In this review, we will be comparing DI 5.5BPS and 100 IW 6, two Passive In-wall speakers from Definitive Technology and Focal. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Definitive DI 5.5BPS and Focal 100 IW 6 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Definitive DI 5.5BPS Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 5.5" Polymer Woofer
- 28-30kHz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:10-225watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 321.0" x 6.8125" x 3.8750"( 321.0 x 174.0 x 99.0mm )
Focal 100 IW 6 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Inverted Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Polyglass Woofer
- 60-23kHz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:25-120watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 274.0" x 6.6250" x 3.3750"( 274.0 x 169.0 x 86.0mm )
What size room are the Definitive DI 5.5BPS and Focal 100 IW 6 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* |
Definitive DI 5.5BPS |
Focal 100 IW 6 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
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 Definitive DI 5.5BPS and Focal 100 IW 6 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 DI 5.5BPS and 100 IW 6 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Definitive DI 5.5BPS |
Focal 100 IW 6 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
DI 5.5BPS features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.5" Polymer Woofer . On the other hand, the 100 IW 6 features a 1" Inverted Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Polyglass Woofer .
Frequency Response
DI 5.5BPS has a frequency range of 28-30kHz whereas 100 IW 6 has a frequency range of 60-23kHz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the DI 5.5BPS can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 100 IW 6's min frequency of 60Hz.
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
DI 5.5BPS and 100 IW 6 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 89 dB.
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.
DI 5.5BPS can handle a max power of 225 watts RMS from the amp the whereas 100 IW 6 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 105 watts less than the DI 5.5BPS.
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
DI 5.5BPS features Spring post type posts and 100 IW 6 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 Definitive DI 5.5BPS's and Focal 100 IW 6's external dimensions. Definitive DI 5.5BPS has external dimensions of 321.0 x 174.0 x 99.0mm ( 12.6250-inch x 6.8125-inch x 3.8750-inch) whereas Focal 100 IW 6 has external dimensions of 274.0 x 169.0 x 86.0mm ( 10.7500-inch x 6.6250-inch x 3.3750-inch) .
Definitive DI 5.5BPS is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 5mm wider, 47mm taller and 13mm deeper than Focal 100 IW 6.
What's in the Box of Definitive DI 5.5BPS?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of DI 5.5BPS:
Bipolar surround in-wall speakerWhite grille (paintable)Four mounting screws (installed)Cut-out templateOwners ManualOnline Product Registration card
What's in the Box of Focal 100 IW 6?
Here are the items that come with the 100 IW 6:
One in-wall speaker1 metal-mesh grill (white)Cut-out templateUser manual
Max Input Power 
Low Frequency Response 
High Frequency Response 
Height 
Base Surface Area 
Price per pair*