In this review, we will be comparing 100 IW 6 and R-5502-W II, two Passive In-wall speakers from Focal and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal 100 IW 6 and Klipsch R-5502-W II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Focal 100 IW 6 | Klipsch R-5502-W II |
|---|
| Brand | Focal
France · founded 1979 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Inverted Hard-Dome | 1" Horn-loaded |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Polyglass | 2 x 5.25" Cerametallic |
|---|
| Frequency response | 60-23kHz | 46-20kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 92 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-120 watts | up to 75 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 1.86kg / 4.1lbs | 2.95kg / 6.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10.7500" x 6.6250" x 3.3750"
274.0 x 169.0 x 86.0mm | 16.3750" x 6.5000" x 3.3750"
416.0 x 166.0 x 86.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Focal 100 IW 6 and Klipsch R-5502-W 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* |
Focal 100 IW 6 |
Klipsch R-5502-W 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 100 IW 6 and R-5502-W II are 2-way speakers.
Focal 100 IW 6Klipsch R-5502-W 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 |
Focal 100 IW 6 |
Klipsch R-5502-W II |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
100 IW 6 features a 1" Inverted Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Polyglass Woofer. On the other hand, the R-5502-W II features a 1" Horn-loaded Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Cerametallic Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200 Hz.
Frequency Response
100 IW 6 has a frequency range of 60-23kHz whereas R-5502-W II has a frequency range of 46-20kHz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the R-5502-W II can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 100 IW 6'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
100 IW 6 and R-5502-W II have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. 100 IW 6 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the R-5502-W II's is at 92 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Klipsch R-5502-W II a more sensitive speaker compared to Focal 100 IW 6, 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.
100 IW 6 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas R-5502-W II has a max power handling value of 75 watts RMS, 45 watts less than the 100 IW 6.
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
100 IW 6 features Spring post type posts and R-5502-W II 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 Focal 100 IW 6's and Klipsch R-5502-W II's external dimensions. Focal 100 IW 6 has external dimensions of 274.0 x 169.0 x 86.0mm (10.7500-inch x 6.6250-inch x 3.3750-inch) whereas Klipsch R-5502-W II has external dimensions of 416.0 x 166.0 x 86.0mm (16.3750-inch x 6.5000-inch x 3.3750-inch).
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 Focal 100 IW 6 weighs 1.86kg / 4.1lbs and the Klipsch R-5502-W II weighs 2.95kg / 6.5lbs. This makes the R-5502-W II 59% heavier than the 100 IW 6.
Here is a comparison of how 100 IW 6 and R-5502-W 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 Focal 100 IW 6?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 100 IW 6:
- One in-wall speaker
- 1 metal-mesh grill (white)
- Cut-out template
- User manual
What's in the Box of Klipsch R-5502-W II?
Here are the items that come with the R-5502-W II:
- In-wall speaker
- White metal mesh grille
- Cardboard template
- Owners Manual (En/Fr/Sp)
 Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
75 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
23k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
274mm
vs
416mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
60 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
142cm2
vs
145cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Focal 100 IW 6 |
Klipsch R-5502-W II |
| Brand |
Focal |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Passive In-wall Speaker |
Passive In-wall Speaker |
| Power Range |
25-120 watts |
up to 75 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
92 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
60-23kHz |
46-20kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polyglass |
Cerametallic |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Inverted Hard-Dome |
Horn-loaded |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2200 Hz |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
274.0mm (10.8") |
416.0mm (16.4") |
| Width |
169.0mm (6.7") |
166.0mm (6.5") |
| Depth |
86.0mm (3.4") |
86.0mm (3.4") |
| Weight |
1.86kg (4.1lbs) |
2.95kg (6.5lbs) |
| 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 |
A generation apart: Focal 100 IW 6 is the newer design, against a 2015 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Klipsch R-5502-W II digs deeper - 46Hz against 60Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Klipsch R-5502-W II is more sensitive (92dB vs 89dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | A | Focal 100 IW 6 takes more power (120W vs 75W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Focal 100 IW 6 is easier to place; Klipsch R-5502-W II is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Klipsch R-5502-W II sits in a wider range (7 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($498 vs $498 a pair). |
A Focal 100 IW 6 B Klipsch R-5502-W 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?
Klipsch R-5502-W II 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 60Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Focal 100 IW 6 the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and Klipsch R-5502-W 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.