The B&W 607 S3 Review: A Compact Titan of Musicality

I. An Overture of Expectation: The 600 Series Legacy Reimagined

In the grand pantheon of high-fidelity audio, few names command the respect and recognition of Bowers & Wilkins. For decades, the British firm has been a vanguard of acoustic innovation, its products gracing both the hallowed halls of Abbey Road Studios and the discerning listening rooms of audiophiles worldwide. Within this storied history, the 600 Series has carved out a particularly special niche. It has long served as the gateway to the brand, a perennial benchmark that, for countless enthusiasts, represents the first exhilarating step from mass-market audio into the world of genuine hi-fi. The arrival of a new generation is, therefore, more than a mere product refresh; it is a statement of intent. With the 607 S3, the eighth iteration of this celebrated lineage, Bowers & Wilkins is not just updating a speaker; it is redefining the entry point to its sonic universe. 

This series has consistently embodied a powerful philosophy: to deliver a substantial taste of the high-end experience at a price that remains within reach. Publications have aptly described models like the 607 S3 as a potential "gateway drug into a lifelong hi-fi habit," a component so compelling it can ignite a lasting passion for audio excellence. It is this promise—the allure of true audiophile sound without the stratospheric price tag—that makes each new 600 Series release an event of significant anticipation.

The stage for the 607 S3 was set by its formidable predecessor, the multi-award-winning 607 S2 Anniversary Edition. That speaker was widely lauded for its energetic and engaging performance, establishing a high bar for any successor. The central question, then, is not simply whether the S3 is better, but how it is better. Has Bowers & Wilkins managed to refine a winning formula without sacrificing the very excitement that made it so beloved? What sonic path has the company charted with this new generation, and does it continue to set the standard for compact, affordable performance? This review seeks to answer these questions, delving deep into the design, technology, and, most importantly, the musical soul of this remarkable little loudspeaker.

II. Form and Finish: A Study in Understated Elegance

First impressions in audio are often visual, and the 607 S3 makes a quietly confident statement before a single note is played. It eschews ostentatious design flourishes in favor of a clean, minimalist aesthetic that feels decidedly more premium than its price point might suggest. The speaker’s compact dimensions, measuring just 300mm in height, 165mm in width, and 207mm in depth (cabinet only), make it an exceptionally versatile performer. It is ideally suited for smaller listening rooms where space is at a premium, yet it is also compact enough to serve admirably in a high-quality desktop system or as surround channels in a home theatre setup.

Build Quality and Materials

The construction quality is, in a word, impeccable for the category. The cabinet feels solid and inert, a testament to the revised internal bracing designed to enhance rigidity and reduce unwanted resonance. The vinyl-wrap finish, available in a choice of black, white, or oak, is applied with precision, lending the speaker a classy, sophisticated appearance that integrates seamlessly into a wide range of decors. While one would not use the word "luxurious" in the absolute sense reserved for cost-no-object designs, the overall standard of fit and finish is excellent and speaks to B&W's manufacturing prowess. It is a product that feels engineered, not merely assembled. 

Premium Details

What truly elevates the 607 S3's design is the intelligent implementation of technologies trickled down from its more expensive siblings. These are not merely cosmetic additions; they are functional enhancements that underscore the speaker's high-fidelity aspirations.

Tweeter Grille

Protecting the new tweeter is a grille mesh whose design is derived directly from the revered 800 Signature Series, B&W's flagship line. This new grille is more acoustically transparent than previous designs, a subtle but significant detail that contributes to the speaker's exceptional resolution and realism by minimizing any obstruction to the high-frequency output. 

Binding Posts

Around the back, the speaker terminals have been upgraded to a design derived from the 700 Series range. The new layout is cleaner and more robust, ensuring a more direct and untainted signal path from the amplifier to the crossover. Crucially, these are dual binding posts, allowing for bi-wiring or bi-amping—a feature highly valued by audiophiles for the potential sonic improvements it offers through separating the signal paths for the high and low-frequency drivers. This inclusion is a clear nod to the enthusiast market, inviting users to experiment and extract the maximum performance from their investment. 

