In this review, we will be comparing CWM362 and W150-LCR, two Passive In-wall speakers from Bowers Wilkins and Monitor Audio. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of B&W CWM362 and Monitor Audio W150-LCR first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the B&W CWM362 and Monitor Audio W150-LCR 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the B&W CWM362 and Monitor Audio W150-LCR compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both CWM362 and W150-LCR are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
B&W CWM362 |
Monitor Audio W150-LCR |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6-inch
|
2 x 5-inch
|
CWM362 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6" Polypropylene Woofer . On the other hand, the W150-LCR features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5" Metal Matrix Polymer Woofer .
Frequency Response
CWM362 has a frequency range of 50-30kHz whereas W150-LCR has a frequency range of 60-30kHz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the CWM362 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the W150-LCR's min frequency of 60Hz.
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 W150-LCR have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. CWM362 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the W150-LCR's is at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the B&W CWM362 a more sensitive speaker compared to Monitor Audio W150-LCR, 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 100 watts RMS from the amp the whereas CWM362 has a max power handling value of 80 watts RMS , 20 watts less than the W150-LCR.
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 W150-LCR 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 Monitor Audio W150-LCR'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 Monitor Audio W150-LCR has external dimensions of 353.0 x 147.0 x 102.0mm ( 13.8750-inch x 5.7500-inch x 4.0000-inch) .
B&W CWM362 is 73mm shorter and 25mm less deeper than Monitor Audio W150-LCR but it is also 38mm 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 Monitor Audio W150-LCR?
Here are the items that come with the W150-LCR:
In-wall speakerGrillePaint skimInstallation GuideImportant Safety InstructionsCutout Template