WORTH THE HYPE? Bowers and Wilkins 702 SIGNATURE Tower Speaker Review
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- Опубликовано: 27 июл 2024
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► REVIEWING THE BOWERS & WILKINS 702 SIGNATURE TOWERS
B&W 702 Signature: dealer
B&W 702 S2: bit.ly/3N1BdHu, bit.ly/3wJLRfT
► TESTING THE B&W 702 SIGNATURE TOWER SPEAKERS
AMPLIFIERS
Bluesound Powernode 2i: amzn.to/2R0qfHs
Naim Uniti Atom: bit.ly/3iCofCl, bit.ly/NaimAtom
Crown XLS1502 Class D Amplifier (budget): bit.ly/CXLS1502
Cambridge Audio Edge Power Amplifier: bit.ly/3MFJX6z, bit.ly/2W1SmMz
Musical Fidelity M3Si (good): bit.ly/M3SiIA
Musical Fidelity M5si: bit.ly/M5si
Musical Fidelity M8xi (best): amzn.to/3aqqaKm, amzn.to/3GPu4s5
TURNTABLES
Cambridge Audio Alva Direct Drive Turntable: bit.ly/AlvaCA
SOURCES
Arylic S50 Pro: amzn.to/32kuqFc
Cambridge Audio Edge NQ: bit.ly/3HzLpWo
LG 99 Series 8K Smart TV: bit.ly/LG8K99TV
► COMPARABLE SPEAKERS TO THE B&W SIGNATURE SPEAKERS
Q Acoustics Concept 500 Tower Speakers (best): bit.ly/3y6S9YU
Q Acoustics Concept 300 Bookshelf Speakers: bit.ly/3QBqOW2
Jamo C97ii Tower Speakers (best budget): bit.ly/39cQrc9
Klipsch Heresy IV: bit.ly/35GRnlQ, bit.ly/heresyiv
Bowers and Wilkins Formation Duo: bit.ly/3OsHHAd, bit.ly/2GXyWkq
Klipsch La Scala: bit.ly/36bPQVb
► MORE FROM BOWERS & WILKINS
702 S2: bit.ly/3O8rJeJ, bit.ly/3ltjXha
Formation Duo: bit.ly/2GXyWkq
Formation Line: bit.ly/3ptp8QM
600 Series: bit.ly/36B5QjE
603 Towers: bit.ly/3nt7xqp
603 Anniversary Edition Speakers: bit.ly/3nt7xqp
606: bit.ly/3luDii7
PX7 Over The Ear Wireless Bluetooth NCX Headphones: amzn.to/30dUWgN
PX5 On Ear Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones: amzn.to/32ft920
► SIMILAR ANDREW ROBINSON VIDEOS TO WATCH
Bowers and Wilkins Formation Duo Speaker Review: • Bowers and Wilkins For...
Jamo C97ii Tower Speaker Review: • FINALLY! Affordable HI...
Klipsch Heresy IV Floorstanding Speaker Review: • MIND BLOWN!! KLIPSCH H...
Polk Audio L800 Tower Speaker Review: • POLK AUDIO Legend L800...
Q Acoustics Concept 500 Tower Speaker Review: • BEST High End Tower Sp...
► Bowers and Wilkins 702 SIGNATURE Tower Speaker Review
Are these the BEST SPEAKERS for a STEREO & HOME THEATER system? The B&W 702 Signature speakers are works of art but is their sound worth the hype? No other speaker system in recent memory has been more amplifier dependent than Bowers & Wilkins 702 Signature Tower Speakers. We tested everything from our Crown amplifier to an $8K Musical Fidelity integrated amplifier. In order to get the most out of this audio system you the best electronics and streaming music money can buy.
► MY REFERENCE AUDIO AND HOME THEATER SYSTEM
POWER
Naim Uniti Atom All In One Music System: bit.ly/NaimAtom
Musical Fidelity Integrated Amp: bit.ly/M5si
LOUDSPEAKERS
Q Acoustic Concept 300: bit.ly/3QBqOW2, bit.ly/C300wsA
Klipsch Heresy IV: bit.ly/3OF9UEb, bit.ly/heresyiv
Jamo S809: amzn.to/356tnK5
SPEAKER STANDS
Kanto Bookshelf Speaker Stands (budget): bit.ly/Kanto26
SolidSteel Speaker Stands (best): bit.ly/3xsoe9M
TURNTABLES
Audio Technica LP140XP: amzn.to/33OfgXO
Cambridge Audio Direct Drive Turntable: bit.ly/AlvaCA
RECORD PLAYER CARTRIDGES
Ortofon 2M Blue Cartridge (better): bit.ly/BlueAA
Ortofon 2M Black Cartridge (best): bit.ly/BLKAA
HEADPHONES
Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless NCX Headphones: bit.ly/WH1000xm4
SOUNDBARS
SENNHEISER AMBEO: bit.ly/35yLQO1
TOP SMART TVs
LG 8K TV: bit.ly/LG8K99TV
Hisense H9G: bit.ly/H9GTV
TCL 6 Series: amzn.to/35Vn9NO
BLUETOOTH / DESKTOP SPEAKERS
Naim Mu-so V2: amzn.to/33ASZxI
Klipsch The Fives: bit.ly/fivesUS
Kanto YU: bit.ly/YUdesk
► SHOP OUR LIVING ROOM
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ARTICLE SOFA: bit.ly/2HI6cMH
ART: bit.ly/howfaryt
TV / MEDIA CABINET: bit.ly/BDIMEDIA
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FTC: This video is not sponsored. Some links above are affiliate, meaning we make a small percentage if you buy through the link but it won't change the price for you! Thank you for helping to support the channel.
#audio #bowersandwilkins #speakers 
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Andrew you said there's a link for everything that flashes on screen in your videos... I want the dog!❤😂🙆🐈
@@Turtleback8024 She's a one of a kind, I'm afraid.
