In this review, we will be comparing 100 IW 6 and RC85i, two Passive In-wall speakers from Focal and Polk Audio. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal 100 IW 6 and Polk Audio RC85i first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Focal 100 IW 6 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Inverted Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Polyglass Woofer
- 60-23kHz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:25-120watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 274.0" x 6.6250" x 3.3750"( 274.0 x 169.0 x 86.0mm )
Polk Audio RC85i Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 8" Polypropylene Woofer
- 50-20kHz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-100watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 324.0" x 8.6875" x 3.5000"( 324.0 x 221.0 x 89.0mm )
What size room are the Focal 100 IW 6 and Polk Audio RC85i 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 |
Polk Audio RC85i |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Bad |
(* 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 Focal 100 IW 6 and Polk Audio RC85i 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 100 IW 6 and RC85i are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Focal 100 IW 6 |
Polk Audio RC85i |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 8-inch
|
100 IW 6 features a 1" Inverted Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Polyglass Woofer . On the other hand, the RC85i features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 8" Polypropylene Woofer .
Frequency Response
100 IW 6 has a frequency range of 60-23kHz whereas RC85i has a frequency range of 50-20kHz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the RC85i can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 100 IW 6'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
100 IW 6 and RC85i 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 RC85i's is at 90 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Polk Audio RC85i 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. 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.
100 IW 6 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS from the amp the whereas RC85i has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the 100 IW 6.
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
100 IW 6 features Spring clip type posts and RC85i has a Spring clip 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 Focal 100 IW 6's and Polk Audio RC85i'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 Polk Audio RC85i has external dimensions of 324.0 x 221.0 x 89.0mm ( 12.7500-inch x 8.6875-inch x 3.5000-inch) .
Polk Audio RC85i is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 52mm wider, 50mm taller and 3mm deeper than Focal 100 IW 6.
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 speaker1 metal-mesh grill (white)Cut-out templateUser manual
What's in the Box of Polk Audio RC85i?
Here are the items that come with the RC85i:
2 White in-wall speakers2 White grilles1 Cardboard Mounting TemplateOwners ManualOnline registration sheetProduct Registration Card
Max Input Power 
High Frequency Response 
Height 
Base Surface Area 
Sensitivity 
Woofer Size 
Price per pair*