Best Bowers & Wilkins speakers: 7 great models, all tested by experts

British outfit Bowers & Wilkins has made some of the best hi-fi speakers to ever grace our testing rooms. Founded in 1966 by John Bowers in the workshop of his electronics shop in Worthing, West Sussex, the firm has long been synonymous with sonically impressive, design-led speakers.

It's moved with the times too, which is not something that can be said of all long-established hi-fi brands. In the early noughties its original Zeppelin speaker became a true icon of the iPod generation, while today's B&W speakers combine forward-thinking design and technology with enough heritage to make them distinctive – one glance, and you know who makes them.

If you're new to B&W, or are looking to upgrade your current setup, it can be hard to know where to start. While we can't feature every speaker the brand makes, we've rounded up the best we've reviewed recently – all of the below have come through our testing rooms with flying colours. The list even includes a Product of the Year from the 2023 What Hi-Fi? Awards.

With over 100 years of reviewing experience between us, we know a decent speaker when we hear one. All of our reviewing takes place within our dedicated testing rooms with similarly-priced speakers on hand for context. We explain more on how we test in the how we test speakers section further down this page. Not dead set on B&W? Check our our guide to the best hi-fi speakers.

Joe Svetlik

I've been writing about speakers and all other kinds of audio devices for 20 years now, and during that time, B&W's have consistently ranked among the best around. As we wrote at the time, the original Zeppelin set the standard for premium iPod speaker docks (and won pretty much every award going), but there's a lot more to the brand than eye-catching design, as these speakers prove...

The quick list

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The best Bowers & Wilkins speakers we recommend in 2024

Best overall

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Bowers & Wilkins' 600 series has been going for over 20 years, and it continues to go from strength to strength. Its eight generation could well be its best yet, and these entry-level 607 S3 are our pick of the bunch.

They're the smallest and most affordable stereo speakers in the latest range, succeeding the Award-winning 607 S2 Anniversary Edition. And they're Award-winners in their own right, thanks to updates galore.

These include a new 25mm titanium decoupled double dome tweeter, an elongated tube loading system, a revised motor assembly, higher-quality components used in the crossover, and sturdier cabinet bracing. The two drivers now overlap for better integration, while the use of titanium means higher, more refined frequencies.

Despite all this technology they remain compact, making them ideal for those of us who don't have acres of space. But be warned: their treble can be a little excitable, so make sure you choose your partner kit wisely. Do so and you'll benefit from their wonderfully detailed and rhythmically cohesive sound – it's a performance that's bursting with energy and agility. It's more open than their predecessors, and the treble – while a tad forward – is more sophisticated.

Previous B&W speakers struggled to convey sufficient dynamics at low volumes, but the 607 S3 have no issues where that's concerned. The sound is precise, with a tight bass that's full of impact.

But during testing we kept coming back to one word: fun. Yes, they're clear and refined, but overall the listening experience is just joyful from start to finish. For all the technological advances made inside the cabinet, B&W has stepped up the entertainment value outside it, and for the listener, that's what really matters. Quite simply the best all-round B&W speakers you can buy.

Read the full Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 review

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Best mid-price standmounters

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The Award-winning 606 S3 are the bigger standmounters in B&W's latest 600 S3 speaker range. They're a step up from the 607 S3 (above) in every sense – not only are they bigger and pricier, they have a bigger and bolder sound profile, too.

Inside are the same upgrades as on the smaller speakers above, including the titanium tweeter and new speaker terminals. And while they have the same excellent build quality, dimensions and choice of finishes as their (also Award-winning) predecessors, they sound much better.

Compared to the upfront, fun presentation of the 607 S3, their characters is more mature – they're James Woods to Michael J. Fox in The Hard Way, if that's not too obscure a film reference. They are more refined and open than their predecessors, while the bigger mid/bass driver and deeper cabinet make for a more resounding bass performance.

This greater bass means the treble is a little less excitable than on the 607 S3. But on the down side, that makes them a little less fun to listen to, as they lose some of their smaller siblings' entertainment value. 

They also can't match the 607 S3 for cohesion. But they're still an easy listen. If you have the space and the budget, and want a sound with a bit more wallop, these are the best B&W speakers for you.