Excellent review! I have very little tolerance for inconvenient technology. My tech/equipment works around my life- not the other way around. I don't tolerate speakers that are hard to place or hard to match. I don't like a lot of equipment so a rack is of no use to me. I've found a 2.2 system with 2 subs and active bookshelves the easiest approach. No need for amp pairing. Bookshelves take up less space than floorstanders and can be easily transported if you move occasionally as keeping boxes for floorstanders is a nonstarter for those that are space constrained. Also, floorstanders are more challenging to place in smaller rooms.
Great set of speakers for my Jazz/Latin Jazz Albums
Hi Andrew, how does this do against the Q Accoustic Concept 500? Honestly im considering a b&w 805D3 and a concept 500, also consodering a Proac Response D2R. Are the Concept 500 more musical than the B&W? In terms of warmnth how does B&W compare with Concept 500?:) honestly very hard to look at speakers and they vary room to room.
Interesting. It's refreshing to see a review which talks about all the "but" and "problems" of a product, despite it being a great one.
It’s necessary and I agree. It won tho, product of the year
He just mentioned that the speaker sounds better when you crank it. Some speaker sounds great a low volume
@@watsonanthony8438 Yes. My neighbors agree. Thinking about a MC462 for these.
Damn! This has got to be one of, if not my favorite speaker review ever! It felt like a ride at Universal Studio's; full of things coming at you, left, right and center as you make your way through it. Mate, you are at the top of your game! Thank you so much for what you do.
This review remembers me when I was 20 years old and I saw an outstanding Ferrari Testarossa parked near the beach clubs. I looked it all the way, hesitating to touch it and then, two men approach the car talking out loud about the racing test one of them was forced to pass in order to have it because the high power under the hood. 30 years later, the 702 are my current Testarossa, I have not enough power to drive them and no money to acquire it.
I've owned a pair of the 702 S2 speakers, I bought them at the end of July. 2020. l have had many speakers over the years (I'm 66) and I've found these speakers to be the best I've heard that I've owned. Again as we all know you will like the speakers that you like. No one can tell you what sounds best to you however these speakers are sweet! To be sure Andrew hit the nail on the head you need an amp/receiver that puts out the muscle. The speaker is rated from 30 watts and up but you won't be happy with an underpowered source. As we can appreciate the law of physics that comes to play and when you have several speakers to drive within one cabinet you need some muscle. I'm using a Macintosh 7200 which has up to 200 watts however I don't need the full power of the amp either. I am very happy with these speakers and this is the first time I've owned Bowers and Wilkins product. What a nice model to have from them.
This was very helpful. Thank you. I also have a MC 7200 and was wondering if that amp paired well with these speakers. My preamp is also Macintosh, C42. I just put a deposit on a brand new pair that was damaged during shipping; cosmetic issues but not a problem for me because the damage is on the lower right side so won't be seen in my setup as that speaker will be near a right side corner wall. Sale price is $4,500 which I assume is a no brainer for a pair of Sig. 702's. I've been listening to Thiels 3.1 speakers for 32 years and looking forward to this. I'll be checking them out in-person tomorrow. Cheers.
Hey BC with a powerful amp such as yours, would you say low level listening is enjoyable as well on those speakers?
Have u ever heard PROAC response 3??
@@jimwong2823 No
@@BC-ni3sk U should . Knowledge is power
As many have already mentioned, this is one of the most complete, well-rounded, and honest reviews I have seen on Hi-Fi equipment in a long time. Well done! I enjoyed this full-length review in a similar manner as I enjoyed Sandy Munro’s honest review of the Tesla Model Y. Very different kit, but honest, consultative information. Thank you. 👍
Great review ... your comments are relevant today as well as way back in B&W history. In the early 1980's I bought, and still use and enjoy, B&W Matrix 802 Series 3 loudspeakers. At first while I replenished my "slush fund" I powered them with my existing Yamaha MX-50 135W stereo amp and it was bad. Lifeless, lacking dynamic impact, etc. Additionally, the 802's could cause the MX-50 to clip with ease. Once able I replaced the amplifier/preamp with my Krell KSA 150/KSP7B (still used to this day) and, like magic, problem solved. So, you are exactly correct that as it relate to the higher end B&W's it has always been the case that a significant investment in amplification is required to extract their best. Love the channel, keep up the good work.
Fantastic honest insightful review as per usual. Quality video/audio with an opinion I can trust.
As a very happy owner of a pair of two-year-old B&W 702 s2 floorstanders, I can say that your review of the new 702 Signatures matches my own experience. That is to say, that if paired properly the 702s are outstanding speakers. When I first brought them home I was running them off my Rotel a 12 amplifier. However, when I upgraded to a Linn Majik DSM integrated amplifier the sound opened up. More recently, I tweaked them by adding IsoAcoustic Gaia iii speaker isolaters. This move opened up the soundstage even further. Amazing clarity and separation on the high and mid-range. My only issue is that my living room is small, forcing me to place the speakers closer to the wall than the recommended 18 inches. The Linn Spatialization software has helped tremendously, but i still need to put foam plugs in the back bass outport to compensate. That said, I love them.
I heard the 702 s2 some days ago, and I was so disappointed . Finally i had save up for some new speakers, and I have been looking on the 702 s2 for some while. I own the standard 603's, and in my opinion the 603 sounds so much better. And i dont get why that is. The 603 cost about 2.000$ and the 702 s2 cost 5.500$ . I was ready to be blown away, and nothing happened. Gonna take them home for a couple of days to hear them in my home. Any toughts on this ?
They're so pretty! Seriously, how good do these look in our house?!?!?
Some of the best (looking) by far!
THE best looking.
Thank you sincerely for adding the multiple comparisons for all of your fan base! No doubt, these B&W's are everything an aspiring audiophile could dream of -but some of us just can't justify the cost and everything else that comes with it.You guys are awesome! Please continue Trailblazing! The Jamo C 97 ll are the ones for me!!
