WORTH THE HYPE? Bowers and Wilkins 702 SIGNATURE Tower Speaker Review

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

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[@Turtleback8024]

Andrew you said there's a link for everything that flashes on screen in your videos... I want the dog!❤😂🙆🐈

[@KristiWright]

@@Turtleback8024 She's a one of a kind, I'm afraid.

[@mohamedahmed1023]

Excellent review! I have very little tolerance for inconvenient technology. My tech/equipment works around my life- not the other way around. I don't tolerate speakers that are hard to place or hard to match. I don't like a lot of equipment so a rack is of no use to me. I've found a 2.2 system with 2 subs and active bookshelves the easiest approach. No need for amp pairing. Bookshelves take up less space than floorstanders and can be easily transported if you move occasionally as keeping boxes for floorstanders is a nonstarter for those that are space constrained. Also, floorstanders are more challenging to place in smaller rooms.

[@chrisbullock6477]

Great set of speakers for my Jazz/Latin Jazz Albums

[@CONVID-xy4ur]

Hi Andrew, how does this do against the Q Accoustic Concept 500? Honestly im considering a b&w 805D3 and a concept 500, also consodering a Proac Response D2R. Are the Concept 500 more musical than the B&W? In terms of warmnth how does B&W compare with Concept 500?:) honestly very hard to look at speakers and they vary room to room.

[@FarHagh]

Interesting. It's refreshing to see a review which talks about all the "but" and "problems" of a product, despite it being a great one.

[@mantus3243]

It’s necessary and I agree. It won tho, product of the year

[@watsonanthony8438]

He just mentioned that the speaker sounds better when you crank it. Some speaker sounds great a low volume

[@mantus3243]

@@watsonanthony8438 Yes. My neighbors agree. Thinking about a MC462 for these.

[@BC-ni3sk]

I've owned a pair of the 702 S2 speakers, I bought them at the end of July. 2020. l have had many speakers over the years (I'm 66) and I've found these speakers to be the best I've heard that I've owned. Again as we all know you will like the speakers that you like. No one can tell you what sounds best to you however these speakers are sweet! To be sure Andrew hit the nail on the head you need an amp/receiver that puts out the muscle. The speaker is rated from 30 watts and up but you won't be happy with an underpowered source. As we can appreciate the law of physics that comes to play and when you have several speakers to drive within one cabinet you need some muscle. I'm using a Macintosh 7200 which has up to 200 watts however I don't need the full power of the amp either. I am very happy with these speakers and this is the first time I've owned Bowers and Wilkins product. What a nice model to have from them.

[@Terrapinonline]

This was very helpful. Thank you. I also have a MC 7200 and was wondering if that amp paired well with these speakers. My preamp is also Macintosh, C42. I just put a deposit on a brand new pair that was damaged during shipping; cosmetic issues but not a problem for me because the damage is on the lower right side so won't be seen in my setup as that speaker will be near a right side corner wall. Sale price is $4,500 which I assume is a no brainer for a pair of Sig. 702's. I've been listening to Thiels 3.1 speakers for 32 years and looking forward to this. I'll be checking them out in-person tomorrow. Cheers.

[@FlintingSun]

Hey BC with a powerful amp such as yours, would you say low level listening is enjoyable as well on those speakers?

[@jimwong2823]

Have u ever heard PROAC response 3??

[@BC-ni3sk]

@@jimwong2823 No

[@jimwong2823]

@@BC-ni3sk U should . Knowledge is power

[@luke78333]

Damn! This has got to be one of, if not my favorite speaker review ever! It felt like a ride at Universal Studio's; full of things coming at you, left, right and center as you make your way through it. Mate, you are at the top of your game! Thank you so much for what you do.

[@andreasmoller9798]

Update i have i had 702 s2 for 3 weeks now and the bass has really come alive, very deep and controlled driven by Hegel h190, the hegel is really good of you want good bass depth and controll and there is so much detail, i don’t need to play loud to get a balanced sound from 702 with my h190

[@andreasmoller9798]

@@zaoria123 no never heard h390, so i have not been able to do that camparsion, but planning to save up for h390 hopefully in a year, i am expecting that h390 will get more out of them

[@andreasmoller9798]

@@zaoria123 i Am happy with h190 driving 702 still, i just want to see what they can do with more power

[@jamescompton8358]

As a very happy owner of a pair of two-year-old B&W 702 s2 floorstanders, I can say that your review of the new 702 Signatures matches my own experience. That is to say, that if paired properly the 702s are outstanding speakers. When I first brought them home I was running them off my Rotel a 12 amplifier. However, when I upgraded to a Linn Majik DSM integrated amplifier the sound opened up. More recently, I tweaked them by adding IsoAcoustic Gaia iii speaker isolaters. This move opened up the soundstage even further. Amazing clarity and separation on the high and mid-range. My only issue is that my living room is small, forcing me to place the speakers closer to the wall than the recommended 18 inches. The Linn Spatialization software has helped tremendously, but i still need to put foam plugs in the back bass outport to compensate. That said, I love them.

[@chriss881000]

I heard the 702 s2 some days ago, and I was so disappointed . Finally i had save up for some new speakers, and I have been looking on the 702 s2 for some while. I own the standard 603's, and in my opinion the 603 sounds so much better. And i dont get why that is. The 603 cost about 2.000$ and the 702 s2 cost 5.500$ . I was ready to be blown away, and nothing happened. Gonna take them home for a couple of days to hear them in my home. Any toughts on this ?

[@KristiWright]

They're so pretty! Seriously, how good do these look in our house?!?!?

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Some of the best (looking) by far!

[@mantus3243]

THE best looking.

[@perefortiusjr5938]

This review remembers me when I was 20 years old and I saw an outstanding Ferrari Testarossa parked near the beach clubs. I looked it all the way, hesitating to touch it and then, two men approach the car talking out loud about the racing test one of them was forced to pass in order to have it because the high power under the hood. 30 years later, the 702 are my current Testarossa, I have not enough power to drive them and no money to acquire it.

[@camzane52]

Just wanted to say that the only reason they have the base is due to a tipping standard in Europe where they're produced. The country (I believe its the UK) has a tipping standard for all furniture being sold, which loudspeakers are considered furniture there. If you push the speaker sideways it will actually rock back and forth, but not tip over unless shoved. If you were to bump into them, they would simply rock. Just thought that would be a interesting bit of information. The stands aren't necessary for the speaker in any capacity.

