In this review, we will be comparing Aria Evo X No1 and 607 S2 AE, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Focal and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Aria Evo X No1 and B&W 607 S2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Focal Aria Evo X No1 | B&W 607 S2 |
|---|
| Brand | Focal
France · founded 1979 | Bowers Wilkins
United Kingdom · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" inverted dome | 1" Decoupled Double Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Flax | 5" Continuum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-30kHz | 52-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89.5 dB | 84 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-120 watts | 30-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.50kg / 18.7lbs | 4.70kg / 10.3lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 15-3/8" x 8-7/8" x 11"
391.0 x 225.0 x 280.0mm | 11-13/16" x 6-1/2" x 9-1/8"
301.0 x 166.0 x 232.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Focal Aria Evo X No1 and B&W 607 S2 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* |
Focal Aria Evo X No1 |
B&W 607 S2 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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 Aria Evo X No1 and 607 S2 AE are 2-way speakers.
Focal Aria Evo X No1B&W 607 S2
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Focal Aria Evo X No1 |
B&W 607 S2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
Aria Evo X No1 features a 1" Al/Mg inverted dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Flax Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800 Hz. On the other hand, the 607 S2 AE features a 1" Aluminum Decoupled Double Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Continuum Woofer.
Frequency Response
Aria Evo X No1 has a frequency range of 55-30kHz whereas 607 S2 AE has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 52Hz, the 607 S2 AE can go slightly deeper then the Aria Evo X No1's min frequency of 55Hz.
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
Aria Evo X No1 and 607 S2 AE have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Aria Evo X No1 sensitivity is rated at 89.5 dB and the 607 S2 AE's is at 84 dB. This 6 dB difference makes the Focal Aria Evo X No1 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Aria Evo X No1 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas 607 S2 AE has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the Aria Evo X No1.
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
Both Aria Evo X No1 and 607 S2 AE features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
B&W 607 S2's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Aria Evo X No1 has a front firing port whereas 607 S2 AE has a rear firing ports. Focal Aria Evo X No1's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to B&W 607 S2 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 Focal Aria Evo X No1's and B&W 607 S2's external dimensions. Focal Aria Evo X No1 has external dimensions of 391.0 x 225.0 x 280.0mm (15-3/8 x 8-⅞ x 11) whereas 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).
Focal Aria Evo X No1 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 59mm wider, 90mm taller and 48mm deeper than B&W 607 S2.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Focal Aria Evo X No1 and B&W 607 S2 in scale.
Comparison image of Focal Aria Evo X No1 and B&W 607 S2 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 Focal Aria Evo X No1 is approximately 630.0cm2 / 97.7inch2 and base area of the B&W 607 S2 is approximately 385.1cm2 / 59.7inch2. The Aria Evo X No1 requires 64% more surface area than the 607 S2 AE 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 Focal Aria Evo X No1 and B&W 607 S2 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 Focal Aria Evo X No1 weighs 8.50kg / 18.7lbs and the B&W 607 S2 weighs 4.70kg / 10.3lbs. This makes the Aria Evo X No1 81% heavier than the 607 S2 AE.
Here is a comparison of how Aria Evo X No1 and 607 S2 AE'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 come with the 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
 Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
84 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Minimum Impedance |
4.6 ohms
vs
3.0 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
|
Low Frequency Response |
52 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
301mm
vs
391mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
385cm2
vs
630cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
799USD
vs
2398USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Focal Aria Evo X No1 |
Bowers & Wilkins 607 S2 Anniversary Edition |
| Brand |
Focal |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-120 watts |
30-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89.5 dB |
84 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4.6 ohms |
3.0 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55-30kHz |
52-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Flax |
Continuum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
TMD |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
inverted dome |
Decoupled Double Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2800 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
391.0mm (15.4") |
301.0mm (11.9") |
| Width |
225.0mm (8.9") |
166.0mm (6.5") |
| Depth |
280.0mm (11") |
232.0mm (9.1") |
| Weight |
8.50kg (18.7lbs) |
4.70kg (10.3lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black High Gloss, Prime Walnut, Moss Green High Gloss |
Matte Black, Matte White, Oak, Red Cherry |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
24-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Focal Aria Evo X No1 costs roughly 3x what B&W 607 S2 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 | B | B&W 607 S2 digs deeper - 52Hz against 55Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Focal Aria Evo X No1 is more sensitive (90dB vs 84dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (120W vs 100W). |
| Size | depends | B&W 607 S2 is easier to place; Focal Aria Evo X No1 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Focal Aria Evo X No1: bi-amping; B&W 607 S2: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | B&W 607 S2 is cheaper - $799 against $2,398, about 67% less; arguably a different class. |
A Focal Aria Evo X No1 B B&W 607 S2
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. Match it to your room: we rate Focal Aria Evo X No1 the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and B&W 607 S2 for near-field listening and a small room. In a large or open-plan room, Focal Aria Evo X No1 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, B&W 607 S2 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.