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.
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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Definitive DI 5.5LCR and Focal 300 IW6 LCR compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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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.
Driver |
Definitive DI 5.5LCR |
Focal 300 IW6 LCR |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
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 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.
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 5.5LCR 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. 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 5.5LCR can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas 300 IW6 LCR has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the DI 5.5LCR.
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 5.5LCR 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
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 5.5LCR'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.
What's in the Box of Definitive DI 5.5LCR?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of DI 5.5LCR:
Dual 5.25
What's in the Box of Focal 300 IW6 LCR?
Here are the items that come with the 300 IW6 LCR:
One in-wall speaker1 metal-mesh grill (white)23.5