In this review, we will be comparing Concept 30 and 607 S2 AE, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Q Acoustics and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Q Acoustics Concept 30 and B&W 607 S2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Q Acoustics Concept 30 | B&W 607 S2 |
|---|
| Brand | Q Acoustics
United Kingdom · founded 2006 | Bowers Wilkins
United Kingdom · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1" Decoupled Double Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" Paper composite | 5" Continuum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 54-30k Hz | 52-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 84 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-100 watts | 30-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.90kg / 17.4lbs | 4.70kg / 10.3lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11-3/16" x 7-1/16" x 12-9/16"
284.0 x 180.0 x 319.0mm | 11-13/16" x 6-1/2" x 9-1/8"
301.0 x 166.0 x 232.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Q Acoustics Concept 30 and B&W 607 S2 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* |
Q Acoustics Concept 30 |
B&W 607 S2 |
| 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 Concept 30 and 607 S2 AE are 2-way speakers.
Q Acoustics Concept 30B&W 607 S2
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Q Acoustics Concept 30 |
B&W 607 S2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
Concept 30 features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Paper composite Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2400Hz. On the other hand, the 607 S2 AE features a 1" Aluminum Decoupled Double Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Continuum Woofer.
Frequency Response
Concept 30 has a frequency range of 54-30k Hz whereas 607 S2 AE has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 52Hz, the 607 S2 AE can go slightly deeper then the Concept 30's min frequency of 54Hz.
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
Concept 30 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the 607 S2 AE which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Concept 30 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the 607 S2 AE's is rated at 84 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Q Acoustics Concept 30 a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W 607 S2, 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 Concept 30 is rated 25-100 watts and 607 S2 AE 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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Concept 30 and 607 S2 AE features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
B&W 607 S2's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Concept 30 and 607 S2 AE 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
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 Q Acoustics Concept 30's and B&W 607 S2's external dimensions. Q Acoustics Concept 30 has external dimensions of 284.0 x 180.0 x 319.0mm (11-3/16 x 7-1/16 x 12-9/16inch) whereas B&W 607 S2 has external dimensions of 301.0 x 166.0 x 232.0mm (11-13/16 x 6-1/2 x 9-1/8inch).
B&W 607 S2 is 14mm narrower and 87mm less deeper than Q Acoustics Concept 30 but it is also 17mm taller.
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.
Q Acoustics Concept 30 needs about 49% more floor or shelf area. Q Acoustics Concept 30 is 87mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. B&W 607 S2 is 17mm 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 Q Acoustics Concept 30 is approximately 574.2cm2 / 89.0inch2 and base area of the B&W 607 S2 is approximately 385.1cm2 / 59.7inch2. The Concept 30 requires 49% more surface area than the 607 S2 AE 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 Q Acoustics Concept 30 weighs 7.90kg / 17.4lbs and the B&W 607 S2 weighs 4.70kg / 10.3lbs. This makes the Concept 30 68% heavier than the 607 S2 AE.
Here is a comparison of how Concept 30 and 607 S2 AE'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 S2?
Here are the items that come with the 607 S2 AE:
- 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
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
84 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Minimum Impedance |
3.9 ohms
vs
3.0 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
284mm
vs
301mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Low Frequency Response |
52 Hz
vs
54 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
385cm2
vs
574cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
799USD
vs
899USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Q Acoustics Concept 30 |
Bowers & Wilkins 607 S2 Anniversary Edition |
| Brand |
Q Acoustics |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-100 watts |
30-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
84 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.9 ohms |
3.0 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
54-30k Hz |
52-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper composite |
Continuum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Decoupled Double Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2400Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
284.0mm (11.2") |
301.0mm (11.9") |
| Width |
180.0mm (7.1") |
166.0mm (6.5") |
| Depth |
319.0mm (12.6") |
232.0mm (9.1") |
| Weight |
7.90kg (17.4lbs) |
4.70kg (10.3lbs) |
| 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 |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
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 | evenly matched | Much the same reach (54Hz vs 52Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | A | Q Acoustics Concept 30 is more sensitive (87dB vs 84dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | B&W 607 S2 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (100W vs 100W). |
| Size | depends | B&W 607 S2 is easier to place; Q Acoustics Concept 30 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Q Acoustics Concept 30: bi-amping; B&W 607 S2: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | B&W 607 S2 is cheaper - $799 against $899, about 11% less. |
A Q Acoustics Concept 30 B B&W 607 S2
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. In a large or open-plan room, Q Acoustics Concept 30 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, B&W 607 S2 is the easier speaker to get right. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Q Acoustics Concept 30 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.