In this review, we will be comparing UIW RSS III and R-5650-S II, two Passive In-wall speakers from Definitive Technology and Klipsch. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Definitive UIW RSS III and Klipsch R-5650-S II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Definitive UIW RSS III Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 2 x 3.5" Polypropylene Woofer
- 40-30kHz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:10-200watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 251.0" x 8.3750" x 3.8750"( 251.0 x 213.0 x 99.0mm )
Klipsch R-5650-S II Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Horn-loaded dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Cerametallic Woofer
- 60-23kHz Frequency Response
- 92 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:up to 50watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 331.0" x 8.0000" x 3.6875"( 331.0 x 204.0 x 94.0mm )
What size room are the Definitive UIW RSS III and Klipsch R-5650-S 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 RSS III |
Klipsch R-5650-S II |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Good |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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 RSS III and Klipsch R-5650-S II 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
Both UIW RSS III and R-5650-S II are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Definitive UIW RSS III |
Klipsch R-5650-S II |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 3.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
UIW RSS III features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 3.5" Polypropylene Woofer . On the other hand, the R-5650-S II features a 1" Horn-loaded dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Cerametallic Woofer .
Frequency Response
UIW RSS III has a frequency range of 40-30kHz whereas R-5650-S II has a frequency range of 60-23kHz. 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 R-5650-S II's min frequency of 60Hz.
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 RSS III and R-5650-S II 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 R-5650-S II's is at 92 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Klipsch R-5650-S II 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. 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 RSS III can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas R-5650-S II has a max power handling value of 50 watts RMS, 150 watts less than the UIW RSS 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 RSS III features Spring Posts type posts and R-5650-S II has a Spring Posts 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 RSS III's and Klipsch R-5650-S II'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 Klipsch R-5650-S II has external dimensions of 331.0 x 204.0 x 94.0mm ( 13.0000-inch x 8.0000-inch x 3.6875-inch) .
Klipsch R-5650-S II is 9mm narrower and 5mm less deeper than Definitive UIW RSS III but it is also 80mm taller.
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 speakerGrille7 Foam strips2 ScrewsPaint maskWall templateOwners ManualOnline Product Registration Card
What's in the Box of Klipsch R-5650-S II?
Here are the items that come with the R-5650-S II:
In-wall speakerWhite metal mesh grilleCardboard templateOwners Manual (En/Fr/Sp)
Max Input Power 
Number of Woofers 
High Frequency Response 
Passive Radiator 
Height 
Sensitivity 
Base Surface Area 
Price per pair*