Bowers & Wilkins HTM71 S3 Signature Centre Speaker
B&W's new flagship 700 Series centre channel loudspeaker, the HTM71 S3 Signature features a Carbon Dome drive unit housed in a Tweeter-On-Top enclosure, making it the perfect match for its 702 S3 Signature and 705 S3 Signature counterparts. This approach allows for outstanding integration and an even more immersive listening experience across B&W's 700 Series Signature based surround sound systems.
The HTM71 S3 Signature also features a 130mm (5") Continuum Cone FST™ midrange driver complete with B&W's Biomimetic Suspension – particularly important for clarity with dialogue.
700 Series Signature Upgrades
The 700 Series Signature models employ a series of carefully designed and engineered upgrades designed to deliver the best possible sound and visual presentation.
Aesthetically, the Signature models are finished in lustrous Midnight Blue Metallic paint or Datuk Gloss veneer, with multiple coats of paint or lacquer to deliver a supremely rich and desirable finish. Metal component parts, such as the tweeter body, are finished in Satin Black.
Drive unit pods and tweeter grilles are trimmed with a gold colour diamond cut trim bezel while Tweeter grilles adopt the same advanced design and hole pattern found on the 801 and 805 D4 Signature models. Each unit also features new brass speaker terminal posts for a cleaner signal path along with a Signature logo above the speaker terminal plate designed to highlight its exclusivity.
The Crossover is the main area of significant audio improvement over the standard models and includes the following upgrades:
- New Mundorf EVO Silver Gold Oil capacitors with Angelique wire lead-outs for High Frequencies
- New Mundorf EVO Silver Gold Oil capacitors with Angelique wire lead-outs and new Bevenbi MPAZ-E polypropylene capacitors with zinc foil for Midrange Frequencies
- New air-core inductors for Low Frequency drive units
- Upgraded poles on Mid and Low Frequency motor systems with larger venting and lower inductance
- Bypass capacitors reconfigured and located in series with each other on each board
As with all Signature technologies, none of these components will be made available for 'retro-fit' to current products or added as a running change into existing 700 Series S3 products.
A Closer Look
Solid Body Tweeter: The HTM71 S3 Signature features the latest generation of B&W's iconic Solid Body Tweeter-on-Top housing. Its redesigned, more elongated form incorporates a longer tube-loading system to produce an even more free and open sound with high frequencies. The carefully decoupled housing is milled from a single solid block of aluminium to better resist resonance.
Carbon Dome Tweeters: Carbon Dome tweeters are purpose-built for the 700 Series. Delivering a dramatic improvement on the aluminium double dome tweeter, they raise the breakup threshold to 47kHz, for pinpoint imaging accuracy and detail.
Biomimetic Suspension: Sometimes, making a big difference takes unconventional thinking. The transition from B&W's famous yellow Aramid Fibre midrange cones to the Continuum cone technology resulted in a massive improvement to midrange performance. Now, B&W have turned their attention to another crucial element in a loudspeaker cone: the fabric spider. The unique Biomimetic Suspension revolutionises midrange cone performance by greatly reducing the unwanted air pressure and coloration that a conventional fabric spider can generate. The result? Midrange transparency you wouldn't believe possible.
Continuum™ Cone: Thanks to its composite construction, the Continuum™ cone avoids the abrupt transitions in behaviour that can impair the performance of a conventional drive unit. The result is a more open, neutral performance that delivers voices and instruments with precision and transparency.
Dedicated Midrange Assembly: The HTM71 S3 Signature has a dedicated midrange cone using key Bowers & Wilkins technologies: the Continuum cone, FST™ and Biomimetic Suspension, which together produce extraordinary levels of midrange detail that helps make understanding on-screen dialogue easier than ever.
Aerofoil™ Profile Bass Cone: Developed using advanced computer modelling techniques, the Aerofoil™ Profile bass cone has variable thickness, providing stiffness and rigidity where it's needed most. The result: deep and dynamic bass.
About The 700 Series 3 Range
The Bowers & Wilkins 700 S3 range of loudspeakers is defined by elegance and driven by performance. Every model in the range is inspired by the recording studio and enabled by cutting-edge technologies first developed for B&W's flagship 800 Series Diamond.
The 700 Series contains eight models: there's a speaker to suit every home and every requirement, whether your passion is high-performance stereo, immersive home cinema or a mix of both. Every model combines slim, elegant proportions with a choice of exquisite finishes.
With the 700 Series 3, Studio Sound comes home.
Precision Sound: 700 Series uses a wealth of state-of-the-art technologies derived from B&W's award-winning 800 Series Diamond range to provide a best-in-class audio experience.
Bring Hollywood Home: With two centre channel speakers to choose from plus the option of matching subwoofers, in-wall and in-ceiling speakers, the 700 Series performs brilliantly in any home cinema set-up.
Meaningful Design: Thanks to its svelte proportions and premium detailing – plus the option of an all new Mocha finish – the 700 Series range is both beautiful and effortlessly elegant.
Studio Sound, Your Way: This is B&W's most extensive range: 700 Series range features floorstanding, standmount and bookshelf speakers, meaning you can get precision sound in any size of room, however you prefer to listen.
Our Take
If you are looking for the ideal centre speaker to match the 702 S3 Signature or 705 S3 Signature speakers then your search is over. The HTM71 S3 Signature shares the Signature series improvements in the crossover and is perfectly voiced to match these models and provide a rich spread of sound across the three front channels of your home theatre set up. With a dedicated Continuum™ Cone midrange driver and a solid body carbon dome tweeter-on-top the HTM71 S3 Signature has a spacious enveloping sound that provides excellent vocal clarity for those hard to understand dialogue moments. It also sports dual Aerofoil Profile bass drivers and a rear-firing port for deep, articulate bass response. For those who want a classy home cinema experience that isn't afraid to let its hair down when required then a B&W 700 Series Signature set up could be the way to go.
Main Features & Specifications
- Design: Signature 3-Way Vented-Box Centre Channel Speaker
- Significantly Upgraded Crossover Design
- Stunning New Finishes
- Decoupled Carbon Dome Tweeter
- Solid Body Tweeter-on-Top
- Continuum™ Cone FST Midrange
- Aerofoil™ Profile Bass Cones
- Flowport™
- Drive Units
- 25mm (1") Decoupled Carbon Dome High-Frequency Driver
- 130mm (5") Continuum Cone FST Midrange
- 2 x 130mm (5") Aerofoil Profile Bass Drivers
- Frequency Range: 45Hz to 33kHz
- Frequency Response: 50Hz - 28kHz (+/-3dB from reference axis)
- Sensitivity: 89dB (on axis at 2.83Vrms at 1m)
- Harmonic Distortion: 2nd and 3rd harmonics (90dB, 1m on axis)
- <1% 90Hz - 22kHz
- <0.5% 120Hz - 20kHz
- Nominal Impedance: 8Ω (minimum 3.0Ω)
- Recommended Amplifier Power: 30W - 200W into 8Ω on unclipped programme
- Cabinet Finishes: Midnight Blue Metallic paint or Datuk Gloss veneer both with a black grille
- Width
- 628mm cabinet only
- Height
- 165mm cabinet only
- 233mm including tweeter
- Depth
- 318mm cabinet only
- 356mm including grille and terminals
- Weight 17.5 kg
- Manufacturer's Warranty: 5 Years
Note: Features & Specifications Subject To Change Without Notice. E&OE.