In this review, we will be comparing UIW RSS II and 265-LS, two Passive In-wall speakers from Definitive Technology and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Definitive UIW RSS II and Polk Audio 265-LS first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Definitive UIW RSS II | Polk Audio 265-LS |
|---|
| Brand | Definitive Technology
United States · founded 1990 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" Ring Radiator |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 6.5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 4.5" Polypropylene | 6.5" Aerated polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 26-30kHz | 28-33kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 91 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 10-250 watts | 10-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.67kg / 12.5lbs | 4.09kg / 9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11.6250" x 9.8750" x 3.8750"
296.0 x 251.0 x 99.0mm | 19.1875" x 7.2500" x 3-3/4"
488.0 x 185.0 x 95.3mm |
|---|
What size room are the Definitive UIW RSS II and Polk Audio 265-LS 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 RSS II |
Polk Audio 265-LS |
| 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 UIW RSS II is a 2-way design whereas the 265-LS 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 UIW RSS IIPolk Audio 265-LS
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 UIW RSS II |
Polk Audio 265-LS |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 6.5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 4.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
UIW RSS II features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 4.5" Polypropylene Woofer. On the other hand, the 265-LS features a 1" Ring Radiator Tweeter, a 6.5" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" Aerated polypropylene Woofer.
Frequency Response
UIW RSS II has a frequency range of 26-30kHz whereas 265-LS has a frequency range of 28-33kHz. With a minimum frequency of 26Hz, the UIW RSS II can go slightly deeper then the 265-LS's min frequency of 28Hz.
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
UIW RSS II and 265-LS have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. UIW RSS II sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the 265-LS's is at 91 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Polk Audio 265-LS a more sensitive speaker compared to Definitive UIW RSS 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
UIW RSS II can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas 265-LS has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the UIW RSS II.
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
UIW RSS II features Spring post type posts and 265-LS 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 UIW RSS II's and Polk Audio 265-LS's external dimensions. Definitive UIW RSS II has external dimensions of 296.0 x 251.0 x 99.0mm (11.6250-inch x 9.8750-inch x 3.8750-inch) whereas Polk Audio 265-LS has external dimensions of 488.0 x 185.0 x 95.3mm (19.1875-inch x 7.2500-inch x 0.0000-inch).
Polk Audio 265-LS is 66mm narrower and 3.7mm less deeper than Definitive UIW RSS II but it is also 192mm taller.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Definitive UIW RSS II weighs 5.67kg / 12.5lbs and the Polk Audio 265-LS weighs 4.09kg / 9lbs. This makes the UIW RSS II 39% heavier than the 265-LS.
Here is a comparison of how UIW RSS II and 265-LS's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive In-wall class.
Weight
All In-wall Speakers
What's in the Box of Definitive UIW RSS II?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of UIW RSS II:
- In-wall/In-cieling bipolar speaker
- Grille
- 7 Foam strips
- 2 Screws
- Paint mask
- Wall template
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration Card
What's in the Box of Polk Audio 265-LS?
Here are the items that come with the 265-LS:
- In-wall loudspeaker
- White metal grille
- Power Port plug
- Mounting template
- Owners Manual
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
26 Hz
vs
28 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Passive Radiator |
2 x 4.5-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Height |
296mm
vs
488mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
33k Hz
vs
30k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
176cm2
vs
248cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
758USD
vs
1398USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Definitive Technology UIW RSS II |
Polk Audio 265-LS |
| Brand |
Definitive Technology |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Passive In-wall Speaker |
Passive In-wall Speaker |
| Power Range |
10-250 watts |
10-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
91 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
26-30kHz |
28-33kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Aerated polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Buty Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Ring Radiator |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
6.5" |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
296.0mm (11.7") |
488.0mm (19.2") |
| Width |
251.0mm (9.9") |
185.0mm (7.3") |
| Depth |
99.0mm (3.9") |
95.3mm (3.8") |
| Weight |
5.67kg (12.5lbs) |
4.09kg (9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
In-wall |
In-wall |
| Moisture Resistancy |
Yes |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
Lifetime |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
Lifetime |
These sit in different price classes - Definitive UIW RSS II costs roughly 1.8x what Polk Audio 265-LS does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (26Hz vs 28Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (90dB vs 91dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | A | Definitive UIW RSS II takes more power (250W vs 200W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Price | B | Polk Audio 265-LS is cheaper - $758 against $1,398, about 46% less; arguably a different class. |
A Definitive UIW RSS II B Polk Audio 265-LS
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Definitive UIW RSS II is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 84% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Polk Audio 265-LS looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the Definitive UIW RSS II appeals to you. Match it to your room: we rate Definitive UIW RSS II the better fit for a large room and a very large room, and Polk Audio 265-LS for a small room. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $640 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.