Bowers & Wilkins 703 S2 is a 3-way Passive Bass Reflex Floor-standing speaker by Bowers Wilkins. It was released in 2017. It features a 1" Tweeter, 1 x 6" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Aerofoil Woofer. The speaker has a frequency range of 46-28k Hz and a sensitivity of 89 dB. B&W 703 S2 has an MSRP of 5000$ per pair but can often be found around 2998$ per pair.
Room Size Suitability
The size of the room where you plan to use the B&W 703 S2 is a crucial factor in your decision. We have assessed its suitability for various room sizes based on its dimensions and maximum power output:
| Listening Environment* |
Suitability |
| Near-field | Bad |
| Small Room | Poor |
| Mid-size Room | Good |
| Large Room | Good |
| Very Large Room | Poor |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2, Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: > 400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening position, speaker locations, etc.)
Bowers Wilkins later replaced 703 S2 with 703 S3. Follow the link to read our in-depth comparison of these speakers:
Compare B&W 703 S2 vs B&W 703 S3
Bowers Wilkins's 700 S2 Anniversary Edition Series of Loudspeakers
703 S2 is a member of Bowers Wilkins's 700 S2 Anniversary Edition series of Passive speakers. The 700 Series S2 Anniversary Edition was a run-out upgrade of B&W's mid-range 700 line, adding bypass capacitors and the Carbon Dome tweeter. Below you can see the main specs of these speakers.
See all 8 Bowers Wilkins 700 S2 Anniversary Edition models compared »
Bowers Wilkins 700 S2 Anniversary Edition Series Speakers
Frequency Response of the B&W 703 S2 Speaker
B&W 703 S2 has a Frequency response range of 46-28k Hz and Power Range of 30-200 watts. With a minimum frequency of 46 Hz, 703 S2 delivers moderate bass depth so depending on your use case, you might want to consider adding a subwoofer to your system.
Here we have a comparison of how 703 S2's Low frequency value compares with the average, max and min Low frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Thinking about a subwoofer for the B&W 703 S2?
B&W 703 S2's Aerofoil Woofer
Among the speakers in our database with a max MSRP price of 5000$ (Pair), these are the 5 Passive Floor-standing speakers that have the deeper bass levels than the B&W 703 S2's 46Hz:
Impedance and Sensitivity
B&W 703 S2's nominal impedance level is
8 ohms but can go down to as low as
3.1 ohms, and has a sensitivity of
89 dB.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
8 Ohms is pretty much the standard nominal impedance amongst stereo speakers and amplifiers so Bowers & Wilkins 703 S2 is not considered a difficult to drive speaker from nominal Impedance perspective.
Sensitivity
89dB of the Bowers & Wilkins 703 S2 is an average sensitivity for stereo speaker so it is neither easy nor difficult to drive Sensitivity wise. Work out how loud the B&W 703 S2 plays in your room →
Minimum Impedance of the B&W 703 S2
Even though the nominal impedance of the 703 S2 is 8 ohms, the minimum impedance level of this speaker according to Bowers Wilkins is 3.1 ohms Bowers & Wilkins 703 S2 so while choosing an amplifier, you should ideally check if the unit you are considering can provide this impedance level.
What amplifier does the B&W 703 S2 need?
At normal listening levels in a medium room, about
9.5–150 W
per channel into 8 ohms.
Set your own conditions and we will rank every amplifier we cover.
Prefer to browse? Integrated amplifiers under $5,000, or every amplifier we cover.
Input Type
703 S2 has Binding post type connectors and lets bi-amping/bi-wiring. Bi-wiring can enhance the overall transparency of your loudspeakers by using separate speaker wires for the low and high-frequency drivers from a single amplifier. Bi-amping, on the other hand, involves using separate amplifiers for the high and low-frequency drivers, potentially resulting in a greater dynamic range and reduced distortion.
Work out what gauge speaker cable this run needs →
B&W 703 S2's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
B&W 703 S2 External Dimensions and Weight
B&W 703 S2 has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 40.4 x 7-7/8 x 12.6 inch (1025 x 200 x 321 mm ).
