JUNE 2022 T3 77
Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3surround sound – a lot of people won’t
mindthis one bit, but it does mean
that what you’re getting here is the
maximum amount of immersion it has
to offer. You can’t add more channels
later, unlike the Sonos Arc.
Hear wego
Give the Panorama 3 a Dolby Atmos
soundtrack to deal with and the
resulting sound is almostentirely
admirable. e top of the frequency
rangeis expertlyjudged,combining
necessary crunchand bitewith speed
and substance, and at the opposite end
Panorama 3is similarly substantial
and similarly swift.Basssounds are
properly varied intermsof tone and
timbre, and they’recontrolled so well
that the ‘start’and ‘stop’ of individual
sounds is brilliantly straight-edged.
As far asthe width, depth and
coherence of the soundstage, there’s
nothing totake issue with. e
soundbar isable to shift effects from
right to leftor frontto back withreal
confidence, and can distribute sound
far wider than the actual cabinet itself.
Shortcomings, such as they are,
concern the way Panorama3 deals
with the important‘height’ element of
a Dolby Atmos soundtrack. It’sjust
slightly tentative and, consequently,
just slightly underwhelming.If
Bowers & Wilkins was hoping tosteal
a march on the Sonos Arc, well, it
hasn’t quite managed it.
Switch to some music instead of
movies, though, and if anything
Panorama 3 is even more impressive.
All of the assurance, allof the
authority and all of the winning tonal
unity Panorama3 demonstrateswith
movies is carried over to the way it
handles music. And there’s a positivity
to the waythis soundbar expresses
rhythms and managestempos that is,
frankly,not a giveneven indedicated
music speakers.
As far astaking controlgoes, you’ve
various options. Attach the soundbar
to yourTVusing ARC or eARCand you
can use your television’s remote
controlto adjust volume. Amazon
Alexa voice-controlis available too,
and it’s verynicely implemented.
ere are a few capacitive touch-
controls on the top panels.Or there’s
the Bowers & Wilkins controlapp,
which lets you adjust volume, adjust
EQ levels, and integrate your favourite
music streaming services.e SonosArcis the product
Panorama 3 needs tobeat – and in
some ways it doesjust that. isis a
considerablymore enjoyable wayto
listen to music, for instance, and
where movie soundtracks(especially
those with a Dolby Atmos element)are
concerned, there’s not much between
them at all. So for music lovers, it’s
arguably the better choice.
e Arccounters with thebest-
realised, most intuitive ecosystem in
all of home entertainment-land –
especially if you likethe idea of being
able to add wireless rear surround
speakers inthe future. But if you’re
afterhome cinema thrills and
convincing music reproduction from
just one product, well, here it is.For music lovers,
the Panorama 3
is something of
a treatSONOS ARC
Sonos didn’t reach a position of near-ubiquity
by accident – its products are easy to use and
intuitive. This is an excellent-sounding bar, whose
flaws are largely mirrored by the Panorama.
£ 899 , sonos.com
SONY HT-A 7000
If you can spend some extra cash and still want a
single-boxsoundbar with unquestionable Dolby
Atmos positioning and height skills, then this may
be ideal for you. It’s top-tier stuff, and expensive.
£ 1 , 299 , sony.co.ukTHE ALTERNATIVES
WE’RE IMPRESSED
Full-blooded and absorbing movie
sound; dextrous and convincing
with music;ample controloptions.
WE’D IMPROVE Doesn’t hit the
full Atmos heights; no wireless
surround; noHDMI passthrough.
THE LAST WORDThe Bowers
& Wilkins Panorama 3 delivers
all the scale and punch you could
want from a one-box soundbar,
but you’ll needto temper your
Dolby Atmos expectations a bit.VERDICT
Find top deals on the Panorama
3 at: bit.ly/t3bwpano 3