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.
| Key Specs | Definitive UIW RSS III | Klipsch R-5650-S 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 dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 3.5" Polypropylene | 6.5" Cerametallic |
|---|
| Frequency response | 40-30kHz | 60-23kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 92 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 10-200 watts | up to 50 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 3.40kg / 7.5lbs | 3.27kg / 7.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 9.8750" x 8.3750" x 3.8750"
251.0 x 213.0 x 99.0mm | 13.0000" 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.)
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 R-5650-S II are 2-way speakers.
Definitive UIW RSS IIIKlipsch R-5650-S 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 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 with a Crossover frequency at 3400 Hz.
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.
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 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. 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 R-5650-S II has a max power handling value of 50 watts RMS, 150 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 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
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 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.
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 Klipsch R-5650-S II weighs 3.27kg / 7.2lbs. This makes the UIW RSS III 4% heavier than the R-5650-S II.
Here is a comparison of how UIW RSS III and R-5650-S II'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 Klipsch R-5650-S II?
Here are the items that come with the R-5650-S II:
- In-wall speaker
- White metal mesh grille
- Cardboard template
- Owners Manual (En/Fr/Sp)
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
50 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
60 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
331mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
3.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Base Surface Area |
191cm2
vs
210cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
458USD
vs
1098USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Definitive Technology UIW RSS III |
Klipsch R-5650-S II |
| Brand |
Definitive Technology |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Passive In-wall Speaker |
Passive In-wall Speaker |
| Power Range |
10-200 watts |
up to 50 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
92 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
40-30kHz |
60-23kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
3.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Cerametallic |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Butyl Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Horn-loaded dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
3400 Hz |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
251.0mm (9.9") |
331.0mm (13") |
| Width |
213.0mm (8.4") |
204.0mm (8") |
| Depth |
99.0mm (3.9") |
94.0mm (3.7") |
| Weight |
3.40kg (7.5lbs) |
3.27kg (7.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
In-wall |
In-wall |
| Moisture Resistancy |
Yes |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
Ltd. Lifetime |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
Ltd. Lifetime |
These sit in different price classes - Definitive UIW RSS III costs roughly 2.4x what Klipsch R-5650-S II 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 60Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Klipsch R-5650-S II is more sensitive (92dB vs 90dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | A | Definitive UIW RSS III takes more power (200W vs 50W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Klipsch R-5650-S II sits in a wider range (7 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Klipsch R-5650-S II is cheaper - $458 against $1,098, about 58% less; arguably a different class. |
A Definitive UIW RSS III B Klipsch R-5650-S II
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 III is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 140% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Klipsch R-5650-S II looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the Definitive UIW RSS III appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 60Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Klipsch R-5650-S II much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Definitive UIW RSS III the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and Klipsch R-5650-S II for near-field listening and a small room.
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.