In this review, we will be comparing Omada No.1 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 Omada No.1 and B&W 607 S2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Focal Omada No.1 | B&W 607 S2 |
|---|
| Brand | Focal
France · founded 1979 | Bowers Wilkins
United Kingdom · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Inverted Hard-Dome | 1" Decoupled Double Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Carbon Fiber + Polymer | 5" Continuum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 56-30k Hz | 52-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89.5 dB | 84 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-120 watts | 30-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.00kg / 15.4lbs | 4.70kg / 10.3lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 15-1/4" x 8-5/8" x 10-3/4"
388.0 x 220.0 x 274.0mm | 11-13/16" x 6-1/2" x 9-1/8"
301.0 x 166.0 x 232.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Omada No.1 and 607 S2 AE are 2-way speakers.
Focal Omada No.1B&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 Omada No.1 |
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
|
Omada No.1 features a 1" Al/Mg Inverted Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Carbon Fiber + Polymer Woofer. On the other hand, the 607 S2 AE features a 1" Aluminum Decoupled Double Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Continuum Woofer.
Frequency Response
Omada No.1 has a frequency range of 56-30k Hz 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 Omada No.1's min frequency of 56Hz.
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
Omada No.1 and 607 S2 AE have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Omada No.1 sensitivity is rated at 89.5 dB and the 607 S2 AE's is at 84 dB. This 6 dB difference makes the Focal Omada No.1 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.
Omada No.1 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 Omada No.1.
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 S2 AE features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Omada No.1 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
B&W 607 S2's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Omada No.1 has a front firing port whereas 607 S2 AE has a rear firing ports. Focal Omada No.1'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 Omada No.1's and B&W 607 S2's external dimensions. Focal Omada No.1 has external dimensions of 388.0 x 220.0 x 274.0mm (15-1/4inch x 8-5/8inch x 10-3/4inch) 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 Omada No.1 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 54mm wider, 87mm taller and 42mm deeper than B&W 607 S2.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Focal Omada No.1 and B&W 607 S2 in scale.
Comparison image of Focal Omada No.1 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 Omada No.1 is approximately 602.8cm2 / 93.4inch2 and base area of the B&W 607 S2 is approximately 385.1cm2 / 59.7inch2. The Omada No.1 requires 57% 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 Omada No.1 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 Omada No.1 weighs 7.00kg / 15.4lbs and the B&W 607 S2 weighs 4.70kg / 10.3lbs. This makes the Omada No.1 49% heavier than the 607 S2 AE.
Here is a comparison of how Omada No.1 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 Focal Omada No.1?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Omada No.1:
- 2 Bookshelf speakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 rubber feet
- Cleaning cloth
- User Manual
- Focal brochure
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 |
 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
56 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
301mm
vs
388mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
385cm2
vs
602cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
799USD
vs
898USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Focal Omada No.1 |
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 |
n/a |
3.0 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
56-30k Hz |
52-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Carbon Fiber + Polymer |
Continuum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Inverted Hard-Dome |
Decoupled Double Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
388.0mm (15.3") |
301.0mm (11.9") |
| Width |
220.0mm (8.7") |
166.0mm (6.5") |
| Depth |
274.0mm (10.8") |
232.0mm (9.1") |
| Weight |
7.00kg (15.4lbs) |
4.70kg (10.3lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Matte Black, Matte White, Oak, Red Cherry |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
22-24" |
24-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: Focal Omada No.1 is the newer design, against a 2020 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | B&W 607 S2 digs deeper - 52Hz against 56Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Focal Omada No.1 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 Omada No.1 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | B&W 607 S2: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | B&W 607 S2 is cheaper - $799 against $898, about 11% less. |
A Focal Omada No.1 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?
B&W 607 S2 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. In a large or open-plan room, Focal Omada No.1 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. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Focal Omada No.1 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.