Just got 702S2 for a day paired with hegel h190 even sound fantastic straight out of the box, bass is stronger than i expected for a new speaker, i am blown away by the perfomence
HI Andrew,
I have been following your review's very ardently... I get to learn a lot through your honest, Crystal clear transparency to your observations... the pros n cons of the systems with no fabricated frills. Keep up the good work..we all need the advise. A BIG THANK YOU👍👍👍.
Regards,
Joe Vaz
Thank you so much for the small mention of the formation duos and how they compare. I freaking love those speakers so much!! Awesome review btw.
Hi Andrew. Excellent review. Been a B&W fan for the past 30 years and have owned most of their products and still do. Right now i Have the B&W PM1's connected to my Rotel RMB 1095 amp. Have to tell you that i have auditioned the 702 signatures few months ago and to be honest i couldn't justify the upgrade from my PM1's with a Sub to these towers. The prices are getting higher and higher but the sound quality i find still not mind blowing different than their older models. I know some people will disagree with this but to my 51 year old ears the PM1's still sound better than most new speakers on the market. Keep up the good work..
A few days ago, at Magnolia Home Theater, I tested the 702 S2 (not signature) using Marantz w/110 per channel power and that produced an amazing sound quality on those speakers. One of the most detailed sounds I have ever heard.
Hello Mr Robinson, hey I enjoyed this review being familiar with and having experienced different vintage mid to high line b&w speakers, you're really on point with this review and like the simple thorough emphasis on the type and quality of power! Thanx again eye opening test!
I have a pair of 702 S2's about three years old (obviously not the signatures) Originally I drove them with a Yamaha AS-2100 amp and they sounded great. Anyway, that amp died in an accident. Afterwards I purchased a refurbished Yamaha AS-3200 at half of the new retail price. I had compared them to a similar size and priced pair of Paradigms and I chose the B&W's This Yamaha/ B&W combination sounds spectacular. I listen to my music mostly at medium/high volumes so my comments are when playing with a little gusto. Vocals especially female are accurate acoustic guitars and drums are also impressive. I've owned many systems since the late 70's and these are the best I've heard yet. I never buy speakers without auditioning them first and I try very hard to make sure they are the only speakers in the room when I do the audition. I would like to hear them paired with a suitable Rotel amp as both companies are under the same "roof" nowadays. Anyway my 2c - I like them.
Hello, I am new to this and had someone wanting to sell me 2 704 s2 and one HTM 72 s2 center From B&W but this whole amp thing spooked me so I am also looking at Kef q950 and Q600 . The bowers he wants a thousand and the Kef is 1400 not sure if there’s any room in price on that but anyway any any advise would be much appreciated. I already made the mistake of buying the Bose soundbar Dolby Atmos with the surround and 2 subs and I paid way too much I mean it was better than only tv speakers but I really want something better that I can be happy with thanks
I look forward to your reviews Andrew, you have one of those voices I could listen to all day long, add in that you are a HiFi freak like me and its winning combination. These speakers look drop dead gorgeous and I bet sound incredible!
I finally have my KEF LS50s dialed in with a pair of “cheap” SVS SB1000 subs (high level). I was getting a suckout at 50Hz. It never occurred to me that the phase setting was the issue. 180 degrees later, perfection. The punch is back!
Recommended for just about any amp that isn’t “hot” at high frequencies.
Thanks for the great review. This video has helped me so much in my HiFi journey in selecting my Amp and speakers. Just upgraded from B&W 705 to 702 Signature speakers and I am blown away in every way. Hooked up to my Amp, Yamaha AS2200, these STUNNING speakers sound FANTASTIC! I am all smiles and could not be happier!!! Thank you for the great advice on matching Amp and speakers.👍🏼👍🏼
I have a Yamaha AS2100 amp (predecessor to the 2200) and am thinking about buying 702 Siganture speakers - so I am very interested in your experiences. You seem very happy with your combination. Does your system still sound good at lower volumes? Some people seem to think 702 Sigs only sound good when played loud. I can't turn the volume up too high due to my neighbours. Any comments please? Thanks, Nick
Yamaha AS-2200 is such a power house that I can barely turn the volume up more than half way in my living room! I listen to my music at 25%-%35 volume in the evening and I’m pretty happy. Louder volume gives a more immersive experience and I can feel the energy coming from the woofers. Hope this helps. What speakers do you currently have?
@@safaeslambolchi4129 Thanks for the reply. I did have B&W 804 D3 speakers, which I loved - but I have sadly had to downgrade my main hifi system to release money for a house move. My temporary speakers are Monitor Audio Gold Signature GS20s which are OK as a stop-gap. Before the 804 D3s, I had B&W CM10 S2s which I liked. The 804 D3s were a clear step up, but much more money. I was thinking of getting some second hand 702s (or even another pair of CM10 S2s) as a compromise solution, without breaking the bank. It's hard when you are downgrading!
I have found the 702 s2 to be a great speaker tied to a 200w rms Rotel system. I found the soundstage improved with a class a valve preamp. Looking at the schematics of the crossover systems of the 702 s2 and signature they have been very mildly tweaked by slightly changing the values of the upper and lower resistors. B&W has charged a premium for these small changes although the exterior finish is far superior. Tried high end Yamah amp just didn't make the grade. You are very correct in your assessment of these 702s they are unforgiving. If recordings are inferior they let you know but with good recordings they are incredible and the detail is stunning. Very much an audiophile speaker as you mentioned. A great review.
Thank you for your honesty. Most B&W's have required reserve power to enhance the dynamic range at normal listening levels because of their inherent crossover and driver and bass designs. I agree with everything said and have owned many B&W speakers through the years. Good review.
So glad to see Musical Fidelity integrated amplifiers can't wait for your review. Also if they have built in phono stage report on that too please and thank you!