[@safaeslambolchi4129]

Thanks for the great review. This video has helped me so much in my HiFi journey in selecting my Amp and speakers. Just upgraded from B&W 705 to 702 Signature speakers and I am blown away in every way. Hooked up to my Amp, Yamaha AS2200, these STUNNING speakers sound FANTASTIC! I am all smiles and could not be happier!!! Thank you for the great advice on matching Amp and speakers.👍🏼👍🏼

[@nicholasleech1859]

I have a Yamaha AS2100 amp (predecessor to the 2200) and am thinking about buying 702 Siganture speakers - so I am very interested in your experiences. You seem very happy with your combination. Does your system still sound good at lower volumes? Some people seem to think 702 Sigs only sound good when played loud. I can't turn the volume up too high due to my neighbours. Any comments please? Thanks, Nick

[@safaeslambolchi4129]

Yamaha AS-2200 is such a power house that I can barely turn the volume up more than half way in my living room! I listen to my music at 25%-%35 volume in the evening and I’m pretty happy. Louder volume gives a more immersive experience and I can feel the energy coming from the woofers. Hope this helps. What speakers do you currently have?

[@nicholasleech1859]

@@safaeslambolchi4129 Thanks for the reply. I did have B&W 804 D3 speakers, which I loved - but I have sadly had to downgrade my main hifi system to release money for a house move. My temporary speakers are Monitor Audio Gold Signature GS20s which are OK as a stop-gap. Before the 804 D3s, I had B&W CM10 S2s which I liked. The 804 D3s were a clear step up, but much more money. I was thinking of getting some second hand 702s (or even another pair of CM10 S2s) as a compromise solution, without breaking the bank. It's hard when you are downgrading!

[@RyanZNO]

The reason you couldn’t get them to disappear is because you have them positioned completely wrong. The toe in is way too aggressive. I thought this was the way to go initially as well, but soon learned it’s no. I have them positioned 7.5 ft apart with a very slight toe in. This keeps the center image impeccable but the speakers are completely gone, and the soundstage is much larger.

[@jordanmacfarlane5807]

That exactly how I set up my cm10s

[@tagtag-connected5263]

Yes I have mine the same way. Sometimes I completely forget I am in stereo mode and the center channel is not playing. Dialed in correctly with toe in it should appear the 702s sound is coming from imaginary center channel

[@gordoa172]

Thank you sincerely for adding the multiple comparisons for all of your fan base! No doubt, these B&W's are everything an aspiring audiophile could dream of -but some of us just can't justify the cost and everything else that comes with it.You guys are awesome! Please continue Trailblazing! The Jamo C 97 ll are the ones for me!!

[@richardgagg8588]

I have a pair of 702 S2's about three years old (obviously not the signatures) Originally I drove them with a Yamaha AS-2100 amp and they sounded great. Anyway, that amp died in an accident. Afterwards I purchased a refurbished Yamaha AS-3200 at half of the new retail price. I had compared them to a similar size and priced pair of Paradigms and I chose the B&W's This Yamaha/ B&W combination sounds spectacular. I listen to my music mostly at medium/high volumes so my comments are when playing with a little gusto. Vocals especially female are accurate acoustic guitars and drums are also impressive. I've owned many systems since the late 70's and these are the best I've heard yet. I never buy speakers without auditioning them first and I try very hard to make sure they are the only speakers in the room when I do the audition. I would like to hear them paired with a suitable Rotel amp as both companies are under the same "roof" nowadays. Anyway my 2c - I like them.

[@michaelmarquez6133]

Hello, I am new to this and had someone wanting to sell me 2 704 s2 and one HTM 72 s2 center From B&W but this whole amp thing spooked me so I am also looking at Kef q950 and Q600 . The bowers he wants a thousand and the Kef is 1400 not sure if there’s any room in price on that but anyway any any advise would be much appreciated. I already made the mistake of buying the Bose soundbar Dolby Atmos with the surround and 2 subs and I paid way too much I mean it was better than only tv speakers but I really want something better that I can be happy with thanks

[@christopherjohnson9001]

As many have already mentioned, this is one of the most complete, well-rounded, and honest reviews I have seen on Hi-Fi equipment in a long time. Well done! I enjoyed this full-length review in a similar manner as I enjoyed Sandy Munro’s honest review of the Tesla Model Y. Very different kit, but honest, consultative information. Thank you. 👍

[@TheAlanFish]

I recently auditioned the 702 S2 in home in comparison with a pair of Tekton Impact Monitors in order to decide which to buy. This was after the Tektons had beaten out Buchardt S400s in a home test, and the B&Ws sounded vastly better than a set of Elac Vela F@407s in an in- store listening experience. In my home, both speakers were Dirac Live tuned via a MiniDSP DDRC-24, and power was courtesy of an XTZ Edge A2-300. Source is a HTPC running Tidal and/or FLAC files from the hard-drive via USB audio to the MiniDSP which serves as the DAC. The B&Ws were a bit of a strange beast in that they had a much better sense of room presence and "sparkle" to the high end in particular and tighter bass, but simply did not sound natural to me in comparison to the Tekton Impact monitors. Midrange, and in particular vocals, sounded a bit colored. They actually make voices sound nasal in comparison to the Tektons, which seem to have a very neutral sound. That is not to say that the Tektons are not without their issues. Their quality control is pretty suspect, in that they arrived with two screws not fully tightened on each of the lower midbass speakers, same one on both cabinets. That made them sound awful, and I genuinely thought something was wired up out of phase when they arrived. They also have shipping damage to their finish due to poor packaging, for which they are trying to blame the shipping company when it is clearly from the plastic bags they ship the speakers in rubbing against the finish. To top it off, the optional grilles would be be considered comically bad if they hadn't cost me $75 extra. They stick out past the corners of the speaker cabinets because they don't have a bevel like the speakers themselves do in the corners, and were broken on arrival despite no damage to the packaging Only thing holding one of them together is the fabric stappled to them. Yes, you read that correctly. Stapled, obviously by hand. Bad company to deal with from a customer service perspective, but man are they onto something with that weird looking tweeter array. It's just so perfectly natural sounding in it's presentation of voices especially. B&Ws sounded better in the bass and the highs, but midrange rules all when it comes to the musical experience, and I simply couldn't part with the Tektons in the end. Makes me wonder what you might be able to come up with if you took an array of tweeters and drivers as exceptional as the B&Ws are, and combined it with the design concept of the Tektons. Would cost a small forture to do though, given that there are 14 tweeter per pair. LOL!

