Bowers & Wilkins 702 S3

The 702 S3 is the flagship floorstanding loudspeaker in the 700 Series S3 range — a loudspeaker that brings the core technologies of the 800 Series Diamond within reach of a wider audience without asking for any meaningful concession in engineering ambition or musical performance. Three decades of 700 Series development inform every decision Bowers & Wilkins have made in the S3 generation, and the 702 S3 represents the fullest expression of what that development has achieved. Martins Hi-Fi is the second oldest Bowers & Wilkins dealer in the world, and the 702 S3 is a loudspeaker we recommend with complete confidence to those seeking a genuinely high-performance floorstander at its price point.

Carbon Dome Tweeter and Tweeter-on-Top

The 702 S3 carries Bowers & Wilkins' carbon dome tweeter — a diaphragm formed from carbon fibre whose stiffness-to-mass ratio delivers high-frequency resolution and low distortion well beyond the performance of conventional aluminium or fabric domes. The tweeter is mounted in the Tweeter-on-Top configuration above the main cabinet — the same arrangement used in the 800 Series Diamond range — providing complete mechanical isolation from the vibrations generated by the midrange and bass drivers below. The result is treble that is extended, refined, and wholly free from the cabinet-borne contamination that colours the high-frequency performance of conventionally designed loudspeakers.

Continuum FST Midrange Driver

The 702 S3's midrange driver uses Bowers & Wilkins' Continuum cone — the woven composite material developed for the 800 Series Diamond — in a Fixed Suspension Transducer mounting that eliminates the conventional foam surround and the resonance it introduces. The Continuum cone suppresses the characteristic colouration of synthetic cone materials in the critical midrange frequencies, allowing vocals, instruments, and the finest textural detail to pass through the driver without addition or subtraction. The midrange unit is housed in its own dedicated enclosure within the cabinet, mechanically isolated from the bass section below — a structural arrangement that gives the 702 S3 a midrange transparency and openness that is exceptional at its price.

Aerofoil Bass Drivers

Two Aerofoil profile bass drivers handle the 702 S3's low-frequency reproduction — the same variable-thickness composite cone technology used in the 800 Series Diamond floorstanders, derived from aerospace engineering principles. The cross-section of each cone varies from centre to edge, providing the optimal combination of stiffness and compliance at every point across the cone surface without the mass penalty of a conventionally stiffened driver. The bass drivers are mounted in a reflex-loaded enclosure tuned to deliver the extension and authority that a full-range floorstanding loudspeaker demands, with the articulation and definition that allow the 702 S3's considerable bass performance to remain controlled and musical at all levels.

Solid Body Tweeter Enclosure and Cabinet Construction

The tweeter body is machined from a solid billet of aluminium — a Solid Body enclosure that eliminates the joins and resonances of a fabricated housing and provides the most inert possible mounting point for the carbon dome. The main cabinet employs a curved rear panel that reduces internal standing waves and stiffens the enclosure against flexure — a refinement that contributes to the 702 S3's low cabinet colouration and the clarity with which it resolves fine musical detail. Both gloss and satin finish options are available across a range of colours, and the 702 S3's proportions and finish quality are entirely appropriate to its position as the flagship of the 700 Series S3 range.

Technical Specifications

Who Is It For?

The 702 S3 is for those who want the measured, authoritative performance of the 800 Series Diamond driver complement in a floorstander scaled for a wider range of listening rooms and budgets. It is genuinely revealing — it will show the quality of the electronics upstream — and it rewards careful amplifier matching with a performance that punches well above its price. Those wishing to add low-frequency extension to the 702 S3 system should consider the Bowers & Wilkins ASW610 subwoofer, whilst those exploring the broader 700 S3 range may wish to consider the FS700 S3 stands for stand-mount models in the range.

Buying from Martins Hi-Fi

Martins Hi-Fi has been in Norwich since 1968. Elizabeth Gould runs the business today, and we stock only brands we have heard properly and stand behind. As the second oldest Bowers & Wilkins dealer in the world, we have a depth of experience with the 700 Series S3 range that very few retailers can match. The 702 S3 is available to hear in our Norwich showroom, and Dave and Chris can demonstrate it alongside a range of amplification options to help you find the combination that best suits your room and musical tastes.

Contact us at info@martinshifi.co.uk, call 01603 627010, or WhatsApp on 07554 687137. You can read more about how we work on our Why Martins Hi-Fi page. We are at 85–91 Ber Street, Norwich, NR1 3EY.