In this review, we will be comparing UIW RLS III and R-2650-W II, two Passive In-wall speakers from Definitive Technology and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Definitive UIW RLS III and Klipsch R-2650-W II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Definitive UIW RLS III Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 2 x 5.25" Polypropylene Woofer
- 24-30kHz Frequency Response
- 92 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:10-325watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 604.0" x 5.8750" x 3.8750"( 604.0 x 150.0 x 99.0mm )
Klipsch R-2650-W II Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Polypropylene Woofer
- 65-20kHz Frequency Response
- 91 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:up to 50watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 332.0" x 7.9375" x 3.6875"( 332.0 x 202.0 x 94.0mm )
What size room are the Definitive UIW RLS III and Klipsch R-2650-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 UIW RLS III |
Klipsch R-2650-W II |
| Near-field |
Are you nuts? |
Good |
| Small Room |
Bad |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Good |
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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Definitive UIW RLS III and Klipsch R-2650-W II 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 UIW RLS III and R-2650-W II are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Definitive UIW RLS III |
Klipsch R-2650-W II |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
UIW RLS III features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Polypropylene Woofer . On the other hand, the R-2650-W II features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Polypropylene Woofer .
Frequency Response
UIW RLS III has a frequency range of 24-30kHz whereas R-2650-W II has a frequency range of 65-20kHz. With a minimum frequency of 24Hz, the UIW RLS III can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R-2650-W II's min frequency of 65Hz.
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
UIW RLS III and R-2650-W II have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. UIW RLS III sensitivity is rated at 92 dB and the R-2650-W II's is at 91 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Definitive UIW RLS III a more sensitive speaker compared to Klipsch R-2650-W II, 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.
UIW RLS III can handle a max power of 325 watts RMS from the amp the whereas R-2650-W II has a max power handling value of 50 watts RMS, 275 watts less than the UIW RLS III.
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
UIW RLS III features Spring clip type posts and R-2650-W II has a Spring clip 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 UIW RLS III's and Klipsch R-2650-W II's external dimensions. Definitive UIW RLS III has external dimensions of 604.0 x 150.0 x 99.0mm ( 23.7500-inch x 5.8750-inch x 3.8750-inch) whereas Klipsch R-2650-W II has external dimensions of 332.0 x 202.0 x 94.0mm ( 13.0625-inch x 7.9375-inch x 3.6875-inch) .
Klipsch R-2650-W II is 272mm shorter and 5mm less deeper than Definitive UIW RLS III but it is also 52mm wider.
What's in the Box of Definitive UIW RLS III?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of UIW RLS III:
In-wall loudspeakerGrilleSelf-adhesive foam gasketPaint maskWall-Mount TemplateOwners ManualOnline Product Registration Card
What's in the Box of Klipsch R-2650-W II?
Here are the items that come with the R-2650-W II:
In-wall speakerWhite metal mesh grilleCardboard templateOwners Manual (En/Fr/Sp)