FIRST REVIEW: Bowers & Wilkins 705 Signature Loudspeaker
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- čas přidán 5. 07. 2020
- More on the Bowers & Wilkins 705 Signature ($4,000/pair) www.bowerswilkins.com/signatu...
My Bowers & Wilkins 705 S2 ($3,000 pair) CNET review from 2017 www.cnet.com/news/new-sounds-...
The Bowers & Wilkins 702 Signature ($6,500/pair) www.bowerswilkins.com/signatu...
These speakers are all designed in the UK, and made in China.
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Nice review. I like the way how you described the bass of the 705 Signature. I knew exactly the sonic experience from your choice of words.
Nice review, very well explained. Revolver is a perfect album, my favorite for many years. I also wanted to thank you for recommending Hendrix’s “West Coast Seattle Boy”. Disc 3 and 4 have blown me away!
That is the kind of system I can only dream of owning, you are one lucky man Steve. Keep up the great videos many thanks.
I enjoyed this review. There really is nothing out there quite as entertaining and refreshingly unique as you and your channel, in my opinion. I would like to see you review the Belles Aria integrated amp, since barely anybody else has ever considered it for review. Thanks.
Thanks for this review. They keep staying on top of their products
The midrange on my 706 S2 is glorious and vocals can be dead centre with very little toe in, bring them out a bit and they disappear. First Bowers review I have seen anywhere for a long time, thanks Steve
Good to see you reviewing some more hi end equipment. especially such a highly rated brand as b & w. Great comparison with the Klipsch... excellent work as always Steve!
Great description, Steve! Makes me want to listen to a set.
Thanks Steve. Been my go to for years.
still have my tower 804's from two decades ago...love them
Datuk
Steve is such an amazing reviewer, such quality reviews and supreme knowledge
A relaxed but fulgent review, I feel like I know how they'd sound if I heard them. Fulgent, word of the day; shining brightly. (-"
Great review! You have too much knowledge thanks for sharing it with us.
Gorgeous looking speaker. That's for sure.
Love my B&W speakers. They don't add anything to the music. They just honestly reveal to you what's there. You will hear everything as it was recorded. But it won't be prettied up. That's why my musician friends always want to hear their new studio recordings and mixes on my system. They can hear what they have, take notes and go back to the studio to remix.
Hello. I have ordered bowers 706 s2 without demo as demo is not possible where I live . I will be pairing them with my old Harman Kardon 3380 stereo receiver. I have heard reviews that these speakers sound bright / harsh so one cannot listen for too long ? Doesone have to do any tonal adjustments to 706 s2 for listening?
Thanks Steve. Always appreciate your honest feedback.....I always use Beatles music as well since their music is so diverse and covers so many instruments and so many different types of music. Great Harmonies, drums, vocals, guitars, pianos, horns, etc....
Beautiful speaker!
True about speakers! A good speaker will accurately reproduce the signal that goes into it. These sound like great speakers because they are true to the recording. Garbage and equals garbage out. Excellent recording in equals excellent reproduction out. Another great review. Thanks
A million percent better on the video side of things. A genuine high-end system for review. What's not to like? And I also love the Beatles.
Love the review, the t-shirt is great.
804D here. The open stage sounds that b&w are known for setting them 1,2 and 3rds place on 80% of what I’m listening to
Man these speakers sure do sound great when I listen to them. They will let you know what is in the recording and how good your electronics are.
I'm forever hoping that the Dali Rubicon 2 will come up for review on your channel. I just think it's a crime that Dali speakers aren't better known in the US.
Another great review Steve!
I have the monitor audio platinum 100 II's in lacquered ebony , and I love them. They sound like heaven when I drive them with a TAC K35 loaded with PSvane Treasure (6CA7) tubes, and IMHO the monitor audio's look even better than these B&Ws :)
I admire your way with words Mr Guttenberg.... Forward, bright, thin & require judicious use of a graphic equaliser (amplifiers which are anything but a straight wire with gain).
Great review Steve. I would love for you to review the chord mscaler. Its supposed to make digitial sound its best, some say vinyl like or even better.
the birdman soundtrack from antonio is absolutly stunning. lifelike sounding. just a realy honest recording. i keep enjoying this on my 804D2, oppo sonica dac, accuphase E350 and with heimdall 2 cable setup. just a stunning sound. its a setup that makes you addicted to music.🤣
i also testet the 705S2. a real good speaker but not as resolving as the 804D2 and bass is also not even close...but yeah with the right setup and room its fine.
