In this review, we will be comparing DI 5.5LCR and 300 IW6 LCR, two Passive In-wall speakers from Definitive Technology and Focal.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Definitive DI 5.5LCR and Focal 300 IW6 LCR first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Definitive DI 5.5LCR | Focal 300 IW6 LCR |
|---|
| Brand | Definitive Technology
United States · founded 1990 | Focal
France · founded 1979 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" Inverted Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 4" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.25" Polymer | 2 x 6.5" Flax |
|---|
| Frequency response | 28-30kHz | 40-28kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 92 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 10-250 watts | 50-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | — | 5.62kg / 12.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14.3750" x 6.4375" x 3.6250"
366.0 x 164.0 x 93.0mm | 22.5000" x 7.5000" x 4.0000"
572.0 x 191.0 x 102.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Definitive DI 5.5LCR and Focal 300 IW6 LCR 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 5.5LCR |
Focal 300 IW6 LCR |
| 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that DI 5.5LCR is a 2-way design whereas the 300 IW6 LCR 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.
Definitive DI 5.5LCRFocal 300 IW6 LCR
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Definitive DI 5.5LCR |
Focal 300 IW6 LCR |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
DI 5.5LCR features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Polymer Woofer. On the other hand, the 300 IW6 LCR features a 1" Inverted Hard-Dome Tweeter, a 4" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Flax Woofer.
Frequency Response
DI 5.5LCR has a frequency range of 28-30kHz whereas 300 IW6 LCR has a frequency range of 40-28kHz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the DI 5.5LCR can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 300 IW6 LCR's min frequency of 40Hz.
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
DI 5.5LCR and 300 IW6 LCR have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. DI 5.5LCR sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the 300 IW6 LCR's is at 92 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Focal 300 IW6 LCR a more sensitive speaker compared to Definitive DI 5.5LCR, 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.
DI 5.5LCR can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas 300 IW6 LCR has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the DI 5.5LCR.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
DI 5.5LCR features Spring post type posts and 300 IW6 LCR 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 Definitive DI 5.5LCR's and Focal 300 IW6 LCR's external dimensions. Definitive DI 5.5LCR has external dimensions of 366.0 x 164.0 x 93.0mm (14.3750-inch x 6.4375-inch x 3.6250-inch) whereas Focal 300 IW6 LCR has external dimensions of 572.0 x 191.0 x 102.0mm (22.5000-inch x 7.5000-inch x 4.0000-inch).
Focal 300 IW6 LCR is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 27mm wider, 206mm taller and 9mm deeper than Definitive DI 5.5LCR.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Focal 300 IW6 LCR needs about 28% more floor or shelf area. Focal 300 IW6 LCR is 206mm taller.
What's in the Box of Definitive DI 5.5LCR?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of DI 5.5LCR:
What's in the Box of Focal 300 IW6 LCR?
Here are the items that come with the 300 IW6 LCR:
- One in-wall speaker
- 1 metal-mesh grill (white)
- 23.5