[@superingo8087]

Hi, I have listened to the 702 S2 & the 702 S2 Signiture and compared them. There is no real difference in sound. Sometimes one sounded slightly better, sometimes the other .. Depending on the instrument and voice ... In my opinion, these are excellent speakers that actually come close to the 804 D3. The step from 603 to 702 is enormous, from 702 to 804 maybe 15%. I'm talking about the ability to get everything out of a recording and to arouse emotions in a "neutral" way. Of course there are a few other speakers for about 4000 bugs that are also very good, but I claim there are none that act like a studio speaker and still arouse joy and emotion. It is not a box with the wow effect right from the start. Others can do that better (e.g. Esprit Australe EZ). But once you have understood what the 702 wants from you, you can have a lot of fun, and long-term. Some loudspeakers get annoyed at some point. I opted for the normal 702 S2 and saved myself 1000 bugs. As an amplifier I have the M6si which I think is extremely good. In addition, the Node 2i as a streamer, as it has many possible uses. Oh yes speaker cable: I always smiled at people with their "cable sound" ... I had perfectly normal copper cables for my old B&W 683 and they were perfectly adequate and good. So I thought ... My hifi dealer had to convince me and finally sold me van den hul silver-plated cables. Actually not that expensive. The difference, especially in the bass range on the 702 S2 loudspeakers, was extreme. As if the amplifier had been briefly upgraded again. I'm really glad I bought it ... Conclusion: The 702 S2 are great speakers that can certainly keep up with much more expensive speakers. But they also need a hi-fi chain of the same quality. Otherwise they play under value. I can't confirm that they don't sound good at low volume! Andrew: Thank you for your interesting review!!!!

[@wazzazv614]

I have found the 702 s2 to be a great speaker tied to a 200w rms Rotel system. I found the soundstage improved with a class a valve preamp. Looking at the schematics of the crossover systems of the 702 s2 and signature they have been very mildly tweaked by slightly changing the values of the upper and lower resistors. B&W has charged a premium for these small changes although the exterior finish is far superior. Tried high end Yamah amp just didn't make the grade. You are very correct in your assessment of these 702s they are unforgiving. If recordings are inferior they let you know but with good recordings they are incredible and the detail is stunning. Very much an audiophile speaker as you mentioned. A great review.

[@MrJatzeq]

Found them excellent with hegels but 805n

[@0079supersaiyan]

Running the normal 702 S2s for almost 3 years with the Arcam SR250 and this combination works really well. I've never felt I needed more power to drive these speakers. Top end is crisp and detailed..very life like. If you close your eyes....you could imagine the sonic stage in the center of the room like the artist has come alive and singing a private concert just for you. Mid range is incredible and very resolving and base is fast and tight..with no boominess. The setup is very modest but provides amazing results. I've demod components for almost 20k more and the difference in sound quality did not justify the outlay. Heavily into the Diminishing returns territory. I'm sure some would argue a 702 s2 and arcam sr250 is already Diminishing returns but imo for the money its incredible value.

[@thewrench80]

Fantastic honest insightful review as per usual. Quality video/audio with an opinion I can trust.

[@freekderks1983]

A friend of mine has the regular 702s2 combined with NAD M12/M22. Absolutely stunning sound! Best I've heard so far and made me get my own pair of b&w speaker (a pair of 707s2) Can confirm that they are power-hungry. My friend had a problem with their M12 and while it was send back to NAD they got a replacement c388 for use in the meantime. Even though that amp offers 150w per channel, the power was waaaay too low to drive these speakers and the sound was horrible.

[@andreasmoller9798]

Hegel h190 is also 150 watt per channel and its much better than nad c388, i have it with my 702 s2 and i am blown away with the perfomence

[@billd9667]

I finally have my KEF LS50s dialed in with a pair of “cheap” SVS SB1000 subs (high level). I was getting a suckout at 50Hz. It never occurred to me that the phase setting was the issue. 180 degrees later, perfection. The punch is back! Recommended for just about any amp that isn’t “hot” at high frequencies.

[@JEG6919]

B&W speakers have been a solid choice for a while now. Most people have heard of them as well so they get high marks for brand recognition when/if you choose to upgrade.

[@GeordieAmanda]

I recently bought these speakers ^^ and had the chance to do a back to back comparison with the 702 S2 (regular) speakers as well as the Monitor Audio Gold 300. The amp was a high-end McIntosh, so driving them wasn't a problem. The Monitor Audios won the award for most bass and by a margin to my ears, but the 702 Sigs seemed just more revealing and although they didn't have quite the same deep bass, the LF they had was more controlled and dynamic I felt. The mid to upper ranges really sang to me and I don't mind a speaker that some may think is a little clinical in this regard. It was a tough choice overall between the Sig's and the MA Golds, mostly as they are very different sounding speakers, so it was a little tricky to get your footing and realise a true baseline for the way they would sound in your own home. The Sigs ultimately won as the bass accuracy, lovely mids and clean highs won me over compared to the impressive, show stopping MA Golds and after seeing Andrew's review of them (this actual one) I upgraded my Roksan K3 power amp to a Musical Fidelity M6 PRX and the Sigs have really sung to me ever since. The interesting thing of my test was the difference between the two B&W models, the S2 and the Sig. I wondered if I would embarrass myself in front of the hi-fi shop salesman and be unable to hear much, if any, difference (it is mainly the crossover that is different, not the actual drive units), but no, it was actually quite an easy reveal. The two speakers do indeed sound quite different to each other. I was most surprised. The Sigs had a much better sound stage, wider and more accurate, as well as a sort of richness to the mid range and what sounded like a little more heft and attack in the mid and lower bass. I certainly could have performed a blindfold test on these two and picked them apart without trouble. The best part was I had gone to listen to the speakers with a view to buy the Sigs as the store's demo pair (the ones I actually listened to) but in the end got a fantastic deal on a brand new pair at £3,000. I realise the 702 S3 is about to hit the shops, but I suspect it won't be much better, if at all, than the S2 Sigs and certainly nowhere near the price I got them for. Keep up the good work Kristi and Andrew :)

[@1wired4sound]

I’m using Musical Fidelity monoblocks in my system, 700wpc @8 ohms. It replaced a Mcintosh MC 252 which is no slouch but the MF is on another level. Absolutely amps matter

[@andreasmoller9798]

Just got 702S2 for a day paired with hegel h190 even sound fantastic straight out of the box, bass is stronger than i expected for a new speaker, i am blown away by the perfomence

[@stephenfletcher6801]

A few days ago, at Magnolia Home Theater, I tested the 702 S2 (not signature) using Marantz w/110 per channel power and that produced an amazing sound quality on those speakers. One of the most detailed sounds I have ever heard.