Just bought one! Can wait to hook it up to my Rotel RA-1572 amp, which was previously feeding B&W 685 S2s.
I love my B&W 805D3s (bought on your CNET recommendation), although my new ATC SCM25A studio monitors, incredibly, provide even more information. (The first song I listened to through the ATCs was Taxman - I could instantly hear where George’s tongue was in his mouth as he sang!) Both sets of speakers are made in the UK, and used at Abbey Road Studios. Thanks for many many hours of joy listening to the 805s.
Professional speaker vs audiophile speaker. Apples to oranges in my opinion.
The 805D3 is a speaker for a lifetime. Congratulations on making arguably the best choice within the class.
in my opinion, b&w is the best... atc vs b&w loll seriously
I love my B&W PM1, the most stunning and beautiful bookshelf speaker ever designed. Hard to drive, but pair it their “natural partner” a Rotel 1052 integrated amplifier, they just sound amazing.
I bought mine about 5 and a half years ago , and I’m really pleased with them .
I have these, but why did B & W drop these beautiful speakers and matching stands, from their range?
Pm1’s are amazing.
Love my 705s2. Simply running Tidal through a NAD C388. As someone mentioned they do seem to like some volume.
I definitely get what you’re saying about revealing the good, bad and ugly. Fine with me. Had them in a small office and they were wonderful. Moved them into a bigger room and they just can’t fill it even with a sub. Maybe need better amp but probably it’s the speaker.
But I got mine when they were $2500 new. They soon went up. (Probably because of your review LOL)
Also MUST have the stands for them IMO.
Thanks for this review!
Hi Steve, great job as usual! Keep the good work man we all need it here haha :) You said they will be more reviews on DALI speakers. I have a DALI Opticons 6 and wondering how this will sound to your ears what you eventually will say and so on. As is my first Hi Definition Speaker of course im very happy with it, but i had never compare it to anything else and you Guys always talking about other brands. I also follow others good reviewers like John Darko and Andrew Robinson but again all over same brands..are DALI not good enough for attention is there anything missing or? Thanks in advance and i hope to hear from you soon. Regards
The ultimate B&W stand speakers was their silver signature speakers. Pure silver with external crossover. Since then they have been just standing still
Ringo turns 80 tomorrow --- Happy Birthday
Having the 700 series in my HT set up I was interested to see this review. The S2 seem pretty happy in my HT regardless of what I put with them. Maybe the signature is more like the 800 in needing very good careful matching with other equipment. I have the 803 D3 in my stereo system and 18 months in I’m still working on getting the best out them. Well, that’s part of the fun - isn’t it?
B&W never disappoints at any price.
Great speakers, especially the ones made in England
I like the air mounted tweeter. That is the only type I would build for myself. If you want to get out of the boxy sound and have a big soundstage, air mount the tweeter.
Stevo, I bought the 705's s2 based on your review and they are very nice. B&w is about presence and detail, if you like great treble, space, depth and clean-ness you will like it. It's got a high quality yet simple crossover. Who are about bass, get a subwoofer.
Ever since I was 9, my mother & I have been looking for Waldo, I finally found him, though it’s a few years too late for my mother... I will have to go now to her grave site & tell her that Waldo loves music (something we only speculated) & goes by the alias of Steve G. Thanks for the videos & the memories!
That's so sad. : (
Nice review!!! Have u done a review ever on the DM602 S3? Just wanted your opinion on these...
I've been wanting these B&W's aftwr I heard them in person. What is your advice for selecting the best receiver pre amp for these amazing speakers.
With Bowers always be careful: they need a lot of good power (which costs) to reward you with the best sound ... and so it has been since their founding (1966).
Hi Steve,
Upon your recommendation , I am looking for Fluance Ai 40 ( $ 200 ). But it is not available online. All the website says " unavailable". I have checked fluance website there too its not available. Any idea where could i buy that ?
