Bowers & Wilkins 707 S2 Bookshelf Speaker Review and Specs (2024)

Bowers & Wilkins 707 S2 is a 2-way Passive Bass Reflex Bookshelf speaker by Bowers Wilkins. It features a 1" Decoupled Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Continuum Woofer. The speaker has a frequency range of 50-28k Hz and a sensitivity of 84 dB. B&W 707 S2 has an MSRP of 1599$ per pair.

Room Size Suitability

The size of the room where you plan to use the B&W 707 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:

(* 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 707 S2 with 707 S3. Follow the link to read our in-depth comparison of these speakers:

Bowers Wilkins's 700 S2 Anniversary Edition Series of Loudspeakers

707 S2 is a member of Bowers Wilkins's 700 S2 Anniversary Edition series of Passive speakers. Below you can see the main specs of these speakers.

Bowers Wilkins 700 S2 Anniversary Edition Series Speakers

	Model	Frequency	Sensitivity	Impedance	Woofer
	Compare	50-28k Hz	88 dB	8Ω	1 x 6.5"
	Compare	46-28k Hz	89 dB	8Ω	2 x 6.5"
	Compare	48-28k Hz	88 dB	8Ω	2 x 5"
	Compare	50-28k Hz	88 dB	8Ω	1 x 6.5"
		50-28k Hz	84 dB	8Ω	1 x 5"
	Compare	46-28k Hz	90 dB	8Ω	3 x 6.5"
	BW HTM71 S2 Compare	50-28k Hz	89 dB	8Ω	2 x 6.5"
	BW HTM72 S2 Compare	70-28k Hz	87 dB	8Ω	2 x 5"

Frequency Response of the B&W 707 S2 Speaker

B&W 707 S2 has a Frequency response range of 50-28k Hz at ±3dB and Power Range of 30-100 watts. With a minimum frequency of 50 Hz, 707 S2 delivers moderate bass depth so depending on your use case, you might want to consider adding a subwoofer to your system.

To focus on the subwoofers that are in a similar price range with B&W 707 S2, check out the Powered Subwoofers under $2000. Alternatively, find the Full list of Powered Subwoofers regardless of the price.

Here we have a comparison of how 707 S2's Low and High frequency values compare with the average, max and min Low and High frequency values in its class.

Impedance and Sensitivity

B&W 707 S2's nominal impedance level is 8 ohms but can go down to as low as 4.0 ohms, and has a sensitivity of 84 dB.

8 Ohms is pretty much the standard nominal impedance amongst stereo speakers and amplifiers so Bowers & Wilkins 707 S2 is not considered a difficult to drive speaker from nominal Impedance perspective.

Sensitivity

With a sensitivity level of only 84 dB, Bowers & Wilkins 707 S2 is a difficult to drive speaker from Sensitivity perspective, make sure to choose an amplifier with a high output if you like listening to your music at high volume levels. You may especially have a hard time using Tube amplifiers which are traditionally very low power compared to Class A/B or Class D amps.

Minimum Impedance of the B&W 707 S2

Even though the nominal impedance of the 707 S2 is 8 ohms, the minimum impedance level of this speaker according to Bowers Wilkins is 4.0 ohms Bowers & Wilkins 707 S2 so while choosing an amplifier, you should ideally check if the unit you are considering can provide this impedance level.

Check the amplifiers that are in a similar price range to the B&W 707 S2:

• Integrated Amps under 1500 USD
• Integrated Amps under 2000 USD
• Integrated Amps under 3000 USD
• All Integrated Amplifiers

Input Type

707 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.

B&W 707 S2 External Dimensions and Weight

B&W 707 S2 has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 11-inch x 6.5-inch x 10.9-inch (280.0 x 165.0 x 276.0mm ).

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 707 S2 is approximately 455.4cm² / 70.6inch².

To get a better perspective on the real life size of B&W 707 S2, let's compare it with a standard size Compact Disc which has a diameter of 4.7inch (120mm).

Here we place the B&W 707 S2 virtually next to a standard width amplifier and turntable on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet to get a better idea about the size.

Weight

The B&W 707 S2 weighs 6.00kg / 13.2lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how 707 S2's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.

How does the B&W 707 S2 compare to the Bowers Wilkins 706 S2?

One of the natural alternative to the B&W 707 S2 is the 706 S2 which is located one step higher in Bowers Wilkins's Passive Bookshelf selection.

Here is a scaled size comparison of these two speakers to give you an idea how their external dimensions compare:

Check the for more details.

Cabinet type and Materials

B&W 707 S2 has a Bass Reflex type cabinet and a MDF/Wood Veneer 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 707 S2 comes with 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet which you can use to secure your loudspeaker on the surface that you are putting on. 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 707 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. 707 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 707 S2 is available in Rosewood, Gloss Black and Satin White.

Wall Mounting

707 S2 doesn't sport any built-in mounting bracket, so you need an external structure to mount it on walls.

Does the B&W 707 S2 come with a Grille?

707 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 707 S2 is magnetic type, it is very easy to put it on and off.

What's in the Box of B&W 707 S2?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of 707 S2:

Recommended Accessories

Here is a list of accessories that we think you may need for the Bowers & Wilkins 707 S2.

• Speaker Cable and Connectors
• Speaker Cables with Banana Plugs: If you know the lenght of the cable you need, this is the easier option to connect your speakers with your amp.
• Speaker Cables without Connectors: If you are not sure about the lenght or need longer than standard cables with plugs, choose this option.
• Banana Connectors and Plugs: If you chose the cables without connectors option or already have some cable around, pick the banana plugs separately.
• Vibration Isolators: IsoAcoustics isolators more affordable options too.
• Acoustic Panels and Treatments: Your room is as important as your stereo equipment so acoustic treatments goes a long way in improving the overall performance.
• Speaker Stands: Stands bring your bookshelf speakers to ideal height (rule of thumb is to have the tweeter level with your ear in your listening position), helps stability and acoustical isolation.

User's Manual

For more information about how to setup, use and maintain the Bowers & Wilkins 707 S2, use the direct link below to download the official manual document:
Download User Manual for B&W 707 S2

Official Brochure

Here is a link to download the official brochure for the Bowers & Wilkins 707 S2 speaker:
Official Brochure for B&W 707 S2

Official Product Page

Official manufacturer's product page for the Bowers & Wilkins 707 S2 speaker can be found below:
Official Product Page for B&W 707 S2

Warranty

5 Years of parts warranty and 5 Years of labor warranty is generally provided by the manufacturer.