I think I have Stockholm syndrome with these speakers. When I don’t listen to them, I crave the sounds they create, but once I do, I’m struck and reminded by all the problems these speakers carry.
 Compering experience of 706 S3 to a sport luxury car
The best analogy I can give for these speakers is that they are much like a sports car. You know how amazing it is to drive a sports car on the highway or just on a road with lots of turns and beautiful scenery for that precise and interesting drive. But once you drive them in a city environment, because they are so lowered, every bump and curb becomes a nightmare, and the ride is not comfortable at all. Don’t even get me started on how much they drain gas in this environment.
For city driving, you want a small, comfortable city car. So, in the best-case scenario, it would be ideal to have two cars that you pick depending on the scenery of your drive.
I feel the same way about these speakers. I would always love to have them for those special purposes when I need that utmost rhythmic power, but I also want alternatives for my daily driver, where I would have a more balanced, precise presentation.
Specialized Speakers
Are Bowers and Wilkins amazing speakers? Yes, they are. But are they also very specialized speakers? Yes, they are.
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I’ve spoken on this channel at length about what specialized speakers or amps are and whether they require a lot of care in partnering and placement in order to blossom or not be very crude. Just not so versatile speakers.
And Bowers is a prime definition of that. Let’s talk about synergy.
 Synergy is make or brake for this speakers
This is a fundamental part of getting the best out of your speakers. The 706 S3 is very treble-rich, and on a dynamic scale, they are very tipped in that direction. That means the bass takes a backseat and is overpowered by the treble.
So knowing that, there is no need to refine the top end, but there is a need to make it more manageable. You do that by adding balanced amps or, better yet, warm, darker amps. You know the ones from Denon, Electrocompaniet, Marantz, etc.
While I did test this with the Arcam A15, most of my listening of these speakers was done through the Marantz Model 40n and Model 50. But before I go into my experience with the Marantz amps, I think something like Hegel, Arcam, or Musical Fidelity can also work really well, depending on how you perceive music and what you expect out of it. Something like Rega and Yamaha amps are very bad choices.
But Marantz really did help to shave off a lot of highs and make them more manageable, making the response in the 3kHz to 5kHz range have fewer decibels than it should. And by focusing on the organization of sound, which emphasizes lower mids and upper bass—a typical warm Marantz sound—it makes a bigger, weightier sound that helps make things more manageable, more balanced, even though the sound is not balanced at all.
So, the sound in the 100 to 300 Hz range becomes more pronounced, making Bowers a bit more manageable.
And I think the reason for that is that the bass is not that special on the Bowers, so by Marantz giving it more refinement and strength, it can be more pronounced and textured.
What makes this speakers so amazing
Let’s talk about why these speakers are so amazing.
When I first heard them, the hair on my arms stood up. My legs and arms started acting and following the rhythm of the song.
It was awe-inspiring how beautifully and transcendent the rhythmic section is, how alive and punchy these speakers are, and how they create a flow of kinetic energy that just fills the room with pulsing sounds.
I don’t personally know of any other speakers in this price range that manage to do this.
It brought a tremendous amount of joy to my listening sessions.
And how does Bowers do this? Very simply, by prioritizing treble and separation. Of course, it’s not just treble; it also requires a lot of meddling in the mids and upper mids to get that to work.
But it is the job of a speaker to declutter, clear, and present treble to you without obstructions, and add decibels there so that they are equal to the midsection or a bit higher.
And really, they are amazing. So much expression and texture are given to you with a forward, present sound.
The difference from the 606, which I really loved, is that the treble now is really superbly defined, with more texture. This is a very mature presentation of drums, pianos, violins, and high vocals that are very palpable and present, with a bunch of information and details.
Just an amazing job by Bowers.
 Vocals, Soundstage and Mids
I think it is only neutral to go down on a dynamic scale and talk about vocals, soundstage, and mids in general.
And mids are good; they are not spectacular like the treble, but they do a good job.
What I mean by this is that I think everything around the mids is good, but not the best in class. Which is okay, as the competition in this price range is really steep.
Separation is great in the mids; I think the way they are detailed allows you to hear on the soundstage what and where every instrument is. But these speakers don’t do dispersion so well. They don’t expand as much horizontally as I wish they did. The 3D and spatial effect image is not the best option in this price range. I can perceive the soundstage opening; I don’t want it to sound bad or anything, but it could just expand a tad bit more.
For some reason, vocals could have more presence and forwardness and be more dynamically rich. I missed that a little bit. They were textured; they were very rounded in the mix, but somehow, I missed the vocals being more forward and stronger with all the energy this speaker provided.
Vocals are textured, and female vocals sounded great. With all those details, I can hear inflections, I can hear timber and readiness to let the notes out of her lungs. The same can be said for male vocals, but certainly, some weight was missing.
But guitars, snares, and cymbals have enough details, which is why I say good bordering on excellence. While not expanding, they have enough details and palpability that you will love them, and the better produced, the better the reproduction.
Bass
A lot of this can be attributed to the bass being just decent. And I think this was done intentionally, as they wanted to preserve the ferocity and energy. The bass here is just a backbone to that. It provides a nice foundation for instruments to build upon, to give more weight, and to make the sound fuller. But to be honest, that’s it.
It’s not bad bass; the bass reflex does a good job creating sprawling bass, and there is also an attack to it. But it’s nothing to write a lot about in this price range. Certainly, you can find better bass on other bookshelf speakers around.
