In this review, we will be comparing CWM7.5 S2 and CP-WT380IDC, two Passive In-wall speakers from Bowers Wilkins and Monitor Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of B&W CWM7.5 S2 and Monitor Audio CP-WT380IDC first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | B&W CWM7.5 S2 | Monitor Audio CP-WT380IDC |
|---|
| Brand | Bowers Wilkins
United Kingdom · founded 1966 | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 4" |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" Continuum | 8" C-CAM |
|---|
| Frequency response | 45-28kHz | 50-30kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-150 watts | 30-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 3.81kg / 8.4lbs | 5.67kg / 12.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13.0000" x 7.4375" x 4.0625"
331.0 x 189.0 x 104.0mm | 17.1875" x 10.5625" x 3.8750"
437.0 x 269.0 x 99.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the B&W CWM7.5 S2 and Monitor Audio CP-WT380IDC 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 CWM7.5 S2 |
Monitor Audio CP-WT380IDC |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
(* 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that CWM7.5 S2 is a 2-way design whereas the CP-WT380IDC is a 3-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.
B&W CWM7.5 S2Monitor Audio CP-WT380IDC
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
B&W CWM7.5 S2 |
Monitor Audio CP-WT380IDC |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 8-inch
|
CWM7.5 S2 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Continuum Woofer. On the other hand, the CP-WT380IDC features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter, a 4" Midrange and 1 x 8" C-CAM Woofer.
Frequency Response
CWM7.5 S2 has a frequency range of 45-28kHz whereas CP-WT380IDC has a frequency range of 50-30kHz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the CWM7.5 S2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the CP-WT380IDC's min frequency of 50Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the In-wall class in our database.
Low Frequency
In-wall Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
CWM7.5 S2 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the CP-WT380IDC which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. CWM7.5 S2 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the CP-WT380IDC's is rated at 89 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Monitor Audio CP-WT380IDC a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W CWM7.5 S2, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
CWM7.5 S2 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas CP-WT380IDC has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the CWM7.5 S2.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Monitor Audio CP-WT380IDC
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
CWM7.5 S2 features Spring post type posts and CP-WT380IDC has a Spring post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be 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 CWM7.5 S2's and Monitor Audio CP-WT380IDC's external dimensions. B&W CWM7.5 S2 has external dimensions of 331.0 x 189.0 x 104.0mm (13.0000-inch x 7.4375-inch x 4.0625-inch) whereas Monitor Audio CP-WT380IDC has external dimensions of 437.0 x 269.0 x 99.0mm (17.1875-inch x 10.5625-inch x 3.8750-inch).
B&W CWM7.5 S2 is 80mm narrower and 106mm shorter than Monitor Audio CP-WT380IDC but it is also 5mm deeper.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The B&W CWM7.5 S2 weighs 3.81kg / 8.4lbs and the Monitor Audio CP-WT380IDC weighs 5.67kg / 12.5lbs. This makes the CP-WT380IDC 49% heavier than the CWM7.5 S2.
Here is a comparison of how CWM7.5 S2 and CP-WT380IDC's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive In-wall class.
Weight
All In-wall Speakers
Monitor Audio CP-WT380IDC
What's in the Box of B&W CWM7.5 S2?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of CWM7.5 S2:
- In-wall loudspeaker
- Mounting frame
- Grille
- Baffle box
- 2 Mounting plates (1 pre-installed)
- Paint shield
- Two-piece foam port plug
- 3 Screws
- 3 Lock-washers
- 2 Wing-nuts
- 2 Fasteners
- Cutout Template
- Installation Instructions
- Warranty Information
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio CP-WT380IDC?
Here are the items that come with the CP-WT380IDC:
- In-Wall speaker
- Magnetic grille
- Paint skim
- Installation Guide
- Important Safety Instructions
- Limited Warranty/Registration Card
- MountingTemplate
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
331mm
vs
437mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
196cm2
vs
266cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
2000USD
vs
2350USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| General |
Bowers & Wilkins Reference Series CWM7.5 S2 |
Monitor Audio CP-WT380IDC |
| Brand |
Bowers Wilkins |
Monitor Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Passive In-wall Speaker |
Passive In-wall Speaker |
| Power Range |
25-150 watts |
30-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
45-28kHz |
50-30kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Continuum |
C-CAM |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
4" |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
331.0mm (13") |
437.0mm (17.2") |
| Width |
189.0mm (7.4") |
269.0mm (10.6") |
| Depth |
104.0mm (4.1") |
99.0mm (3.9") |
| Weight |
3.81kg (8.4lbs) |
5.67kg (12.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
In-wall |
In-wall |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
Lifetime |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
Lifetime |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | B&W CWM7.5 S2 digs deeper - 45Hz against 50Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Monitor Audio CP-WT380IDC is more sensitive (89dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | B&W CWM7.5 S2 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | A | B&W CWM7.5 S2 takes more power (150W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | B&W CWM7.5 S2 is easier to place; Monitor Audio CP-WT380IDC is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | A | B&W CWM7.5 S2 is cheaper - $2,000 against $2,350, about 15% less. |
A B&W CWM7.5 S2 B Monitor Audio CP-WT380IDC
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
B&W CWM7.5 S2 is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Monitor Audio CP-WT380IDC if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 50Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Monitor Audio CP-WT380IDC has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, B&W CWM7.5 S2 is the easier speaker to get right.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.