Page 44 - 2022-08-01 Sound & Vision

test report
BOWERS & WILKINS PANORAMA 3 SOUNDBAR
Atmos with a
Touch of Grace
By Rob Sabin
BOWERS & WILKINS has developed
a solid name in the soundbar category
for premium products that reflect the
brand’s longstanding philosophy of
pu ing respect for the music above all
else. This doesn’t mean their soundbars
don’t make sonic compromises, only
that those compromises tend to be
more careful and measured than we see
elsewhere. As B&W’s first soundbar to
offer Dolby Atmos playback and its least
expensive soundbar to date at $999, the
Panorama 3 embodies this philosophy.
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44 August September 2022 soundandvision.com
With this introduction, B&W’s line
now consists of two bars, the other
being the futuristic Formation Bar priced
at $1,299. Unlike that bar, to which you
can add the Formation Bass subwoofer
($1,199) and Formation Flex wireless
speakers ($499 each) for rear surround
channels, the Panorama 3 is take it or
leave it. It’s an all-in-one solution that
creates an immersive sound bubble with The Panorama 3
the magic of upfiring Atmos drivers and uses 13 drivers to
foregoes the standalone subwoofer, create a 3.1.2 Dolby
instead pushing the boundaries of what Atmos system.
RATING
PERFORMANCE
FEATURES
ERGONOMICS
VALUE
can be achieved with a pair of small,
integrated drivers.
Visually, the Panorama 3 is
a rectangular column with so
concave sides and rounded corners;
it communicates class but tends to
disappear in the decor. At 47.6 x 2.6
x 5.5 inches (WxHxD) it is wider than
many soundbars but not terribly tall,
and a wall mount may leave it poking
out past a thin TV. At 14.3 pounds, it
feels substantial. The cabinet is made
of sturdy ABS plastic, braced internally