[@UNIKEKE]

The Naim UNITI Atom is way too fair for the signature 702 S2, I am very satisfied after several tests and listening with the NAIM UNITI NOVA, the marriage is very happy!

[@lazycalm41]

I look forward to your reviews Andrew, you have one of those voices I could listen to all day long, add in that you are a HiFi freak like me and its winning combination. These speakers look drop dead gorgeous and I bet sound incredible!

[@emiltsenov7853]

I had B&W speakers for more than 15 years - initially B&W 602S3 with Roksan Kandy, then B&W CM9 with Audio Analogue. All B&W speakers I had heard, including mine, sounded great at higher volumes but lifeless at low volumes. I cannot afford to play at high volume (neighbours, ear fatigue, etc.). First I tried switching the amp on the C9s and I introduced the Accuphase E370 which is, well, a formidable machine. Things improved but not as much as I would have liked. They were still kind of "dead" unless you put the dial at 10 o'clock and above. Then I got fed up at all this and started searching for new speakers. I finally chose standmounters - the Aurum Cantus Volta MkII - and I complemented them with a REL T9i subwoofer. The combination sounds simply fantastic and it is exactly the price of a pair of B&W 702 Signatures. Bowers and Wilkins make some really great speakers and I like their tonal signature but I think that their shortcomings are not worth the hassle any more.

[@michaelmityok1001]

Agreed, except I think the 700 S2 range is an upgrade to the CM range, especially in mid-range tone and accuracy/resolution. Congrats on the Aurum Cantus bookshelves, fabulous speakers!

[@emiltsenov7853]

@@michaelmityok1001 Thanks, appreciated! I had an audition of many brands - B&W 805, Harbeth, PMC, Spendor, AudioPhysic, Focal, Dynaudio, etc. And you know what - in the end I took the Aurum Cantus. It simply blew them out of the water. It is simply unbelievable what level of quality and finish these speakers offer for the price. If the nameplate said "Sonus Faber" they would have a 5-figure price tag on them. It must be one of the best kept secrets in the hifi industry...

[@michaelmityok1001]

@@emiltsenov7853 yup the Chinese are kicking our ass in many industries in terms of value for money, hifi obviously is no exception. Denafrips for example makes super DACs, and now amps/preamps, just bought their Athena preamp, nothing close to it for the $ in terms of sound/build quality.

[@78sound]

This channel never lets me down ...outstanding content and host, production value...linked this to my buddy that is interested in buying this exact product. Very cool.

[@KristiWright]

❤

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Much appreciated, 78.

[@SurajKumar-AskMe]

Hi Andrew, Its a given that the future of music is going to be mostly online streaming services like Spotify, Tidal etc. So it would definitely help prospective buyers if you could reflect on the sonic characteristics of the said hardware with compressed / streaming music. I am saying this on behalf of the majority of budget buyers who want to step into the Audiophile world step by step but cant afford to buy thousands of dollars of pro equipment, vinyls, CDs etc.

[@revelationsoundstudio]

These speakers and Focal 948's are the bomb. Focal are a little smoother while the B&W are a little sharper but not in a bad way.

[@edgardoaleman8586]

B&W speakers + Rotel amplifiers, is an almost-perfect marriage. B&W’s are usually very hard speakers to drive. I get the best of my PM-1 speakers bi-wiring them to a Rotel 1052 receiver with amazing results.

[@rossbeake5779]

What do you think of the B&W 606 AND Rotel A10 combination?

[@iamkevn]

​@@rossbeake5779 I have the 606 paired with Rotel RA-03 ....sounds amazing....now looking to upgrade to 702 s2 for the 3 way sound.....dont know if it will make that difference considering the extra power needed.

[@johnestoce1503]

the way you deliver your statements is downright hilarious and genius at the same time! I am not really in to HiFi but, man your videos are so worth watching

[@RogueHomeCinema]

I remember installing MAC 500watt monos and 802s2 many years ago, expecting “magic” and it was not there. Hifi stereo systems are sophisticated instruments that need synergy for real. It’s not just plug and play expensive stuff and it’s going to be great. Awesome to see these reviews that reveal this. It’s shame when people spend the $$ and don’t get the result. It’s sure worth finding. Love my music, it’s what got me into the industry :)

[@dalechalfont112]

I already love my 4th gen Monitor Audio gold 300s, but reviews like this of a speaker that costs $1800 more than mine did makes me want to go and hug them. Especially when 120 or 200 watts from my rotel amps make them sing. Great review and I love the honesty as always. People need to know what they are really getting into

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Appreciate you watching and so glad to hear you're enjoying your speakers!

[@jeromewhitmill733]

So glad to see Musical Fidelity integrated amplifiers can't wait for your review. Also if they have built in phono stage report on that too please and thank you!

[@sabbathAndy]

Another great video! Love your content Andrew, always on point well spoken and clear!

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Really appreciate that, Andreas.

[@ELcinegatto87]

B&Ws are awesome, but you need MASSIVE amplification to hear them sing. Bryston, McIntosh etc. Feed them NOTHING but Class AB. Class D won't do them justice even though they might sound solid. But I moved to horns 4-5 years ago and don't miss mid 80s dB efficient dynamic cone/woofer speakers at all. The dynamics and speed of a 3 way horns is intoxicating. But if I ever want to go back to dynamic "box" type speakers, give me Focals or B&Ws all day everyday. They have a very powerful sound that is great for modern music genres and HT alike. But so do horns and you don't need a mega amplification. Nice review Andrew.

[@mrmartinbusek]

Very good review. I'm thinking about Musical Fidelity M3si for my B&W 603s and considering that it was acceptable with these, it should be a good match for 603s. One more thing, I use XTZ Edge at the moment with 603s and it's not bad at all. I wonder how it would go with these 702 signature ones. Especially when using two XTZs as monoblocks.

