My favorite bookshelf speakers busted my expectations ... and budget

Bowers & Wilkins create some of what I think to be the best bookshelf speakers on the market. The 606 S3 bookshelf speakers are even some of my favorite overall, so I was thrilled to add the series' big brother, the 706 S3 to my home setup.

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And after a few weeks of listening, they didn't disappoint. So, if you are ever in the market to splurge on a nice set of speakers for your living room setup, whether for vinyl, or just TV and movies, I can say they're audiophile approved.

Bowers & Wilkins 706 S3

A powerhouse set of speakers for any room

The 706 S3 from Bowers & Wilkins stand in as the big brother to the 606 S3. Though they are nearly the same size, the 706 S3 brings a richness of sound you simply have to hear to appreciate.

Pros

• Excellent frequency and response range for bookshelf speakers
• Decoupled tweeter for crisper highs

Cons

• Quite pricey for the pair

$2200 at Best Buy

Design: Materials, style, and size

Sleek and traditional, they'll match just about any interior design

I'll just call it like it is — these speakers are pretty. Most bookshelf speakers I've had the pleasure of testing or owning are cold looking boxes of plastic and metal, or feature cheap looking finishes and eye-sore grilles, but the 706 S3, pictured below in their «Mocha» finish, are as much a pleasure to look at as they are to listen to.

Sitting upon their corresponding Bowers & Wilkins speaker stands, they class up the room with a stately elegance that elicits «dang, those are nice speakers» from visitors that aren't even familiar with the B&W brand.

Two non-concentric chrome colored circles adorn the face of the speakers, framing the one-inch carbon dome tweeter and the 6.5-inch bass and mid-range cone.

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Additionally, the speaker cabinet feels absolutely solid, and with each speaker weighing in at over 18lbs, they feel extremely well constructed. An included and optional speaker grille