Bowers and Wilkins have a rock solid reputation in the high-end speaker category. They have also branched out into other categories, such as wireless speakers, headphones, car audio, and video projector audio. They have also released a couple of soundbars, the Panorama (2009) and the Panorama 2 (2013).
However, since the previous Panorama soundbars were released, the soundbar market has gotten a lot more crowded, and features such as Dolby Atmos, Alexa voice control, and access to streaming services, have taken center stage.
Tip: B&W also offers another soundbar (The Formation Bar, $1,299 at Crutchfield), which is part of their Formation series of wireless speakers.
Soundbar price points keep coming down. In order for Bowers & Wilkins to be competitive in the soundbar category, they have to offer something that lives up to their standards while making it appealing for both its high-end customer base and also attract more mainstream consumers to the B&W brand.
Let’s find out if the newly announced Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 fills the bill.
Product Design
The Panorama 3 has a sleek design that fits below most TVs without obstructing the screen. It can also be wall-mounted using the provided wall-mount bracket.
The Panorama 3 is 65mm (2.5in) high, 1210mm (47.6in) wide, and 140mm (5.5in) deep. The Panorama 3 is a great visual match for 55-inch TVs, but you can use it with other TV sizes also. The Panorama 3 weighs 6.5kg (14.3lb).
Audio Support
Speaker Complement: Inside its sleek design, the Panorama 3 houses a total of 13 speaker drivers grouped into 3 front channels, a bass channel, and two Dolby Atmos height channels. Here is the breakdown:
- 2 (2-inch) midrange woven glass-fiber bass/midrange drivers combined with one ¾-inch titanium dome tweeter for each of the left, center, and right channels for a total of 9 drivers.
- 2 4-inch woven glass fiber Woofers
- 2 vertically firing 2-inch woven glass fiber drivers for the height channels
Total System Amplifier Power Output: 400W (no reference standard provided)
Frequency Response: 43Hz – 48kHz (no reference standard provided)
Dolby Atmos: The Panorama 3’s upward-firing speakers support Dolby Atmos height channel delivery for experiencing Dolby Atmos-encoded movies, immersive Dolby Atmos music, or gaming.
Tip: When Dolby Atmos content is not provided, the Panorama 3 reverts to a 3.1 channel forward-facing output, no upmixing is provided (the vertically firing speakers become inactive).
Additional Audio Format Support: Dolby Digital, True HD,
Dolby Digital Plus, LPCM. DTS audio formats are not supported.
Tip: If a Dolby Atmos signal is riding on top of a Dolby Digital Plus stream, it can be passed via HDMI-ARC as most TVs in use don’t have HDMI-eARC. However, not all TVs with HDMI ARC are Dolby Digital Plus compatible. Typically, Dolby Atmos rides on top of a Dolby TrueHD stream which can’t be passed via HDMI-ARC.
Streaming Options
Bluetooth V 5.2 is included for streaming music from compatible devices, such as smartphones. Bluetooth audio codecs supported include: aptX™ Adaptive, AAC, and SBC
The Bowers & Wilkins Music App provides access to a host of streaming services including Deezer, Last.fm, Qobuz, Soundcloud, TIDAL, TuneIn, and more to come.
Spotify Connect and Apple AirPlay 2 are also supported.
Tip: A forthcoming firmware update will allow the Panorama 3 to integrate with other B&W wireless speakers such as the Zeppelin and Formation series.
Control
The Panorama 3 does not come with remote control, but here are your options:
HDMI-CEC: If the soundbar is connected to a TV via HDMI-ARC/eARC, you can use the TV’s remote for basic soundbar functions via the HDMI-CEC protocol.
Onboard: There are onboard control buttons for power, volume, play/pause for Bluetooth content, and multi-feature navigation.
Bowers & Wilkins Music App: The Music app lets you set up and control the soundbar from any mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet. You can also use the app to stream music from a variety of popular services, as well as internet radio stations. The B&W Music App is available for both iOS and Android.
Voice Control Support: Alexa is built-in, no additional Echo Device is required (set up through the B&W Music App).
Connections
- (1) HDMI (ARC/eARC) input.
- (1) Digital optical input
- (1) Ethernet (RJ45) and WiFi
- (1) USB-C (for firmware updates and service only)
Tip: The Panorama 3 doesn’t provide connections for additional sources. AV sources need to be connected to the TV and then the TV passes the audio to the Panorama 3 via the TV’s HDMI-ARC/eARC or digital optical connection.
Setup
The Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 is easy to setup and use. With the included HDMI or optical cable, the soundbar is ready to deliver a satisfying listening experience.
Once you have power and TV connected, install the B&W Music App on your smartphone and follow the onscreen instructions and prompts. The App will also guide you through setting up Alexa voice control if you so desire.
What Comes in the Box
- Soundbar
- Power cord
- Quick Start Guide
- Wall Mount Bracket
Pricing and Availability
The Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 soundbar is available now for $999 at bowerwilkins.com (U.S. MSRP) and at other authorized dealers.
Related reading: Best Soundbars
