In this review, we will be comparing IW-DC51-W and 100 IW LCR5, two Passive In-wall speakers from ELAC and Focal.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ELAC IW-DC51-W and Focal 100 IW LCR5 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | ELAC IW-DC51-W | Focal 100 IW LCR5 |
|---|
| Brand | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 | Focal
France · founded 1979 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Inverted Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Woven Aramid-Fiber | 2 x 5.125" Polyglass |
|---|
| Frequency response | 45-20kHz | 55-23kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 90.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-120 watts | 25-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 4.85kg / 10.7lbs | 1.77kg / 3.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 6.2500" x 16.5000" x 3.3750"
159.0 x 420.0 x 86.0mm | 16.3130" x 5.8130" x 3.2500"
415.0 x 148.0 x 83.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the ELAC IW-DC51-W 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* |
ELAC IW-DC51-W |
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.
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Drivers
Both IW-DC51-W and 100 IW LCR5 are 2-way speakers.
ELAC IW-DC51-WFocal 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 |
ELAC IW-DC51-W |
Focal 100 IW LCR5 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 5.125-inch
|
IW-DC51-W features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Woven Aramid-Fiber 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
IW-DC51-W has a frequency range of 45-20kHz whereas 100 IW LCR5 has a frequency range of 55-23kHz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the IW-DC51-W 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
IW-DC51-W is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the 100 IW LCR5 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. IW-DC51-W sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the 100 IW LCR5's is rated at 90.5 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Focal 100 IW LCR5 a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC IW-DC51-W, 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.
Both handle the same maximum of 120 watts RMS, though IW-DC51-W is rated 30-120 watts and 100 IW LCR5 25-120 watts.
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
IW-DC51-W 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 ELAC IW-DC51-W's and Focal 100 IW LCR5's external dimensions. ELAC IW-DC51-W has external dimensions of 159.0 x 420.0 x 86.0mm (6.2500-inch x 16.5000-inch x 3.3750-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 272mm narrower and 3mm less deeper than ELAC IW-DC51-W but it is also 256mm 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 ELAC IW-DC51-W weighs 4.85kg / 10.7lbs and the Focal 100 IW LCR5 weighs 1.77kg / 3.9lbs. This makes the IW-DC51-W 174% heavier than the 100 IW LCR5.
Here is a comparison of how IW-DC51-W 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 ELAC IW-DC51-W?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of IW-DC51-W:
- In-wall center-channel speaker
- Grille
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
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
5.125 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
159mm
vs
415mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
 High Frequency Response |
23k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
122cm2
vs
361cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
598USD
vs
660USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
ELAC IW-DC51-W |
Focal 100 IW LCR5 |
| Brand |
ELAC |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Passive In-wall Speaker |
Passive In-wall Speaker |
| Power Range |
30-120 watts |
25-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
90.5 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
45-20kHz |
55-23kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.125" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Aramid-Fiber |
Polyglass |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Inverted Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
159.0mm (6.3") |
415.0mm (16.3") |
| Width |
420.0mm (16.5") |
148.0mm (5.8") |
| Depth |
86.0mm (3.4") |
83.0mm (3.3") |
| Weight |
4.85kg (10.7lbs) |
1.77kg (3.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
In-wall |
In-wall |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
Yes |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | ELAC IW-DC51-W digs deeper - 45Hz against 55Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Focal 100 IW LCR5 is more sensitive (91dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Focal 100 IW LCR5 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (120W vs 120W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($660 vs $598 a pair). |
A ELAC IW-DC51-W 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?
Focal 100 IW LCR5 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 55Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Focal 100 IW LCR5 is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.