In this review, we will be comparing 607 S2 AE and Bronze 100, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Bowers Wilkins and Monitor Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of B&W 607 S2 and Monitor Audio Bronze 100 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | B&W 607 S2 | Monitor Audio Bronze 100 |
|---|
| Brand | Bowers Wilkins
United Kingdom · founded 1966 | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Decoupled Double Dome | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" Continuum | 8" C-CAM |
|---|
| Frequency response | 52-28k Hz | 37-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 84 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-100 watts | 30-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 4.70kg / 10.3lbs | 7.80kg / 17.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11-13/16" x 6-1/2" x 9-1/8"
301.0 x 166.0 x 232.0mm | 14.8" x 9.0" x 12.7"
376.0 x 231.0 x 325.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the B&W 607 S2 and Monitor Audio Bronze 100 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* |
B&W 607 S2 |
Monitor Audio Bronze 100 |
| 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both 607 S2 AE and Bronze 100 are 2-way speakers.
B&W 607 S2Monitor Audio Bronze 100
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
B&W 607 S2 |
Monitor Audio Bronze 100 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 8-inch
|
607 S2 AE features a 1" Aluminum Decoupled Double Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Continuum Woofer. On the other hand, the Bronze 100 features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 8" C-CAM Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200Hz.
Frequency Response
607 S2 AE has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz whereas Bronze 100 has a frequency range of 37-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 37Hz, the Bronze 100 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 607 S2 AE's min frequency of 52Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
607 S2 AE and Bronze 100 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. 607 S2 AE sensitivity is rated at 84 dB and the Bronze 100's is at 87 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Monitor Audio Bronze 100 a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W 607 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
607 S2 AE and Bronze 100 have the same power range of 30-100 watts.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both 607 S2 AE and Bronze 100 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
B&W 607 S2's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both 607 S2 AE and Bronze 100 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
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare B&W 607 S2's and Monitor Audio Bronze 100's external dimensions. B&W 607 S2 has external dimensions of 301.0 x 166.0 x 232.0mm (11-13/16 x 6-1/2 x 9-1/8inch) whereas Monitor Audio Bronze 100 has external dimensions of 376.0 x 231.0 x 325.0mm (14.8 x 9.0 x 12.7inch).
Monitor Audio Bronze 100 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 65mm wider, 75mm taller and 93mm deeper than B&W 607 S2.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of B&W 607 S2 and Monitor Audio Bronze 100 in scale.
Comparison image of B&W 607 S2 and Monitor Audio Bronze 100 Size and External Dimensions
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 B&W 607 S2 is approximately 385.1cm2 / 59.7inch2 and base area of the Monitor Audio Bronze 100 is approximately 750.8cm2 / 116.4inch2. The 607 S2 AE requires 49% less surface area than the Bronze 100 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of B&W 607 S2 and Monitor Audio Bronze 100 on a Media Console
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 B&W 607 S2 weighs 4.70kg / 10.3lbs and the Monitor Audio Bronze 100 weighs 7.80kg / 17.2lbs. This makes the Bronze 100 66% heavier than the 607 S2 AE.
Here is a comparison of how 607 S2 AE and Bronze 100'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 607 S2?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 607 S2 AE:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 2 Two-piece foam port plugs
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- 4 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)
- Manual
- Bowers & Wilkins brochure
- Warranty Information
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio Bronze 100?
Here are the items that come with the Bronze 100:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Terminal-jumpers (pre-installed)
- 2 Foam port plugs
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Hex-key
- Quick Start Guide
- Important Safety Instructions
 Height |
301mm
vs
376mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
385cm2
vs
750cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
84 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Minimum Impedance |
4.5 ohms
vs
3.0 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
37 Hz
vs
52 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
675USD
vs
799USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Bowers & Wilkins 607 S2 Anniversary Edition |
Monitor Audio Bronze 100 |
| Brand |
Bowers Wilkins |
Monitor Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-100 watts |
30-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
84 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.0 ohms |
4.5 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
52-28k Hz |
37-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Continuum |
C-CAM |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Decoupled Double Dome |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2200Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
301.0mm (11.9") |
376.0mm (14.8") |
| Width |
166.0mm (6.5") |
231.0mm (9.1") |
| Depth |
232.0mm (9.1") |
325.0mm (12.8") |
| Weight |
4.70kg (10.3lbs) |
7.80kg (17.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Matte Black, Matte White, Oak, Red Cherry |
Walnut, Black, White, Urban Grey |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-26" |
22-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Monitor Audio Bronze 100 digs deeper - 37Hz against 52Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Monitor Audio Bronze 100 is more sensitive (87dB vs 84dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (100W vs 100W). |
| Size | depends | B&W 607 S2 is easier to place; Monitor Audio Bronze 100 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | B&W 607 S2: bi-amping; Monitor Audio Bronze 100: bi-amping. Monitor Audio Bronze 100 sits in a wider range (11 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Monitor Audio Bronze 100 is cheaper - $675 against $799, about 16% less. |
A B&W 607 S2 B Monitor Audio Bronze 100
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Monitor Audio Bronze 100 is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take B&W 607 S2 if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 52Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Monitor Audio Bronze 100 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, B&W 607 S2 is the easier speaker to get right.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.