[@BC-ni3sk]

I had a pair of the 702 signatures and what Andrew says is all true. These speakers were phenomenal! Notice past tense on the 702's, I did upgrade to the 802 D4's which are even more incredible and should be for the money. As so often is the case and I've found it to be true over the years through many, many systems and speakers more is better when it comes to power. I would rather have an amp pumping out a solid 200 a channel instead of something less as I can always turn the volume down and still give the speakers a hard push. Trying to take an amp and it's putting out 20 watts and trying to power something the size of a ice chest usually doesn't work very well at all.

[@christinearmington]

Yet Zen Triodes drive Klipsch Cornwalls.

[@vdracula1234]

I did it, i became a member, Andrew u´r the only one I ever membered ever.. :) and I have a lot of hobbies :)) Greetings from timisoara Romania Michael

[@OHMAudioChannel]

Welcome to the club! Punch is on the table in the back.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

So happy to have you, Michael. Kristi and I really appreciate your support!

[@irisfailsafe]

I have noticed that most people who buy B&W high end speakers power them with Macs. Notice that is how they always show/demo them in HIFI stores. So yeah prepare to spend a lot of money in your system

[@BijBijTCG]

You mean Macintosh amplifiers?

[@irisfailsafe]

@@BijBijTCG yes the ones that are black with blue meters

[@lordjjm]

Recomend you review the Dali Rubicon 6 or 8 :) Would have been fun to compare those to the 702s :)

[@sdemosi]

I heard the Opticon 6 and the B&W paired to the superlative Hegel h590 amp. I'd take the Opticons all day long. The Hegel has the power and class to drive the 702 sigs but in a direct comparison, the Opticons have smoother highs, a nicer upper mid, more plentiful and sweeter mid bass, better spatialisation & a wider soundstage. At lower volume the Opticons sound richer and less clinical. Only the upper highs were better on the B&W and that's very much a matter of taste. I wanted to love the 702 sigs and didn't. I'm not saying they sound bad. Far from it as they have extraordinary analytical detail and maybe for some listeners they're perfect. They just didn't excite me much at all and I wouldn't buy them. I've heard nicer speakers at similar prices from Fyne Audio, Focal, DALI and Sonus Faber. Honestly, I preferred a much cheaper set of Canton Vento 896s. Sometimes a speaker just doesn't work for a listener.

[@michaelmityok1001]

Big respect for this review. IMHO the most accurate and definitive review on a 700 series speaker on KZbin right now. As a former 702 owner (I just upgraded to the 804s), take heed of this review if you are thinking of buying a 700 series speaker, or any B&W speaker for that matter, as they are all, to one degree or another, rather finicky.

[@emiltsenov7853]

My thoughts exactly - see my comment above.

[@wouldntyouliketoknow860]

Will you de doing anything on the 705 Signature bookshelf speakers?

[@MrEhf111]

Great review ... your comments are relevant today as well as way back in B&W history. In the early 1980's I bought, and still use and enjoy, B&W Matrix 802 Series 3 loudspeakers. At first while I replenished my "slush fund" I powered them with my existing Yamaha MX-50 135W stereo amp and it was bad. Lifeless, lacking dynamic impact, etc. Additionally, the 802's could cause the MX-50 to clip with ease. Once able I replaced the amplifier/preamp with my Krell KSA 150/KSP7B (still used to this day) and, like magic, problem solved. So, you are exactly correct that as it relate to the higher end B&W's it has always been the case that a significant investment in amplification is required to extract their best. Love the channel, keep up the good work.

[@germanmenendez1401]

I own a 706s2 and in some ways i recognize what you are talking about. With tihis 700 series BW has taken some risks. The treble is persistent, they dont make the tramp to veil It to get a sweeter sound. I dont mean the treble is unrefined, i think It is well refined and defined but you need a well match with the amplifier. Avoid old Nad or low power Marantz for example. You need an amplifier with grunt and bass presence.If you get it they Will take you ti a place were no other speker in this price point Will take you. The definition, refinement and expressivenes of those spekees is sublime.

[@guzzirider701]

I agree. You need a slightly darker tuned and precisely powerful amplifier to get the highs under control. With a bright amp it's the wrong way.

[@bikdav]

You brought up an interesting point. I find a lot of speakers these days don't like to be played "quietly."

[@Hirnlego999]

Elac Reference 62 for sure.

[@SiarheiHladkou]

I have tried a bunch of different speakers and B&W 702 was the only speaker going up from $500 to $5000 which did not introduce any color to the reproduced sound. No matter what amplifier has been used, sound was crisp clear and live. Maranz, Denon, Pioneer, Mcintosh - can bring more live and realistic presence and this will correspond to the power and price. I even thought a bit on the Focal speakers which are just $4000 and sound very nice with warm tone, but decided to go with the clarity. Waiting for my order now with impatience. Will pair with Rotel-1592.

[@peterkeller-larsen6786]

How did the pairing with Rotel-1592 work?

[@SiarheiHladkou]

@@peterkeller-larsen6786 It works very well. The sound field is clear and all instruments are on the scene. Very much liked embedded DAC (384kHz 32bit) and Bluetooth (works 24bit 44kHz from iPhone playing FLAC). Had to revisit my song's library, as now many compositions sound like a poor recording. As been said, speakers are monitor type, you will hear all truth from the songs :) Rotel has a British accent ;) Love it much better than the Japanese.

[@Cooliewhistles]

I found 702 very colored with details and brass being ultra forward , couldn’t listen to many tracks

[@SiarheiHladkou]

@@Cooliewhistles This happens with low volume and under power amplifier, agree, you need to listen them louder

[@SiarheiHladkou]

@@Cooliewhistles see the review from Andrew Robinson on youtube, very true

[@gregorytrane7828]

Thank you for your honesty. Most B&W's have required reserve power to enhance the dynamic range at normal listening levels because of their inherent crossover and driver and bass designs. I agree with everything said and have owned many B&W speakers through the years. Good review.

[@bobtroutman]

I have been looking at 702 S2 speakers and I have been hoping to hear how these would work with my McIntosh MA5200. It puts down 100 watts at 8 ohm but it is about cleanest I have ever owned. I wonder if these would work with that.....

[@Batusflame]

I have a pair of CM8's and didn’t really come alive until I Bi Amped with Cyrus Amps. I find the sound stage to be massive and they do disappear into room. Detailed treble and amazing midrange but bass could do with a little more depth. Love your reviews and keep up the good work.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Thanks! I have found that older or past B&W models also had wider soundstages and better dispersion, maybe these newer designs are more focused? My former 802 Ds imaged like champions once setup correctly (and powered properly) but these just didn't. And it isn't my room for a lot of speakers image like champions in our space.