The acoustic shape of the tweeter makes way more difference than one might think. And the more expensive med driver back horn on the 802s shape would make way more difference again. I made some full range driver pod shape enclosures (but not accurate acoustic curve) and it still made a lot of difference! Just rounding off the sharp corners makes a difference (less harsh). But on most drivers the front flange of drivers is flat. So I made curved wave guide plywood covers over the front driver flange. And it is the same height as the surround and tapers out with a continued curve (instead of the sudden bump of the surround). The bump starts sudden but tapers gently outwards. That made a lot of difference just holding the cover on and off. And it was way easier to make out the lyrics just with that curved front cover. Less squark in the sound. Iol
Hi Steve i have one question about your listening distance because the thump chest pounding that you can feel is directly related to your location the closer the better if the speaker reaches the 40hz is posible that can have pounding bass that you can feel in your chest if you are closer. Is your listening position always the same? maybe you can tell everybody how far you are from the speakers as a good reference because the listening position matters how the speakers can sound and what about your room treatment? Thanks.
They look very pretty!
Thank you - great review - any chance of a review of the 702 signatures?
A thumbs up for the "Goldie Locks and the 3 Bears" reference alone.
very interesting review and an intriguing comparison to the klipsch forte iii. the fortes are on my short list, as well as the tekton double impact and these B&W 705 signature. will be listening to mostly jazz (especially piano trios), classical (orchestral, chamber and choral symphonic) as well as some folk rock. will be powered by the duo of the IOTA VXSA3 and the PA3. would love that feeling of being in a concert hall or a jazz club... but would also like finesse; space to pin point where instruments are... any advice, much appreciated!
Those are creeping into the price territory of the diamond series (800s) bookshelf. How's the sound difference between them?
ehhh not anymore. The 805s USED to be about $3k a pair. It is the only speaker I know of that sells used for about the same price it sold new. Now the 805 d3 are & 6k USD a pair.
Holy shit, that wood grain finish..
to die for
Would like to see the listening room all the equipment is tested in since the room is an important component to any system.
I was going to buy 705s2's, but found out the price had gone up to three grand... about five hundred bucks,so I got the 706s'2, which had also gone up, but still affordable.
I really wanted the decoupled tweeter, but not for an extra grand.
So at first I must thank you for your cool video’s they are both entertaining and informative. I have a pare of B&W 705 (firsts series) I power them with a rebuild, recapped Technics su 8088 integrated amp from 1979. For streaming I use a little Clint Heimdall streamer. My record player is a Technics Sl-Q33 also from 1979 with a Technics Epc 205 L mark 2 with an ex stylus. I bought everything second hand. The quality of the sound is amazing. My question is, what is your opinion on vintage gear compared to the modern stuf? Also on behalve of my neighbors thank you for pointing out the Birdman soundtrack :B
Steve can you help me out? If you had to decide between these centers. What would you walk out with. 1) Defenitive Technology CS-9060 2) Martin Logan 50xti 3) SVS Ultra Center 4) Defenitive Technology D5C 5) Pioneer Elite SP-EC73 6) Klipsch RP-504C...? I understand timber matching. I have KLH Kendall Towers I really like. But thier center KLH just doesn't cut the mustard. I also have two (2) SM65'S and (4) four SM55's for my Surrounds. AVR-X6500H hooked to a GEN2 Emotiva XPA-7. So timber matching the KLH Kendalls I'm not wanting to do. With a KLH center, anyway. I know there's a lot of nuances involved. Just throw something at me. I'll DSP the crap out of everything. Thank you for your time and knowledge. Mark
Hi steve any idea how it would pair with the luxman 507uxll Thank you for any input, love the channel
Nordost again. Earlier with KEF, now with B&W. Is it so universal cable?
Hey Steve, where did you get and what type of room treatment is that leaning against your TV?
Those look similar to RPG's BAD panel.
Hey Steve, I had a listen to705 S2 today along with Cambridge CXA81, I also had a listen along with 606s- too popular and out of stock for months to come. How you had any chance to match it with Cambridge CXA61 or CXA81 or CXA NV2 (thinking of picking as a combo)- thanks!
DİD YOU HAVE ANY ANSWER for this question anywhere ?
How are the 705's on tubes?
I am giggling when you say too cooool ..too warm lolol
I have 705s2’s and they don’t sound harsh to me. Just very revealing. Easy for people to say otherwise but you have to listen in your own set-up to really know. I just listened to Revolver on my desktop system. Wow. So different to how I would have originally heard these tracks on my first mono record player in a portable box. Quite a revelation for anyone around in those days. The vocals sound very intimate in a strange way. Not what I was expecting!!! Great suggestion Steve.
it all depends on which amp you use as well. Many amps will make them sound harsh. I run 702s' with McIntosh MA6600 and it sounds great
I found the old 705s didn't go down. Traded up to 703s and run a Ball as 350a into them. Works good for me.
