If you love instrumental music (and beautiful things), Bowers and Wilkins' 702 S2 are a worthy investment.

Gorgeous design; Pristine upper register; Punchy low-mids; Wide soundstage

Sensitive to placement and source material; Expensive

Late in the summer of 2015, I was one of the press representatives invited by Bowers & Wilkins to visit their R&D center in Steyning, West Sussex, England, and be given a detailed preview of the upcoming revision of their entire 800 series of loudspeaker models.

B&W's comprehensive 800 D3 series has not only caused a stir without, but also within – all hail the new 700 series

Bowers & Wilkins has been dedicated to truth in sound reproduction since John Bowers founded the company. And the company's core belief remains unchanged: "that a high-fidelity loudspeaker should be to the ear what a flawless pane of glass is to the eye; allowing the clear passage of a sensory...

The 700 series sits in the middle of Bowers & Wilkins three ranges of ‘serious' loudspeakers, flanked by the more affordable 600 series below and the more ambitious 800 series above. It has a lot of the tech from the...

Unboliveble clear sound and quality. I'm running them on Scott 390r with rotel cd player. Classic music/heavy metal/ pop they sound great.

It was always going to be a tough ask for Bowers & Wilkins to replace its popular CM series. But the new 700 series is no David Moyes to the CMs' Sir Alex Ferguson – and the range-topping 702 S2 are definitely the star player.

Soundstage has incredible height as well as width; Superbly textured mid-range; Deep; controlled bass; Gorgeous fit and finish

Fussy about positioning; Treble could be a tad sweeter

Bowers and Wilkins has been a household name among audio enthusiasts for decades, and that’s largely due to the company’s remarkable consistency. For over half a century, the British manufacturer has been at the forefront of high-end sound, crafting gorgeous gear for affluent listeners around the globe. As such, it won’t come as a shock that the company’s new 702 S2 model, the flagship of its 700 series speakers, are beautifully made. What will surprise longtime B&W listeners, who know the brand as purveyors of tight, balanced sound profiles, is that these particular speakers can be a bit touchy when it comes to performance. With the press of the shuffle button, the sound can dance between otherworldly and wholly terrestrial. Feed the 702 S2 well-mixed acoustic music from any era — start at Louis Armstrong and move all the way to Robert Glasper — and you’ll fall in love with their incredible passion and dynamism. But if you’re a broader listener who trades in hip-hop as often as Sinatr...

Gorgeous design; Pristine upper register; Punchy low-mids; Wide soundstage;

Sensitive to placement and source material; Expensive;