Table 1: Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 Technical Specifications

For the technically-minded enthusiast, the specifications provide a clear, objective foundation for the speaker's performance characteristics. This data is crucial for understanding its requirements, particularly in terms of amplification, and for comparing it against its peers.

III. The Heart of the Matter: A Confluence of Titanium and Continuum

Beneath the 607 S3's elegant exterior lies a wealth of advanced acoustic engineering. The speaker's sonic character is defined by the interplay of its two primary drivers, each representing a significant technological statement from Bowers & Wilkins.

The New Voice: The Titanium Dome Tweeter

The most significant evolution in the S3 generation is the introduction of an all-new tweeter. B&W has moved away from the aluminum domes traditionally used in the 600 Series, opting instead for a 25mm Decoupled Double Dome tweeter forged from titanium. This is not a simple change of material but a complete redesign. The assembly features a two-part construction: a very thin 25-micron main dome is strategically reinforced by a 30-micron titanium ring. The goal of this design is to push the first break-up frequency higher, resulting in a high-frequency reproduction that is sweeter, more refined, and capable of rendering finer detail than its predecessor. 

Further enhancing this new tweeter's performance is the implementation of B&W's signature Nautilus tube-loading system. In the S3, this tapered tube, which extends behind the tweeter to absorb unwanted rearward sound energy, has been elongated. By more effectively canceling the sound waves emanating from the back of the dome, the system ensures that the sound projected forward is cleaner, purer, and free from the smearing coloration that can afflict lesser designs. 

The Constant: The Continuum™ Cone

Handling the midrange and bass frequencies is the acclaimed 5-inch (130mm) Continuum cone. This driver technology is a direct trickle-down from B&W's flagship 800 Series Diamond models, the same speakers used as monitors in world-renowned recording venues like Abbey Road Studios. The Continuum cone's proprietary composite construction was developed over an eight-year period to overcome the performance limitations of conventional materials. Its key advantage is its ability to avoid the abrupt transitions in behavior, or "break-up," that can impair the performance of a driver as frequencies change. The result is a more open, neutral, and transparent performance, delivering voices and instruments with a remarkable degree of precision and clarity. It is this driver that is largely responsible for the speaker's articulate and layered midrange presentation. 

Crossover and Cabinet Synergy

Integrating these two advanced drivers is a crossover network featuring upgraded components, including new bypass capacitors, which ensure a seamless transition between the woofer and tweeter. This unseen hardware is critical to creating the impression of a single, coherent sound source. This integration is supported by a cabinet with revised internal bracing, making it more rigid and less prone to coloration. The design is completed by the rear-firing Flowport™, a dimpled, flared port designed to allow air to move more efficiently and with less turbulence, resulting in cleaner, tighter bass response, especially at higher volumes.

The move to a titanium tweeter is particularly telling. The preceding S2 model, while highly praised, was sometimes criticized by listeners for a tendency towards brightness or even harshness, particularly with certain electronics or recordings. The consistent description of the new S3's tweeter as "sweeter" and less "coarse" by professional reviewers suggests a deliberate engineering choice. This is not a minor tweak but a strategic sonic recalibration. Bowers & Wilkins appears to have listened to market feedback and has intentionally engineered a high-frequency response that retains the detail and excitement of its house sound while imbuing it with a greater degree of refinement and smoothness. This makes the 607 S3 not just an incremental update, but a thoughtful evolution aimed at perfecting the balance between analytical insight and long-term, non-fatiguing musical enjoyment. 

IV. The Audition: An Immersive Listening Experience

Technical specifications and design philosophies are merely a prelude to the only question that truly matters: how do they sound? The Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 delivers an answer that is immediate, compelling, and utterly engaging.

Overall Character: A Return to Rhythmic Vivacity

From the first few bars of music, the 607 S3 establishes its core personality. This is a speaker that is brimming with energy. The sound is consistently described across reviews as "punchy, dynamic and lively" , possessing a "zest of life" that makes music feel vital and immediate. There is a palpable sense that these speakers were designed to "have fun," prioritizing rhythmic drive and dynamic expression. Yet, what makes this S3 iteration so successful is that this infectious energy is now partnered with a newfound level of clarity, openness, and refinement. It is, as many have noted, a "winning combination" that delivers both analytical insight and pure, unadulterated enjoyment.

