In this review, we will be comparing CWM664 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 CWM664 and Klipsch R-5502-W II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
B&W CWM664 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 6" Glass-fiber Woofer
- 45-35kHz Frequency Response
- 87.5 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:25-130watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 280.0" x 7.2500" x 3.7500"( 280.0 x 185.0 x 96.0mm )
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 CWM664 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 CWM664 |
Klipsch R-5502-W II |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Good |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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 CWM664 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 CWM664 and R-5502-W II are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
B&W CWM664 |
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
|
CWM664 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6" Glass-fiber 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
CWM664 has a frequency range of 45-35kHz whereas R-5502-W II has a frequency range of 46-20kHz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the CWM664 can go slightly deeper then the R-5502-W II's min frequency of 46Hz.
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
CWM664 and R-5502-W II have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. CWM664 sensitivity is rated at 87.5 dB and the R-5502-W II's is at 92 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Klipsch R-5502-W II a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W CWM664, 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.
CWM664 can handle a max power of 130 watts RMS from the amp the whereas R-5502-W II has a max power handling value of 75 watts RMS, 55 watts less than the CWM664.
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
CWM664 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 CWM664's and Klipsch R-5502-W II's external dimensions. B&W CWM664 has external dimensions of 280.0 x 185.0 x 96.0mm ( 11.0000-inch x 7.2500-inch x 3.7500-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) .
Klipsch R-5502-W II is 19mm narrower and 10mm less deeper than B&W CWM664 but it is also 136mm taller.
What's in the Box of B&W CWM664?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of CWM664:
2 In-wall loudspeakers2 Mounting frames2 Grilles2 Paint mask2 Cut-out templatesQuick Start GuideTemplateWarranty 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)