In this review, we will be comparing Invisa Signature Point Source SPS and Invisa Junior Point Source JPS, two Passive In-wall speakers by GoldenEar.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of GoldenEar Invisa SPS and GoldenEar Invisa Junior Point Source JPS first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | GoldenEar Invisa SPS | GoldenEar Invisa Junior Point Source JPS |
|---|
| Brand | GoldenEar
United States · founded 2010 | GoldenEar
United States · founded 2010 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | Folded Ribbon | — |
|---|
| Midrange | 5.25" | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 4 x 5.25" Polypropylene | 2 x 4.5" |
|---|
| Frequency response | 25-35kHz | 42-35k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 92 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-350 watts | — |
|---|
| Weight | 6.35kg / 14lbs | 2.72kg / 6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 26.5000" x 7.1250" x 3.3125"
674.0 x 181.0 x 85.0mm | — |
|---|
Invisa Signature Point Source SPS and Invisa Junior Point Source JPS are members of GoldenEar's Invisa series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
GoldenEar Invisa Series
History
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Invisa Signature Point Source SPS is a 3-way design whereas the Invisa Junior Point Source JPS 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.
GoldenEar Invisa SPSGoldenEar Invisa Junior Point Source JPS
MidrangeWoofer
Drivers drawn to scale and directly comparable. Cabinet outlines are indicative: full dimensions are not published for both. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
GoldenEar Invisa SPS |
GoldenEar Invisa Junior Point Source JPS |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.25-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 4.5-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 Invisa Junior Point Source JPS features a " Tweeter and 2 x 4.5" Woofer.
Frequency Response
Invisa Signature Point Source SPS has a frequency range of 25-35kHz whereas Invisa Junior Point Source JPS has a frequency range of 42-35k Hz. 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 Invisa Junior Point Source JPS's min frequency of 42Hz.
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
Invisa Signature Point Source SPS
Invisa Junior Point Source JPS
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 Signature Point Source SPS is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Invisa Junior Point Source JPS which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Invisa Junior Point Source JPS can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Invisa Signature Point Source SPS sensitivity is rated at 92 dB and the Invisa Junior Point Source JPS's is rated at 90 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the GoldenEar Invisa SPS a more sensitive speaker compared to GoldenEar Invisa Junior Point Source JPS, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
In-wall Speakers
Invisa Signature Point Source SPS
Invisa Junior Point Source JPS
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.
GoldenEar Invisa Junior Point Source JPS
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 SPS's and GoldenEar Invisa Junior Point Source JPS'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 GoldenEar Invisa Junior Point Source JPS has external dimensions of ().
GoldenEar Invisa Junior Point Source JPS is 475.6mm shorter and 85mm less deeper than GoldenEar Invisa SPS but it is also 187.3mm wider.
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 SPS weighs 6.35kg / 14lbs and the GoldenEar Invisa Junior Point Source JPS weighs 2.72kg / 6lbs. This makes the Invisa Signature Point Source SPS 133% heavier than the Invisa Junior Point Source JPS.
Here is a comparison of how Invisa Signature Point Source SPS and Invisa Junior Point Source JPS's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive In-wall class.
Weight
All In-wall Speakers
GoldenEar Invisa Junior Point Source JPS
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 loudspeaker
- Grille
- Owners Manual
- Cut-Out Template
- Cardboard Paint Shield
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Number of Woofers |
4
vs
2
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
42 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
198mm
vs
674mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
0cm2
vs
153cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1600USD
vs
2990USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
GoldenEar Invisa Signature Point Source (SPS) |
GoldenEar Invisa Junior Point Source JPS |
| Brand |
GoldenEar |
GoldenEar |
| Speaker Type |
Passive In-wall Speaker |
Passive In-wall Speaker |
| Sensitivity |
92 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
25-35kHz |
42-35k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
4 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
4.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
|
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Tweeter Type |
Folded Ribbon |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
Yes |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5.25" |
No |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
674.0mm (26.5") |
198.4mm (7.8") |
| Width |
181.0mm (7.1") |
368.3mm (14.5") |
| Depth |
85.0mm (3.3") |
mm (0") |
| Weight |
6.35kg (14lbs) |
2.72kg (6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
In-wall |
|
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Siblings in GoldenEar's Invisa series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | GoldenEar Invisa SPS digs deeper - 25Hz against 42Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | GoldenEar Invisa SPS is more sensitive (92dB vs 90dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | GoldenEar Invisa SPS is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Price | B | GoldenEar Invisa Junior Point Source JPS is cheaper - $1,600 against $2,990, about 46% less; arguably a different class. |
A GoldenEar Invisa SPS B GoldenEar Invisa Junior Point Source JPS
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: GoldenEar Invisa SPS measures better, GoldenEar Invisa Junior Point Source JPS costs about about 87% 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 42Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper GoldenEar Invisa Junior Point Source JPS much easier to justify. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, GoldenEar Invisa SPS is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.