BOWERS and WILKINS SIGNATURE 702 SPEAKER REVIEW
Are these the BEST SPEAKERS for a STEREO & HOME THEATER system? Bowers & Wilkins 702 Signature Speaker Review. Originally published by Andrew Robinson on July 14, 2020.
BOWERS and WILKINS SIGNATURE 702 SPEAKER REVIEW
My Bowers and Wilkins Signature 702 Speaker review is going to be a journey one that is best taken by watching the video (seen above). These tower speakers are no doubt a work of art. They would fit perfectly into any audiophile or music lover’s home, especially those who prioritize style. The question most people want answered is “How are they different from the 702 S2 tower speakers they’re based on?”.
WATCH THE FULL REVIEW OF THE 702 SIGNATURE SPEAKERS IN THE VIDEO ABOVE
On paper, the Signature 702 appear to be almost identical to the 702 S2. Bowers & Wilkins claims that most of the sonic tweaks have been made to the crossover and are carryovers from the 800 Series. The external Datuk Gloss high gloss finish is however, exclusive to the Signature series. You’ll be hard pressed to find a more beautiful finish on a set of speakers. Bowers & Wilkins have created a finish that could no doubt grace the pages of Architectural Digest. The Signatures are by far one of the most eye catching speakers to ever sit in our living room.
A SIGNATURE SOUND
Those who have owned any pair of Bowers & Wilkins speakers know that they tend to be a little finicky when it comes to amplifiers. The 702 Signature is no exception. In fact, more than any other speaker in recent memory, the sound of these speakers will be dictated by the amplifier you chose. Get the power just right and you’ll be blessed with some of the best sounding loudspeakers you’ve ever heard. But get it wrong and well, you might find yourself sending them back.
Assuming you’ve chosen the right amplifier, you will find the Bowers & Wilkins Signature 702 towers to be among the best, most refined loudspeakers at this price point. The bass is very deep with good extension down low. While the upper bass could have a bit more snap, it’s solid for what it is. The midrange is articulate, nuanced and clear. While it is not neutral, it does have a slightly recessed, darker tone which has an effect of timbre. Highs are close to, if not best in class. The delicacy is sublime. The spaciousness and extension is terrific and there is an appropriate amount of sparkle to go with the air that makes instruments like cymbals seem real versus reproduced.
Dynamics, provided you have the right amp and volume, are explosive yet refined. The Signature towers have an incredible sense of attack and decay present in all but the lowest bass notes. The soundstage is excellent, especially between the speakers themselves. The center image and detail between the speakers is among the best I’ve ever heard. Extension beyond the speakers’ boundaries is not class leading but with the right recording, the Signatures will give you a broader soundstage experience.
THE DOWNSIDES of the 702 signature towers
For a full breakdown of the Bower & Wilkins problem areas, watch the full review in the video above!
COMPARABLE TOWER SPEAKERS
The Bowers & Wilkins Signature 702 tower speakers are not the easiest speakers to compare as there aren’t many speakers in the same field that require the amount of power to drive them. That said, these are the comparable tower speakers we feel best compete with the Signature 702s.
BOWERS AND WILKINS VS Q ACOUSTICS
While not as visually stunning as the Signature 702s, the Q Acoustic Concept 500 tower speakers compete nicely with the costlier B&W’s. In some ways, they may be a better all around fit for listeners as they are far easier to live with and get “right”. The same can be said for the even more affordable Q Acoustic Concept 300 Bookshelf speakers. Pair a subwoofer to the Concept 300s and you are sitting pretty with a lot more change leftover in your pocket.
BUDGET FRIENDLY ALTERNATIVE SPEAKER
The Jamo C97 II tower speakers are totally outclassed in terms of refinement but they do manage to image a little more convincingly when compared to the Signatures. The C97 IIs don’t quite have the same level of soundstage structure, but they definitely throw a larger one. Dynamically they are far more impressive with less and their midrange isn’t as colored. Although it leans more towards treble where as the Signatures go dark. For the price, the Jamo C97 II tower speakers compete more closely than you would think or likely should.
Admittedly this is an unfair comparison, as the Klipsch Heresy IV floorstanding speakers come alive at virtually any volume and possess far more of a live sound compared to the Signature’s studio, dare I say, vocal booth one.
FORMATION DUOS VS 702
Is our next speaker an unlikely comparison? Yes and no. While the Bowers & Wilkins Formation Duos are powered speakers with their own built in amplifier versus the passive nature of the Signature towers, the same customer maybe looking at both as a viable option in their next speaker purchase. It’s no secret that the Formation Duo speakers are among our favorite speakers we’ve had the pleasure of testing. If you’re looking for amazing B&W sound for less, you cannot go wrong with the Formation Duo powered speakers.
BEST AMPLIFIERS FOR BOWERS & WILKINS SPEAKERS
We don’t normally go into this much detail about associated equipment but finding the best amplifiers for Bowers & Wilkins 702 Signature Floorstanding speakers is key in order to get the best sound and performance from these tower speakers.
Our Naim Uniti Atom, one of our favorite integrated amplifiers, was a terrible match for the 702s. Normally, the Naim can handle everything we throw at it. It was simply not enough to drive the power hungry 702 Signatures. The same was true for the very capable not to mention expensive Cambridge Edge system. Affordable-ish amplifiers that will work with the 702 Signature speakers can be found in the Musical Fidelity M3Si and the Crown amplifier. While the Crown 1502 can handle the job, we favor the M3Si over the Crown here.
M8xi, the best amplifier for the B&W 702 Signature tower speakers
To get the most out of these speakers, you will need to increase your power and budget - by a lot. We pulled out the ginormous Musical Fidelity M8xi Super Integrated Amp. We had unsuccessfully gone through many of our in house amps and realized if the M8xi couldn’t make these speakers sing, nothing would. The M8xi is Musical Fidelity’s flagship integrated amplifier. It boasts two monoblock power amps sharing a single chassis delivering 550 WPC. It’s a beast and the B&W 702 Signature towers loved this pairing. It wasn’t until we brought out this $7300 USD amp that we began to understand the true sound and capabilities of the newest B&W speaker. But honestly, should you have to pair a $7K amplifier to a pair of $6K speakers to make them sound good? I argue that you can do a lot more with less of an investment. But. But, if you are willing to go to the lengths necessary, you will find yourself with one of the best sounding speakers on the market. The Signatures, with the absolute right electronics, are a revelation. I cannot say whether they are night and day different from the regular 702 S2, but on their own, they are world class provided you are willing to go that extra mile for them.