In this review, we will be comparing D320 and 707 S2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale D320 and B&W 707 S2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale D320 | B&W 707 S2 |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | Bowers Wilkins
United Kingdom · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Decoupled Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" Woven Kevlar | 5" Continuum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 56-20k Hz | 50-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 84 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-100 watts | 30-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.02kg / 13.2lbs | 6.00kg / 13.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12-5/8" x 7-1/8" x 10-7/8"
321.0 x 181.0 x 277.0mm | 11" x 6.5" x 10.9"
280.0 x 165.0 x 276.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale D320 and B&W 707 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* |
Wharfedale D320 |
B&W 707 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 D320 and 707 S2 are 2-way speakers.
Wharfedale D320B&W 707 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 |
Wharfedale D320 |
B&W 707 S2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
D320 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Woven Kevlar Woofer. On the other hand, the 707 S2 features a 1" Decoupled Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Continuum Woofer.
Frequency Response
D320 has a frequency range of 56-20k Hz whereas 707 S2 has a frequency range of 50-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the 707 S2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the D320's min frequency of 56Hz.
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
D320 and 707 S2 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. D320 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the 707 S2's is at 84 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Wharfedale D320 a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W 707 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 D320 is rated 25-100 watts and 707 S2 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
707 S2 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. D320 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale D320's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
D320 has a bottom firing port whereas 707 S2 has a rear firing ports. Wharfedale D320's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to B&W 707 S2 with its rear-firing port.
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 Wharfedale D320's and B&W 707 S2's external dimensions. Wharfedale D320 has external dimensions of 321.0 x 181.0 x 277.0mm (12-5/8 x 7-1/8 x 10-7/8inch) whereas B&W 707 S2 has external dimensions of 280.0 x 165.0 x 276.0mm (11-inch x 6.5-inch x 10.9-inch).
Wharfedale D320 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 16mm wider, 41mm taller and 1mm deeper than B&W 707 S2.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale D320 and B&W 707 S2 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale D320 and B&W 707 S2 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 Wharfedale D320 is approximately 501.4cm2 / 77.7inch2 and base area of the B&W 707 S2 is approximately 455.4cm2 / 70.6inch2. The D320 requires 10% more surface area than the 707 S2 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 Wharfedale D320 and B&W 707 S2 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 Wharfedale D320 weighs 6.02kg / 13.2lbs and the B&W 707 S2 weighs 6.00kg / 13.2lbs. This makes the D320 0% heavier than the 707 S2.
Here is a comparison of how D320 and 707 S2's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Wharfedale D320?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of D320:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Tweeter grilles (pre-installed)
- 2 Woofer grilles (pre-installed)
- User-feets Manual
- Installation Guide
What's in the Box of B&W 707 S2?
Here are the items that come with the 707 S2:
- 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 |
87 dB
vs
84 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Price per pair* |
249USD
vs
1599USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Minimum Impedance |
4.0 ohms
vs
3.8 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
56 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
280mm
vs
321mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
455cm2
vs
501cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Wharfedale D320 |
Bowers & Wilkins 707 S2 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-100 watts |
30-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
84 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.8 ohms |
4.0 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
56-20k Hz |
50-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Kevlar |
Continuum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Foamed Polyether |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Decoupled Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
321.0mm (12.6") |
280.0mm (11") |
| Width |
181.0mm (7.1") |
165.0mm (6.5") |
| Depth |
277.0mm (10.9") |
276.0mm (10.9") |
| Weight |
6.02kg (13.2lbs) |
6.00kg (13.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
| Available Colors |
Rosewood, Black, White, Walnut |
Rosewood, Gloss Black, Satin White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
22-24" |
24-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - B&W 707 S2 costs roughly 6.4x what Wharfedale D320 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 707 S2 digs deeper - 50Hz against 56Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Wharfedale D320 is more sensitive (87dB vs 84dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (100W vs 100W). |
| Size | depends | B&W 707 S2 is easier to place; Wharfedale D320 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | B&W 707 S2: bi-amping. B&W 707 S2 sits in a wider range (8 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Wharfedale D320 is cheaper - $249 against $1,599, about 84% less; arguably a different class. |
A Wharfedale D320 B B&W 707 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?
B&W 707 S2 is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 6.4x the price. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Wharfedale D320 looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the B&W 707 S2 appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 56Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Wharfedale D320 much easier to justify. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Wharfedale D320 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.