Page 46 - 2022-08-01 Sound & Vision
P. 46
test report
BOWERS & WILKINS PANORAMA 3 SOUNDBAR
sliders to tweak bass and treble. 8 feet from the listening position
DRIVERS (all woven glass-fiber cones except for the
Despite all of this functionality, and the room’s ceiling is a touch
tweeter): 2-inch midrange (6), 0.74-inch titanium-
there are still a few common higher than normal at 8.5 feet. Specs dome tweeter (3), 2-inch full-range height driver (2),
soundbar features missing that I Starting formal evaluations with
4-inch woofer (2)
would have welcomed. One is a music, I played a variety of familiar
AMPLIFIER: Class-D, 400 wa s (midrange drivers,
classic loudness contour switch CD-quality tracks from my Tidal
40 wa s per pair x 3; tweeters, 40 wa s each x 3;
or preset EQ curve that adds more reference playlist. Not surprisingly,
height drivers, 40 wa s each x 2; woofers, 40 wa s each x 2)
fullness to the upper bass region. the Panorama 3 delivered highly
CONNECTIONS: HDMI eARC, optical digital input, USB type-C
In the absence of a subwoofer, that palatable audiophile sound. Hey,
(for firmware/service), RJ45 Ethernet
can be a good thing depending on it’s a B&W.
WIRELESS: Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Bluetooth (aptX
room acoustics and the content As previously noted, with
Adaptive), Wi-Fi
playing. Also missing: voice EQ or a stereo music playing only through
ACCESSORIES: HDMI cable, power cord, steel mounting bracket
center-channel level control to help the soundbar’s forward facing
DIMENSIONS (WxHxD inches): 47.6 x 2.6 x 5.5
bring out dialogue in instances drivers—no height channels—the WEIGHT (pounds): 14.3
where it’s competing with surround Panorama 3 cast a respectably
effects—something I experienced wide image that extended slightly
more than once. A level control for beyond the edges of the bar, performance sounded dirty and Panorama’s musical forte. Goosing
the height channels that lets you though it would have been nice to muddled once the band got going, the bass added impact to the tom
optimize spatial effects would also have a surround-music mode that though the voice cha er and wind toms and bass drum kicks that
be a nice addition. With no side- engaged the height drivers for a bit ba ering at the mics before they start this track, but you can’t expect
firing drivers and no surrounds, more front-to-back depth. Even so, started playing came across with miracles with loud rock or EDM.
you’re counting on the height pu ing aside the spatial limita- you-are-there authority. Despite the claimed 43Hz
speakers to create an immersive tions you should expect with most A be er sounding-track was low-end limit, test tones showed
environment. Sometimes the soundbars, the Panorama presents “Bad Guy” by Billie Eilish, which that the bar started to drop off
default se ing was enough, but a superb and engaging listening had enough bass energy to set quickly below 60Hz in my room and
sometimes I yearned for more. experience. things shaking in the credenza that was down about 10dB by 50 Hz.
In selecting a track from one supported the soundbar. Eilish’s With the bass slider at its maximum
PERFORMANCE of those B&W playlists, I learned vocals were big and clear, and +6dB position, there was additional
very quickly how capable this the detail in percussion, including energy starting around 125 Hz and
I auditioned the Panorama 3 in my soundbar is at exposing less than some crisp finger snaps, was stretching down to where it still had
den, where it sat on the credenza ideal recordings. Sorry to say that outstanding. Still, bass-heavy some impact around 40Hz. But
below my eARC-equipped The Beatles playing “Get Back” music like this or “Give Me Back bass was still about 20dB down
55-inch TV. The screen is about live during their famous roo op My Girl” by Fiction Family is not the from its peak at that point. Still,
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46 August September 2022 soundandvision.com
