In this review, we will be comparing AE500 and 707 S2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Acoustic Energy and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of AE500 and B&W 707 S2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
AE500 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" dome with waveguide Tweeter
- 5" carbon fibre cone Woofer
- 45Hz - 28kHz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:up to 120watts
- Weight:8.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 310.0" x 7.3" x 10.2"( 310.0 x 185.0 x 260.0mm )
B&W 707 S2 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Decoupled Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 5" Continuum Woofer
- 50-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 84 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:30-100watts
- Weight:6.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 280.0" x 6.5" x 10.9"( 280.0 x 165.0 x 276.0mm )
What size room are the AE500 and B&W 707 S2 speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
AE500 |
B&W 707 S2 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
Bad |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the AE500 and B&W 707 S2 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both AE500 and 707 S2 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
AE500 |
B&W 707 S2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
AE500 features a 1" carbon fibre dome with waveguide Tweeter and 1 x 5" carbon fibre cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz. On the other hand, the 707 S2 features a 1" Decoupled Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Continuum Woofer .
Frequency Response
AE500 has a frequency range of 45Hz - 28kHz whereas 707 S2 has a frequency range of 50-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the AE500 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 707 S2's min frequency of 50Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
AE500 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the 707 S2 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. AE500 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the 707 S2's is rated at 84 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the AE500 a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W 707 S2, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using
an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the
max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both AE500 and 707 S2 have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare AE500's and B&W 707 S2's external dimensions. AE500 has external dimensions of 310.0 x 185.0 x 260.0mm ( 12.2 x 7.3 x 10.2inch) whereas B&W 707 S2 has external dimensions of 280.0 x 165.0 x 276.0mm ( 11-inch x 6.5-inch x 10.9-inch) .
B&W 707 S2 is 20mm narrower and 30mm shorter than AE500 but it is also 16mm deeper.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the AE500 is approximately 481.0cm2 / 74.6inch2 and base area of the B&W 707 S2 is approximately 455.4cm2 / 70.6inch2. The AE500 requires 6% more surface area than the 707 S2 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The AE500 weighs 8.00kg / 17.6lbs and the B&W 707 S2 weighs 6.00kg / 13.2lbs. This makes the AE500 33% heavier than the 707 S2.
Here is a comparison of how AE500 and 707 S2's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of B&W 707 S2?
Here are the items that come with the 707 S2:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers2 Grilles2 Two-piece foam port plugs8 Self-adhesive rubber feet4 Jumper-straps Manual Bowers & Wilkins brochureWarranty Information
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
84 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
1499USD
vs
1599USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Height |
280mm
vs
310mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
455cm2
vs
481cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Acoustic Energy AE500 |
Bowers & Wilkins 707 S2 |
| Brand |
Acoustic Energy |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
up to 120 watts |
30-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
84 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
4.0 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
45Hz - 28kHz |
50-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
carbon fibre cone |
Continuum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
dome with waveguide |
Decoupled Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2800Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
310.0mm (12.2") |
280.0mm (11") |
| Width |
185.0mm (7.3") |
165.0mm (6.5") |
| Depth |
260.0mm (10.2") |
276.0mm (10.9") |
| Weight |
8.00kg (17.6lbs) |
6.00kg (13.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Resonance Suppression Composite (RSC) |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
| Available Colors |
Piano Gloss Black, Piano Gloss White, American Walnut wood veneer |
Rosewood, Gloss Black, Satin White |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
24-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |