In this review, we will be comparing CWM362 and W265, 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 W265 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the B&W CWM362 and Monitor Audio W265 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 W265 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 W265 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
B&W CWM362 |
Monitor Audio W265 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
CWM362 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6" Polypropylene Woofer . On the other hand, the W265 features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" C-CAM Woofer .
Frequency Response
CWM362 has a frequency range of 50-30kHz whereas W265 has a frequency range of 55-30kHz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the CWM362 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the W265's min frequency of 55Hz.
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 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the W265 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. CWM362 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the W265's is rated at 88.5 dB.
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 W265 has a max power handling value of 65 watts RMS, 15 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 W265 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 W265'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 W265 has external dimensions of 332.0 x 213.0 x 93.0mm ( 13.0625-inch x 8.3750-inch x 3.6250-inch) .
Monitor Audio W265 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 28mm wider, 52mm taller and 16mm deeper than B&W CWM362.
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 W265?
Here are the items that come with the W265:
In-wall speakerGrillePaint skimInstallation GuideImportant Safety InstructionsCutout Template