I would be concerned how fussy they are with they type of amplifier...I use vintage Technics....love my buchardts 300's with them...Thanks Steve for an Honest Review!!!!
I have had two Bowers and Wilkins speakers in the past, which was mainly due to loyalty to a dealer that is no longer around. I found both to be a disappointment. I find B and Ws in general to have a particular flavoring, which usually means a recessed midrange and somewhat over-emphasized highs. B and Ws are not bad speakers but I do not care for their house sound and find that there are options that perform better for a lot less money. B and W is probably the biggest selling audiophile speaker and many people will buy B and Ws just for the name without checking out other options. B and W obviously takes advantage of this. I have not heard this particular model but $4,000 appears to be a bit pricey for what you get.
How would you compare this speaker to the Focal Electra 1008 BE?
I love my 705s2.
Those B&W’s are really nice.
When are you going to review more Dali speakers ?
Also i think the best affordable speakers are : Wharfedale Diamond 11 series , EVO series and Elysian series designed by Peter Comeau. They sound and look like speakers that cost 3 or 4 times more , they are unique and very good built. I HAVE SPOKEN :D
I often test speakers with Beatles albums because everyone knows how they sound. And if they sound better you know you've got a good speaker. Plus, if they don't make the Beatles sound great, what's the point?
Aye. I don't use audiophile recordings. They sound good on almost anything. I prefer to use average sound recordings I'm deeply familiar with.
In my experience Beatles sound better on a low grade stereo gear rather than a high end one
@@Romerosays I played the Beatles with my expensive new Harbeth speakers. There's a lot of stuff going on in Beatles records that a high-end speaker can reveal. I think the Beatles sound better on warmer, more relaxed speakers.
Ian - Couldn't agree more, and wish I had said that. lol
...if they don’t make _all of your favourite recordings_ sound great, what’s the point?
Steve, please review audiovector speakers
How do you compare it to PMC25 22i?
Strange to see that you connect your wire to the high frequency terminals?
I am thinking of getting the 705 Signature but I am using the Naim Uniti Atom. Would this be a bad pairing since the Naim is so low powered? Has anyone tried the Atom with the 705 S2? Your help is much appreciated.
Steve Huff review
Thanks Steve, I've owned 3 or 4 pairs of B&Ws, and as much as I appreciate their technical abilities, they can be pretty clinical if not matched with the right gear.
Yeah, seems Steve pointed that out at the start of his review. Many have said the same. I’ve had magic with a pair of Matrix 805’s with a Conrad Johnson Premier 11A amp (70w) and PV12 preamp. Linn L12/Ekos/Sumiko BPS and Naim CD Player
Hi Steve, I am looking to pair amp with Klipsch Cornwall IV and not keen on tubes..considering Technics SU G 700. Any comments would be appreciated.
I've been pairing my Klipsch speakers with vintage receivers. Mind you, the vintage gear I have has been recapped.
Unfortunately vintage gear has really caught on and has in some cases, doubled or tripled in prices.
The best for Klipsch, for me, is a Sansui 9090. Now very expensive and hard to find.
Wonder how they compare to the Dali Rubicons
This is now in the price range of Dynaudio Special 40. How does it compare to the Special 40?
Special 40 all day. Balanced, detailed but non fatiguing
@@Cooliewhistles Thank you
Mono or Stereo mixes? A lot is said about the mono mixes. I grew up with the stereo mixes and I would rather listen to them than the mono, which is sacrilegious to some.
B&W speakers. Do they do any cheap ones, these days?
Buy used. I once had a set of B&w matrix 3's from the 90's that originally sold for $3,000. I got them for $300.
back in 2020 while i worked at a hifi shop i sold a pair of these to a father and son first whe tested them with a advance paris integrated,later technics,and to end denon
I have the 705 S2's. love them. wondering how much difference there is between them and the Signatures...
Wondering that as well..
Guessing not much, thus is a money grab
Gorgeous, why can’t B&W make a pair of powered speakers that look as great as these do?
what was with the 'Private Video" the other day?
