In this review, we will be comparing 707 S3 and Opticon 1 MK2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Bowers Wilkins and DALI.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of B&W 707 S3 and DALI Opticon 1 II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | B&W 707 S3 | DALI Opticon 1 II |
|---|
| Brand | Bowers Wilkins
United Kingdom · founded 1966 | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Decoupled Carbon Dome | 1.125" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" Continuum | 4.75" Wood Fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50-28k Hz | 62-26k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 84 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-100 watts | 25-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.16kg / 13.6lbs | 4.50kg / 9.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11.8" x 6.5" x 11.2"
300.0 x 165.0 x 284.0mm | 10" x 6" x 9-1/4"
254.0 x 153.0 x 235.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the B&W 707 S3 and DALI Opticon 1 II 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 707 S3 |
DALI Opticon 1 II |
| 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 707 S3 and Opticon 1 MK2 are 2-way speakers.
B&W 707 S3DALI Opticon 1 II
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 707 S3 |
DALI Opticon 1 II |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.125-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 4.75-inch
|
707 S3 features a 1" Decoupled Carbon Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Continuum Woofer. On the other hand, the Opticon 1 MK2 features a 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.75" Wood Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3000Hz.
Frequency Response
707 S3 has a frequency range of 50-28k Hz whereas Opticon 1 MK2 has a frequency range of 62-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the 707 S3 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Opticon 1 MK2's min frequency of 62Hz.
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
707 S3 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Opticon 1 MK2 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 Opticon 1 MK2 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. 707 S3 sensitivity is rated at 84 dB and the Opticon 1 MK2's is rated at 86 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the DALI Opticon 1 II a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W 707 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.
Both handle the same maximum of 100 watts RMS, though 707 S3 is rated 30-100 watts and Opticon 1 MK2 25-100 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
707 S3 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Opticon 1 MK2 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
B&W 707 S3's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
DALI Opticon 1 II's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both 707 S3 and Opticon 1 MK2 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 707 S3's and DALI Opticon 1 II's external dimensions. B&W 707 S3 has external dimensions of 300.0 x 165.0 x 284.0mm (1.8-inch x 6.5-inch x 11.2-inch) whereas DALI Opticon 1 II has external dimensions of 254.0 x 153.0 x 235.0mm (10 x 6 x 9-1/4inch).
B&W 707 S3 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 12mm wider, 46mm taller and 49mm deeper than DALI Opticon 1 II.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of B&W 707 S3 and DALI Opticon 1 II in scale.
Comparison image of B&W 707 S3 and DALI Opticon 1 II 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 707 S3 is approximately 468.6cm2 / 72.6inch2 and base area of the DALI Opticon 1 II is approximately 359.6cm2 / 55.7inch2. The 707 S3 requires 30% more surface area than the Opticon 1 MK2 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 707 S3 and DALI Opticon 1 II 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 707 S3 weighs 6.16kg / 13.6lbs and the DALI Opticon 1 II weighs 4.50kg / 9.9lbs. This makes the 707 S3 37% heavier than the Opticon 1 MK2.
Here is a comparison of how 707 S3 and Opticon 1 MK2'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 707 S3?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 707 S3:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 2 Two-piece foam port plugs
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- 4 Jumper-straps
- Manual
- Bowers & Wilkins brochure
- Warranty Information
What's in the Box of DALI Opticon 1 II?
Here are the items that come with the Opticon 1 MK2:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Rubber feet
- Quick Start Guide
- Congratulations Card
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
5 inches
vs
4.75 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
62 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
26k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Sensitivity |
86 dB
vs
84 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Height |
254mm
vs
300mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
359cm2
vs
468cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1099USD
vs
1799USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Bowers & Wilkins 707 S3 |
DALI Opticon 1 MK2 |
| Brand |
Bowers Wilkins |
DALI |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-100 watts |
25-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
84 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
4.0 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
50-28k Hz |
62-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
4.75" |
| Woofer Composition |
Continuum |
Wood Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.125" |
| Tweeter Type |
Decoupled Carbon Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
3000Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
300.0mm (11.8") |
254.0mm (10") |
| Width |
165.0mm (6.5") |
153.0mm (6") |
| Depth |
284.0mm (11.2") |
235.0mm (9.3") |
| Weight |
6.16kg (13.6lbs) |
4.50kg (9.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black,Satin White,Mocha,Rosenut |
Satin Black, Tobacco Oak, Satin White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-26" |
26-28" |
| 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 |
These sit in different price classes - B&W 707 S3 costs roughly 1.6x what DALI Opticon 1 II does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | B&W 707 S3 digs deeper - 50Hz against 62Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | DALI Opticon 1 II is more sensitive (86dB vs 84dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | B&W 707 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 | DALI Opticon 1 II is easier to place; B&W 707 S3 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | A | B&W 707 S3: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | DALI Opticon 1 II is cheaper - $1,099 against $1,799, about 39% less; arguably a different class. |
A B&W 707 S3 B DALI Opticon 1 II
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?
The usual trade-off: B&W 707 S3 measures better, DALI Opticon 1 II costs about about 64% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 62Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper DALI Opticon 1 II much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, B&W 707 S3 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, DALI Opticon 1 II 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.