This was an excellent review. I've owned several B&W's over the last 25 years (801 Matrix S3, CDM 7SE, 804 Nautilus, CM9, CM 10 S2, and now 803 D2) and all B&W's have a similar sonic signature that you indicated top to bottom. I agree, that if you want the absolute best performance possible, using quality components is a must. NAD's M32 is a very good integrated amp with good power. It made a significant difference in the quality/depth of the bass and improved detail in mid/highs in my system. That said, I do agree that in order to truly enjoy them and appreciate what they're capable of, you need to listen to them at a suitable volume allowing them to open up and be revealing. I would disagree that they otherwise sound flat, but rather constrained because they're actually being held back at lower volume. For better or worse, it is what it is.
I recently bought these speakers ^^ and had the chance to do a back to back comparison with the 702 S2 (regular) speakers as well as the Monitor Audio Gold 300. The amp was a high-end McIntosh, so driving them wasn't a problem. The Monitor Audios won the award for most bass and by a margin to my ears, but the 702 Sigs seemed just more revealing and although they didn't have quite the same deep bass, the LF they had was more controlled and dynamic I felt. The mid to upper ranges really sang to me and I don't mind a speaker that some may think is a little clinical in this regard. It was a tough choice overall between the Sig's and the MA Golds, mostly as they are very different sounding speakers, so it was a little tricky to get your footing and realise a true baseline for the way they would sound in your own home. The Sigs ultimately won as the bass accuracy, lovely mids and clean highs won me over compared to the impressive, show stopping MA Golds and after seeing Andrew's review of them (this actual one) I upgraded my Roksan K3 power amp to a Musical Fidelity M6 PRX and the Sigs have really sung to me ever since. The interesting thing of my test was the difference between the two B&W models, the S2 and the Sig. I wondered if I would embarrass myself in front of the hi-fi shop salesman and be unable to hear much, if any, difference (it is mainly the crossover that is different, not the actual drive units), but no, it was actually quite an easy reveal. The two speakers do indeed sound quite different to each other. I was most surprised. The Sigs had a much better sound stage, wider and more accurate, as well as a sort of richness to the mid range and what sounded like a little more heft and attack in the mid and lower bass. I certainly could have performed a blindfold test on these two and picked them apart without trouble. The best part was I had gone to listen to the speakers with a view to buy the Sigs as the store's demo pair (the ones I actually listened to) but in the end got a fantastic deal on a brand new pair at £3,000. I realise the 702 S3 is about to hit the shops, but I suspect it won't be much better, if at all, than the S2 Sigs and certainly nowhere near the price I got them for. Keep up the good work Kristi and Andrew :)
I recently auditioned the 702 S2 in home in comparison with a pair of Tekton Impact Monitors in order to decide which to buy. This was after the Tektons had beaten out Buchardt S400s in a home test, and the B&Ws sounded vastly better than a set of Elac Vela F@407s in an in- store listening experience. In my home, both speakers were Dirac Live tuned via a MiniDSP DDRC-24, and power was courtesy of an XTZ Edge A2-300. Source is a HTPC running Tidal and/or FLAC files from the hard-drive via USB audio to the MiniDSP which serves as the DAC. The B&Ws were a bit of a strange beast in that they had a much better sense of room presence and "sparkle" to the high end in particular and tighter bass, but simply did not sound natural to me in comparison to the Tekton Impact monitors. Midrange, and in particular vocals, sounded a bit colored. They actually make voices sound nasal in comparison to the Tektons, which seem to have a very neutral sound. That is not to say that the Tektons are not without their issues. Their quality control is pretty suspect, in that they arrived with two screws not fully tightened on each of the lower midbass speakers, same one on both cabinets. That made them sound awful, and I genuinely thought something was wired up out of phase when they arrived. They also have shipping damage to their finish due to poor packaging, for which they are trying to blame the shipping company when it is clearly from the plastic bags they ship the speakers in rubbing against the finish. To top it off, the optional grilles would be be considered comically bad if they hadn't cost me $75 extra. They stick out past the corners of the speaker cabinets because they don't have a bevel like the speakers themselves do in the corners, and were broken on arrival despite no damage to the packaging Only thing holding one of them together is the fabric stappled to them. Yes, you read that correctly. Stapled, obviously by hand. Bad company to deal with from a customer service perspective, but man are they onto something with that weird looking tweeter array. It's just so perfectly natural sounding in it's presentation of voices especially. B&Ws sounded better in the bass and the highs, but midrange rules all when it comes to the musical experience, and I simply couldn't part with the Tektons in the end. Makes me wonder what you might be able to come up with if you took an array of tweeters and drivers as exceptional as the B&Ws are, and combined it with the design concept of the Tektons. Would cost a small forture to do though, given that there are 14 tweeter per pair. LOL!
Thanks for the video. I was wondering about these speakers.
Damn! Thanks Andrew. I have been hoping for a review from you on these for months.
Phenomenal video, ads harm the flow. Nothing wrong with making money or advertising but you have a special presentation and I was 100% locked then the ads threw me off. I am back in it now and enjoying every second. Thanks
Just wanted to say that the only reason they have the base is due to a tipping standard in Europe where they're produced. The country (I believe its the UK) has a tipping standard for all furniture being sold, which loudspeakers are considered furniture there. If you push the speaker sideways it will actually rock back and forth, but not tip over unless shoved. If you were to bump into them, they would simply rock.
Just thought that would be a interesting bit of information. The stands aren't necessary for the speaker in any capacity.
I have a pair of 702 s2’s paired with a Cambridge Azur 851a amplifier and I think it’s a pretty sweet combo. Definitely sensitive to recording quality though!!! Sometimes I find the top end just a little too much and yes, definitely agree you don’t get the full sound spectrum unless they are at a decent volume. Had the 603’s prior and there is definitely more separation and clarity in the 702’s. some tracks they really surprise me 😊
Thank you for another great review Andrew. I appreciate your time and efforts.