One way to mitigate this is by adding a subwoofer. But as it stands, bass heads should probably be wary of these speakers, as I don’t think they will satisfy many of your needs. Unless, as I said, you add a subwoofer, but synergy with a subwoofer, unfortunately, I could not test. Hopefully, it does not lower the excitement, energy, and passion of these speakers.
Alternatives
Now, I will try to compare this to alternatives, speakers that have sound characteristics similar to Bowers. That would be the Triangle Comète 40th edition, Dali Rubicon 2, and Monitor Audio Gold 100.
Triangle Comete 40th Edition
The Triangle Comète 40th edition is a super interesting speaker, which I will review soon. I will not go into many details, as the next review is going to be of these speakers. But if you miss authoritative, commanding bass with a lot of attack and definition, and yet have a defined and energetic top end, this might be a speaker for you. Also, it has better soundstage and imaging than Bowers. But if you are watching this before the review is uploaded, please look at your local store to demo these speakers. You might just be surprised.
Dali Rubicon 2
The Dali Rubicon 2 is recently a legacy speaker from Dali. But they can still be bought in stores as they have just recently been replaced by the Rubicon series. While the Rubicon series is more expensive than the 706, the Rubicon can now be found for much cheaper. And I still have not heard the Rubicon series, though I think they are probably amazing.
Rubicon is, of course, not as temperamental as Bowers. They don’t have a super energetic and defined top end with a bunch of textures and definition. No, but they do have a good top end. What they also have is an amazing soundstage and imaging, and a very beautiful, expressive midrange. It is just a sound that works a lot on an emotional level, and they both have similar bass responses—maybe a bit better on the Dali but nothing significant.
In the end, between these two speakers, you choose based on your needs as a listener. Yes, the Dalis will not build that rush of blood and adrenaline like the B&W, but they will give you more in other departments that might be more your cup of tea.
Monitor Audio Gold 100
If you like the sound of bowers, but you prefer sound of ribbon tweeter. Bit more clinical very precise but still with great punch. I have not spend as much time with Monitor Audio Gold as Bowers as I did to make very detailed comparison. But I know that Monitor Audio Gold 100 delivered a lot of attack and precision. And that it does that by adding a lot of details. It is sound very similar to Bowers. Except they really push for that timing and precision. If you are all about how produces, indented the music to sound kind of audiophile this are more for you.
There where certainly more clarity among separation in Monitor Audio. I still believe that Bowers are a bit better speakers, but Monitor Audio is cheaper. And maybe if that fatigue is problem, maybe you should try this speakers, they should be less fatigue inducing. But as everything go to demo room and listen.
One Trick pony or? / Conclusion
So is this maybe the best Bowers speakers in that regard. Or is this just one trick pony which excels in one specific are and is just good in others.
The answer is both statements are correct. And there is nothing wrong with that. As I highly believe this speakers will buy someone who is more experienced audiophile, the one who knows what he over on sonic spectrum, and want the best of it. Someone who knows how to create sonic cocktails, and give them space and position enough to truly blossom.
Someone who wants good imaging, soundstage, bass and clarity but not best in class in this price level. But gets outstanding treble reproduction, energy, passion and punch. That guy is going to be floored with this speakers. This will be his holy grail in this price range. And that guy is maybe you.
If you are like me and you like energetic and precise speakers, then you should audition Bowers. They are not as relaxed as other speakers, but they are immensely fun, joyful, and impactful.
I loved the excitement they gave me during the listening session. And as I said, they just make you want to jump and move.
But on the other hand, you have to be aware that Bowers can easily become fatiguing after hours of listening. There are speakers that you can listen to for hours, like Dali, Buchardts, and ProAc, and you will not feel fatigue, but I doubt that is possible with Bowers.
But the thing that makes these speakers a bit special is the energy they give you. As I said in the beginning, that energy just makes your blood boil. And because of that, I can certainly see these speakers being a niche choice for people who like this type of sound and enjoy the music they bring, a very memorable experience that not many speakers can replicate.
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Pros:
Exceptional Treble and Rhythm:
The speakers provide a transcendent rhythmic experience with an expressive, detailed, and well-textured treble. They are described as awe-inspiring in their ability to deliver a punchy, energetic sound that fills the room with kinetic energy.
Impressive Detail and Separation:
The speakers excel in providing clarity and separation, particularly in the treble and upper mids, making instruments and vocals highly detailed and present.
Emotional Impact:
The speakers evoke a strong emotional response, making the listener's hair stand on end and creating a highly engaging and joyful listening experience.
Specialized Performance:
They are ideal for listeners who appreciate energetic and precise speakers, delivering a very unique and memorable sound that might be a "holy grail" for some audiophiles.
Synergy with Warm Amps:
When paired with the right equipment, such as warmer, darker amps like those from Marantz, the speakers' sound becomes more balanced and manageable, particularly in the midrange and bass.
Cons:
Fatiguing Over Long Listening Sessions:
The speakers can become fatiguing after extended periods, especially for listeners who are sensitive to high treble levels.
Bass Performance:
The bass is described as just "decent" and not particularly noteworthy for this price range. It serves more as a foundation rather than a standout feature, potentially disappointing bass enthusiasts.
Limited Versatility:
The speakers are highly specialized and not versatile. They require careful pairing and placement to avoid sounding overly harsh or unbalanced.
Good while not best in class Soundstage and Mids:
While the mids are good, they are not the best in class, and the soundstage could be more expansive. The 3D and spatial imaging are noted as areas where the speakers could perform better. *This could be pro or con, depending from your viewpoint*
Niche Appeal:
These speakers are likely to appeal to a specific type of listener who values energy and treble over a more balanced sound. They might not be suitable for those who prefer a more relaxed, all-day listening experience.