In this review, we will be comparing Q1 Meta and 607 S3, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from KEF and Bowers Wilkins. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF Q1 Meta and B&W 607 S3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
KEF Q1 Meta Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 12th Generation Uni-Q Driver
- 1" Hard dome Tweeter
- 5.25" Aluminum Woofer
- 51-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:Up to 150watts
- Weight:6.09kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 302.0" x 7.1" x 10.9"( 302 x 180 x 277 mm )
B&W 607 S3 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Decoupled Double Dome Titanium Tweeter
- 5" Continuum Woofer
- 52-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 84 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:30-100watts
- Weight:4.65kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 300.0" x 6.5" x 9.3"( 300.0 x 166.0 x 235.0mm )
What size room are the KEF Q1 Meta and B&W 607 S3 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* |
KEF Q1 Meta |
B&W 607 S3 |
| 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KEF Q1 Meta and B&W 607 S3 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 Q1 Meta and 607 S3 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
KEF Q1 Meta |
B&W 607 S3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
Q1 Meta features a 1" vented aluminum dome with MAT absorber Hard dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2.1 kHz. On the other hand, the 607 S3 features a 1" Titanium Decoupled Double Dome Titanium Tweeter and 1 x 5" Continuum Woofer .
Frequency Response
Q1 Meta has a frequency range of 51-20k Hz whereas 607 S3 has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 51Hz, the Q1 Meta can go slightly deeper then the 607 S3's min frequency of 52Hz.
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
Q1 Meta is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the 607 S3 which has a nominal impedance of 8 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 Q1 Meta can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Q1 Meta sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the 607 S3's is rated at 84 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the KEF Q1 Meta a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W 607 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. 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.
Q1 Meta can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas 607 S3 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Q1 Meta.
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
607 S3 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Q1 Meta has a Binding Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KEF Q1 Meta's Binding Post terminals
B&W 607 S3's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Q1 Meta and 607 S3 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 KEF Q1 Meta's and B&W 607 S3's external dimensions. KEF Q1 Meta has external dimensions of 302 x 180 x 277 mm ( 11.9 x 7.1 x 10.9 in.) whereas B&W 607 S3 has external dimensions of 300.0 x 166.0 x 235.0mm ( 11.8 x 6.5 x 9.3inch) .
KEF Q1 Meta is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 14mm wider, 2mm taller and 42mm deeper than B&W 607 S3.
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 KEF Q1 Meta is approximately 498.6cm2 / 77.3inch2 and base area of the B&W 607 S3 is approximately 390.1cm2 / 60.5inch2. The Q1 Meta requires 28% more surface area than the 607 S3 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 KEF Q1 Meta weighs 6.09kg / 13.4lbs and the B&W 607 S3 weighs 4.65kg / 10.2lbs. This makes the Q1 Meta 31% heavier than the 607 S3.
Here is a comparison of how Q1 Meta and 607 S3's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of KEF Q1 Meta?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Q1 Meta:
Q1 Meta (pair) Magnetic grilles (pair) Rubber feet Port bungs User manual and warranty information
What's in the Box of B&W 607 S3?
Here are the items that come with the 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