Base Surface Area
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base area of B&W 703 S2 is approximately 642.0cm2 / 99.5inch2.
To get a better perspective on the real life size of B&W 703 S2, let's compare it with a standard size Compact Disc which has a diameter of 4.7inch (120mm).
B&W 703 S2 Speaker Size Compared to a Compact Disc
Here we place the B&W 703 S2 virtually next to a standard width amplifier and turntable on a media center to get a better idea about the size.
B&W 703 S2 Floor-standing Speaker next to a Media Stand
Find speakers that fit your shelf or alcove → · Work out where they should sit in the room →
WeightThe B&W 703 S2 weighs 25.00kg / 55lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how 703 S2's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Weight
Floor-standing Speakers under $5000
How does the B&W 703 S2 compare to the Bowers Wilkins 702 S2?
One of the natural alternative to the B&W 703 S2 is the 702 S2 which is located one step higher in Bowers Wilkins's Passive Floor-standing selection.
Here is a scaled size comparison of these two speakers to give you an idea how their external dimensions compare:
Comparison image of B&W 703 S2 and B&W 702 S2 Size and External Dimensions
Check the Detailed Comparison of B&W 703 S2 vs 702 S2 for more details.
Cabinet type and Materials
B&W 703 S2 has a
Bass Reflex type cabinet and a MDF/Lacquer finish. Bass Reflex type loudspeakers (aka Ported, Vented or Reflex Port) have enclosures that uses a port, hole or vent cut into the cabinet. Ported designs are generally more efficient than the Sealed designs.
Speaker Feet
B&W 703 S2 comes with the parts below which you can use to secure your loudspeaker on the surface that you are putting on:
- Plinth (base)
- Two-piece foam port plug
- 4 Rubber feet
- 4 Spike feet
It is always recommended to use some kind of feet under all types of speakers. Besides limiting the movement of the speakers, it also compensates for non-flat surfaces and limits the contact surface area of the speaker. Rubber based feet also help isolating the vibrations within certain frequency ranges.
Port Position
B&W 703 S2 is a rear-firing port speaker so you have to make sure you leave enough space between the back of the speaker and wall or bookshelf so that it has room to breathe. 703 S2 comes with
2 Two-piece foam port plugs so if you don't have any choice but place the speakers too close to the walls or other surfaces, you can use these plugs in order to avoid boomy or too much bass.
Available colors
B&W 703 S2 is available in Rosewood, Gloss Black and Satin White.
Does the B&W 703 S2 come with a Grille?
703 S2 comes with magnetic grilles in Black and Grey (Satin White only color choices. The purpose of the grille is to protect the delicate driver elements from external impacts while still allowing the sound to pass as clearly as possible. Since the included grille of the 703 S2 is magnetic type, it is very easy to put it on and off.
B&W 703 S2 with Grille
What's in the Box of B&W 703 S2?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 703 S2:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- Plinth (base)
- 2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)
- Two-piece foam port plug
- 4 Rubber feet
- 4 Spike feet
- 4 Lock-nuts
- 4 Screws
- 4 Washers
- 4 Lock washers
- Hex-key
- Manual
- Bowers & Wilkins brochure
- Warranty Information
Recommended Accessories
Here is a list of accessories that we think you may need for the Bowers & Wilkins 703 S2.
User's Manual
For more information about how to setup, use and maintain the Bowers & Wilkins 703 S2, use the direct link below to download the official manual document:
Download User Manual for B&W 703 S2
Official Brochure
Here is a link to download the official brochure for the Bowers & Wilkins 703 S2 speaker:
Official Brochure for B&W 703 S2
Official Product Page
Official manufacturer's product page for the Bowers & Wilkins 703 S2 speaker can be found below:
Official Product Page for B&W 703 S2
Warranty
5 Years of parts warranty and 5 Years of labor warranty is generally provided by the manufacturer.