In this review, we will be comparing CWM362 and R-5502-W II, two Passive In-wall speakers from Bowers Wilkins and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of B&W CWM362 and Klipsch R-5502-W II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
B&W CWM362 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 6" Polypropylene Woofer
- 50-30kHz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:10-80watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 280.0" x 7.2500" x 3.0000"( 280.0 x 185.0 x 77.0mm )
Klipsch R-5502-W II Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Horn-loaded Tweeter
- 2 x 5.25" Cerametallic Woofer
- 46-20kHz Frequency Response
- 92 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:up to 75watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 416.0" x 6.5000" x 3.3750"( 416.0 x 166.0 x 86.0mm )
What size room are the B&W CWM362 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* |
B&W CWM362 |
Klipsch R-5502-W II |
| Near-field |
Average |
Good |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the B&W CWM362 and Klipsch R-5502-W II compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both CWM362 and R-5502-W II are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
B&W CWM362 |
Klipsch R-5502-W II |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
CWM362 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6" Polypropylene Woofer . On the other hand, the R-5502-W II features a 1" Horn-loaded Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Cerametallic Woofer .
Frequency Response
CWM362 has a frequency range of 50-30kHz 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 CWM362's min frequency of 50Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the In-wall class in our database.
Low Frequency
In-wall Speakers
High Frequency
In-wall Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
CWM362 and R-5502-W II have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. CWM362 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 B&W CWM362, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
In-wall Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using
an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the
max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
CWM362 can handle a max power of 80 watts RMS from the amp the whereas R-5502-W II has a max power handling value of 75 watts RMS, 5 watts less than the CWM362.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
CWM362 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
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare B&W CWM362's and Klipsch R-5502-W II's external dimensions. B&W CWM362 has external dimensions of 280.0 x 185.0 x 77.0mm ( 11.0000-inch x 7.2500-inch x 3.0000-inch) 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) .
B&W CWM362 is 136mm shorter and 9mm less deeper than Klipsch R-5502-W II but it is also 19mm wider.
What's in the Box of B&W CWM362?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of CWM362:
2 In-wall loudspeakers2 Grilles2 Paint masksQuick Start GuideWall Mount Cut-Out TemplateWarranty Information
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 speakerWhite metal mesh grilleCardboard templateOwners Manual (En/Fr/Sp)