In this review, we will be comparing 607 S3 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 S3 and Paradigm 100B first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | B&W 607 S3 | Paradigm 100B |
|---|
| Brand | Bowers Wilkins
United Kingdom · founded 1966 | Paradigm
Canada · founded 1982 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Decoupled Double Dome Titanium | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" Continuum | 5.5" Carbon-Infused Polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 52-28k Hz | 68-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 84 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-100 watts | 15-130 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 4.65kg / 10.2lbs | 5.86kg / 12.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11.8" x 6.5" x 9.3"
300.0 x 166.0 x 235.0mm | 11-3/16" x 6-3/4" x 9-11/16"
285.0 x 172.0 x 247.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the B&W 607 S3 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 S3 |
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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both 607 S3 and Premier 100B are 2-way speakers.
B&W 607 S3Paradigm 100B
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 S3 |
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 S3 features a 1" Titanium Decoupled Double Dome Titanium 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 S3 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 S3 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Premier 100B's min frequency of 68Hz.
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 S3 and Premier 100B have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. 607 S3 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 S3, 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.
Premier 100B can handle a max power of 130 watts RMS, whereas 607 S3 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the Premier 100B.
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
607 S3 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 S3's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both 607 S3 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
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 S3's and Paradigm 100B's external dimensions. B&W 607 S3 has external dimensions of 300.0 x 166.0 x 235.0mm (11.8 x 6.5 x 9.3inch) 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 S3 is 6mm narrower and 12mm less deeper than Paradigm 100B but it is also 15mm taller.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Paradigm 100B needs about 9% more floor or shelf area. B&W 607 S3 is 15mm 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 S3 is approximately 390.1cm2 / 60.5inch2 and base area of the Paradigm 100B is approximately 424.8cm2 / 65.8inch2. The 607 S3 requires 8% 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 S3 weighs 4.65kg / 10.2lbs and the Paradigm 100B weighs 5.86kg / 12.9lbs. This makes the Premier 100B 26% heavier than the 607 S3.
Here is a comparison of how 607 S3 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 S3?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 607 S3:
- 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
 Low Frequency Response |
52 Hz
vs
68 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Base Surface Area |
390cm2
vs
424cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
130 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
84 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Woofer Size |
5.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Height |
285mm
vs
300mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
800USD
vs
900USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 |
Paradigm Premier 100B |
| Brand |
Bowers Wilkins |
Paradigm |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-100 watts |
15-130 watts |
| Sensitivity |
84 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.0 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
52-28k Hz |
68-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
5.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Continuum |
Carbon-Infused Polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Decoupled Double Dome Titanium |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
300.0mm (11.8") |
285.0mm (11.2") |
| Width |
166.0mm (6.5") |
172.0mm (6.8") |
| Depth |
235.0mm (9.3") |
247.0mm (9.7") |
| Weight |
4.65kg (10.2lbs) |
5.86kg (12.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Matte Black, Matte White, Oak, Red Cherry |
Gloss white,Espresso,Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-26" |
28-32" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: B&W 607 S3 is the newer design, against a 2017 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | B&W 607 S3 digs deeper - 52Hz against 68Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Paradigm 100B is more sensitive (90dB vs 84dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | B | Paradigm 100B takes more power (130W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | B&W 607 S3: bi-amping. Paradigm 100B sits in a wider range (12 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Paradigm 100B is cheaper - $800 against $900, about 11% less. |
A B&W 607 S3 B Paradigm 100B
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?
Paradigm 100B has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 68Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Paradigm 100B much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate B&W 607 S3 the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and Paradigm 100B for a mid-size room and a large room.
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.