In this review, we will be comparing 100 IW LCR5 and CS140, two Passive In-wall speakers from Focal and Monitor Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal 100 IW LCR5 and Monitor Audio CS140 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Focal 100 IW LCR5 | Monitor Audio CS140 |
|---|
| Brand | Focal
France · founded 1979 | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Inverted Hard-Dome | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.125" Polyglass | 4" Metal Matrix Polymer |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-23kHz | 75-30kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90.5 dB | 85 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-120 watts | 10-50 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 1.77kg / 3.9lbs | 1.18kg / 2.6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 16.3130" x 5.8130" x 3.2500"
415.0 x 148.0 x 83.0mm | 5.8750" x 5.8750" x 3.9375"
150.0 x 150.0 x 101.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Focal 100 IW LCR5 and Monitor Audio CS140 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 LCR5 |
Monitor Audio CS140 |
| 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 LCR5 and CS140 are 2-way speakers.
Focal 100 IW LCR5Monitor Audio CS140
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 LCR5 |
Monitor Audio CS140 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.125-inch
|
1 x 4-inch
|
100 IW LCR5 features a 1" Inverted Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.125" Polyglass Woofer. On the other hand, the CS140 features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Metal Matrix Polymer Woofer.
Frequency Response
100 IW LCR5 has a frequency range of 55-23kHz whereas CS140 has a frequency range of 75-30kHz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the 100 IW LCR5 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the CS140's min frequency of 75Hz.
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 LCR5 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the CS140 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. 100 IW LCR5 sensitivity is rated at 90.5 dB and the CS140's is rated at 85 dB. This 6 dB difference makes the Focal 100 IW LCR5 a more sensitive speaker compared to Monitor Audio CS140, 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 LCR5 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas CS140 has a max power handling value of 50 watts RMS, 70 watts less than the 100 IW LCR5.
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 LCR5 features Spring post type posts and CS140 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 LCR5's and Monitor Audio CS140's external dimensions. 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) whereas Monitor Audio CS140 has external dimensions of 150.0 x 150.0 x 101.0mm (5.8750-inch x 5.8750-inch x 3.9375-inch).
Focal 100 IW LCR5 is 2mm narrower and 18mm less deeper than Monitor Audio CS140 but it is also 265mm 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 Focal 100 IW LCR5 weighs 1.77kg / 3.9lbs and the Monitor Audio CS140 weighs 1.18kg / 2.6lbs. This makes the 100 IW LCR5 50% heavier than the CS140.
Here is a comparison of how 100 IW LCR5 and CS140'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 LCR5?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 100 IW LCR5:
- One in-wall speaker
- 1 metal-mesh grill (white)
- Cut-out template
- User manual
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio CS140?
Here are the items that come with the CS140:
- In-ceiling speaker
- Grille
- Paint skim
- Installation Guide
- Important Safety Instructions
- Cutout Template
 Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
50 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
5.125 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
55 Hz
vs
75 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
122cm2
vs
151cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
150mm
vs
415mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
440USD
vs
598USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Focal 100 IW LCR5 |
Monitor Audio CS140 |
| Brand |
Focal |
Monitor Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Passive In-wall Speaker |
Passive In-wall Speaker |
| Power Range |
25-120 watts |
10-50 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90.5 dB |
85 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55-23kHz |
75-30kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.125" |
4" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polyglass |
Metal Matrix Polymer |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Inverted Hard-Dome |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
Yes |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
415.0mm (16.3") |
150.0mm (5.9") |
| Width |
148.0mm (5.8") |
150.0mm (5.9") |
| Depth |
83.0mm (3.3") |
101.0mm (4") |
| Weight |
1.77kg (3.9lbs) |
1.18kg (2.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
In-wall |
In-wall |
| Moisture Resistancy |
Yes |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
Lifetime |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
Lifetime |
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 | Focal 100 IW LCR5 digs deeper - 55Hz against 75Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Focal 100 IW LCR5 is more sensitive (91dB vs 85dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | Focal 100 IW LCR5 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | A | Focal 100 IW LCR5 takes more power (120W vs 50W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Monitor Audio CS140 is easier to place; Focal 100 IW LCR5 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | B | Monitor Audio CS140 is cheaper - $440 against $598, about 26% less. |
A Focal 100 IW LCR5 B Monitor Audio CS140
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?
The usual trade-off: Focal 100 IW LCR5 measures better, Monitor Audio CS140 costs about about 36% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 75Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Monitor Audio CS140 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Focal 100 IW LCR5 the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and Monitor Audio CS140 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.