B&W Upgrades 700 Series With 2 Models Borrowing Features From 800 Series Diamond Line
Bowers & Wilkins refreshed the 700 Series loudspeaker line with two new models that bring in technology from the 800 series, it said Wednesday. The stand-mount 702 and floor-standing 705 Signature speakers borrow from the high-end 800 Series Diamond speakers with a tweeter-on-top assembly, Continuum cone drivers and aerofoil profile bass drivers, said the company. It also upgraded crossover designs and components, including bypass capacitors sourced from Mundorf, larger heatsinking and in the 702 an upgraded LF capacitor on the bass section of the crossover. The new Datuk Gloss black finish combines real-wood veneers with the environmental benefits of a sustainably-sourced supply from Italian manufacturer Alpi, said the company. The 702 ($6,499 a pair) and 705 ($3,999 a pair) Signature speakers will be available next month at 25% premiums over the non-Signature versions. Distribution for the 700 series models is similar to the that of the 800 series and "not transactional online," a spokesperson emailed: "Consumers truly need to experience the new model in person to understand the care that has gone into developing these new models."