Bowers & Wilkins 300 Series User manual

300 Series
03/02. PU06572
Kevlar is a registered trademark of DuPont.
Nautilus is a trademark of B&W Loudspeakers Ltd.
Copyright © B&W Loudspeakers Ltd.
Stands featured within this brochure are
not supplied with the speakers. E&OE.
Design by Thomas Manss & Company. Printed in Spain.
B&W Loudspeakers Ltd reserves the right to amend
details of the specifications without notice in line
with technical developments.
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BN11 2BH England
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www.bwspeakers.com

It is time to raise your expectations. The Bowers
& Wilkins 300 Series rewrites the rulebook on
entry-level speaker definition. Until now, a gulf
has existed between what most of us aspire
to in terms of audio, and what many of us can
afford. The 300 Series dramatically reduces the
gap between aspiration and acquisition. Quality
can no longer be measured in direct proportion
to price. On features where rival ranges would
make sacrifices, the 300 Series refuses to
compromise. But how?
The simple fact is that the acoustic
engineers at Bowers & Wilkins who brought
groundbreaking technology to the acclaimed
Nautilus™800 Series were not prepared to
abandon all they had learned when they came
to design more affordable ranges. They raised
the stakes and you reap the benefit. Let’s take
a closer look at the three models that make up
the 300 Series.
So much for so little…
Formerly available only in
the more exclusive ranges,
the 300 Series incorporates for
the first time in a speaker of its
class the Nautilus™tube-loaded
tweeter technology, producing
the hallmark B&W clarity.

All three models
incorporate Flowport.
The dimpled surface
of the flared ends of
the tube use golf ball
aerodynamics to smooth
the airflow through the
port, reducing turbulence
noise to negligible levels.
The LCR3 is magnetically
shielded so that it can be
placed right next to a TV
without distorting the
picture. The symmetrical
driver configuration gives
a choice of orientation for
a truly versatile home
theatre speaker; horizontally
as centre channel on top
of the TV, or in vertical
position to left and right.
With a powerful bass
frequency output generated
from inside a compact and
stylish cabinet, the ASW300
subwoofer is the ideal partner
for any 300 Series home
cinema or stereo system.
There’s the DM303 2-way speaker, which is equally at home
with two-channel stereo or as a front left/right or surround
speaker in a home theatre installation where magnetic
shielding is not required. The LCR3 speaker is designed
primarily for home theatre, and its magnetic shielding allows
it to be positioned on or close to the TV without affecting
the picture. Finally, the ASW300 subwoofer delivers an added
kick to the bass output of your 300 Series system. Featuring
a 200mm paper/Kevlar®cone, the ASW300 will sit discreetly
in your room, its internal 100w amplifier generating a
noticeably more powerful sound environment, whether
from a stereo or home theatre system.
The range features a host of Nautilus™-derived technolo-
gies. Inside both the DM303 and LCR3, hidden away behind
the tweeter, is a damped tapering tube. The tube-loaded
tweeter ensures far greater absorption of unwanted radiation
from the rear of the dome, giving rise to a cleaner, more
focused and natural high frequency sound.
The bass/midrange drivers of the DM303 and LCR3 use
woven glass fibre cones, which function in a similar fashion
to the Kevlar®cones used in B&W’s more exclusive ranges by
cancelling out unwanted sound waves. Distortion and signal
degradation are minimised by an audiophile-quality crossover
featuring air core inductors and plastic film capacitors.
All of these ingredients are skillfully blended to offer
a level of performance unprecedented at this level, and
matched by a stunning design. The front baffle, moulded in
inert mica-filled polypropylene, has a subtly curved outline
and is dimpled to echo the theme of the Flowport at the rear;
itself elegantly combined with the easy-access terminal panel
that accepts all common terminations, from spades to
banana plugs to bared wire-ends.
Versatile and affordable, beautifully designed and easily
expandable, the 300 Series is the perfect introduction to
the world of Bowers & Wilkins.

ASW300
Bass Overload Suppression Circuitry
Flowport
Active vented-box subwoofer system
ø200mm (8 in) paper/Kevlar®cone
-6dB at 23Hz and 180Hz adjustable (EQ at A)
-3dB 27Hz–150Hz adjustable (EQ at A)
Power output: 100W continuous
Input impedance: 22kΩ
Signal / noise: >90dB
Functions: Output level
Low-pass filter frequency
Low-pass filter bypass
Bass roll-off alignment
Auto sense on/standby
Inputs: Line In (RCA Phono)
Speaker level (binding
posts)
Outputs: Line Out (RCA Phono,
high-passed)
Link Out (RCA Phono,
parallel to Line In)
Speaker level out
(high-passed)
Active 2nd-order, variable cut-off frequency
Line level: Active 3rd-order at 80Hz
Speaker level: Passive 1st-order at 80Hz
(into 8Ωload)
Height: 405mm (16 in) including spike feet
Width: 330mm (13 in)
Depth: 375mm (14.8 in) including grille
and controls
15kg (33 lb)
Black Ash Vinyl
Maple Vinyl
Black cloth
Technical features
Description
Drive unit
Frequency range
Frequency response
Amplifier
Low-pass filter
High-pass filter
Dimensions
Net weight
Cabinet finish
Grille
DM303 LCR3
Nautilus™tweeter
Flowport
Magnetic shielding
2-way vented-box system
2x ø110mm (4.5 in) woven fibreglass
cone bass/midrange
1x ø26mm (1in) metal dome high-frequency
-6dB at 60Hz and 30kHz
80Hz – 20kHz ±3dB on reference axis
Within 2dB of response on reference axis
Horizontal: over 40º arc
Vertical: over 10º arc
90dB spl (2.83V, 1m)
2nd and 3rd harmonics (90dB, 1m)
<1% 70Hz – 20kHz
8Ω(minimum 3.3Ω)
4kHz
25W – 100W into 8Ωon
unclipped programme
0.1Ω
Height: 152mm (6 in)
Width: 418mm (16.5 in)
Depth: 221mm (8.7 in)
5 kg (11 lb)
Cabinet: Black Ash vinyl
Maple vinyl
Grille: Black cloth
Nautilus™tweeter
Flowport
2-way vented-box system
1x ø160mm (6 in) woven fibreglass
cone bass/midrange
1x ø26mm (1 in) metal dome high-frequency
-6dB at 52Hz and 30kHz
72Hz – 20kHz ±3dB on reference axis
Within 2dB of response on reference axis
Horizontal: over 40° arc
Vertical: over 10° arc
88dB spl (2.83V, 1m)
2nd and 3rd harmonics (90dB, 1m)
<1% 90Hz – 20kHz
8Ω(minimum 4.3Ω)
4kHz
25W – 100W into 8Ωon
unclipped programme
0.1Ω
Height: 331mm (13 in)
Width: 201mm (7.9 in)
Depth: 242mm (9.5 in)
5 kg (11 lb)
Cabinet: Black Ash vinyl
Maple vinyl
Grille: Black cloth
Technical features
Description
Drive units
Frequency range
Frequency response
Dispersion
Sensitivity
Harmonic distortion
Nominal impedance
Crossover frequency
Recommended
amplifier power
Max. recommended
cable impedance
Dimensions
Net weight
Finishes