[@gerispmakris]

This was an excellent review. I've owned several B&W's over the last 25 years (801 Matrix S3, CDM 7SE, 804 Nautilus, CM9, CM 10 S2, and now 803 D2) and all B&W's have a similar sonic signature that you indicated top to bottom. I agree, that if you want the absolute best performance possible, using quality components is a must. NAD's M32 is a very good integrated amp with good power. It made a significant difference in the quality/depth of the bass and improved detail in mid/highs in my system. That said, I do agree that in order to truly enjoy them and appreciate what they're capable of, you need to listen to them at a suitable volume allowing them to open up and be revealing. I would disagree that they otherwise sound flat, but rather constrained because they're actually being held back at lower volume. For better or worse, it is what it is.

[@gavriushka]

Love your content! Made a decision to start building a home theater after watching a ton of your videos. Definitely very helpful and entertaining as well. Thanks for your work!

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@lp1133]

I have the 702 S2's paired up with a McIntosh separate amp and pre-amp. They sound amazing and I am curious to see how the Signature series compares. Nice review!!

[@avg0062]

Hi, I have heard the book self version of the signature series of the 700's B & W, and they sounded good in the mid range. The amplifier used to drive them was a amp from Parasound. However, Andrew is right, because one has to be careful what kind of electronics one uses to drive these speakers. I think when B & W created these speakers, their purpose might of been for 2 channel listening, because there was no matching center channel, or sub included in this particular line. On a personal note: I'm in the process in creating another theater room in my home. The gear that I'm considering may be the B & W 700 series speaker line. I'm thinking my mains left to right will the 702 S2(floor standers) along with the matching center channel, and the surrounds will either be the 706 S2 or 707 S2. Plus, the height speakers if I can afford it will be hopefully be the book self 705 S2. Finally, the subs will be dual SVS 4000, or the JL Audio e110"s. The room size is 12 feet long X 11 feet wide x 6.5 feet height, and room is generally a dark. Also, TV is the Sony X-950h in a 75 inch. Also, the speaker wire I'm considering may be the Audioquest Rocket, and line conditioner may the Panamax 5510 AC Regenerator. The electronics I'm thinking about using may the Marantz sr-8012 audio video receiver, because Marantz matches well with B & W's. I hope this works, I will listen to them before I purchase B & W's 700 series.

[@antoniobernabe1061]

Yesss! Finally, a great shout out to the Musical Fidelity M3si. For Andrew to say that it bettered powering the 702's than the Cambridge Edge that's more than double the power and more than 3x the price, says a lot about the quality of MF products. Can't wait for his review on the M8Xi and the M3Si

[@1SourceAudio]

These videos are getting more entertaining each time, love the delivery. Thanks

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Glad you like them!

[@jcsivelli]

i had same problem with a client. he thought you can pair these with a simple sonos amp or naim. it really needs power and a quality amp

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

You simply cannot connect these speakers to just whatever. They require a substantial investment on behalf of the customer.

[@caroldelaney4700]

My dream is getting closer.beautiful sound and a beautiful system one day.im still entry level.oh by the way I’m female.we adore quality sound too.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

You can have both great sound and style in 2020 for sure! Thank you for watching.

[@randomdriver]

Do you plant to test the new 702 S3's?

[@perhenrikberg2161]

Love to see how the s3 compare to s2, and what amp to pair them with

[@CaptHotah]

I just bought the 703 S2. Can't wait.

[@michaelmityok1001]

in for a treat if you got a killer amp

[@CaptHotah]

@@michaelmityok1001 i only have an avr at the moment. Planning on getting a Marantz MM7055 since i watch alot of movies aswell

[@michaelmityok1001]

@@CaptHotah that might do it, but why not spend the extra S and get a dedicated amp to drive just the 703s as the front channel speakers? that way you can maximize your 2 channel listening sessions... if you have the budget. I guess that is what the conversation in response to this review has led to, the consensus seems to be that B&W speakers demand you spend $ or risk not getting the max out of them.

[@MattRichardsonX]

@@michaelmityok1001 Not sure what you mean by a "killer amp" but I paired my CM10s (predecessor to the 702s) with a Parasound A21 and they sound wonderful. I think it's more the quality of the amp that matters, not the wattage. But even more importantly, I think it's the quality of the pre-amp that really matters in revealing speakers like these. I tried mine with a Parasound P5 pre-amp and they sounded bad. Then I paired them with a Mac C50 and they're wonderful. Also, pair them with quality sounding recordings. Don't waste your time buying these if you only listen to 1960s Beatles and such. Stay with Klipsch for that stuff.

[@michaelmityok1001]

@@MattRichardsonX agreed, quality over quantity, and current over watts

[@MattRichardsonX]

Hi Andrew, great review! Did B&W say if your review pair were broken in at all? Don't know if you're a believer in that, but each of my different B&Ws all noticeably opened up after several weeks of use -especially in the bass.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

They did not specify but I am not a subscriber to speakers needing 100s of hours of break-in. If after several hours of spirited listening things don't change, that's what the speaker sounds like (IMO). Thank you so much for watching!

[@jorgeribeiro6489]

I didn’t like my CM2s and CM4s until a few months went by. As an engineer, I admit the possibility for break in to help on mechanics but still am somewhat sceptic. That said, when viewing this I immediately wondered for how long you kept them... I hated B&W until I started to love them. Great review!

[@musicman8270]

I couldn't swing these so I bought the 704s2 set, These speakers need about a week to break in properly , and are brutal to poorly done recordings, and gobs of current does not hurt, but overall the best mix of price and engineering, why I've used Bowers & wilkins for the last twenty years or so..

[@geea6984]

Thoughts on pairing these with Musical Fidelity M5si and Cambridge streamer front end? Would this be too much of a good thing in the highs? Other speakers under consideration Focal Aria 948 & Sonus Faber Sonetto VIII. Unfortunately unable to audition them.