Hi, I have listened to the 702 S2 & the 702 S2 Signiture and compared them. There is no real difference in sound. Sometimes one sounded slightly better, sometimes the other .. Depending on the instrument and voice ... In my opinion, these are excellent speakers that actually come close to the 804 D3. The step from 603 to 702 is enormous, from 702 to 804 maybe 15%. I'm talking about the ability to get everything out of a recording and to arouse emotions in a "neutral" way. Of course there are a few other speakers for about 4000 bugs that are also very good, but I claim there are none that act like a studio speaker and still arouse joy and emotion. It is not a box with the wow effect right from the start. Others can do that better (e.g. Esprit Australe EZ). But once you have understood what the 702 wants from you, you can have a lot of fun, and long-term. Some loudspeakers get annoyed at some point. I opted for the normal 702 S2 and saved myself 1000 bugs. As an amplifier I have the M6si which I think is extremely good. In addition, the Node 2i as a streamer, as it has many possible uses. Oh yes speaker cable: I always smiled at people with their "cable sound" ... I had perfectly normal copper cables for my old B&W 683 and they were perfectly adequate and good. So I thought ... My hifi dealer had to convince me and finally sold me van den hul silver-plated cables. Actually not that expensive. The difference, especially in the bass range on the 702 S2 loudspeakers, was extreme. As if the amplifier had been briefly upgraded again. I'm really glad I bought it ...
Conclusion:
The 702 S2 are great speakers that can certainly keep up with much more expensive speakers. But they also need a hi-fi chain of the same quality. Otherwise they play under value. I can't confirm that they don't sound good at low volume!
Andrew: Thank you for your interesting review!!!!
I remember installing MAC 500watt monos and 802s2 many years ago, expecting “magic” and it was not there. Hifi stereo systems are sophisticated instruments that need synergy for real. It’s not just plug and play expensive stuff and it’s going to be great. Awesome to see these reviews that reveal this. It’s shame when people spend the $$ and don’t get the result. It’s sure worth finding. Love my music, it’s what got me into the industry :)
Haha brilliant. At about 9min30 I was shouting at the screen "Musical Fidelity!" Great choice! I like that you also gave a shout out to the M3si which, I've actually been considering recently myself.
Another great video! Love your content Andrew, always on point well spoken and clear!
Really appreciate that, Andreas.
the way you deliver your statements is downright hilarious and genius at the same time! I am not really in to HiFi but, man your videos are so worth watching
These speakers and Focal 948's are the bomb. Focal are a little smoother while the B&W are a little sharper but not in a bad way.
Great honest review! Keep up the good work. Thank you.
Great channel 👍😎 All I'll say is back in the 80's my first speakers were B&W 801F .. yeah you have to have a strong Amp I had an Aragon 4004.
Great review - I ended up getting the Formation Duo's as got a headache trying to figure out which floor standers combined with which amp, cabling etc. etc. would be right for me and the 702 signature / 702 s2 were top of my list. Very happy indeed with the Duo's and don't wish for anything more.
This channel never lets me down ...outstanding content and host, production value...linked this to my buddy that is interested in buying this exact product. Very cool.
❤
Much appreciated, 78.
Preciate you guys 🙏🏾 amazing reviews keep up the good work looking Foward to next year doing an amazing job Kristi thank you thank you thank you 🙏🏾 keep up the good work.
I'm using B&W CM8s2 which are also difficult to drive. I'm using a Nelson Pass Aleph J which drives them beautifully. It's a Class A 25W amplifier.
Brilliant review and so glad you made direct comprassions with the Q Acoustics Concept 500.
Keep up the good work.😀
Update i have i had 702 s2 for 3 weeks now and the bass has really come alive, very deep and controlled driven by Hegel h190, the hegel is really good of you want good bass depth and controll and there is so much detail, i don’t need to play loud to get a balanced sound from 702 with my h190
@@zaoria123 no never heard h390, so i have not been able to do that camparsion, but planning to save up for h390 hopefully in a year, i am expecting that h390 will get more out of them
@@zaoria123 i
Am happy with h190 driving 702 still, i just want to see what they can do with more power
B&W speakers have been a solid choice for a while now. Most people have heard of them as well so they get high marks for brand recognition when/if you choose to upgrade.
These videos are getting more entertaining each time, love the delivery. Thanks
Glad you like them!
You brought up an interesting point. I find a lot of speakers these days don't like to be played "quietly."
Elac Reference 62 for sure.
I’m using Musical Fidelity monoblocks in my system, 700wpc @8 ohms. It replaced a Mcintosh MC 252 which is no slouch but the MF is on another level. Absolutely amps matter
Running the normal 702 S2s for almost 3 years with the Arcam SR250 and this combination works really well.
I've never felt I needed more power to drive these speakers. Top end is crisp and detailed..very life like. If you close your eyes....you could imagine the sonic stage in the center of the room like the artist has come alive and singing a private concert just for you. Mid range is incredible and very resolving and base is fast and tight..with no boominess. The setup is very modest but provides amazing results. I've demod components for almost 20k more and the difference in sound quality did not justify the outlay. Heavily into the Diminishing returns territory.
I'm sure some would argue a 702 s2 and arcam sr250 is already Diminishing returns but imo for the money its incredible value.
Hi Andrew, Its a given that the future of music is going to be mostly online streaming services like Spotify, Tidal etc. So it would definitely help prospective buyers if you could reflect on the sonic characteristics of the said hardware with compressed / streaming music. I am saying this on behalf of the majority of budget buyers who want to step into the Audiophile world step by step but cant afford to buy thousands of dollars of pro equipment, vinyls, CDs etc.
