Short answer: the Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3. Both are rated 3.6/5 for sound quality (#65 and #58 of 168 bookshelf speakers), and the Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 costs $1,000 against $1,038.99 for the Dayton Audio OPAL1, so with nothing between them on sound quality, price settles it.
The case for the Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3: The current smallest 600 Series speaker, with a 5” Continuum cone and a 1” decoupled double dome titanium tweeter, rated 52Hz to 28kHz. The catch: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared directly with measured speakers; the rating is estimated from its measured predecessor.
What the Dayton Audio OPAL1 does well: A 2-way bookshelf speaker with a 5.25” mid-woofer (large surround) and a 1” dome tweeter, plus two passive radiators on the rear panel. The catch: Measured average sensitivity is notably low at about 75.7dB (well under the 78dB spec) due to a nearly 3dB dip through the midrange, and the reviewer needed serious amplification (monoblock power amps, not just a compact streaming amp) to drive them to real listening levels for bass testing.
Buy the Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $38.99 less than the Dayton Audio OPAL1.
Worth knowing: the Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 has not been measured yet. Its rating is estimated from related models, with a likely range of 3.3 to 3.9, so treat this verdict as provisional.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 | Dayton Audio OPAL1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,000 per pair | $1,038.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #65 of 168 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers Estimated | #58 of 168 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Weight | 10.3 lbs (4.65 kg) | 20.7 lbs (9.4 kg) each |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 52Hz (manufacturer specified) | 55Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 1” titanium decoupled double dome tweeter, 5” Continuum cone mid/bass | 5.25” mid-woofer, 1” dome tweeter, dual rear passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 52Hz-28kHz (manufacturer specified) | 32Hz - 20kHz (-3dB, half-space, manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 84dB (manufacturer specified) | 75.7dB (measured by Erin’s Audio Corner; 78dB manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) | 8 ohms nominal (4.3 ohms minimum @ 4.4kHz, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | passive radiator, rear (dual) |
| Dimensions | 11.8”H x 6.5”W x 8.1”D (300 x 165 x 207 mm) | 14”H x 7”W x 9.5”D |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 30Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Power Handling | - | 200W RMS (75-200W recommended amplifier power) |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 2,200Hz |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 5.08 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 6.58 |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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- KEF LS50 Meta vs Dayton Audio OPAL1
- Arendal 1961 Monitor vs Dayton Audio OPAL1
- Wharfedale Super Denton vs Dayton Audio OPAL1
- KEF Q150 vs Dayton Audio OPAL1
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3: $1,000 per pair Estimated Audio Advisor eBay
Older models: the Bowers & Wilkins 686 S2 (ranked higher, rated 3.8/5) and the Bowers & Wilkins 607 S2 Anniversary Edition (ranked lower, rated 3.5/5). See every Bowers & Wilkins 600 Series generation.
Same family: the Bowers & Wilkins 606 S3 (larger bookshelf, estimated 3.9/5), the Bowers & Wilkins 603 S3 (floorstanding, estimated 4.1/5) and the Bowers & Wilkins HTM6 S3 (center, estimated 3.4/5).
Pros: The current smallest 600 Series speaker, with a 5” Continuum cone and a 1” decoupled double dome titanium tweeter, rated 52Hz to 28kHz.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared directly with measured speakers; the rating is estimated from its measured predecessor. Sensitivity is a low 84dB, so it wants a reasonably powerful amplifier.
Full Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 review and specifications →
| Released | Sep 2023 (3 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 52Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 11.8”H x 6.5”W x 8.1”D (300 x 165 x 207 mm) |
| Drivers | 1” titanium decoupled double dome tweeter, 5” Continuum cone mid/bass |
| Frequency Response | 52Hz-28kHz (manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 84dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 10.3 lbs (4.65 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Dayton Audio OPAL1: $1,038.99 per pair Dayton Audio eBay
Pros: A 2-way bookshelf speaker with a 5.25” mid-woofer (large surround) and a 1” dome tweeter, plus two passive radiators on the rear panel. A bass shelf in its response lets it sit closer to a wall than many speakers without sounding overly boomy, a similar design trait to the KEF R3 Meta. Measured F3 of about 55Hz and F10 of about 30Hz. Harmonic distortion is good for a 5.25” mid-woofer at both 86dB and 96dB output, and dynamic range/compression is reasonably well controlled up to about 96dB. Horizontal radiation of about ±60° lands right in the reviewer’s personally preferred range for soundstage width. On-axis, the sound is a little forward-leaning rather than dull, and EQ can bring back midrange fullness and a bigger sense of image spread if the stock tuning’s slightly recessed midrange isn’t to your taste. Measured bass extension of 55Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 75.7dB.
Cons: Measured average sensitivity is notably low at about 75.7dB (well under the 78dB spec) due to a nearly 3dB dip through the midrange, and the reviewer needed serious amplification (monoblock power amps, not just a compact streaming amp) to drive them to real listening levels for bass testing. On-axis response is within only about ±3dB (a 6dB window) (not very linear) with a mid-range scoop and a bump around 1kHz that makes the sound a bit forward and less full than a neutral reference; EQ can address most of this but makes the image slightly more diffuse in exchange for added fullness. A roughly one-octave-wide diffraction dip between 3-5kHz can’t be corrected with EQ, since boosting it raises reflected energy in a band that’s already elevated off-axis. Top end rolls off fairly quickly above about 10kHz on-axis, and toeing the speakers out more than about 10° loses noticeable air and cymbal/hi-hat detail: best kept close to on-axis. Multitone distortion jumps substantially between 87dB and 96dB SPL/1m, so headroom for loud listening is limited. Vertical window is tight at about ±20°.
Full Dayton Audio OPAL1 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 30Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 55Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 2,200Hz |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 14”H x 7”W x 9.5”D |
| Drivers | 5.25” mid-woofer, 1” dome tweeter, dual rear passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 32Hz - 20kHz (-3dB, half-space, manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (4.3 ohms minimum @ 4.4kHz, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Power Handling | 200W RMS (75-200W recommended amplifier power) |
| Sensitivity | 75.7dB (measured by Erin’s Audio Corner; 78dB manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.08 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.58 |
| Weight | 20.7 lbs (9.4 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | passive radiator, rear (dual) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons