ReviewFinder Sound Bars

Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3

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21 Verified Hands-On Reviews

To combat fake reviews we only accept video reviews from verified channels. Each review must show the product and the face of the reviewer.

Expert reviews [21]

83
Total expert reviews: 21
  • with a score: 16
  • without a score: 5
Highest score by Sound and Vision
100
Average score based on 21 reviews
83
Lowest score by Rtings.com
67

Score distribution:

80-100
60-80
40-60
20-40
0-20
ReviewFinder: authentic product reviews summarized by a powerful AI engine.

Expert consensus

The Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 soundbar offers impressive sound quality and a wide range of connectivity options, but has some limitations in bass performance and soundstage.

The Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 soundbar is a high-end option that offers impressive sound quality for both movies and music, making it suitable for larger rooms with high ceilings. It has a wide range of connectivity options, including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Apple AirPlay 2, and is compatible with Amazon Alexa for voice control.

The soundbar has a sleek and stylish design that can blend in with different home decor styles. However, it has a bit of a dark and muddy sound, lacks depth in bass performance, and has narrow soundstage and compression at high volumes. Overall, the Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 is a good choice for those who prioritize brand reputation and want a soundbar with virtual surround sound, access to popular streaming apps, and voice control.

Sound quality

The Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 soundbar has impressive sound quality for movies and music in larger rooms with high ceilings, but lacks depth in bass performance and can have a dark and muddy sound affecting clarity of voices and lead instruments.

The Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 soundbar has a bit of a dark and muddy sound, which can affect the clarity of voices and lead instruments, according to Rtings. com. It also lacks depth in bass performance, making it less ideal for those looking for heavy bass. However, it has impressive sound quality for both movies and music, with a wide range of speakers capable of up to 48kHz in frequency response, resulting in natural and precise audio, according to T3 and Tom's Guide.

The Panorama 3 is suitable for larger rooms with high ceilings, as it has exceptional power and a frequency response specification of 43 Hz to 48 kHz, as well as 13 drivers, including two upfiring 50mm woven glass-fiber cones that bounce Dolby Atmos cues off your ceiling, according to HomeTheater Review and TechHive.

The top-firing speakers of the Dolby Atmos 3. 1. 2 channel do most of the heavy-lifting for immersion, making it ideal for low-flat ceilings, as noted by ZD Net. Overall, the Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 is a good option for those looking for a soundbar with impressive sound quality for movies and music in larger rooms with high ceilings.

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Connectivity

The Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 soundbar offers a range of connectivity options, including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and HDMI eARC, and can be controlled using your TV's remote or the B&W Music app, making it a versatile option for both music and movies.

The Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 offers a wide range of connectivity options, including Bluetooth 5. 2 with aptX Adaptive, AAC, and SBC support, built-in Wi-Fi, Apple AirPlay 2, and Spotify Connect. It has a single HDMI eARC input for connecting to your TV, and can be controlled using your TV's remote or the Bowers & Wilkins Music app.

The soundbar can also integrate into your B&W multi-room setup, with smart capabilities supported through Amazon Alexa. The Panorama 3 is effective for both music and movies, and is suitable for those who want a high-quality soundbar with a variety of wireless streaming options.

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Compatibility

The Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 is a versatile soundbar that offers compatibility with most smart TVs, Bluetooth connectivity, and support for various music streaming services, as well as Amazon Alexa control.

The Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 is a soundbar that is compatible with most newish smart TVs via HDMI or older TVs via an optical cable. It also has Bluetooth connectivity for smartphones and supports various internet radio providers and music streaming services, including Spotify Connect and Airplay 2.

The soundbar supports Amazon Alexa, allowing users to control it with their voice. It is also compatible with a variety of devices, including third-party Alexa devices like Amazon Echo. However, it does not support Google Assistant. The Panorama 3 has only a single eARC HDMI input, along with a backup optical TOSLINK, with all input switching being handled by the TV.

Overall, the Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 is a versatile soundbar that offers various compatibility options for different use cases.

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Design

The Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 soundbar has a sleek and stylish design that combines various materials to create a sophisticated look, making it a great choice for those who want a modern soundbar that can blend in with different home decor styles.

The Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 soundbar has a sleek and stylish design that combines various materials such as fabric, glass, and plastic to create a sophisticated look. It has a hexagonal shape and a low profile that allows it to blend in with different home decor styles seamlessly.

The soundbar is mostly made of plastic with a mesh-style plastic top and a tight acoustic fabric wrapping around the sides. It also has an aluminum build that makes it fashionable with most TV setups. The soundbar is available in a single color which is a combination of black and grey.

The glass plate on the top offers a chic command center for capacitive touch keys. The back and the bottom of the soundbar are made of plastic, which complements the other materials and adds to the overall aesthetic. The Panorama 3's design is versatile enough to complement a wide range of home decor styles, including contemporary, minimalist, industrial, urban, and traditional.

