In this review, we will be comparing Silver 50 7G and BW 607, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Monitor Audio and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G and B&W 607 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G | B&W 607 |
|---|
| Brand | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 | Bowers Wilkins
United Kingdom · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" C-CAM RST II | 5" Continuum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 47-35k Hz | 52-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 84 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 40-100 watts | 30-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.63kg / 12.4lbs | 4.70kg / 10.3lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11-1/8" x 6-9/16" x 10-3/4"
283.0 x 167.0 x 274.0mm | 11.8" x 6.4" x 8.1"
300.0 x 165.0 x 207.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G 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:
| Listening Environment* |
Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G |
B&W 607 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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 Silver 50 7G and BW 607 are 2-way speakers.
Monitor Audio Silver 50 7GB&W 607
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 Silver 50 7G |
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
|
Silver 50 7G features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" C-CAM RST II Woofer. On the other hand, the BW 607 features a 1" Decoupled Carbon Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Continuum Woofer.
Frequency Response
Silver 50 7G has a frequency range of 47-35k Hz whereas BW 607 has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 47Hz, the Silver 50 7G can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the BW 607'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
Silver 50 7G and BW 607 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Silver 50 7G sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the BW 607's is at 84 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Both handle the same maximum of 100 watts RMS, though Silver 50 7G is rated 40-100 watts and BW 607 30-100 watts.
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.
Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Silver 50 7G and BW 607 features dual binding post speaker terminals for 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 Silver 50 7G's and B&W 607's external dimensions. Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G has external dimensions of 283.0 x 167.0 x 274.0mm (11-1/8 x 6-9/16 x 10-3/4inch) whereas B&W 607 has external dimensions of 300.0 x 165.0 x 207.0mm (11.8 x 6.4 x 8.1inch).
B&W 607 is 2mm narrower and 67mm less deeper than Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G but it is also 17mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G and B&W 607 in scale.
Comparison image of Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G and B&W 607 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 Silver 50 7G is approximately 457.6cm2 / 70.9inch2 and base area of the B&W 607 is approximately 341.6cm2 / 52.9inch2. The Silver 50 7G requires 34% more surface area than the BW 607 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 Silver 50 7G and B&W 607 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 Silver 50 7G weighs 5.63kg / 12.4lbs and the B&W 607 weighs 4.70kg / 10.3lbs. This makes the Silver 50 7G 20% heavier than the BW 607.
Here is a comparison of how Silver 50 7G and BW 607's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Silver 50 7G:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Jumpers (pre-installed)
- 8 Rubber feet
- 2 Foam port plugs
- Hex-key
- Owners Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
What's in the Box of B&W 607?
Here are the items that come with the BW 607:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 2 Two-piece foam port plugs
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- 4 Jumper-straps
- Manual
- Bowers & Wilkins brochure
- Warranty Information
 Sensitivity |
86 dB
vs
84 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
47 Hz
vs
52 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
283mm
vs
300mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
341cm2
vs
457cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
799USD
vs
1100USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G |
Bowers & Wilkins 607 |
| Brand |
Monitor Audio |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
40-100 watts |
30-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
84 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.0 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
47-35k Hz |
52-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
C-CAM RST II |
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 |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
283.0mm (11.1") |
300.0mm (11.8") |
| Width |
167.0mm (6.6") |
165.0mm (6.5") |
| Depth |
274.0mm (10.8") |
207.0mm (8.1") |
| Weight |
5.63kg (12.4lbs) |
4.70kg (10.3lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Ash,High Gloss Black,Black Oak,Satin White |
Black, White, Oak |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
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 |
A generation apart: Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G is the newer design, against a 2017 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G digs deeper - 47Hz against 52Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G is more sensitive (86dB vs 84dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (100W vs 100W). |
| Size | depends | B&W 607 is easier to place; Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G: bi-amping; B&W 607: bi-amping. Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G sits in a wider range (8 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | B&W 607 is cheaper - $799 against $1,100, about 27% less. |
A Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G B B&W 607
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?
The usual trade-off: Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G measures better, B&W 607 costs about about 38% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 52Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper B&W 607 much easier to justify. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G 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.