Since its introduction in 2022, Bowers & Wilkins 700 Series 3 has been a reliable anchor in the company’s loudspeaker lineup, combining proven engineering, solid build quality, and sound that largely delivers on expectations. We’ve already validated that performance with the 703 S3, which earned an Editors’ Choice Award in our Best Floorstanding Loudspeaker category. Now Bowers & Wilkins is expanding the range with the 707 Prestige Edition, a bookshelf/standmount model that is unapologetically about cosmetics rather than acoustic reinvention.
Based directly on the existing 707 S3, the Prestige Edition adds a Santos Gloss finish inspired by the 805 D3 Prestige Edition from 2018, built up using twelve layers of paint and lacquer, along with a unique rear logo plate to clearly differentiate it from the standard model. Pricing is set at €1,750 / £1,550, and it’s now been confirmed that this model will not be sold in the U.S., with availability limited to EU and APAC markets. Buyers should be clear-eyed about what’s new here: this is fundamentally the same speaker, dressed better, and priced accordingly. As for why the U.S. is excluded—tariffs, regional demand, or distribution strategy are all plausible explanations, but at this point, no official reason has been provided.
The 707 Prestige Edition sticks closely to the acoustic foundation of the standard 707 S3, retaining the same Carbon Dome tweeter, Continuum cone mid bass driver, and curved baffle design. This is not a wholesale rethink of the speaker’s voicing or architecture. Where Bowers and Wilkins has made changes is around refinement rather than reinvention.
The Prestige Edition introduces a newly optimized high frequency tweeter grille mesh and upgraded low loss speaker terminals borrowed directly from the award winning 705 S3 Signature. According to Bowers & Wilkins, these updates are intended to deliver a more open and spacious presentation than the standard model, but the core character remains intact. Think incremental polish, not a different speaker hiding in a nicer jacket.
Specifications
- Speaker Configuration: 2-way vented-box system (Bass Reflex)
- Tweeter: 1 x 25mm (1-inch) Decoupled Carbon Dome
- Mid-Bass: 1 x 130mm (5-inch) Continuum cone
- Frequency Range: 45Hz – 33kHz
- Frequency Response (+/-3dB from reference axis): 50Hz – 28kHz
- Sensitivity (on axis at 2.83Vrms at 1m): 84 dB
- Nominal Impedance: 8Ω (minimum 4.0Ω)
- Recommended Amplifier Power: 30W – 100W into 8Ω
- Dimensions: 300 x 165 x 284 (11.8 x 6.5 x 11.2 inches) including grille and terminals
- Net Weight: 6.2 kg (13.6 lbs)
The Bottom Line
Based on what Bowers & Wilkins is saying, the 707 Prestige Edition introduces a handful of design tweaks that may support a slightly more open presentation, but on paper it is the same speaker as the 707 S3. The specifications are unchanged, the drivers are unchanged, and the core performance profile remains intact. If you already own the 707 S3, there is no practical reason to “upgrade” unless the Santos Gloss finish and cosmetic detailing matter more to you than measurable gains.
This model is clearly aimed at buyers coming in fresh to the 700 Series who want the best looking version of the smallest speaker in the lineup, not existing owners chasing a meaningful performance jump. And for now, it’s a moot point for U.S. readers—the 707 Prestige Edition will not be coming to the U.S. at all, with availability confirmed for EU and APAC markets only. That takes the question of an American retail verdict off the table entirely, leaving this as a region-specific update rather than a product U.S. buyers can realistically expect to see in domestic showrooms.
Price & Availability
The 707 Prestige Edition is available from selected retailers for €1750 | £1550
FS-700 S3 floorstands in black or silver finishes are also available, should buyers prefer to standmounting to shelf placement.
Related Reading:
- Podcast: The History of Bowers & Wilkins’ 801 Loudspeakers at Abbey Road Studios with Andy Kerr
- Bowers & Wilkins’ 801 Abbey Road Limited Edition Loudspeaker Celebrates 45 Years of Iconic Studio Sound
- Bowers & Wilkins’ 700 S3 Signature Range Loudspeakers Deliver A Different Kind of Blue
- Bowers & Wilkins 703 S3 Loudspeakers: Editor’s Choice 2023