[@julonbondspence2024]

Brilliant review and so glad you made direct comprassions with the Q Acoustics Concept 500. Keep up the good work.😀

[@emmanuelferguson]

I saw the RTJ4 album art on the atom and now I have so much more respect for you

[@dambee7759]

I had the same problem with the B&W N804s back in the day. I had managed to trade-up to a pair and was delighted when I got them home and unpackaged them, only to find them lifeless and dull. I could not understand after having a whole host of speakers prior to these that the performance was this bad. After reading countless reviews one review stated "do not attempt to drive these speakers with anything less than 200w per channel or they will not live up to the hype". I ended-up buying a pair of AVI mono blocks at 300w per channel (I think), and only after did these speakers come alive. I think the passive crosovers in the B&W speakers rob so much power that they need the bigger amps to make them sing. I built an active 2-way speaker using the Signature 805 woofer and Scanspeak D2905/950000 tweeter, as I prefer soft domes. These were connected to 2 Dynaudio studio amps and active crossover/equalisation unit and these things are awesome. Not much can get near these. Maybe that is where B&W are going wrong and they should concentrate on producing active speakers. Great review of the 702 Sigs though...

[@parvezshaikhul]

Great and Honest review I almost finalised DynaAudio Evoke 50 but this B&W Ref 702 is forcing me to change plans. Appreciate if you can compare with Evoke 50 Fom Dynaaudio.

[@quantumdecoherence1289]

Great review and gorgeous speakers but at that price point, I would expect full range sound, i.e, based on specs, better low frequency response. Of course, not having listened to them, I wouldn't know. Is a subwoofer mandatory and if so, we're looking at a close to $8k system?

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Not mandatory. Amplification is absolutely.

[@ilkeraltiok6979]

Hi Andrew. Excellent review. Been a B&W fan for the past 30 years and have owned most of their products and still do. Right now i Have the B&W PM1's connected to my Rotel RMB 1095 amp. Have to tell you that i have auditioned the 702 signatures few months ago and to be honest i couldn't justify the upgrade from my PM1's with a Sub to these towers. The prices are getting higher and higher but the sound quality i find still not mind blowing different than their older models. I know some people will disagree with this but to my 51 year old ears the PM1's still sound better than most new speakers on the market. Keep up the good work..

[@andyfreestone7616]

I'm using B&W CM8s2 which are also difficult to drive. I'm using a Nelson Pass Aleph J which drives them beautifully. It's a Class A 25W amplifier.

[@gregleston504]

Great review. As an evolving audiophile, my understanding of electronics may be limited, but would not driving the 702 speakers past their rated watt rating damage the drivers over time? Using your favored Musical Fidelity m8xi amp delivers 550 watts to each speaker. The speakers are rated at 30-300 watts. (Admittedly may be missing something in this regard). I was able to acquire a pair of B&W 702S towers. I'm searching for the best amp, as well as DAC and AVR to drive these speakers. ANY input would be greatly appreciated. Incidentally, really like the design of your media cabinet. Can you provide make and model? (Looks like a Salamander but couldn't find a match on their website) Thank you! Greg

[@irl_alek]

Phenomenal video, ads harm the flow. Nothing wrong with making money or advertising but you have a special presentation and I was 100% locked then the ads threw me off. I am back in it now and enjoying every second. Thanks

[@TheMatsushitaMan]

Dynamic punch? The 702s have them. I played the Telarc 1812 Overture CD-quality digital file through them (Rotel RB/RC-1590 pre-power) and for the first time in a long while I jumped when the cannons fired. These speakers have speed. They respond so fast and immediate to those huge dynamic peaks. Instruments and vocals sounding natural and not reproduced? Same. Vocals were lagging behind a tiny bit, though. Soundstage and disappearing into the room? No hope of that at all. Not stuck to the speakers, but not quite floating in the air either. Unfortunately these just don't have the sound I'm looking for- something fun and lively, something that retains 90% of the energy at 20% of the volume. Something with great clean clarity yet easy enough to keep listening for hours and hours. I noticed the megaphone effect- a peak in the low midrange, probably around 500-800hz.

[@joshgifford6947]

Andrew, I own these 702 Signatures and an running them on a Rotel 1590 amp. The issue I'm trying to work out is why there seems to be a certain weakness in certain bass frequencies. Is the amp the issue? I realize they will sound different on each amp, but the Rotel is extremely clear and precise on the mifs and highs, just feels garbled and soft in the lower end. Any suggestions?

[@lilcha85]

Experiment with speaker placement

[@mazzysmusic]

I have a white pair of 702s2 and they sound fabulous, however they took a good 100 hours to break in. You need that time. I have mine pulled out about two feet from the back wall and I find the bass hearty without being overly boomy. surprised that a pair of these are about two grand over the 702s2. I frequently play mine pretty loud but low volume is good too. I most play vinyl w a Rega RP8 with a Hana ml cart. And don’t use the base use the spikes

[@KristiWright]

100 Hours? That's commitment.

[@mazzysmusic]

Kristi Wright well I play a lot of music so that’s about a week for me.. 😎I believe most speakers need break in time..

[@MattRichardsonX]

Agreed about break-in with B&W. I own the predecessor to the 702s (the CM10's). They noticeably opened up after several weeks of use, especially in the bass. I also own a pair of 805 Ds -same with needed break-in there.

[@michaelmityok1001]

Yup my 702s needed some time too - and 250 watt monoblocks.

[@arthurcatch8272]

I am going to sell my kidney for these loud speakers

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

That's commitment.

[@KristiWright]

This is the level of buy-in a business dreams of.

[@sebastianvanderwolf6500]

Yeah you'll have to sell the other one for the amp

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

@Sebastian van der Wolf 😂

[@randalllawkin]

I might need a kidney how much? 🤔

[@rangerscoach]

i got the b w 704 series 1 speakers on special years ago and it cost me a lot in amplification. i ended up with a bryston amplifer and i still run this setup to this day so im elated with its performance. i was totally shocked that i needed 120 watts per channel to drive the speakers though. if i went with the 3 way that was selling at the time instead of my 2.5 way speakers i remember they were selling them with the big Mcintosh integrated amps.

[@HermesTrismegistes369]

I have the 705 S2's in piano gloss black finish and from what I understand the difference between the signatures and the regular 705 is the Finish and the crossover. So putting in a regular 700 series center speaker may affect the sound because of the fact that it doesn't have the same crossover as the signatures.

[@jameso.4381]

B&W 702 Signature - $6,500 a pair. (minus your front stage of choice, in this case, the Music Fidelity M8Xi - $6,500 + source equipment) - How much are you willing to spend to reproduce the sound of any song, which, on average goes for less than $2 (two dollars)?

[@christinearmington]

But if you’re listening to Wagner’s Ring 💍, maybe worth your money at over ten hours.

