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.
B&W CWM7.5 S2 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 5" Continuum Woofer
- 45-28kHz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:25-150watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 331.0" x 7.4375" x 4.0625"( 331.0 x 189.0 x 104.0mm )
Monitor Audio CP-WT380IDC Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 4" Midrange
- 8" C-CAM Woofer
- 4" Midrange
- 50-30kHz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:30-120watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 437.0" 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the B&W CWM7.5 S2 and Monitor Audio CP-WT380IDC 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
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.
| 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.
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
Monitor Audio CP-WT380IDC
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
CWM7.5 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. 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.
CWM7.5 S2 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas CP-WT380IDC has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the CWM7.5 S2.
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
CWM7.5 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
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 CWM7.5 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.
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 loudspeakerMounting frameGrilleBaffle box2 Mounting plates (1 pre-installed)Paint shieldTwo-piece foam port plug3 Screws3 Lock-washers2 Wing-nuts2 FastenersCutout TemplateInstallation InstructionsWarranty Information
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio CP-WT380IDC?
Here are the items that come with the CP-WT380IDC:
In-Wall speakerMagnetic grillePaint skimInstallation GuideImportant Safety InstructionsLimited Warranty/Registration CardMountingTemplate