In this review, we will be comparing Gold 50 6G and 607 S3, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Monitor Audio and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G and B&W 607 S3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G | B&W 607 S3 |
|---|
| Brand | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 | Bowers Wilkins
United Kingdom · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" | 1" Decoupled Double Dome Titanium |
|---|
| Woofer | 6" HDT C-CAM | 5" Continuum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55 Hz - 60 kHz | 52-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85 dB | 84 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 150 watts | 30-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.52kg / 18.7lbs | 4.65kg / 10.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12-5/8" x 7-5/16" x 11-15/16"
321.0 x 186.0 x 304.0mm | 11.8" x 6.5" x 9.3"
300.0 x 166.0 x 235.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G 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* |
Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G |
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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Gold 50 6G and 607 S3 are 2-way speakers.
Monitor Audio Gold 50 6GB&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 |
Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G |
B&W 607 S3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
Gold 50 6G features a 1" MPD III Tweeter and 1 x 6" HDT C-CAM Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2.5 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
Gold 50 6G has a frequency range of 55 Hz - 60 kHz whereas 607 S3 has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 52Hz, the 607 S3 can go slightly deeper then the Gold 50 6G'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
Gold 50 6G 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 Gold 50 6G can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Gold 50 6G sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the 607 S3's is rated at 84 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G 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.
Gold 50 6G can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas 607 S3 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Gold 50 6G.
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 Gold 50 6G and 607 S3 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G's Binding post terminals allows 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 Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G's and B&W 607 S3's external dimensions. Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G has external dimensions of 321.0 x 186.0 x 304.0mm (7-5/16 x 12-5/8 x 11-15/16) 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).
Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 20mm wider, 21mm taller and 69mm deeper than B&W 607 S3.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G and B&W 607 S3 in scale.
Comparison image of Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G and B&W 607 S3 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 Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G is approximately 565.4cm2 / 87.6inch2 and base area of the B&W 607 S3 is approximately 390.1cm2 / 60.5inch2. The Gold 50 6G requires 45% more surface area than the 607 S3 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 Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G and B&W 607 S3 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 Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G weighs 8.52kg / 18.7lbs and the B&W 607 S3 weighs 4.65kg / 10.2lbs. This makes the Gold 50 6G 83% heavier than the 607 S3.
Here is a comparison of how Gold 50 6G 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 Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Gold 50 6G:
- 2 bookshelf loudspeakers
- 4 Grilles
- 8 Rubber feet
- 4 Jumper-plates (pre-installed)
- 2 Port plugs
- Hex-key
- Quick Setup Guide
- Important Safety Instructions
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 |
150 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
85 dB
vs
84 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Minimum Impedance |
4 ohms
vs
3.0 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
6 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
60k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
52 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
300mm
vs
321mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
390cm2
vs
565cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
900USD
vs
2499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G |
Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 |
| Brand |
Monitor Audio |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
up to 150 watts |
30-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
84 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
3.0 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55 Hz - 60 kHz |
52-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
HDT C-CAM |
Continuum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Decoupled Double Dome Titanium |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2.5 kHz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
| Suggested Break-in Period |
8 Rubber feet |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
321.0mm (12.6") |
300.0mm (11.8") |
| Width |
186.0mm (7.3") |
166.0mm (6.5") |
| Depth |
304.0mm (12") |
235.0mm (9.3") |
| Weight |
8.52kg (18.7lbs) |
4.65kg (10.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Macassar Wood Veneer, High-Gloss Black, Satin White |
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 |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G costs roughly 2.8x what B&W 607 S3 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 S3 digs deeper - 52Hz against 55Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (85dB vs 84dB) - both want much the same power. |
| 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 | A | Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G takes more power (150W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | B&W 607 S3 is easier to place; Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G: bi-amping; B&W 607 S3: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | B&W 607 S3 is cheaper - $900 against $2,499, about 64% less; arguably a different class. |
A Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G 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?
B&W 607 S3 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. Match it to your room: we rate Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and B&W 607 S3 for near-field listening and a small room. In a large or open-plan room, Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, B&W 607 S3 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.