In this review, we will be comparing 607 S2 AE and Premier 100B, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Bowers Wilkins and Paradigm. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of B&W 607 S2 and Paradigm 100B first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
B&W 607 S2 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Decoupled Double Dome Tweeter
- 5" Continuum Woofer
- 52-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 84 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:30-100watts
- Weight:4.70kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 301.0" x 6-1/2" x 9-1/8"( 301.0 x 166.0 x 232.0mm )
Paradigm 100B Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 5.5" Carbon-Infused Polypropylene Woofer
- 68-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:15-130watts
- Weight:5.86kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 285.0" x 6-3/4" x 9-11/16"( 285.0 x 172.0 x 247.0mm )
What size room are the B&W 607 S2 and Paradigm 100B 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 |
Paradigm 100B |
| Near-field |
Average |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
Poor |
(* 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 B&W 607 S2 and Paradigm 100B compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both 607 S2 AE and Premier 100B are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
B&W 607 S2 |
Paradigm 100B |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 5.5-inch
|
607 S2 AE features a 1" Aluminum Decoupled Double Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Continuum Woofer . On the other hand, the Premier 100B features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.5" Carbon-Infused Polypropylene Woofer .
Frequency Response
607 S2 AE has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz whereas Premier 100B has a frequency range of 68-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 52Hz, the 607 S2 AE can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Premier 100B's min frequency of 68Hz.
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
607 S2 AE and Premier 100B 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 Premier 100B's is at 90 dB. This 6 dB difference makes the Paradigm 100B 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. 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.
607 S2 AE can handle a max power of 130 watts RMS from the amp the whereas 607 S2 AE has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS , 30 watts less than the Premier 100B.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
607 S2 AE features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Premier 100B has a Posts which doesn't feature bi-amping/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 Premier 100B 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 B&W 607 S2's and Paradigm 100B'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 Paradigm 100B has external dimensions of 285.0 x 172.0 x 247.0mm ( 11-3/16 x 6-3/4 x 9-11/16inch) .
B&W 607 S2 is 6mm narrower and 15mm less deeper than Paradigm 100B but it is also 16mm taller.
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 Paradigm 100B is approximately 424.8cm2 / 65.8inch2. The 607 S2 AE requires 9% less surface area than the Premier 100B which gives it a small advantage 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 B&W 607 S2 weighs 4.70kg / 10.3lbs and the Paradigm 100B weighs 5.86kg / 12.9lbs. This makes the Premier 100B 25% heavier than the 607 S2 AE.
Here is a comparison of how 607 S2 AE and Premier 100B'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 Paradigm 100B?
Here are the items that come with the Premier 100B:
Bookshelf loudspeaker
Grille
4 Rubber feet
Owner's Manual
Online Registration Card