In this review, we will be comparing Clearus C6LCR Dual 6.5" LCR In-Wall Speaker and R-5502-W II, two Passive In-wall speakers from Aperion and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Aperion Clearus C6LCR Dual 6.5" LCR In-Wall Speaker and Klipsch R-5502-W II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Aperion Clearus C6LCR Dual 6.5" LCR In-Wall Speaker | Klipsch R-5502-W II |
|---|
| Brand | Aperion
United States · founded 1998 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" | 1" Horn-loaded |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" | 2 x 5.25" Cerametallic |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50-30k Hz | 46-20kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 92 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-150 Watts watts | up to 75 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 3.63kg / 8lbs | 2.95kg / 6.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 18.94" x 8.31" x 3.98"
481.1 x 211.1 x 101.1mm | 16.3750" x 6.5000" x 3.3750"
416.0 x 166.0 x 86.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Aperion Clearus C6LCR Dual 6.5" LCR In-Wall Speaker and Klipsch R-5502-W II 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* |
Aperion Clearus C6LCR Dual 6.5" LCR In-Wall Speaker |
Klipsch R-5502-W II |
| Near-field |
Good |
Good |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
No way |
(* 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 Clearus C6LCR Dual 6.5" LCR In-Wall Speaker and R-5502-W II are 2-way speakers.
Aperion Clearus C6LCR Dual 6.5" LCR In-Wall SpeakerKlipsch R-5502-W II
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Aperion Clearus C6LCR Dual 6.5" LCR In-Wall Speaker |
Klipsch R-5502-W II |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
Clearus C6LCR Dual 6.5" LCR In-Wall Speaker features a 1" Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Woofer. On the other hand, the R-5502-W II features a 1" Horn-loaded Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Cerametallic Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200 Hz.
Frequency Response
Clearus C6LCR Dual 6.5" LCR In-Wall Speaker has a frequency range of 50-30k Hz whereas R-5502-W II has a frequency range of 46-20kHz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the R-5502-W II can go slightly deeper then the Clearus C6LCR Dual 6.5" LCR In-Wall Speaker's min frequency of 50Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the In-wall class in our database.
Low Frequency
In-wall Speakers
Clearus C6LCR Dual 6.5" LCR In-Wall Speaker
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
Clearus C6LCR Dual 6.5" LCR In-Wall Speaker and R-5502-W II have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Clearus C6LCR Dual 6.5" LCR In-Wall Speaker sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the R-5502-W II's is at 92 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Klipsch R-5502-W II a more sensitive speaker compared to Aperion Clearus C6LCR Dual 6.5" LCR In-Wall Speaker, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
In-wall Speakers
Clearus C6LCR Dual 6.5" LCR In-Wall Speaker
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.
Clearus C6LCR Dual 6.5" LCR In-Wall Speaker can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS, whereas R-5502-W II has a max power handling value of 75 watts RMS, 225 watts less than the Clearus C6LCR Dual 6.5" LCR In-Wall Speaker.
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.
Aperion Clearus C6LCR Dual 6.5" LCR In-Wall Speaker
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Clearus C6LCR Dual 6.5" LCR In-Wall Speaker features Spring post type posts and R-5502-W II has a Spring post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/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 Aperion Clearus C6LCR Dual 6.5" LCR In-Wall Speaker's and Klipsch R-5502-W II's external dimensions. Aperion Clearus C6LCR Dual 6.5" LCR In-Wall Speaker has external dimensions of 481.1 x 211.1 x 101.1mm (18.94 x 8.31 x 3.98inch) whereas Klipsch R-5502-W II has external dimensions of 416.0 x 166.0 x 86.0mm (16.3750-inch x 6.5000-inch x 3.3750-inch).
Aperion Clearus C6LCR Dual 6.5" LCR In-Wall Speaker is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 45.1mm wider, 65.1mm taller and 15.1mm deeper than Klipsch R-5502-W II.
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.
Aperion Clearus C6LCR Dual 6.5" LCR In-Wall Speaker needs about 49% more floor or shelf area. Aperion Clearus C6LCR Dual 6.5" LCR In-Wall Speaker is 15mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Aperion Clearus C6LCR Dual 6.5" LCR In-Wall Speaker is 65mm taller.
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 Aperion Clearus C6LCR Dual 6.5" LCR In-Wall Speaker weighs 3.63kg / 8lbs and the Klipsch R-5502-W II weighs 2.95kg / 6.5lbs. This makes the Clearus C6LCR Dual 6.5" LCR In-Wall Speaker 23% heavier than the R-5502-W II.
Here is a comparison of how Clearus C6LCR Dual 6.5" LCR In-Wall Speaker and R-5502-W II's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive In-wall class.
Weight
All In-wall Speakers
Aperion Clearus C6LCR Dual 6.5" LCR In-Wall Speaker
What's in the Box of Klipsch R-5502-W II?
Here are the items that come with the R-5502-W II:
- In-wall speaker
- White metal mesh grille
- Cardboard template
- Owners Manual (En/Fr/Sp)
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
75 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
416mm
vs
481mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
142cm2
vs
213cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Aperion Clearus C6LCR Dual 6.5" LCR In-Wall Speaker |
Klipsch R-5502-W II |
| Brand |
Aperion |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Passive In-wall Speaker |
Passive In-wall Speaker |
| Power Range |
20-150 Watts watts |
up to 75 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
92 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50-30k Hz |
46-20kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Cerametallic |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Horn-loaded |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2200 Hz |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
481.1mm (18.9") |
416.0mm (16.4") |
| Width |
211.1mm (8.3") |
166.0mm (6.5") |
| Depth |
101.1mm (4") |
86.0mm (3.4") |
| Weight |
3.63kg (8lbs) |
2.95kg (6.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
In-wall |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
Ltd. Lifetime |
| Labor Warranty |
|
Ltd. Lifetime |
A generation apart: Aperion Clearus C6LCR Dual 6.5" LCR In-Wall Speaker is the newer design, against a 2015 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Klipsch R-5502-W II digs deeper - 46Hz against 50Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Klipsch R-5502-W II is more sensitive (92dB vs 89dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | A | Aperion Clearus C6LCR Dual 6.5" LCR In-Wall Speaker takes more power (300W vs 75W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Klipsch R-5502-W II is easier to place; Aperion Clearus C6LCR Dual 6.5" LCR In-Wall Speaker is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Ported vs In-wall. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($498 vs $498 a pair). |
A Aperion Clearus C6LCR Dual 6.5" LCR In-Wall Speaker B Klipsch R-5502-W II
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?
Klipsch R-5502-W II has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. In a large or open-plan room, Aperion Clearus C6LCR Dual 6.5" LCR In-Wall Speaker has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Klipsch R-5502-W II is the easier speaker to get right. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Klipsch R-5502-W II 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.