In this review, we will be comparing DI 5.5LCR and R-5502-W II, two Passive In-wall speakers from Definitive Technology and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Definitive DI 5.5LCR and Klipsch R-5502-W II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Definitive DI 5.5LCR | Klipsch R-5502-W II |
|---|
| Brand | Definitive Technology
United States · founded 1990 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" Horn-loaded |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.25" Polymer | 2 x 5.25" Cerametallic |
|---|
| Frequency response | 28-30kHz | 46-20kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 92 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 10-250 watts | up to 75 watts |
|---|
| Weight | — | 2.95kg / 6.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14.3750" x 6.4375" x 3.6250"
366.0 x 164.0 x 93.0mm | 16.3750" x 6.5000" x 3.3750"
416.0 x 166.0 x 86.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Definitive DI 5.5LCR and Klipsch R-5502-W II 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 |
Klipsch R-5502-W II |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Good |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
No way |
(* 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
Both DI 5.5LCR and R-5502-W II are 2-way speakers.
Definitive DI 5.5LCRKlipsch R-5502-W II
TweeterWoofer
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 |
Klipsch R-5502-W II |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
DI 5.5LCR features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Polymer Woofer. On the other hand, the R-5502-W II features a 1" Horn-loaded Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Cerametallic Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200 Hz.
Frequency Response
DI 5.5LCR has a frequency range of 28-30kHz whereas R-5502-W II has a frequency range of 46-20kHz. 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 R-5502-W II's min frequency of 46Hz.
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 R-5502-W II 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 R-5502-W II's is at 92 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Klipsch R-5502-W II 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 R-5502-W II has a max power handling value of 75 watts RMS, 175 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 R-5502-W II 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 Klipsch R-5502-W II'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 Klipsch R-5502-W II has external dimensions of 416.0 x 166.0 x 86.0mm (16.3750-inch x 6.5000-inch x 3.3750-inch).
Definitive DI 5.5LCR is 2mm narrower and 50mm shorter than Klipsch R-5502-W II but it is also 7mm deeper.
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.
Near-identical footprints. Klipsch R-5502-W II is 50mm 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 Klipsch R-5502-W II?
Here are the items that come with the R-5502-W II:
- In-wall speaker
- White metal mesh grille
- Cardboard template
- Owners Manual (En/Fr/Sp)