It was a test for today’s, Tuesday at 5:30 Eastern time live stream. Check it out later today
Of course they make the Beatles sound good. Surely all that lacquer (made from lac beetles) was put on there for that very purpose.
That is a beautiful looking speaker. But I guess for $4K they should do.
They used to play Beatles songs on the radio. Even "oldies" or classic rock don't play them anymore.
steve,you should bi amp these speakers for some truly spectacular sound.
B&W with Nordost cables. Is that supposed to be a good combination?
Sharp, I also used Audioquest cables.
Should look at the Gershman studio II's.
Do a video on your favorite headphones.
And how are they compared to the original 705S2? Are they worth the extra money or not?
More details? Larger soundstage? Clarity? Better/smoother transition from low midrange to upper base?
I’m curious too. The only difference I can glean from the website (other than the cabinet) is that the crossover is “optimized “. WTH? Are the lowly 705s2’s crossovers not optimized?
All seriousness I suspect they have found one that works a little better in the few years they’ve been around. Maybe upgraded components too?
It is too bad you don't include some music with your reviews...I have a pair of B&W DM6 Speakers which I love and have now paired them with Fluance Signature series bookshelf speakers...which are great...they even produce a pretty good strong Bass...I have been an audofile before your were even born and at 82 I still enjoy vinyl , cds and r2r tape....enjoy your videos very much..
I struggle with the price tag on these. Being a B&W owner of 805 d2 and 705s (original 700 series), these new 700’s are just CM Series re-labeled. The old 705s I bought for $2000 USD equivalent, are far far better than the new release, their quality is on par with a $6,000+ speaker now (PMC 5.22 equivalent). Would I pay that money for the same speaker now? No way! Speakers are getting too expensive for what you get these days... the only other B&W is the PM1 outside of 800 is worth the money. Also, a good amp pairing is the NAD with B&W.
cm series re-labeled, you're just talking nonsense, no need to hate, the entire speaker is completely re designed with all new materials, different sensitivity, etc..
Are you trying to say these speakers are picky and need a lot of power?
Unfortunately there are entire generations of humans on this blue orb in space who live in a musical black hole without having ever truly experienced the Beatles. There’s just so much timelessness about their music that cannot be adequately expressed in words, spoken or printed but growing up in a Beatles era was to experience a real Magical Mystery Tour. The “magic” (for lack of a better term) of their music is a living experience that has never been surpassed since although some have come close but they raised the bar so high and set such lofty standards that their musical gifts will never get old.
You have hit upon the correct term: "magic".
I do really like the 600 series bookshelf speakers (and own the 606 for my secoundary system), but so far no matter what Amp or what modell i didn't like most of the 700 range except the smaller 702 and 704, which are pretty good for being so small.
To my ear the 700 series has a harsh Treble and boosted mids. They have a wider soundstage and seem to imaage better than the 600, but they sound sharp in comparion to most other speakers I heard in the Price range (like Monitor Audio Gold or Dali Rubicons) and don't image as mentioned speaker with Ribbon or AMT tweeters and the Carbon tweeter seems less resolving. The only time the 702 sounded was with the NAD m10. The 705 were somehow never to my liking.
This video seems to indicated, that it might've been a problem with the pairing, but IMO if you need Amps twice as expensive than your speakers to make the speakers sound great there is something wrong with the speakers.
702’s are the biggest...
I have no problem with the idea of spending $4K on a pair of speakers. However, what does trouble me is that to sound their best you felt the need to use a $20,000 amplifier. The group of people who would spend $20K on an amp is infinitesimally small, so it makes me wonder just who this speaker is for.
I auditioned the S2 on a more likely NAD amplifier last year and was hugely underwhelmed by them, moved up to the 702s with some big power Moon electronics and the difference was starling. Still the same kind of comparison but these 700 series love power, which was not what I was after!
Did you miss the word "Signature" in the name?
Great
Can denon pma800ne drive this b&w speakers? Hopefully
not ideal
Thank you sir.
I did a pretty good serious listen recently to the 705 S2's and compared them to Totem Signature 1's. My ears enjoyed the 705's a bit more for their really nice crisp highs. The Totems were a bit flat sounding to my ears in comparison (more audiophile?, no idea). Music on the 705's is lively. I would really like to compare them side by side to Klipsch's, another speaker that has a really lively sound. price difference be damned. haha.