Bowers & Wilkins has just announced a new take on its popular 707 S3 bookshelf speaker ($2,000 at Crutchfield), the 707 Prestige Edition. If the name sounds fancy, that’s because this isn’t just your regular 707 S3. It’s a dressed-up, slightly upgraded version that adds a high-end finish and borrows a few performance tweaks from pricier models in B&W’s lineup.

This isn’t a full redesign or a completely new speaker. Instead, think of it as a refined, limited-edition version meant for people who want something a little more special, both in looks and (possibly) in sound.

At its core, the 707 Prestige Edition is still based on the 707 S3, a two-way bookshelf speaker that’s been around since 2022. It uses the same setup: a 25mm (1-inch) Carbon Dome tweeter and a 13cm (5-inch) Continuum cone mid-bass driver. That combo delivers the same balanced performance the original 707 S3 is known for, with a curved front baffle and a rear-firing bass port helping shape its acoustic footprint.

But the Prestige Edition brings a few subtle tweaks to the table. Bowers & Wilkins has borrowed two features from the much pricier 705 S3 Signature: a new tweeter grille with a more refined mesh pattern and upgraded speaker terminals designed to reduce signal loss. Neither change is radical, but they’re aimed at squeezing out just a little more clarity and soundstage from the familiar platform.

Most of the attention is going to the Prestige Edition’s new look. The speakers come wrapped in a glossy Santos Rosewood-inspired veneer called "Santos Gloss." And this isn’t your average paint job, Bowers & Wilkins uses 12 layers of paint and lacquer to create the finish, which is the same process they used for the 805 D3 Prestige Edition.

It’s clearly designed to appeal to buyers who care as much about how their speakers look as how they sound. Along with the fresh finish, the Prestige Edition gets a unique logo plate to mark it as something different from the standard 707 S3.

Like with other 700 Series speakers, Bowers & Wilkins recommends pairing the 707 Prestige Edition with its FS-700 S3 floorstands ($820 at Crutchfield). They’re available in black or silver and are built to match both the height and aesthetics of the speaker, though you’ll have to buy them separately.

If you already own the 707 S3, this isn’t necessarily an upgrade you need to rush out and make. The drivers, cabinet shape, and overall sound profile remain largely the same. But if you’ve been thinking about adding a pair of compact bookshelf speakers to your setup and want something that looks a little more upscale, and has a few thoughtful performance tweaks, the Prestige Edition might be a good fit.

It also gives us a glimpse into how Bowers & Wilkins is approaching its product refreshes. Instead of creating an entirely new model, they’re layering on upgrades from higher-end products and offering limited finishes for buyers who want something more distinctive.

Key Specifications:

So, how much does it cost? This is where things get a little trickier, especially if you're shopping from the U.S.

The Bowers & Wilkins 707 Prestige Edition is currently available in the UK and Europe, priced at £1,550 or €1,750 per pair. That’s a modest bump over the original 707 S3, which launched at around £1,300 / €1,500 / $2,000.

Unfortunately, there’s no word yet on when, or if, this Prestige Edition will hit U.S. stores. So if you're stateside and eyeing a pair, you may need to get creative with international retailers or wait and see if availability expands.

The 707 Prestige Edition doesn’t try to reinvent the bookshelf speaker. Instead, it takes a proven design and gives it a little polish, literally and figuratively. The tweaked components and luxurious finish will likely appeal to people who already trust the B&W sound and want a version that feels a bit more premium without jumping all the way to the Signature line.

Whether or not it’s worth the slightly higher price depends on how much you value those refinements. But as far as special editions go, it’s a tasteful and deliberate refresh, not a complete overhaul.

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