[@skylordsrebornpvpreplays5795]

about 3k $ for a headphone setup and 5k for a speaker setup

[@christinearmington]

@MAD GRUMPYMAN I could hear the clarity of the B&W 702s, but I’m not sure I’d get the sweep of Beethoven’s 9th. I was so moved by the slow movement once while driving I nearly ran off the road! 🤦‍♀️

[@Searchandseeking]

Excellent review, thank you. Would these speakers fit to a NAD t778 or Marantz SR8015? Aiming to buy the NAD with B&W

[@junexdaman6671]

Might be a stupid question but how is this speaker compared to Polk R700? Can’t find these speakers where I am currently living. I saw your good review on that Polk specially the price.

[@RobertJewitt]

Hi Andrew I have just purchased a pair of 702 I am b&w fan, question these are for a home theatre front mains I can buy an amp for them possibly electrocompaniet but have a pair of rotel 1075, yes they are old but was thinking of bi amping them thoughs?❤

[@michaelhartman4725]

Thanks for the video. I was wondering about these speakers.

[@sumitagg1]

The B&Ws work really well with the naim Nap 250 DR and up amplifiers

[@jdraven0890]

Just got some 704 S2s, and what's said here must be typical of B&W speakers. They are definitely revealing (GIGO), require an slightly elevated listening volume to really engage, and need to be driven with something powerful enough to do them justice. So they tap the potential my old hi-fi always had, but I believe they would be ineffective at making a less robust system sound better.

[@steryn23]

I own Primaluna Dialogue HP Premium Integrated amp, do you think 702 s2 is a match I should at least listen to, or should I go for other options? Right now, I'm using MA Silver 500 under this amp, but looking for speaker upgrade.

[@johnvannote1148]

What speakers do you feel comes alive at lower levels and disappear? Max range $6k

[@bs11100010]

Revel m126be 4'000 or f226be 7'000 pr retail. I've owned a good number of speakers and the Revels sounds great at low levels. And they impart the least amount of character to the music I've experienced. Complete opposite of the b&w 804d2s I had.

[@floydteter4323]

Responding to the QOTD: admittedly a believer in the law of diminishing returns. Seems like, in today's market, one can get great results from the right $500 speakers. Moving from great to spectacular seems to require thousands of dollars more. I'm fine with spending for great and working to get the most from them.

[@andreasmoller9798]

You can get good bookshelfs for $500 But with floorstanders you need to spend a lot more expect around $1200-1500 to get a good enough for good hifi quality

[@floydteter4323]

@@andreasmoller9798 Can't disagree with that assessment. Running bookshelves on floor stands now. Thinking seriously about refurbing a legacy set of floor standers this winter.

[@simisim5061]

I have a pair of 702 s2’s paired with a Cambridge Azur 851a amplifier and I think it’s a pretty sweet combo. Definitely sensitive to recording quality though!!! Sometimes I find the top end just a little too much and yes, definitely agree you don’t get the full sound spectrum unless they are at a decent volume. Had the 603’s prior and there is definitely more separation and clarity in the 702’s. some tracks they really surprise me 😊

[@SSS-cv7dc]

To make your reviews more focused, I think you should compare the B&W 702 with speakers in the same price range like Kef R11, Monitor Audio Gold 200, Dynaudio Evoke 50, etc. Comparing the 702 with cheap Jamo c907 does not make sense to me at all.

[@jasontodd03]

I've been wanting to get me a pair of B&W's 705 speakers. After watching your review, I do remember the cut off when stepping side to side and directly in front. Which speakers in the same price range do you feel have the same dyanmics but better sound presence no matter where one stands in the room. Thanks.

[@jeffreyzuidgeest5798]

Nice to see you compared them with the Concept 500. Want to update later in the year from the 705 S2, which has similarities to the signatures. Also nice but maybe little too bright.

[@tmo8320]

Dang…I was looking to pick up a pair of 702 S2 to replace my old Energy C6 mains to sonically better match my HTM71 S2 center. I’m running a Marantz SR 8012 and I just don’t think there is any way that receiver (or even my old Adcom 125 WPC amp) can power these things adequately. Back to the drawing board 🤦‍♂️

[@wazzazv614]

I had c8 connoisseur and veritas 2.1. The B&W are more revealing but there is not a lot in it.

[@tmo8320]

@@wazzazv614 I pulled the trigger. I did Emotiva 300 WPC monoblocks. They drive those 702s quite competently.

[@wazzazv614]

@@tmo8320 so are they better than C8 ? I have put a high quality valve preamp to mine. My place is small and I have mine hooked to Rotel 200w rms brick.

[@tmo8320]

@@wazzazv614 I can only say so far that this speaker / amp combo has produced astonishing sound in my home. I played the opening theme to the Apple TV series, Foundation. I put the volume to 60 on the Marantz (just over half way). The dynamic range and depth of the music was absolutely NUTTERS 🤣👍👍👍

[@andreasmoller9798]

I am intrested in those for my next upgrade i own b&w 683 s2 with Hegel h190, and i am happy with that setup, the Hegel amp is extreamly good, best bass control i ever heard, and very detailed treble

[@stephangaigher9737]

Hi Andrew. I am looking at a set op 702 S3's to pair with the Synthesis A100 Titan amp. Would you consider this enough power to get them to perform? Will mate with Naim ND5 XS2.

[@pvtcmyers87]

Thank you so much for the small mention of the formation duos and how they compare. I freaking love those speakers so much!! Awesome review btw.

[@AUGalos]

Andrew, what's your recommendation on stereo amp for the B&W 603? Similar power?

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

I've done 600 Series speakers in the past on a solid 150-250 WPC. My former Emotiva XPA-1L monos sounded great on B&W speakers, so maybe something along those lines for a budget option. I have no doubt the Musical Fidelity pieces in this review (not the flagship per se) would also work for you.

[@AUGalos]

@@andrewrobinsonreviews Thanks a lot! Everyone recommends a lot of power to "unlock" B&W speakers. I was just curious if something with less than 100w per channel like the Cambridge audio CX81 would do it as well.

[@joevaz1220]

HI Andrew, I have been following your review's very ardently... I get to learn a lot through your honest, Crystal clear transparency to your observations... the pros n cons of the systems with no fabricated frills. Keep up the good work..we all need the advise. A BIG THANK YOU👍👍👍. Regards, Joe Vaz

[@high_fidelity_stuff]

Haha brilliant. At about 9min30 I was shouting at the screen "Musical Fidelity!" Great choice! I like that you also gave a shout out to the M3si which, I've actually been considering recently myself.