The Treble Conundrum: Sweetness, Sparkle, or Sizzle?

The new titanium dome tweeter is the star of the show, but it is a performer that demands a thoughtful supporting cast.

The Good

When partnered with well-matched electronics, the high-frequency performance is simply superb for this price class. The tweeter renders a sound that is "cleaner" and "more sweet-sounding" than the coarser aluminum dome of its predecessor. On well-recorded material, the treble is "detailed and sparkling yet never bright," revealing the delicate decay of cymbals and the complex, upper-register harmonics of a piano with beautiful texture. It brings a sense of air and openness to the presentation without straying into artificiality.

The Warning

However, this sweetness comes with a crucial caveat. The 607 S3 has an "enthusiastic character" that leads to a "rather forward presentation". This is the most critical piece of practical advice for any potential owner: system matching is not optional, it is essential. Pairing these speakers with an amplifier or source component that is already bright or "top-heavy" will exacerbate this forward quality, risking a sound that can become overly assertive, sibilant, or what some forum users have bluntly termed a "treble canon". With neutral or slightly warm electronics, the result is magic; with aggressive partners, it can lead to listening fatigue.

A Midrange of Eloquence and Transparency

Thanks to the Continuum cone, the midrange performance is a clear highlight. Voices and instruments are rendered with exceptional "precision and transparency". The presentation is "open and eloquent," allowing the subtlest nuances of a performance to shine through. Listening to Bruce Springsteen, reviewers noted the speaker's ability to convey not just the notes, but the "warmth and grit" of his voice, making it "crackle with emotion". This ability to communicate texture and feeling makes for a deeply intimate and engaging vocal performance.   

The Low-End Foundation: Punch and Poise in a Pint-Sized Package

Quality over Quantity

For a speaker of such modest dimensions, the bass performance is deeply impressive. The focus is on quality, not sheer quantity. The low end is consistently described as "taut," "snappy," and "controlled". It delivers the driving rhythm and attack of hip-hop and heavy metal with convincing "impact and aggression," never losing step or becoming muddy. Basslines are pulled taut and are surprisingly deep and solid for the cabinet size. 

Managing Expectations

Physics, however, cannot be entirely defied. While the punch is satisfying, the 607 S3 does not produce "bone-shatteringly deep" bass. For those seeking the lowest octaves of organ music or the visceral rumble of cinematic explosions, the addition of a quality subwoofer is a highly recommended and logical upgrade. 

The Soundstage: Expansive, Cohesive, and Engaging

Scale and Imaging

One of the most startling aspects of the 607 S3 is its ability to project a soundstage that is "expansive and room filling," seeming to defy its compact physical form. Reviewers consistently praise its ability to create a sound field that is "bigger than the physical size of the speakers might seem capable of creating". Within this wide and deep stage, imaging is precise and stable, allowing individual instruments to occupy a distinct space while remaining part of a coherent musical whole. 

The Low-Volume Revelation

Perhaps one of the most significant and welcome improvements over past B&W products is the 607 S3's performance at lower listening levels. Where some previous models could lose their energy and interest when played quietly, these speakers remain remarkably "tuneful and dynamically engaging". The subtle dynamic shifts in the introductory horns of the Jurassic Park theme, for example, retain their ability to capture and hold the listener's attention even at modest volumes. This makes the 607 S3 an outstanding choice for late-night listening sessions or for use in apartments where high volumes are not always practical.

V. Context and Controversy: Measurement vs. Musicality

To fully understand the Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3, one must engage with a central, passionate debate within the audiophile community: the role of objective measurement versus subjective experience. The discourse surrounding this speaker provides a perfect case study of this philosophical divide.

The Two Camps

On one side, we have the camp of subjective praise, led by influential publications like What Hi-Fi? and TechRadar. This group has showered the 607 S3 with accolades, including five-star ratings and "Product of the Year" awards. Their reviews are filled with descriptions like "fun," "entertaining," "zippy," and "deeply musical," celebrating the speaker's ability to deliver an emotionally engaging and rhythmically exciting performance. For this camp, the ultimate measure of a speaker is its ability to connect the listener to the heart of the music.

