In this review, we will be comparing Olympica I and 607 S2 AE, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Sonus faber and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus faber Olympica I and B&W 607 S2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Sonus faber Olympica I | B&W 607 S2 |
|---|
| Brand | Sonus faber
Italy · founded 1983 | Bowers Wilkins
United Kingdom · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" Soft-Dome | 1" Decoupled Double Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Paper | 5" Continuum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 57-40k Hz | 52-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 84 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-250 watts | 30-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 11.00kg / 24.2lbs | 4.70kg / 10.3lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14-9/16" x 8-1/4" x 14-9/16"
370.0 x 210.0 x 370.0mm | 11-13/16" x 6-1/2" x 9-1/8"
301.0 x 166.0 x 232.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Sonus faber Olympica I 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* |
Sonus faber Olympica I |
B&W 607 S2 |
| 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 Olympica I and 607 S2 AE are 2-way speakers.
Sonus faber Olympica IB&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 |
Sonus faber Olympica I |
B&W 607 S2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
Olympica I features a 1.1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2300 Hz. On the other hand, the 607 S2 AE features a 1" Aluminum Decoupled Double Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Continuum Woofer.
Frequency Response
Olympica I has a frequency range of 57-40k 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 significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Olympica I's min frequency of 57Hz.
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
Olympica I is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the 607 S2 AE 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 Olympica I can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Olympica I sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the 607 S2 AE's is rated at 84 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Sonus faber Olympica I 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.
Olympica I can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas 607 S2 AE has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 150 watts less than the Olympica I.
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 Olympica I 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
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 Sonus faber Olympica I's and B&W 607 S2's external dimensions. Sonus faber Olympica I has external dimensions of 370.0 x 210.0 x 370.0mm (14-9/16 x 8-1/4 x 14-9/16inch) 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).
Sonus faber Olympica I is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 44mm wider, 69mm taller and 138mm deeper than B&W 607 S2.
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.
Sonus faber Olympica I needs about 102% more floor or shelf area. Sonus faber Olympica I is 138mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Sonus faber Olympica I is 69mm 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 Sonus faber Olympica I is approximately 777.0cm2 / 120.4inch2 and base area of the B&W 607 S2 is approximately 385.1cm2 / 59.7inch2. The Olympica I requires 102% 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 Sonus faber Olympica I weighs 11.00kg / 24.2lbs and the B&W 607 S2 weighs 4.70kg / 10.3lbs. This makes the Olympica I 134% heavier than the 607 S2 AE.
Here is a comparison of how Olympica I 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
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
84 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
52 Hz
vs
57 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
301mm
vs
370mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
385cm2
vs
777cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
799USD
vs
6500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Sonus faber Olympica I |
Bowers & Wilkins 607 S2 Anniversary Edition |
| Brand |
Sonus faber |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-250 watts |
30-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
84 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.0 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
57-40k Hz |
52-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper |
Continuum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Decoupled Double Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2300 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
370.0mm (14.6") |
301.0mm (11.9") |
| Width |
210.0mm (8.3") |
166.0mm (6.5") |
| Depth |
370.0mm (14.6") |
232.0mm (9.1") |
| Weight |
11.00kg (24.2lbs) |
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 |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Sonus faber Olympica I costs roughly 8.1x what B&W 607 S2 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 S2 digs deeper - 52Hz against 57Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Sonus faber Olympica I 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; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | A | Sonus faber Olympica I takes more power (250W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | B&W 607 S2 is easier to place; Sonus faber Olympica I is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Sonus faber Olympica I: bi-amping; B&W 607 S2: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | B&W 607 S2 is cheaper - $799 against $6,500, about 88% less; arguably a different class. |
A Sonus faber Olympica I 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. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 57Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Sonus faber Olympica I 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.