In this review, we will be comparing Invisa Signature Point Source SPS and CWM663, two Passive In-wall speakers from GoldenEar and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of GoldenEar Invisa SPS and B&W CWM663 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
GoldenEar Invisa SPS Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- ---" Folded Ribbon Tweeter
- 5.25" Midrange
- 4 x 5.25" Polypropylene Woofer
- 25-35kHz Frequency Response
- 92 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-350watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 674.0" x 7.1250" x 3.3125"( 674.0 x 181.0 x 85.0mm )
B&W CWM663 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 6" Kevlar Woofer
- 45-50kHz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:25-150watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 280.0" x 7.2500" x 3.7500"( 280.0 x 185.0 x 96.0mm )
What size room are the GoldenEar Invisa SPS and B&W CWM663 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 SPS |
B&W CWM663 |
| Near-field |
Are you nuts? |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Bad |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Poor |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Good |
Poor |
(* 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 GoldenEar Invisa SPS and B&W CWM663 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Invisa Signature Point Source SPS is a 3-way design whereas the CWM663 is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
GoldenEar Invisa SPS |
B&W CWM663 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
----inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.25-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 6-inch
|
Invisa Signature Point Source SPS features a ---" Folded Ribbon Tweeter , a 5.25" Midrange and 4 x 5.25" Polypropylene Woofer . On the other hand, the CWM663 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6" Kevlar Woofer .
Frequency Response
Invisa Signature Point Source SPS has a frequency range of 25-35kHz whereas CWM663 has a frequency range of 45-50kHz. With a minimum frequency of 25Hz, the Invisa Signature Point Source SPS can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the CWM663's min frequency of 45Hz.
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
Invisa Signature Point Source SPS
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
Invisa Signature Point Source SPS and CWM663 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Invisa Signature Point Source SPS sensitivity is rated at 92 dB and the CWM663's is at 88 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the GoldenEar Invisa SPS a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W CWM663, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
In-wall Speakers
Invisa Signature Point Source SPS
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.
Invisa Signature Point Source SPS can handle a max power of 350 watts RMS from the amp the whereas CWM663 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 200 watts less than the Invisa Signature Point Source SPS.
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
Invisa Signature Point Source SPS features Spring post type posts and CWM663 has a Spring post 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 GoldenEar Invisa SPS's and B&W CWM663's external dimensions. GoldenEar Invisa SPS has external dimensions of 674.0 x 181.0 x 85.0mm ( 26.5000-inch x 7.1250-inch x 3.3125-inch) whereas B&W CWM663 has external dimensions of 280.0 x 185.0 x 96.0mm ( 11.0000-inch x 7.2500-inch x 3.7500-inch) .
GoldenEar Invisa SPS is 4mm narrower and 11mm less deeper than B&W CWM663 but it is also 394mm taller.
What's in the Box of GoldenEar Invisa SPS?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Invisa Signature Point Source SPS:
In-wall loudspeakerGrilleOwners ManualCut-Out TemplateCardboard Paint Shield
What's in the Box of B&W CWM663?
Here are the items that come with the CWM663:
2 In-wall loudspeakers2 Mounting frames2 Grilles2 Paint mask2 Cut-out templatesQuick Start GuideTemplateWarranty Information