On the other side is the camp of objective skepticism, primarily populated by knowledgeable enthusiasts on forums such as Audio Science Review (ASR) and Reddit. While direct, comprehensive measurements of the S3 model are scarce, this group often points to detailed measurements of its predecessor, the 607 S2 Anniversary Edition, which reveal a frequency response that is not tonally neutral. These measurements show a distinct emphasis in the upper-midrange and treble regions. From this data-driven perspective, the speaker is sometimes labeled a "treble canon" or described as having a "showroom sound"—a sonic signature engineered to impress during a brief audition with an illusion of enhanced detail, but which could potentially lead to listening fatigue over the long term.

B&W's Deliberate "House Sound" as a Philosophical Choice

The apparent contradiction between glowing subjective reviews and "imperfect" objective measurements is not an oversight or a flaw. It is the very essence of the Bowers & Wilkins 600 Series design philosophy. The company is not attempting to build a ruler-flat, perfectly neutral studio monitor for this market segment; such products exist, but they offer a different kind of listening experience. Instead, B&W has intentionally engineered a "coloured signature sound" that prioritizes certain sonic attributes—namely perceived detail, rhythmic energy, and dynamic punch. 

The elevation in the treble response, which appears as a deviation from neutrality on a graph, is precisely what translates to the "sparkle," "zest," and "air" that so many listeners find thrilling. The "flaw" in the measurement is, in fact, the "fun" in the listening. This is a conscious tuning choice, designed to produce a specific, exciting, and vivacious presentation of music rather than a strictly faithful, dispassionate reproduction.

Ultimately, neither camp is inherently "wrong." They are simply applying different criteria of judgment. The 607 S3 is a product unapologetically designed for the listener who prioritizes subjective engagement, rhythmic excitement, and a lively, detailed presentation over the pursuit of absolute tonal neutrality. Understanding this fundamental schism is key to appreciating the 607 S3 for what it is and empowers the potential buyer to decide which audio philosophy aligns with their personal listening priorities.

VI. The Final Verdict: A Triumph of Engaging Musicality

After extensive listening and analysis, the Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 emerges as a formidable and deeply impressive loudspeaker. It is a technically sophisticated, beautifully constructed compact monitor that delivers a sound far larger, more detailed, and more emotionally engaging than its modest dimensions would suggest. In this eighth-generation model, B&W has masterfully blended the energetic, fun-loving character that is the hallmark of the 600 Series with a newfound level of refinement and clarity. The result is a speaker that is both analytically insightful and immensely entertaining.

The Ideal Listener

The 607 S3 is not a speaker for everyone, and it does not try to be. Its sonic signature is a deliberate choice aimed at a specific type of music lover. This speaker is for the listener who wants to be captivated, who leans into the music, and who craves detail, rhythmic drive, and dynamic punch. It is for the enthusiast who wants to feel the snap of a snare drum and the crisp decay of a cymbal, and who values a presentation that is lively and articulate. It is also for the audiophile who understands that high-fidelity is a system-based pursuit and is willing to engage in thoughtful component matching to unlock the speaker's full, spectacular potential. Conversely, it is likely not the ideal choice for the purist seeking a ruler-flat frequency response, or for the listener who prefers a warm, relaxed, and laid-back presentation.

Final Recommendation

The Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 earns a strong and enthusiastic, albeit conditional, recommendation. It is a stunning achievement in its class and can be considered a new benchmark for compact, affordable loudspeakers, provided it aligns with the listener's sonic preferences and system. It demonstrates all the benefits of continuous development from a world-class engineering team, delivering a performance that is sophisticated, powerful, and a whole lot of fun. As with any high-quality audio component, a personal audition is paramount. We encourage you to listen for yourself, with electronics as close as possible to your own. If its energetic and insightful character speaks to you, it is difficult to imagine how one could spend their money more wisely in this category.

Table 2: Summary of Strengths and Weaknesses