Read the full Bowers & Wilkins 606 S3 review

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Best floorstanders

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Of course B&W makes floorstanding speakers too, and as the 603 S3 prove, they come with the same attention to detail and sonic excellence as its standmounters.

Design-wise, they're very much of a piece with the rest of the 600 series, though they do come in an extra cherry red colourway (this is exclusive to the Asia Pacific region). As the largest and priciest in the 600 series, they're designed for bigger rooms, and they're pretty big even for floorstanders – at 102cm tall when mounted on their plinths, they tower above some of the competition. Inside are a 25mm titanium dome tweeter, B&W’s Continuum 15cm midrange cone and two 16.5cm paper bass drivers. They boast a similar raft of improvements to the internals as their standmount brethren.

Sonically, there's a lot to like. They bring breadth, weight and scale, with plenty of drive and power. And it's not to the expense of detail: there's plenty of clarity on show – especially in the midrange – which gives tracks real texture. Bass is taut and robust, with a real snappiness to go along with its weight and authority. It brings real clarity and focus to tracks, a more cohesive way of presenting that tidies up some potentially messier songs and makes them more controlled.

Read the full Bowers & Wilkins 603 S3 review

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Best premium standmounters

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The 805 D4 might be the baby of B&W's fourth-generation 800 series, but they're no poor relation to their pricier siblings. They pack all the engineering advancements enjoyed elsewhere, including a sturdier cabinet construction with reinforced plywood bracing. And while the drive unit configuration is the same as the previous generation, it has been further refined.

How do they sound? A lot depends on the the quality of the support they sit on, so you'd be well advised to buy the 805 D4's dedicated column stands – the FS-805 D4 (£1250, $1250, AU$1799 per pair).

They're not fussy with placing, and deliver a balanced presentation with a wide-open soundstage – the sound is anything but cluttered. All that work on controlling cabinet resonances really pays off, because with eyes closed it’s very hard to pinpoint the physical location of the speakers.

They dig up plenty of detail, too. Rarely do we come across speakers at this level that uncover so much information and deliver it in such a composed and organised manner. And that diamond dome tweeter continues to impress with its combination of insight, bite and refinement. It really is one of the best tweeters around.

Read the full Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 review

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Best premium stereo system

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If we had to sum up the Formation Duo in a word, it would be 'divisive'. Why? The aesthetic won't appeal to everyone, plus they're far from cheap. But if you want a wireless pair of standmount speakers that nothing comes even close to, you've just found them. 

Let's start with the sound, which is actually anything but divisive. The Duo are deadly precise speakers with excellent clarity and agility. They make you want to dig out tune after tune just to hear what they can do. 

The multi-room feature set, while not perfect (we'd prefer a single app to handle every function), is more than made up for by the superb audio performance. Bowers & Wilkins may have been late to the multi-room party, but boy it arrived with a bang – more fashionably late than annoyingly so.

The speakers bristle with raw energy, and the stereo imaging is completely on-point. They deliver a huge amount of power when called for, while serving up a delicate beauty in the quieter passages.

The downside? They will expose any flaws in recordings, so make sure your source material is up to scratch.

Read the full Bowers & Wilkins Formation Duo review 

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Best mid-range wireless speaker

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The original Zeppelin was a truly iconic product, winning as many plaudits for its sleek design as it did for its excellent sound quality. Six years later, B&W released a new version. So has it been worth the wait?

In a word: yes. It's been updated with wireless connectivity front and centre: it supports AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect and aptX Adaptive Bluetooth (a comparatively new codec that offers hi-res support and which B&W supports in its latest headphones), while the Bowers & Wilkins Music App serves as a gateway to music streaming services including Tidal, Deezer, Qobuz, Soundcloud and TuneIn. Alexa voice control is now onboard for hands-free operation, too.

All it's lacking is Chromecast and DLNA support, though the latter is in the pipeline.

The Zeppelin delivers a pleasingly clear, full and broad presentation, but it is bettered for outright musicality. Across the course of our listening, vocals and other midrange elements can get slightly lost in the wider soundstage, and rhythmically this becomes a minor issue. Still, sonically speaking there's still plenty to like, including a zealous bass injection that stays grippy even at high volumes. Turn it up.

