In this review, we will be comparing CWM7.3 S2 and IWSub 1010, two Passive In-wall speakers from Bowers Wilkins and Definitive Technology. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of B&W CWM7.3 S2 and Definitive IWSub 1010 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
B&W CWM7.3 S2 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 4" Midrange
- 2 x 6" Aerofoil Woofer
- 48-28kHz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:25-200watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 712.0" x 9.9375" x 4.0625"( 712.0 x 253.0 x 104.0mm )
Definitive IWSub 1010 Key Specs
- 1-way Design
- " Tweeter
- 10" Not given Woofer
- 16-200Hz Frequency Response
- 0 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:up to 275watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 505.0" x 14.3750" x 3.8125"( 505.0 x 366.0 x 97.0mm )
What size room are the B&W CWM7.3 S2 and Definitive IWSub 1010 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 CWM7.3 S2 |
Definitive IWSub 1010 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
(* 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 CWM7.3 S2 and Definitive IWSub 1010 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that CWM7.3 S2 is a 3-way design whereas the IWSub 1010 is a 1-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.
| Driver |
B&W CWM7.3 S2 |
Definitive IWSub 1010 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
1-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6-inch
|
1 x 10-inch
|
CWM7.3 S2 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter , a 4" Midrange and 2 x 6" Aerofoil Woofer . On the other hand, the IWSub 1010 features a " Tweeter and 1 x 10" Not given Woofer .
Frequency Response
CWM7.3 S2 has a frequency range of 48-28kHz whereas IWSub 1010 has a frequency range of 16-200Hz. With a minimum frequency of 16Hz, the IWSub 1010 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the CWM7.3 S2's min frequency of 48Hz.
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
Impedance and Sensitivity
CWM7.3 S2 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the IWSub 1010 which has a nominal impedance of 4 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 IWSub 1010 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. CWM7.3 S2 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the IWSub 1010's is rated at 0 dB. This 90 dB difference makes the B&W CWM7.3 S2 a more sensitive speaker compared to Definitive IWSub 1010, 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.
CWM7.3 S2 can handle a max power of 275 watts RMS from the amp the whereas CWM7.3 S2 has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS , 75 watts less than the IWSub 1010.
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
CWM7.3 S2 features Spring post type posts and IWSub 1010 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 CWM7.3 S2's and Definitive IWSub 1010's external dimensions. B&W CWM7.3 S2 has external dimensions of 712.0 x 253.0 x 104.0mm ( 28.0000-inch x 9.9375-inch x 4.0625-inch) whereas Definitive IWSub 1010 has external dimensions of 505.0 x 366.0 x 97.0mm ( 19.8750-inch x 14.3750-inch x 3.8125-inch) .
Definitive IWSub 1010 is 207mm shorter and 7mm less deeper than B&W CWM7.3 S2 but it is also 113mm wider.
What's in the Box of B&W CWM7.3 S2?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of CWM7.3 S2:
In-wall loudspeakerMounting frameGrilleBaffle box2 Mounting plates (1 pre-installed)Paint shieldTwo-piece foam port plug8 Screws2 Wing-nutsHex-wrenchCutout TemplateInstallation InstructionsWarranty Information
What's in the Box of Definitive IWSub 1010?
Here are the items that come with the IWSub 1010:
In-wall subwooferGrille (attached)7 Self-adhesive foam gaskets6 ScrewsWall-templatePaint maskOwners ManualOnline Product Registration card
Driver Setup 
Nominal Impedance 
Number of Woofers 
Base Surface Area 
Max Input Power 
High Frequency Response 
Passive Radiator 
Height 
Price per pair*