I had a pair of the 702 signatures and what Andrew says is all true. These speakers were phenomenal! Notice past tense on the 702's, I did upgrade to the 802 D4's which are even more incredible and should be for the money. As so often is the case and I've found it to be true over the years through many, many systems and speakers more is better when it comes to power. I would rather have an amp pumping out a solid 200 a channel instead of something less as I can always turn the volume down and still give the speakers a hard push. Trying to take an amp and it's putting out 20 watts and trying to power something the size of a ice chest usually doesn't work very well at all.
Yet Zen Triodes drive Klipsch Cornwalls.
A friend of mine has the regular 702s2 combined with NAD M12/M22. Absolutely stunning sound! Best I've heard so far and made me get my own pair of b&w speaker (a pair of 707s2)
Can confirm that they are power-hungry. My friend had a problem with their M12 and while it was send back to NAD they got a replacement c388 for use in the meantime. Even though that amp offers 150w per channel, the power was waaaay too low to drive these speakers and the sound was horrible.
Hegel h190 is also 150 watt per channel and its much better than nad c388, i have it with my 702 s2 and i am blown away with the perfomence
Thanks for your honesty. Good review.
Thank you for that excellent and honest review. I was considering getting a pair after listening to it at a local store, but I’m sure they had the power needed to make them sound that way. My humble Denon receiver would not have been a good match. Love your videos.
Glad I could help!
I am intrested in those for my next upgrade i own b&w 683 s2 with Hegel h190, and i am happy with that setup, the Hegel amp is extreamly good, best bass control i ever heard, and very detailed treble
Excellent review, thank you. Would these speakers fit to a NAD t778 or Marantz SR8015? Aiming to buy the NAD with B&W
Hi Andrew. Fantastic review…as always. I have the Yamaha AS1200 and wondered how you think it would pair with the 702s? Many thanks. Gary from the UK.
I couldn't swing these so I bought the 704s2 set, These speakers need about a week to break in properly , and are brutal to poorly done recordings, and gobs of current does not hurt, but overall the best mix of price and engineering, why I've used Bowers & wilkins for the last twenty years or so..
I already love my 4th gen Monitor Audio gold 300s, but reviews like this of a speaker that costs $1800 more than mine did makes me want to go and hug them. Especially when 120 or 200 watts from my rotel amps make them sing.
Great review and I love the honesty as always. People need to know what they are really getting into
Appreciate you watching and so glad to hear you're enjoying your speakers!
Damn. Thanks for the honesty! Refreshing
I bought a pair of B&W 706 S2 including 2x3m bi-wiring cables for an unbeatable 1098 €uros. The cables alone are worth around €500, which means that I only paid around €500 for the 706. I own a Cyrus One Cast streamer amplifier that is rather dark and dynamic with a very good center image. I hope that the two form a good unit to bend and get a grip on the heights of 706 S2. I also have carpet tiles in the room that could also dampen the speakers.
Yesss! Finally, a great shout out to the Musical Fidelity M3si. For Andrew to say that it bettered powering the 702's than the Cambridge Edge that's more than double the power and more than 3x the price, says a lot about the quality of MF products. Can't wait for his review on the M8Xi and the M3Si
I did it, i became a member, Andrew u´r the only one I ever membered ever.. :) and I have a lot of hobbies :))
Greetings from timisoara Romania
Michael
Welcome to the club! Punch is on the table in the back.
So happy to have you, Michael. Kristi and I really appreciate your support!
Great and Honest review I almost finalised DynaAudio Evoke 50 but this B&W Ref 702 is forcing me to change plans.
Appreciate if you can compare with Evoke 50 Fom Dynaaudio.
I had the same problem with the B&W N804s back in the day. I had managed to trade-up to a pair and was delighted when I got them home and unpackaged them, only to find them lifeless and dull. I could not understand after having a whole host of speakers prior to these that the performance was this bad. After reading countless reviews one review stated "do not attempt to drive these speakers with anything less than 200w per channel or they will not live up to the hype". I ended-up buying a pair of AVI mono blocks at 300w per channel (I think), and only after did these speakers come alive. I think the passive crosovers in the B&W speakers rob so much power that they need the bigger amps to make them sing. I built an active 2-way speaker using the Signature 805 woofer and Scanspeak D2905/950000 tweeter, as I prefer soft domes. These were connected to 2 Dynaudio studio amps and active crossover/equalisation unit and these things are awesome. Not much can get near these. Maybe that is where B&W are going wrong and they should concentrate on producing active speakers. Great review of the 702 Sigs though...
B&Ws are awesome, but you need MASSIVE amplification to hear them sing. Bryston, McIntosh etc. Feed them NOTHING but Class AB. Class D won't do them justice even though they might sound solid. But I moved to horns 4-5 years ago and don't miss mid 80s dB efficient dynamic cone/woofer speakers at all. The dynamics and speed of a 3 way horns is intoxicating. But if I ever want to go back to dynamic "box" type speakers, give me Focals or B&Ws all day everyday. They have a very powerful sound that is great for modern music genres and HT alike. But so do horns and you don't need a mega amplification. Nice review Andrew.
I played Miles Davis Sketches of Spain the other night and it made me start thinking what it would sound like on a system with a really phenomenal top end. It sounded pretty good on mine streaming off Amazon Ultra HD. I'm going through a struggle right now with trying to keep the volume within reason and how that impacts the life of the listening experience. A rookie cop just moved in next door with his wife and 3 kids and her babies are 'sensitive' to noise LOL. You should hear them scream at the top of their lungs in the backyard though. Apparently not that sensitive to loud noise.
I had B&W speakers for more than 15 years - initially B&W 602S3 with Roksan Kandy, then B&W CM9 with Audio Analogue. All B&W speakers I had heard, including mine, sounded great at higher volumes but lifeless at low volumes. I cannot afford to play at high volume (neighbours, ear fatigue, etc.). First I tried switching the amp on the C9s and I introduced the Accuphase E370 which is, well, a formidable machine. Things improved but not as much as I would have liked. They were still kind of "dead" unless you put the dial at 10 o'clock and above. Then I got fed up at all this and started searching for new speakers. I finally chose standmounters - the Aurum Cantus Volta MkII - and I complemented them with a REL T9i subwoofer. The combination sounds simply fantastic and it is exactly the price of a pair of B&W 702 Signatures. Bowers and Wilkins make some really great speakers and I like their tonal signature but I think that their shortcomings are not worth the hassle any more.