Its slim profile makes it a great option for placement both on and off a mount. Overall, the Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 soundbar is a great choice for those who want a stylish and modern soundbar that can blend in with different home decor styles.

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Features

The Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 is a high-end soundbar with built-in Amazon Alexa, virtual surround sound, Dolby Atmos and TrueHD, easy connectivity, and access to popular streaming apps.

The Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 is a high-end soundbar that offers a range of unique features for an immersive audio experience. It has built-in support for Amazon Alexa, which allows users to control the soundbar with their voice. The virtual surround sound technology is implemented so well that it is difficult to distinguish it from physical surround speakers.

The soundbar has basic bass and treble adjustment sliders available on the app, but there are no other comprehensive customization features like a graphic EQ. The Panorama 3 offers Dolby Atmos and Dolby TrueHD for immersive sound, effortless connectivity with HDMI eARC input, and access to popular streaming apps like Deezer, NTS Radio, Qobuz, SoundCloud, TIDAL, and TuneIn with the iOS/Android compatible B&W Music App.

It also has AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth aptX Adaptive for maximum flexibility, multi-room functionality, and an ultra-low-profile design that complements any decor. The setup procedure is similar to the B&W Zeppelin and can be configured and controlled using the Bowers & Wilkins Music App.

The Panorama 3 is ideal for users who want a high-end soundbar with voice control, virtual surround sound, and access to popular streaming apps.

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Brand reputation

The Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 soundbar has a reputable brand name and good customer service, but falls short in sound quality with complaints of muddy default sound, lack of bass and treble adjustment, narrow soundstage, compression at high volumes, and lack of clarity in dialogue-heavy content.

The Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 is a soundbar from a highly respected and recognized audio brand globally. The brand's reputation in the audio market is "basically impeccable" when it comes to wireless speakers, headphones, and traditional loudspeakers. The company's reputation has fallen short in the soundbars category until the launch of the Panorama 3.

Bowers & Wilkins backs the Panorama 3 with a two-year warranty and has a reputation for providing excellent customer service. However, some major complaints or issues with the product are its muddy and dark default sound, lack of bass and treble adjustment features, narrow soundstage, compression at high volumes, and lack of clarity in dialogue-heavy content.

The consumer score for Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 is lower than the median score for soundbars, suggesting that the level of customer satisfaction for this product is lower than average. The Panorama 3 may be suitable for those who prioritize brand reputation and are willing to compromise on sound quality.

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Position in ranking

We maintain a monthly ranking that sums up expert recommendations for all sound bars.

Rank Change Price Sound Bar
Rtings.com
Tom's Guide
TechRadar
PCMag
What Hi-Fi
TechHive
World Wide Stereo
WIRED
SoundGuys
Digital Trends
1
- $490
Sonos Beam Gen 2
The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a compact and stylish soundbar that delivers excellent audio quality for both music and movies, with versatile connectivity options and compatibility with Dolby Atmos, making it a recommended choice for Sonos fans and those seeking high-quality audio enjoyment.
6
-
8
7
3
4
4
3
2
-
2
- $848
Sonos Arc
The Sonos Arc is a high-end soundbar with impressive sound quality, expansive soundstage, and modern design, ideal for those seeking an immersive surround sound experience for movies and music.
-
5
7
4
4
-
2
10
-
2
3
- Check price
Sony HT-A7000
The Sony HT-A7000 is a high-end soundbar with a neutral sound profile, wide and immersive soundstage, comprehensive connectivity options, and advanced features such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, making it a great choice for enhancing the listening experience.
-
6
6
-
1
-
-
4
-
-
4
- $1179
Samsung HW-Q990C
The Samsung HW-Q990C soundbar is highly praised for its exceptional sound quality, immersive experience, and extensive connectivity options, making it a top choice for enhancing TV audio and creating a cinematic home theater experience.
-
-
-
6
-
5
-
5
-
1
Show all rows
Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 did not receive any endorsements this month.

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The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a compact and stylish soundbar that delivers excellent audio quality for both music and movies, with versatile connectivity options and compatibility with Dolby Atmos, making it a recommended choice for Sonos fans and those seeking high-quality audio enjoyment. The Sonos Arc is a high-end soundbar with impressive sound quality, expansive soundstage, and modern design, ideal for those seeking an immersive surround sound experience for movies and music. The Sony HT-A7000 is a high-end soundbar with a neutral sound profile, wide and immersive soundstage, comprehensive connectivity options, and advanced features such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, making it a great choice for enhancing the listening experience. The Samsung HW-Q990C soundbar is highly praised for its exceptional sound quality, immersive experience, and extensive connectivity options, making it a top choice for enhancing TV audio and creating a cinematic home theater experience.
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