In this review, we will be comparing A130 and BW 607, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from JBL and Bowers Wilkins. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL A130 and B&W 607 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the JBL A130 and B&W 607 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 JBL A130 and B&W 607 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both A130 and BW 607 are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
JBL A130 |
B&W 607 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
A130 features a 1" aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Polycellulose Woofer . On the other hand, the BW 607 features a 1" Decoupled Carbon Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Continuum Woofer .
Frequency Response
A130 has a frequency range of 55-40k Hz whereas BW 607 has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 52Hz, the BW 607 can go slightly deeper then the A130's min frequency of 55Hz.
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
A130 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the BW 607 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. A130 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the BW 607's is rated at 84 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the JBL A130 a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W 607, 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.
A130 can handle a max power of 125 watts RMS from the amp the whereas BW 607 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 25 watts less than the A130.
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
BW 607 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. A130 has a 5-way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both A130 and BW 607 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 JBL A130's and B&W 607's external dimensions. JBL A130 has external dimensions of 323.0 x 191.0 x 250.0mm ( 12-11/16 x 7-1/2 x 9-13/16inch) whereas B&W 607 has external dimensions of 300.0 x 165.0 x 207.0mm ( 11.8 x 6.4 x 8.1inch) .
JBL A130 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 26mm wider, 23mm taller and 43mm deeper than B&W 607.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of JBL A130 and B&W 607 in scale.
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 JBL A130 is approximately 477.5cm2 / 74.0inch2 and base area of the B&W 607 is approximately 341.6cm2 / 52.9inch2. The A130 requires 40% more surface area than the BW 607 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
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 JBL A130 weighs 5.46kg / 12lbs and the B&W 607 weighs 4.70kg / 10.3lbs. This makes the A130 16% heavier than the BW 607.
Here is a comparison of how A130 and BW 607's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of JBL A130?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of A130:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers2 Grilles8 Rubber feetOwners ManualWarranty Card
What's in the Box of B&W 607?
Here are the items that come with the BW 607:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers2 Grilles2 Two-piece foam port plugs8 Self-adhesive rubber feet4 Jumper-straps Manual Bowers & Wilkins brochureWarranty Information
Max Input Power |
125 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Sensitivity |
86 dB
vs
84 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Price per pair* |
300USD
vs
799USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Low Frequency Response |
52 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
Height |
300mm
vs
323mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
341cm2 (165x207mm)
vs
477cm2 (191x250mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
General |
JBL Stage A130 |
Bowers & Wilkins 607 |
Brand |
JBL |
Bowers Wilkins |
Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
Power Range |
20-125 watts |
30-100 watts |
Sensitivity |
86 dB |
84 dB |
Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
Impedance |
n/a |
3.0 ohms |
Frequency Response |
55-40k Hz |
52-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5" |
Woofer Composition |
Polycellulose |
Continuum |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Hard-Dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
323.0mm (12.7") |
300.0mm (11.8") |
Width |
191.0mm (7.5") |
165.0mm (6.5") |
Depth |
250.0mm (9.8") |
207.0mm (8.1") |
Weight |
5.46kg (12lbs) |
4.70kg (10.3lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF, Vinyl |
MDF/Vinyl |
Available Colors |
Black |
Black, White, Oak |
Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
Recommended Stand Height |
24-26" |
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 |