In this review, we will be comparing Theatrus T80S Dual 8" Slim On-Wall Speaker and Invisa Signature Point Source SPS, two Passive In-wall speakers from Aperion and GoldenEar.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Aperion Theatrus T80S Dual 8" Slim On-Wall Speaker and GoldenEar Invisa SPS first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Aperion Theatrus T80S Dual 8" Slim On-Wall Speaker | GoldenEar Invisa SPS |
|---|
| Brand | Aperion
United States · founded 1998 | GoldenEar
United States · founded 2010 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 2" | Folded Ribbon |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 8" | 4 x 5.25" Polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 60-35k Hz | 25-35kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 94 dB | 92 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-350 Watts watts | 20-350 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 16.19kg / 35.6lbs | 6.35kg / 14lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 19.7" x 15.8" x 5.1"
500.4 x 401.3 x 129.5mm | 26.5000" x 7.1250" x 3.3125"
674.0 x 181.0 x 85.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Aperion Theatrus T80S Dual 8" Slim On-Wall Speaker and GoldenEar Invisa SPS 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 Theatrus T80S Dual 8" Slim On-Wall Speaker |
GoldenEar Invisa SPS |
| Near-field |
Good |
Are you nuts? |
| Small Room |
Good |
Bad |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
Good |
(* 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Theatrus T80S Dual 8" Slim On-Wall Speaker is a 2-way design whereas the Invisa Signature Point Source SPS is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
Aperion Theatrus T80S Dual 8" Slim On-Wall SpeakerGoldenEar Invisa SPS
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Drivers drawn to scale and directly comparable. Cabinet outlines are indicative: full dimensions are not published for both. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Aperion Theatrus T80S Dual 8" Slim On-Wall Speaker |
GoldenEar Invisa SPS |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
2-inch
|
-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
4 x 5.25-inch
|
Theatrus T80S Dual 8" Slim On-Wall Speaker features a 2" Tweeter and 2 x 8" Woofer. On the other hand, the Invisa Signature Point Source SPS features a " Folded Ribbon Tweeter, a 5.25" Midrange and 4 x 5.25" Polypropylene Woofer.
Frequency Response
Theatrus T80S Dual 8" Slim On-Wall Speaker has a frequency range of 60-35k Hz whereas Invisa Signature Point Source SPS has a frequency range of 25-35kHz. With a minimum frequency of 25Hz, the Invisa Signature Point Source SPS can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Theatrus T80S Dual 8" Slim On-Wall Speaker's min frequency of 60Hz.
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
Theatrus T80S Dual 8" Slim On-Wall Speaker
Invisa Signature Point Source SPS
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
Theatrus T80S Dual 8" Slim On-Wall Speaker is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Invisa Signature Point Source SPS 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 Theatrus T80S Dual 8" Slim On-Wall Speaker can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Theatrus T80S Dual 8" Slim On-Wall Speaker sensitivity is rated at 94 dB and the Invisa Signature Point Source SPS's is rated at 92 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Aperion Theatrus T80S Dual 8" Slim On-Wall Speaker a more sensitive speaker compared to GoldenEar Invisa SPS, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
In-wall Speakers
Theatrus T80S Dual 8" Slim On-Wall Speaker
Invisa Signature Point Source SPS
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.
Theatrus T80S Dual 8" Slim On-Wall Speaker can handle a max power of 700 watts RMS, whereas Invisa Signature Point Source SPS has a max power handling value of 350 watts RMS, 350 watts less than the Theatrus T80S Dual 8" Slim On-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 Theatrus T80S Dual 8" Slim On-Wall Speaker
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Theatrus T80S Dual 8" Slim On-Wall Speaker features Spring post type posts and Invisa Signature Point Source SPS 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 Theatrus T80S Dual 8" Slim On-Wall Speaker's and GoldenEar Invisa SPS's external dimensions. Aperion Theatrus T80S Dual 8" Slim On-Wall Speaker has external dimensions of 500.4 x 401.3 x 129.5mm (19.7 x 15.8 x 5.1inch) whereas GoldenEar Invisa SPS has external dimensions of 674.0 x 181.0 x 85.0mm (26.5000-inch x 7.1250-inch x 3.3125-inch).
GoldenEar Invisa SPS is 220.3mm narrower and 44.5mm less deeper than Aperion Theatrus T80S Dual 8" Slim On-Wall Speaker but it is also 173.6mm 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.
Aperion Theatrus T80S Dual 8" Slim On-Wall Speaker needs about 238% more floor or shelf area. Aperion Theatrus T80S Dual 8" Slim On-Wall Speaker is 45mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. GoldenEar Invisa SPS is 174mm 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 Theatrus T80S Dual 8" Slim On-Wall Speaker weighs 16.19kg / 35.6lbs and the GoldenEar Invisa SPS weighs 6.35kg / 14lbs. This makes the Theatrus T80S Dual 8" Slim On-Wall Speaker 155% heavier than the Invisa Signature Point Source SPS.
Here is a comparison of how Theatrus T80S Dual 8" Slim On-Wall Speaker and Invisa Signature Point Source SPS's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive In-wall class.
Weight
All In-wall Speakers
Aperion Theatrus T80S Dual 8" Slim On-Wall Speaker
What's in the Box of GoldenEar Invisa SPS?
Here are the items that come with the Invisa Signature Point Source SPS:
- In-wall loudspeaker
- Grille
- Owners Manual
- Cut-Out Template
- Cardboard Paint Shield
 Max Input Power |
700 watts
vs
350 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
94 dB
vs
92 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Height |
500mm
vs
674mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
2898USD
vs
2990USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Number of Woofers |
4
vs
2
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
60 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
153cm2
vs
519cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Aperion Theatrus T80S Dual 8" Slim On-Wall Speaker |
GoldenEar Invisa Signature Point Source (SPS) |
| Brand |
Aperion |
GoldenEar |
| Speaker Type |
Passive In-wall Speaker |
Passive In-wall Speaker |
| Power Range |
20-350 Watts watts |
20-350 watts |
| Sensitivity |
94 dB |
92 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
60-35k Hz |
25-35kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
4 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
2" |
- |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Folded Ribbon |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
Yes |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5.25" |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
500.4mm (19.7") |
674.0mm (26.5") |
| Width |
401.3mm (15.8") |
181.0mm (7.1") |
| Depth |
129.5mm (5.1") |
85.0mm (3.3") |
| Weight |
16.19kg (35.6lbs) |
6.35kg (14lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
In-wall |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
A generation apart: Aperion Theatrus T80S Dual 8" Slim On-Wall Speaker is the newer design, against a 2016 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 | GoldenEar Invisa SPS digs deeper - 25Hz against 60Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Aperion Theatrus T80S Dual 8" Slim On-Wall Speaker is more sensitive (94dB vs 92dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | GoldenEar Invisa SPS is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | A | Aperion Theatrus T80S Dual 8" Slim On-Wall Speaker takes more power (700W vs 350W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | GoldenEar Invisa SPS is easier to place; Aperion Theatrus T80S Dual 8" Slim On-Wall Speaker is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Sealed vs In-wall. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($2,898 vs $2,990 a pair). |
A Aperion Theatrus T80S Dual 8" Slim On-Wall Speaker B GoldenEar Invisa SPS
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 60Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Aperion Theatrus T80S Dual 8" Slim On-Wall Speaker the better fit for a small room and a mid-size room, and GoldenEar Invisa SPS for a large room.
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.