In this review, we will be comparing QX-2 MKII and 607 S3, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Mission and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Mission QX-2 MKII and B&W 607 S3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Mission QX-2 MKII | B&W 607 S3 |
|---|
| Brand | Mission
United Kingdom · founded 1977 | Bowers Wilkins
United Kingdom · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.5" Ring Dome | 1" Decoupled Double Dome Titanium |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Composite fibre | 5" Continuum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 44-24k Hz | 52-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 84 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-120 watts | 30-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.50kg / 18.7lbs | 4.65kg / 10.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12-5/8" x 8-11/16" x 12-3/16"
320.0 x 220.0 x 310.0mm | 11.8" x 6.5" x 9.3"
300.0 x 166.0 x 235.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Mission QX-2 MKII 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* |
Mission QX-2 MKII |
B&W 607 S3 |
| Near-field |
Good |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
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 QX-2 MKII and 607 S3 are 2-way speakers.
Mission QX-2 MKIIB&W 607 S3
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Mission QX-2 MKII |
B&W 607 S3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.5-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
QX-2 MKII features a 1.5" Textile Ring Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Composite fibre Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2.2kHz. On the other hand, the 607 S3 features a 1" Titanium Decoupled Double Dome Titanium Tweeter and 1 x 5" Continuum Woofer.
Frequency Response
QX-2 MKII has a frequency range of 44-24k Hz whereas 607 S3 has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the QX-2 MKII can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 607 S3's min frequency of 52Hz.
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
QX-2 MKII 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 QX-2 MKII can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. QX-2 MKII sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the 607 S3's is rated at 84 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Mission QX-2 MKII 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
QX-2 MKII can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas 607 S3 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the QX-2 MKII.
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 QX-2 MKII and 607 S3 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
B&W 607 S3's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
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 Mission QX-2 MKII's and B&W 607 S3's external dimensions. Mission QX-2 MKII has external dimensions of 320.0 x 220.0 x 310.0mm (12-5/8 x 8-11/16 x 12-3/16inch) 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).
Mission QX-2 MKII is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 54mm wider, 20mm taller and 75mm deeper than B&W 607 S3.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Mission QX-2 MKII needs about 75% more floor or shelf area. Mission QX-2 MKII is 75mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Mission QX-2 MKII is 20mm taller.
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 Mission QX-2 MKII is approximately 682.0cm2 / 105.7inch2 and base area of the B&W 607 S3 is approximately 390.1cm2 / 60.5inch2. The QX-2 MKII requires 75% 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 Mission QX-2 MKII weighs 8.50kg / 18.7lbs and the B&W 607 S3 weighs 4.65kg / 10.2lbs. This makes the QX-2 MKII 83% heavier than the 607 S3.
Here is a comparison of how QX-2 MKII 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 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
 Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
84 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Minimum Impedance |
3.6 ohms
vs
3.0 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
44 Hz
vs
52 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
599USD
vs
900USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
300mm
vs
320mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
390cm2
vs
682cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Mission QX-2 MKII |
Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 |
| Brand |
Mission |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-120 watts |
30-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
84 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.6 ohms |
3.0 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
44-24k Hz |
52-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Composite fibre |
Continuum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.5" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Ring Dome |
Decoupled Double Dome Titanium |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2.2kHz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
320.0mm (12.6") |
300.0mm (11.8") |
| Width |
220.0mm (8.7") |
166.0mm (6.5") |
| Depth |
310.0mm (12.2") |
235.0mm (9.3") |
| Weight |
8.50kg (18.7lbs) |
4.65kg (10.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Matte Black, Matte White, Oak, Red Cherry |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
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 |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Mission QX-2 MKII digs deeper - 44Hz against 52Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Mission QX-2 MKII is more sensitive (88dB vs 84dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | B&W 607 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 (120W vs 100W). |
| Size | depends | B&W 607 S3 is easier to place; Mission QX-2 MKII is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Mission QX-2 MKII: bi-amping; B&W 607 S3: bi-amping. Mission QX-2 MKII sits in a wider range (7 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Mission QX-2 MKII is cheaper - $599 against $900, about 33% less. |
A Mission QX-2 MKII B B&W 607 S3
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?
Mission QX-2 MKII has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 52Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Mission QX-2 MKII the better fit for near-field listening; elsewhere the two are rated the same.
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.