Agreed, except I think the 700 S2 range is an upgrade to the CM range, especially in mid-range tone and accuracy/resolution. Congrats on the Aurum Cantus bookshelves, fabulous speakers!
@@michaelmityok1001 Thanks, appreciated! I had an audition of many brands - B&W 805, Harbeth, PMC, Spendor, AudioPhysic, Focal, Dynaudio, etc. And you know what - in the end I took the Aurum Cantus. It simply blew them out of the water. It is simply unbelievable what level of quality and finish these speakers offer for the price. If the nameplate said "Sonus Faber" they would have a 5-figure price tag on them. It must be one of the best kept secrets in the hifi industry...
@@emiltsenov7853 yup the Chinese are kicking our ass in many industries in terms of value for money, hifi obviously is no exception. Denafrips for example makes super DACs, and now amps/preamps, just bought their Athena preamp, nothing close to it for the $ in terms of sound/build quality.
I have a pair of CM8's and didn’t really come alive until I Bi Amped with Cyrus Amps. I find the sound stage to be massive and they do disappear into room. Detailed treble and amazing midrange but bass could do with a little more depth. Love your reviews and keep up the good work.
Thanks! I have found that older or past B&W models also had wider soundstages and better dispersion, maybe these newer designs are more focused? My former 802 Ds imaged like champions once setup correctly (and powered properly) but these just didn't. And it isn't my room for a lot of speakers image like champions in our space.
Thoughts on pairing these with Musical Fidelity M5si and Cambridge streamer front end? Would this be too much of a good thing in the highs? Other speakers under consideration Focal Aria 948 & Sonus Faber Sonetto VIII. Unfortunately unable to audition them.
I have the 702 S2's paired up with a McIntosh separate amp and pre-amp. They sound amazing and I am curious to see how the Signature series compares. Nice review!!
Hi, I have heard the book self version of the signature series of the 700's B & W, and they sounded good in the mid range. The amplifier used to drive them was a amp from Parasound. However, Andrew is right, because one has to be careful what kind of electronics one uses to drive these speakers. I think when B & W created these speakers, their purpose might of been for 2 channel listening, because there was no matching center channel, or sub included in this particular line. On a personal note: I'm in the process in creating another theater room in my home. The gear that I'm considering may be the B & W 700 series speaker line. I'm thinking my mains left to right will the 702 S2(floor standers) along with the matching center channel, and the surrounds will either be the 706 S2 or 707 S2. Plus, the height speakers if I can afford it will be hopefully be the book self 705 S2. Finally, the subs will be dual SVS 4000, or the JL Audio e110"s. The room size is 12 feet long X 11 feet wide x 6.5 feet height, and room is generally a dark. Also, TV is the Sony X-950h in a 75 inch. Also, the speaker wire I'm considering may be the Audioquest Rocket, and line conditioner may the Panamax 5510 AC Regenerator. The electronics I'm thinking about using may the Marantz sr-8012 audio video receiver, because Marantz matches well with B & W's. I hope this works, I will listen to them before I purchase B & W's 700 series.
The B&Ws work really well with the naim Nap 250 DR and up amplifiers
I saw the RTJ4 album art on the atom and now I have so much more respect for you
Very good review. I'm thinking about Musical Fidelity M3si for my B&W 603s and considering that it was acceptable with these, it should be a good match for 603s. One more thing, I use XTZ Edge at the moment with 603s and it's not bad at all. I wonder how it would go with these 702 signature ones. Especially when using two XTZs as monoblocks.
Thanks Andrew for recommending the Crown XLS amplifier to drive the woofers of my standard 702s. These speakers were definitely an upgrade over my PSB Alpha bookshelves but my Azur 351R AVR just couldn't get enough bass out of the 702s. At the showroom I auditioned the Cambridge Azur 851A and Rotel RA-1592. While they sounded slightly better than my AVR, they were bright and fatiguing and still not getting enough bass despite having at least twice the watts. Only the Michi s5 (500watts) was able to bring out a fuller sound but that's a $$$ amp! The Crown on its own makes the treble and mids very harsh and unbearably grating. Initially I paired the Crowns with a Marantz NR1711, but the sound was muffled and lifeless. Only when I paired it with my Rotel A-10 did the speakers open up in imaging, separation and warmth - yes bass was there too! Sounds almost or better than the Michi at 20% the cost! I've currently paired the Crowns with an Rotel A-11 so that I can do hometheather bypass with the Marantz.
@Peter - to bi-amp with a Crown XLS, connect your sources (ie CD, streamers etc) to the stereo amp (in my case the A-11) that will be driving your high/mids. Do note that your stereo amp must have pre-out connections. Connect the pre-outs of that amp to the input of the Crown amp. Set the Crown amp to "low-pass" filter mode (see Crown user manual). Remove the connecting jumpers from your speakers' binding post. Connect the speaker cables from your stereo amp to the top pair of binding posts on each speaker. Connect the speaker cables from the Crown amp to the lower pair of binding post on each speaker.
Pls note this advice is only suitable for bi-amping with a Crown amp - not sure if the same for other amps or configurations.
I think Hegel would be great with those speakers, as They are known for good bass and big soundstage
I own Primaluna Dialogue HP Premium Integrated amp, do you think 702 s2 is a match I should at least listen to, or should I go for other options? Right now, I'm using MA Silver 500 under this amp, but looking for speaker upgrade.