Read the full Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin review

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Best premium wireless speaker

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You can pick up a wireless speaker for relative peanuts, so why would you spend nearly four figures on the Bowers & Wilkins Wedge? Firstly, it's part of B&W's Formation range of multi-room speakers, so it will play nicely with the the Formation Duo (mentioned above) via B&W's own wireless mesh system, allowing for hi-res streaming up to 24-bit/96kHz. So if it's a multi-room set-up you're after, you're in good hands.

But the Wedge is also an exceptional wireless speaker in its own right. And of course, it's in the sound department where the Wedge really earns its keep. Its three-way driver set-up produces a dynamic, entertaining sound with oodles of detail.

Its distinctive design stands out from the competition and the speaker also offers an impressive array of compatibility options: Apple AirPlay 2, aptX HD Bluetooth, Spotify Connect and Roon Ready status should suffice for most listeners.

Pricey, but worth every penny.

Read the full Bowers & Wilkins Formation Wedge review

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Also consider

The best Bowers & Wilkins speaker alternatives we've tested:

KEF LS50 Meta: superb bookshelf speakers, thanks to some internal reworking and KEF's Metamaterial Absorption Technology. But they are around twice the price of the B&W 607 S3.

Elac Debut B5.2: at less than half the price of the 607 S3, these Award-winners are fantastic value for money: solid, detailed and unfussy about where you put them.

PMC Prodigy 5: Award-winning floorstanders that make the Bowers & Wilkins 603 S3 sound positively buttoned up by comparison. They combine refined bass with a snappy sense of rhythm.

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How to choose the best speakers for you

So what should you look for when looking for the best Bowers & Wilkins speakers? Something that has reviewed well, of course. You'll find a full-fat review attached to each product in this list for a more in-depth look.

Once you know how good it was for us, think about what's right for you – and particularly, your home. B&W floorstanders (or any floorstanding speakers, for that matter) require a fair bit of space in which to operate, so are better suited to bigger rooms, while bookshelf speakers (aka standmounts) can either be mounted on a stand or fixed to a wall using brackets. They're potentially more versatile.

Thanks to its Formation range, B&W has moved into the realm of wireless multi-room speakers too; we've included both an excellent stereo pair and a one-box option in this list.

Then there's the technology. Traditionally, Kevlar was the material of choice for B&W's midrange and bass drivers, but the company now uses its own material, dubbed Continuum. Bowers & Wilkins claims it reduces the degrading effects of the vibrations of the mid/bass drivers, resulting in a cleaner sound with less distortion. You'll find it's used across all of the speakers on this list.

Finally, you'll need to turn your mind to the topic of coin. Thankfully, Bowers & Wilkins covers a lot of budgetary bases, with offerings under £500/$600 all the way up to, oh, quite a lot more...

How we test speakers

We review hundreds of products every year, including no small amount of speakers of all shapes, sizes and types. So how do we come to our review verdicts? And why can you trust them?

The What Hi-Fi? team has more than 100 years' experience of reviewing, testing and writing about consumer electronics. We have state-of-the-art testing facilities where our team of expert reviewers do all our in-house testing. This gives us complete control over the testing process, ensuring consistency. We always ensure we spend plenty of time with the speakers, trying them with different electronics, in different positions and with different music. 

All products are tested in comparison with rival products in the same category, and all review verdicts are agreed upon by the team as a whole rather than a single reviewer, helping to ensure consistency and avoid individual subjectivity. This also helps make sure we haven't missed anything.

From all of our reviews, we choose the top products to feature in our Best Buys, such as this one. That's why if you take the plunge and buy one of the products recommended above, or on any of our other Best Buy pages, you can rest assured you're getting a What Hi-Fi?-approved product. 

We've been testing products with our honest, unbiased approach for nearly 50 years, and our mission hasn't changed: our aim is to inform you, the reader, as well as possible so you can buy the best products with the budget you have.

For more, see our how we test page.

MORE:

All brands and types: best speakers

Cut the cord: best wireless speakers

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F.A.Q

Recent updates

• 26th April 2024: Changed to new Best Buy format. Added 'Also consider', 'F.A.Q.' and 'Recent updates' sections. Removed 607 S2 Anniversary Edition, 606 S2 Anniversary Edition and 603, added 603 S3.
• 5th September 2023: Added 607 S3 and 606 S3
• 15th June 2023: Removed 705 S3, 707 S2, 704 S2 and 705 S2

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