the nominal impedance of the 706 S3 is 8 ohms, the minimum impedance level of this speaker according to Bowers Wilkins is 3.7 ohms Bowers & Wilkins 706 S3 so while choosing an amplifier, you should ideally check if the unit you are considering can provide this impedance level.

Check the amplifiers that are in a similar price range to the B&W 706 S3:

• Integrated Amps under 2000 USD
• Integrated Amps under 3000 USD
• Integrated Amps under 5000 USD
• All Integrated Amplifiers

Input Type

706 S3 has Binding post type connectors and lets bi-amping/bi-wiring. Bi-wiring can provide improvements in the overall transparency of your loudspeakers by running separate speaker wires to the low & high frequency drivers from a single amplifier. Bi-amping allows the use of separate amplifiers for the high & low frequency drivers of your loudspeaker which may result in greater dynamic range & lower distortion.

B&W 706 S3 External Dimensions and Weight

B&W 706 S3 has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 13.6-inch x 7.6-inch x 13.1-inch (345.0 x 192.0 x 334.0mm ).

Base Surface Area
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited. The base area of B&W 706 S3 is approximately 641.3cm² / 99.4inch².

To get a better perspective on the real life size of B&W 706 S3, let's compare it with a standard size Compact Disc which has a diameter of 4.7inch (120mm).

Here we place the B&W 706 S3 virtually next to a standard width amplifier and turntable on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet to get a better idea about the size.

Weight

The B&W 706 S3 weighs 8.42kg / 18.5lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how 706 S3's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.

How does the B&W 706 S3 compare to the Bowers Wilkins 705 S2?

One of the natural alternative to the B&W 706 S3 is the 705 S2 which is located one step higher in Bowers Wilkins's Passive Bookshelf selection.

Check the for more details.

Cabinet type and Materials

B&W 706 S3 has a Bass Reflex type cabinet and a MDF/Wood veneer finish. Bass Reflex type loudspeakers (aka Ported, Vented or Reflex Port) have enclosures that uses a port, hole or vent cut into the cabinet. Ported designs are generally more efficient than the Sealed designs.

Speaker Feet

B&W 706 S3 comes with 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet which you can use to secure your loudspeaker on the surface that you are putting on. It is always recommended to use some kind of feet under all types of speakers. Besides limiting the movement of the speakers, it also compensates for non-flat surfaces and limits the contact surface area of the speaker. Rubber based feet also help isolating the vibrations within certain frequency ranges.

Port Position

B&W 706 S3 is a rear-firing port speaker so you have to make sure you leave enough space between the back of the speaker and wall or bookshelf so that it has room to breathe. 706 S3 comes with 2 Two-piece foam port plugs so if you don't have any choice but place the speakers too close to the walls or other surfaces, you can use these plugs in order to avoid boomy or too much bass.

Available colors

B&W 706 S3 is available in Gloss Black, Satin White, Mocha and Rosenut.

Wall Mounting

706 S3 doesn't sport any built-in mounting bracket, so you need an external structure to mount it on walls.

Does the B&W 706 S3 come with a Grille?

706 S3 comes with magnetic grilles in Black and Grey (Satin White only color choices. The purpose of the grille is to protect the delicate driver elements from external impacts while still allowing the sound to pass as clearly as possible. Since the included grille of the 706 S3 is magnetic type, it is very easy to put it on and off.

What's in the Box of B&W 706 S3?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of 706 S3:

Recommended Accessories

Here is a list of accessories that we think you may need for the Bowers & Wilkins 706 S3.

• Speaker Cable and Connectors
• Speaker Cables with Banana Plugs: If you know the lenght of the cable you need, this is the easier option to connect your speakers with your amp.
• Speaker Cables without Connectors: If you are not sure about the lenght or need longer than standard cables with plugs, choose this option.
• Banana Connectors and Plugs: If you chose the cables without connectors option or already have some cable around, pick the banana plugs separately.
• Vibration Isolators: IsoAcoustics isolators more affordable options too.
• Acoustic Panels and Treatments: Your room is as important as your stereo equipment so acoustic treatments goes a long way in improving the overall performance.
• Speaker Stands: Stands bring your bookshelf speakers to ideal height (rule of thumb is to have the tweeter level with your ear in your listening position), helps stability and acoustical isolation.

User's Manual

For more information about how to setup, use and maintain the Bowers & Wilkins 706 S3, use the direct link below to download the official manual document:
Download User Manual for B&W 706 S3

Official Brochure

Here is a link to download the official brochure for the Bowers & Wilkins 706 S3 speaker:
Official Brochure for B&W 706 S3

Official Product Page

Official manufacturer's product page for the Bowers & Wilkins 706 S3 speaker can be found below:
Official Product Page for B&W 706 S3

Warranty

5 Years of parts warranty and 5 Years of labor warranty is generally provided by the manufacturer.