In this review, we will be comparing 607 S3 and Q Acoustics 5020, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Bowers Wilkins and Q Acoustics. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of B&W 607 S3 and Q Acoustics 5020 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the B&W 607 S3 and Q Acoustics 5020 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the B&W 607 S3 and Q Acoustics 5020 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 607 S3 and Q Acoustics 5020 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
B&W 607 S3 |
Q Acoustics 5020 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
607 S3 features a 1" Titanium Decoupled Double Dome Titanium Tweeter and 1 x 5" Continuum Woofer . On the other hand, the Q Acoustics 5020 features a 1" Soft-dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Continuous Curved Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500 Hz.
Frequency Response
607 S3 has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz whereas Q Acoustics 5020 has a frequency range of 53-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 52Hz, the 607 S3 can go slightly deeper then the Q Acoustics 5020's min frequency of 53Hz.
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 S3 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Q Acoustics 5020 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. 607 S3 sensitivity is rated at 84 dB and the Q Acoustics 5020's is rated at 87.9 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Q Acoustics 5020 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. 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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
607 S3 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Q Acoustics 5020 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
B&W 607 S3's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Q Acoustics 5020's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both 607 S3 and Q Acoustics 5020 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 S3's and Q Acoustics 5020'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 Q Acoustics 5020 has external dimensions of 286.0 x 181.0 x 293.0mm ( 11-1/4nch x 7-1/8inch x 11-1/2inch ) .
B&W 607 S3 is 15mm narrower and 58mm less deeper than Q Acoustics 5020 but it is also 14mm 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 Q Acoustics 5020 is approximately 530.3cm2 / 82.2inch2. The 607 S3 requires 26% less surface area than the Q Acoustics 5020 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 Q Acoustics 5020 weighs 7.00kg / 15.4lbs. This makes the Q Acoustics 5020 51% heavier than the 607 S3.
Here is a comparison of how 607 S3 and Q Acoustics 5020'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 Q Acoustics 5020?
Here are the items that come with the Q Acoustics 5020:
2x 5020 loudspeaker 1x Owners manual 2x Foam bung
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Low Frequency Response |
52 Hz
vs
53 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Base Surface Area |
390cm2 (166x235mm)
vs
530cm2 (181x293mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
84 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Minimum Impedance |
3.3 ohms
vs
3.0 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
286mm
vs
300mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
899USD
vs
900USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 |
Q Acoustics 5020 |
| Brand |
Bowers Wilkins |
Q Acoustics |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-100 watts |
25-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
84 dB |
87.9 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.0 ohms |
3.3 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
52-28k Hz |
53-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Continuum |
Continuous Curved Cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Decoupled Double Dome Titanium |
Soft-dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2500 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
300.0mm (11.8") |
286.0mm (11.3") |
| Width |
166.0mm (6.5") |
181.0mm (7.1") |
| Depth |
235.0mm (9.3") |
293.0mm (11.5") |
| Weight |
4.65kg (10.2lbs) |
7.00kg (15.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Relfex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
MDF |
| Available Colors |
Matte Black, Matte White, Oak, Red Cherry |
Holme Oak,Satin Black,Satin White,Santos Rosewood |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-26" |
n/a |
| 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 |