NEWS: Bowers & Wilkins launches Panorama 3 soundbar

[Ian Collen]

The company’s first Dolby Atmos-enabled soundbar, with a self-contained audio solution that promises to deliver widescreen for your ears.
Read the news.

Video from the launch event on the 9th of March 2022

 

[spinaltap]

Sadly, the lack of Subwoofer output is a missed opportunity.

 

[steve iow]

Looks interesting, waiting for comparison between the Bose 900 +Sonos Arc as not worried about a separate sub this might just fit the bill

 

[HighFidelitist]

This looks simply awesome! Seem to have taken some design / finishing queues from their Sound United/Denon stablemates with the fabric on the lower half. Makes me intrigued to see if Denon will release a similar beast themselves, placed above their Home Soundbar 550.

 

[Andanotherthing]

Really interesting price point, but whyyyyy only offer 1 hdmi?

 

[witchdrash]

Looks interesting, waiting for comparison between the Bose 900 +Sonos Arc as not worried about a separate sub this might just fit the bill

Was thinking the same thing

 

[Clem_Dye]

Really interesting price point, but whyyyyy only offer 1 hdmi?

I agree. Manufacturers seem hell bent on ignoring the fact that a lot of us want that external connectivity. Lack DTS audio codec support is another. The list goes on. HDMI switches do work, but are an unnecessary hassle.

As much as I’m interested in this bar, B&W won’t be getting a sniff of my money due to the poor connectivity. The lack of a subwoofer connection is another mark against it. Pity.

 

[Beagle64]

Really interesting price point, but whyyyyy only offer 1 hdmi?

Makes me wonder if any of these manufacturers offering the minimum connectivity and no dts etc have ever asked customers what the want. I’m sure this will lose them a lot of sales.

 

[NewbieAudiophile]

Was intending to start a thread on this and saw that one was already made.

I like the idea of this soundbar.

According to B&W (Panorama 3. The Bar. Raised. | Bowers & Wilkins) the frequency response is 43 - 20 000 Hz.

This is achieved via two four-inch bass drivers situated at the top of the sound bar.

I'm curious to see how the claimed numbers will stand in real world application..?

IMO, if you're going for a soundbar, the best bet is the samsung flagship on discount, since it provides a good balance of price and efficacy.

 

[Andanotherthing]

Makes me wonder if any of these manufacturers offering the minimum connectivity and no dts etc have ever asked customers what the want. I’m sure this will lose them a lot of sales.

It’s bonkers isn’t it. Who are they asking. Who’s in their focus groups? Like clem says, haven’t they heard of external connectivity?
I’d love to consider this bar, but I’m out even before any feedback on the sound quality comes through

 

[MQ123]

It will be interesting to see how this stacks up against Panorama 2. I have panorama 2 paired with PV1D and is a sweet combo.

Surely, this offers support for Dolby, and probably hDMI 2.1 ARC but on sound quality alone is it comparable to last gen? I bought pano 2 for c£2k and was expensive still when new, this at £900 and smaller profile makes me wonder if it is truly an upgrade for SQ?

Look forward to some reviews and if possible comparison to last gen.

 

[outoftheknow]

Really interesting price point, but whyyyyy only offer 1 hdmi?

HDMI switches do work, but are an unnecessary hassle.

They don’t offer any HDMI input as far as I can see in the specs?

https://www.bowerswilkins.com/sites/default/files/2022-02/Panorama-3-Tech_Info-Sheet.pdf

There is a mention of multiroom functionality so presumably a sub and satellite speakers could be added wirelessly if they wanted to. That would make sense at the price point for this brand.

Still it looks like a quality 3.1.2 Atmos soundbar and I doubt there will be an owners thread on here with hundreds of pages of issues. Well hopefully not anyway

 

[outoftheknow]

Maybe the prize for the quickest quick start guide ever!

https://www.bowerswilkins.com/sites/default/files/2022-01/Panorama-QSG-Issue-3.pdf

Their app is very Sonos-like in that you can add your audio streaming apps to it.

 

[Phil Hinton]

 

[futoad]

I really wanted this soundbar, but 1 hdmi was a deal breaker. I went with the Samsung Q950

 

[Deleted member 929490]

Available here:

Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Wireless Dolby Atmos Soundbar

Panorama 3 is the soundbar which truly fills the room. There's no need for an additional subwoofer as this unit is home to thirteen individual drivers including two subwoofers! Upward-firing drive units project the sound even further around the room which justifies this beasts namesake. Place...

petertyson.co.uk

 

[steve iow]

Available here:

Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Wireless Dolby Atmos Soundbar

Panorama 3 is the soundbar which truly fills the room. There's no need for an additional subwoofer as this unit is home to thirteen individual drivers including two subwoofers! Upward-firing drive units project the sound even further around the room which justifies this beasts namesake. Place...

petertyson.co.uk

I don’t think it’s in stock yet

 

[Deleted member 929490]

I don’t think it’s in stock yet

Soon to be.

 

[lgans316]

Style over substance

 

[Robbowal]

B&W make excellent speakers but its a shame they are not so good at amplifier architecture.

 

[flexemavs]

Style over substance

Sadly I think this is the problem. I bought it, tried it, and returned it. And frankly I was kind of miffed that I fell for the hype. The lack of connectivity options etc. I could live with if it had sounded amazing. It just didn't. At least Sonos gives you the option to do the bar only, or bar and sub, etc. The goal of this was simplicity and I get that. It didn't sound any better than a Vizio or similar that would cost half as much.

 

[JeBo]

YouTuber Gymcaddy reviewed the Panorama 3