B&W 607 S3 vs Sonus Lumina I Comparison

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B&W 607 S3

Passive Bookshelf | 52-28k Hz

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Sonus Lumina I

Passive Bookshelf | 65-24k Hz

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B&W 607 S3

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Sonus Lumina I

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B&W 607 S3

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Sonus Lumina I

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B&W 607 S3 vs Sonus Lumina I Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing 607 S3 and Lumina I, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Bowers Wilkins and Sonus faber.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of B&W 607 S3 and Sonus Lumina I first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Key Specs	B&W 607 S3	Sonus Lumina I
Design	2-way	2-way
Tweeter	1" Decoupled Double Dome Titanium	1.15" high definition DAD
Woofer	5" Continuum	4.75" paper cone
Frequency response	52-28k Hz	65-24k Hz
Sensitivity	84 dB	88 dB
Impedance	8 ohms	4 ohms
Power range	30-100 watts	30-100 watts
Weight	4.65kg / 10.2lbs	4.40kg / 9.7lbs
Dimensions (H x W x D)	11.8" x 6.5" x 9.3" 300.0 x 166.0 x 235.0mm	11" x 5.8" x 8.4" 280.0 x 148.0 x 213.0mm

What size room are the B&W 607 S3 and Sonus Lumina I 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	Sonus Lumina I
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.

**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Drivers

Both 607 S3 and Lumina I are 2-way speakers.

B&W 607 S3

Sonus Lumina I

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	Sonus Lumina I
Driver Setup	2-way	2-way
Tweeter	1-inch	1.15-inch
Midrange	-	-
Woofer	1 x 5-inch	1 x 4.75-inch

607 S3 features a 1" Titanium Decoupled Double Dome Titanium Tweeter and 1 x 5" Continuum Woofer. On the other hand, the Lumina I features a 1.15" high definition DAD Tweeter and 1 x 4.75" paper cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz.

Frequency Response

607 S3 has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz whereas Lumina I has a frequency range of 65-24k 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 Lumina I's min frequency of 65Hz.

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

607 S3

Lumina I

Min

Average

Median

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 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Lumina I which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Lumina I can provide this impedance level.

These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. 607 S3 sensitivity is rated at 84 dB and the Lumina I's is rated at 88 dB.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

607 S3

Lumina I

Min

Average

Median

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 S3 and Lumina I 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.

Amplifier — change this

Distance

Playing as

B&W 607 S3

Sonus Lumina I

Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring

Both 607 S3 and Lumina I features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.

B&W 607 S3's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

Sonus Lumina I's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

Cabinet Type and Port Position

607 S3 has a rear firing port whereas Lumina I has a front firing ports. Sonus Lumina I's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to B&W 607 S3 with its rear-firing port.

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 Sonus Lumina I'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 Sonus Lumina I has external dimensions of 280.0 x 148.0 x 213.0mm (11 x 5.8 x 8.4inch).

B&W 607 S3 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 18mm wider, 20mm taller and 22mm deeper than Sonus Lumina I.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of B&W 607 S3 and Sonus Lumina I in scale.

Comparison image of B&W 607 S3 and Sonus Lumina I 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 S3 is approximately 390.1cm² / 60.5inch² and base area of the Sonus Lumina I is approximately 315.2cm² / 48.9inch². The 607 S3 requires 24% more surface area than the Lumina I which gives it a small disadvantage 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 S3 and Sonus Lumina I 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 S3 weighs 4.65kg / 10.2lbs and the Sonus Lumina I weighs 4.40kg / 9.7lbs. This makes the 607 S3 6% heavier than the Lumina I.

Here is a comparison of how 607 S3 and Lumina I's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers

B&W 607 S3

Sonus Lumina I

Min

Average

Max

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 Sonus Lumina I?

Here are the items that come with the Lumina I:

2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
1 Manual
2 Jumpers
2 Grilles
2 Fabric dust guards

Reasons to choose Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 over Sonus Faber Lumina I

Nominal Impedance	8 ohms vs 4 ohms	Less selective with amplifiers
Woofer Size	5 inches vs 4.75 inches	Larger woofer
Low Frequency Response	52 Hz vs 65 Hz	Generates deeper bass
High Frequency Response	28k Hz vs 24k Hz	Generates higher frequency

Reasons to choose Sonus Faber Lumina I over Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3

Port Position	Front vs Rear	Gives more flexibility placing close to walls
Height	280mm vs 300mm	Easier to fit in smaller spaces
Base Surface Area	315cm² vs 390cm²	Takes less floor space
Price per pair*	899USD vs 900USD	costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

B&W 607 S3 vs Sonus Lumina I Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3	Sonus Faber Lumina I
Brand	Bowers Wilkins	Sonus faber
Speaker Type	Bookshelf speakers	Bookshelf speakers
Power Range	30-100 watts	30-100 watts
Sensitivity	84 dB	88 dB
Impedance	8 ohms	4 ohms
Impedance	3.0 ohms	n/a
Frequency Response	52-28k Hz	65-24k Hz
Drivers
Woofer Quantity	1	1
Woofer Size	5"	4.75"
Woofer Composition	Continuum	paper cone
Woofer Surround Material	Rubber	n/a
Tweeter Size	1"	1.15"
Tweeter Type	Decoupled Double Dome Titanium	high definition DAD
Aimable Tweeter	No	No
Midrange Driver	No	No
Crossover Frequency	n/a	2000Hz
Firing Direction	rear	front
Physical Specs
Height	300.0mm (11.8")	280.0mm (11")
Width	166.0mm (6.5")	148.0mm (5.8")
Depth	235.0mm (9.3")	213.0mm (8.4")
Weight	4.65kg (10.2lbs)	4.40kg (9.7lbs)
Enclosure	Bass Reflex	Bass Reflex
Finish	MDF/Vinyl	real multilayer wood
Available Colors	Matte Black, Matte White, Oak, Red Cherry	Black, Wenge, Walnut
Mounting Bracket	No
Recommended Stand Height	24-26"	n/a
Grille	Yes	Yes
Moisture Resistancy	No	No
Connections
Biamp Inputs	Yes	Yes
Other
Parts Warranty	5 Years
Labor Warranty	5 Years

Verdict

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	A	B&W 607 S3 digs deeper - 52Hz against 65Hz.
Amplifier needs	evenly matched	Similar sensitivity (84dB vs 84dB) - both want much the same power.
Amplifier match	A	B&W 607 S3 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it.
Headroom	evenly matched	Similar power handling (100W vs 100W).
Size	depends	Sonus Lumina I is easier to place; B&W 607 S3 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides.
Expandability	depends	B&W 607 S3: bi-amping; Sonus Lumina I: bi-amping. Sonus Lumina I sits in a wider range (7 models), so a matched surround system is easier later.
Price	evenly matched	Much the same money ($900 vs $899 a pair).

A B&W 607 S3 B Sonus Lumina I
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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?

B&W 607 S3 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 65Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, B&W 607 S3 is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.

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.