In this review, we will be comparing Invisa MPX and R-5800-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-5800-W II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | GoldenEar Invisa MPX | Klipsch R-5800-W II |
|---|
| Brand | GoldenEar
United States · founded 2010 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | Folded Ribbon | 1" Horn-loaded dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 4.5" Polypropylene | 8" Cerametallic |
|---|
| Frequency response | 25-35kHz | 40-23kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 94 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 10-250 watts | up to 50 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 2.72kg / 6lbs | 3.58kg / 7.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12.7500" x 6.2500" x 3.7500"
324.0 x 159.0 x 96.0mm | 14.6875" x 9.1250" x 3.9375"
374.0 x 232.0 x 101.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the GoldenEar Invisa MPX and Klipsch R-5800-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-5800-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-5800-W II are 2-way speakers.
GoldenEar Invisa MPXKlipsch R-5800-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-5800-W II |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 4.5-inch
|
1 x 8-inch
|
Invisa MPX features a " Folded Ribbon Tweeter and 2 x 4.5" Polypropylene Woofer. On the other hand, the R-5800-W II features a 1" Horn-loaded dome Tweeter and 1 x 8" Cerametallic Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2600 Hz.
Frequency Response
Invisa MPX has a frequency range of 25-35kHz whereas R-5800-W II has a frequency range of 40-23kHz. 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-5800-W II's min frequency of 40Hz.
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-5800-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-5800-W II's is at 94 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Klipsch R-5800-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-5800-W II has a max power handling value of 50 watts RMS, 200 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-5800-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-5800-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-5800-W II has external dimensions of 374.0 x 232.0 x 101.0mm (14.6875-inch x 9.1250-inch x 3.9375-inch).
Klipsch R-5800-W II is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 73mm wider, 50mm taller and 5mm deeper than GoldenEar Invisa MPX.
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-5800-W II weighs 3.58kg / 7.9lbs. This makes the R-5800-W II 32% heavier than the Invisa MPX.
Here is a comparison of how Invisa MPX and R-5800-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-5800-W II?
Here are the items that come with the R-5800-W II:
- In-wall speaker
- White metal mesh grille
- Cardboard template
- Owners Manual (En/Fr/Sp)
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
50 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
40 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
324mm
vs
374mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
152cm2
vs
234cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
695USD
vs
978USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
94 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| General |
GoldenEar Invisa MPX |
Klipsch R-5800-W II |
| Brand |
GoldenEar |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Passive In-wall Speaker |
Passive In-wall Speaker |
| Power Range |
10-250 watts |
up to 50 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
94 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
25-35kHz |
40-23kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4.5" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Cerametallic |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Folded Ribbon |
Horn-loaded dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2600 Hz |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
324.0mm (12.8") |
374.0mm (14.7") |
| Width |
159.0mm (6.3") |
232.0mm (9.1") |
| Depth |
96.0mm (3.8") |
101.0mm (4") |
| Weight |
2.72kg (6lbs) |
3.58kg (7.9lbs) |
| 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 40Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Klipsch R-5800-W II is more sensitive (94dB vs 90dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | A | GoldenEar Invisa MPX takes more power (250W vs 50W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | GoldenEar Invisa MPX is easier to place; Klipsch R-5800-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-5800-W II sits in a wider range (7 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | GoldenEar Invisa MPX is cheaper - $695 against $978, about 29% less. |
A GoldenEar Invisa MPX B Klipsch R-5800-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 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 40Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. 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-5800-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.