In this review, we will be comparing UIW RSS III and 100 IW LCR5, two Passive In-wall speakers from Definitive Technology and Focal.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Definitive UIW RSS III and Focal 100 IW LCR5 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Definitive UIW RSS III | Focal 100 IW LCR5 |
|---|
| Brand | Definitive Technology
United States · founded 1990 | Focal
France · founded 1979 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" Inverted Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 3.5" Polypropylene | 2 x 5.125" Polyglass |
|---|
| Frequency response | 40-30kHz | 55-23kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 90.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 10-200 watts | 25-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 3.40kg / 7.5lbs | 1.77kg / 3.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 9.8750" x 8.3750" x 3.8750"
251.0 x 213.0 x 99.0mm | 16.3130" x 5.8130" x 3.2500"
415.0 x 148.0 x 83.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Definitive UIW RSS III and Focal 100 IW LCR5 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 III |
Focal 100 IW LCR5 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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
Both UIW RSS III and 100 IW LCR5 are 2-way speakers.
Definitive UIW RSS IIIFocal 100 IW LCR5
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 UIW RSS III |
Focal 100 IW LCR5 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 3.5-inch
|
2 x 5.125-inch
|
UIW RSS III features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 3.5" Polypropylene Woofer. On the other hand, the 100 IW LCR5 features a 1" Inverted Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.125" Polyglass Woofer.
Frequency Response
UIW RSS III has a frequency range of 40-30kHz whereas 100 IW LCR5 has a frequency range of 55-23kHz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the UIW RSS III can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 100 IW LCR5's min frequency of 55Hz.
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 III and 100 IW LCR5 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. UIW RSS III sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the 100 IW LCR5's is at 90.5 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Focal 100 IW LCR5 a more sensitive speaker compared to Definitive UIW RSS III, 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 III can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas 100 IW LCR5 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 80 watts less than the UIW RSS III.
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 III features Spring post type posts and 100 IW LCR5 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 III's and Focal 100 IW LCR5's external dimensions. Definitive UIW RSS III has external dimensions of 251.0 x 213.0 x 99.0mm (9.8750-inch x 8.3750-inch x 3.8750-inch) whereas Focal 100 IW LCR5 has external dimensions of 415.0 x 148.0 x 83.0mm (16.3130-inch x 5.8130-inch x 3.2500-inch).
Focal 100 IW LCR5 is 65mm narrower and 16mm less deeper than Definitive UIW RSS III but it is also 164mm 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 III weighs 3.40kg / 7.5lbs and the Focal 100 IW LCR5 weighs 1.77kg / 3.9lbs. This makes the UIW RSS III 92% heavier than the 100 IW LCR5.
Here is a comparison of how UIW RSS III and 100 IW LCR5'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 III?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of UIW RSS III:
- 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 Focal 100 IW LCR5?
Here are the items that come with the 100 IW LCR5:
- One in-wall speaker
- 1 metal-mesh grill (white)
- Cut-out template
- User manual
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Passive Radiator |
2 x 3.5-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Height |
251mm
vs
415mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Woofer Size |
5.125 inches
vs
3.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Base Surface Area |
122cm2
vs
210cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
598USD
vs
1098USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Definitive Technology UIW RSS III |
Focal 100 IW LCR5 |
| Brand |
Definitive Technology |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Passive In-wall Speaker |
Passive In-wall Speaker |
| Power Range |
10-200 watts |
25-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
90.5 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
40-30kHz |
55-23kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
3.5" |
5.125" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Polyglass |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Butyl Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Inverted Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
251.0mm (9.9") |
415.0mm (16.3") |
| Width |
213.0mm (8.4") |
148.0mm (5.8") |
| Depth |
99.0mm (3.9") |
83.0mm (3.3") |
| Weight |
3.40kg (7.5lbs) |
1.77kg (3.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
In-wall |
In-wall |
| Moisture Resistancy |
Yes |
Yes |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Definitive UIW RSS III costs roughly 1.8x what Focal 100 IW LCR5 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 | A | Definitive UIW RSS III digs deeper - 40Hz against 55Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (90dB vs 91dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | A | Definitive UIW RSS III takes more power (200W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Price | B | Focal 100 IW LCR5 is cheaper - $598 against $1,098, about 46% less; arguably a different class. |
A Definitive UIW RSS III B Focal 100 IW LCR5
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?
The usual trade-off: Definitive UIW RSS III measures better, Focal 100 IW LCR5 costs about about 84% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 55Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Focal 100 IW LCR5 much easier to justify. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $500 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.