Being a melomaniac in a certain way I can consider myself an audiophile. I use to own an entry-level high-end audio system but because of some life-changing reason, I had to give it up. I still keep my enthusiasm for music and nowadays for the video too. My love for the audio systems hasn't faded away, but my bank account has. So all this being said I simply love the way you approach the issues and how neutral and straight you are. I will never be able to own neither these speakers nor the Music Fidelity integrated amp. Frankly, I think that in a way any entry-level (say in a range of $100) speaker on the market hooked to a basic integrated amplifier can do the job of satisfying our ears... Please correct me if I'm wrong. Brand new huge fan from Israel.
Thanks for that superb video, i have just ordered a pair to go with my Naim Supernait and NDX2, but thinking of getting a NAP 250 in the future, whats your thoughts ??
Thanks for another great review Andrew. How do you think they would pair with a couple of Bryston 7Bsst2 monoblocks? How would they compare to used Martin Logan Prodigy's?
Dear Andrew, thank you for your fantastic videos. I purchased the concept 50 due to your review, but they are on back order and am considering cancelling the order, because recently the b&w 703 s2 have gone on sale ($1500). I have emotive XPA gen3 amps. Do you think these amps would pair well? Would you recommend that I just wait for the concept 50? Thank you so much for your time and aside!!
Nice to see you compared them with the Concept 500. Want to update later in the year from the 705 S2, which has similarities to the signatures. Also nice but maybe little too bright.
Hello Andrew, love your review. I'm looking into a pair of these or a pair of Klipsch RF-7 III's. I admire both of these brands & have a pair of last generation Klipsch R28F's. For powering them is a Hitachi HMA-7500 with a Rotel A-12 as a pre amp. The clarity of the Rotel with the warmth of the Hitachi. Would love to hear more input between the two, thank you again for the review & have a good day.
Thanks for the review. Have you heard any version of b&w CM10 and IF so how do they compare? Also, are they AS demanding?
Cool, calm, concise.
TNX Andrew for the great and honest review!!!
Always!
The Naim UNITI Atom is way too fair for the signature 702 S2, I am very satisfied after several tests and listening with the NAIM UNITI NOVA, the marriage is very happy!
Spot on Andrew! Considering my own journey with my 702s2, I would have to totally agree with how picky they are regarding power. I heard them in a Best Buy Magnolia and was absolutely moved. I bought them up and plugged them in to my 28 year old Harmon Kardon (200wpc) and was somewhat dissapointed. When the HK bit the dust, I plugged them into my Denon AVR-x3800 (105wpc) and wondered what had just happened. They sounded like an old set of cheapy Polk I had years ago. So! I ordered a Rotel 1582 mkII (200wpc) and immediately realized a huge improvement. I also shored up the bass with and SVS SB16 Ultra. The 702s2 have decent bass, but miss the mark when your looking for something you can experience with the SB16.
That was so good..... They are drop dead gorgeous.... Fantastic video... 👍
Hi Andrew! Great review! I have a question for you. I currently own a b&w 683 speakers which are powered by roksan kandy L3 amplifier. My question is what would be the best amplifier to power my speakers? Thanks.
Hello, thank you for the excellent review. Have you tried these speakers with a tube amplifier?
B&W speakers + Rotel amplifiers, is an almost-perfect marriage. B&W’s are usually very hard speakers to drive. I get the best of my PM-1 speakers bi-wiring them to a Rotel 1052 receiver with amazing results.
What do you think of the B&W 606 AND Rotel A10 combination?
@@rossbeake5779 I have the 606 paired with Rotel RA-03 ....sounds amazing....now looking to upgrade to 702 s2 for the 3 way sound.....dont know if it will make that difference considering the extra power needed.
The comparison with the formation duo kinda surprised me. I auditioned the formation few months ago and they absolutely did not knock my socks of. Didn’t sounds audiophile at all. I thought this speaker might be a totally different approach.
Big respect for this review. IMHO the most accurate and definitive review on a 700 series speaker on RUclips right now. As a former 702 owner (I just upgraded to the 804s), take heed of this review if you are thinking of buying a 700 series speaker, or any B&W speaker for that matter, as they are all, to one degree or another, rather finicky.
My thoughts exactly - see my comment above.
I have tried a bunch of different speakers and B&W 702 was the only speaker going up from $500 to $5000 which did not introduce any color to the reproduced sound. No matter what amplifier has been used, sound was crisp clear and live. Maranz, Denon, Pioneer, Mcintosh - can bring more live and realistic presence and this will correspond to the power and price. I even thought a bit on the Focal speakers which are just $4000 and sound very nice with warm tone, but decided to go with the clarity. Waiting for my order now with impatience. Will pair with Rotel-1592.
How did the pairing with Rotel-1592 work?
@@peterkeller-larsen6786 It works very well. The sound field is clear and all instruments are on the scene. Very much liked embedded DAC (384kHz 32bit) and Bluetooth (works 24bit 44kHz from iPhone playing FLAC). Had to revisit my song's library, as now many compositions sound like a poor recording. As been said, speakers are monitor type, you will hear all truth from the songs :) Rotel has a British accent ;) Love it much better than the Japanese.
I found 702 very colored with details and brass being ultra forward , couldn’t listen to many tracks
@@Cooliewhistles This happens with low volume and under power amplifier, agree, you need to listen them louder
@@Cooliewhistles see the review from Andrew Robinson on youtube, very true
Thanks for another great video Bro
Great review as usual.
I almost bought these since I used to own the CM10s, UNTIL I was enlightened by focals. I just heard their Kanta and then their Sopra 2's which I'm going to get as part of the home theatre. Have you heard the focals sopras and kantas. They seemed to have much more forgiving highs making me listen to them for longer.
Now obviously I know the sopras are more comparable to the B&W 800 series but maybe the Focal Kanta? Just curious
I'd love to hear your opinion.
May I know which B&W speakers you think the best based on your personal opinion as considered as professional opinion (for some people here especially non B&W fans) given that you’re recording engineer or music producer? Thank you