In this review, we will be comparing Invisa MPX and R-5502-W II, two Passive In-wall speakers from GoldenEar and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of GoldenEar Invisa MPX and Klipsch R-5502-W II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | GoldenEar Invisa MPX | Klipsch R-5502-W II |
|---|
| Brand | GoldenEar
United States · founded 2010 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | Folded Ribbon | 1" Horn-loaded |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 4.5" Polypropylene | 2 x 5.25" Cerametallic |
|---|
| Frequency response | 25-35kHz | 46-20kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 92 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 10-250 watts | up to 75 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 2.72kg / 6lbs | 2.95kg / 6.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12.7500" x 6.2500" x 3.7500"
324.0 x 159.0 x 96.0mm | 16.3750" x 6.5000" x 3.3750"
416.0 x 166.0 x 86.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the GoldenEar Invisa MPX 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* |
GoldenEar Invisa MPX |
Klipsch R-5502-W II |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Good |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
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 Invisa MPX and R-5502-W II are 2-way speakers.
GoldenEar Invisa MPXKlipsch 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 |
GoldenEar Invisa MPX |
Klipsch R-5502-W II |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 4.5-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
Invisa MPX features a " Folded Ribbon Tweeter and 2 x 4.5" Polypropylene 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
Invisa MPX has a frequency range of 25-35kHz whereas R-5502-W II has a frequency range of 46-20kHz. With a minimum frequency of 25Hz, the Invisa MPX can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R-5502-W II's min frequency of 46Hz.
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
Invisa MPX and R-5502-W II have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Invisa MPX sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the R-5502-W II's is at 92 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Klipsch R-5502-W II a more sensitive speaker compared to GoldenEar Invisa MPX, 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.
Invisa MPX can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas R-5502-W II has a max power handling value of 75 watts RMS, 175 watts less than the Invisa MPX.
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
Invisa MPX 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 GoldenEar Invisa MPX's and Klipsch R-5502-W II's external dimensions. GoldenEar Invisa MPX has external dimensions of 324.0 x 159.0 x 96.0mm (12.7500-inch x 6.2500-inch x 3.7500-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).
GoldenEar Invisa MPX is 7mm narrower and 92mm shorter than Klipsch R-5502-W II but it is also 10mm deeper.
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 GoldenEar Invisa MPX weighs 2.72kg / 6lbs and the Klipsch R-5502-W II weighs 2.95kg / 6.5lbs. This makes the R-5502-W II 8% heavier than the Invisa MPX.
Here is a comparison of how Invisa MPX 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 GoldenEar Invisa MPX?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Invisa MPX:
- In-wall loudspeaker
- Grille
- Owners Manual
- Cut-Out Template
- Cardboard Paint Shield
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 |
250 watts
vs
75 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
46 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
324mm
vs
416mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Base Surface Area |
142cm2
vs
152cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
498USD
vs
695USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
GoldenEar Invisa MPX |
Klipsch R-5502-W II |
| Brand |
GoldenEar |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Passive In-wall Speaker |
Passive In-wall Speaker |
| Power Range |
10-250 watts |
up to 75 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
92 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
25-35kHz |
46-20kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
4.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Cerametallic |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Folded Ribbon |
Horn-loaded |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2200 Hz |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
324.0mm (12.8") |
416.0mm (16.4") |
| Width |
159.0mm (6.3") |
166.0mm (6.5") |
| Depth |
96.0mm (3.8") |
86.0mm (3.4") |
| Weight |
2.72kg (6lbs) |
2.95kg (6.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
In-wall |
In-wall |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
Ltd. Lifetime |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
Ltd. 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 | GoldenEar Invisa MPX digs deeper - 25Hz against 46Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Klipsch R-5502-W II is more sensitive (92dB vs 90dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | A | GoldenEar Invisa MPX takes more power (250W vs 75W) - 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-5502-W II sits in a wider range (7 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Klipsch R-5502-W II is cheaper - $498 against $695, about 28% less. |
A GoldenEar Invisa MPX 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?
GoldenEar Invisa MPX is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 40% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Klipsch R-5502-W II looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the GoldenEar Invisa MPX appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 46Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Klipsch R-5502-W II much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate GoldenEar Invisa MPX 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.