In this review, we will be comparing CWM7.3 S2 and Invisa Signature Point Source SPS, two Passive In-wall speakers from Bowers Wilkins and GoldenEar.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of B&W CWM7.3 S2 and GoldenEar Invisa SPS 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 )
GoldenEar Invisa SPS Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- ---" Folded Ribbon Tweeter
- 5.25" Midrange
- 4 x 5.25" Polypropylene Woofer
- 5.25" Midrange
- 25-35kHz Frequency Response
- 92 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-350watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 674.0" x 7.1250" x 3.3125"( 674.0 x 181.0 x 85.0mm )
What size room are the B&W CWM7.3 S2 and GoldenEar Invisa SPS 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 |
GoldenEar Invisa SPS |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Are you nuts? |
| Small Room |
Average |
Bad |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Poor |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Good |
(* 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 GoldenEar Invisa SPS 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 CWM7.3 S2 and Invisa Signature Point Source SPS are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
B&W CWM7.3 S2 |
GoldenEar Invisa SPS |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
----inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6-inch
|
4 x 5.25-inch
|
CWM7.3 S2 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter , a 4" Midrange and 2 x 6" Aerofoil Woofer . On the other hand, the Invisa Signature Point Source SPS features a ---" Folded Ribbon Tweeter , a 5.25" Midrange and 4 x 5.25" Polypropylene Woofer .
Frequency Response
CWM7.3 S2 has a frequency range of 48-28kHz whereas Invisa Signature Point Source SPS has a frequency range of 25-35kHz. With a minimum frequency of 25Hz, the Invisa Signature Point Source SPS 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
Invisa Signature Point Source SPS
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
CWM7.3 S2 and Invisa Signature Point Source SPS have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. CWM7.3 S2 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Invisa Signature Point Source SPS's is at 92 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the GoldenEar Invisa SPS a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W CWM7.3 S2, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
In-wall Speakers
Invisa Signature Point Source SPS
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 350 watts RMS from the amp the whereas CWM7.3 S2 has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS , 150 watts less than the Invisa Signature Point Source SPS.
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 Invisa Signature Point Source SPS 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 GoldenEar Invisa SPS'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 GoldenEar Invisa SPS has external dimensions of 674.0 x 181.0 x 85.0mm ( 26.5000-inch x 7.1250-inch x 3.3125-inch) .
B&W CWM7.3 S2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 72mm wider, 38mm taller and 19mm deeper than GoldenEar Invisa SPS.
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 GoldenEar Invisa SPS?
Here are the items that come with the Invisa Signature Point Source SPS:
In-wall loudspeakerGrilleOwners ManualCut-Out TemplateCardboard Paint Shield