In this review, we will be comparing Invisa Signature Point Source SPS and CP-WT380IDC, two Passive In-wall speakers from GoldenEar and Monitor Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of GoldenEar Invisa SPS and Monitor Audio CP-WT380IDC first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | GoldenEar Invisa SPS | Monitor Audio CP-WT380IDC |
|---|
| Brand | GoldenEar
United States · founded 2010 | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | Folded Ribbon | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 5.25" | 4" |
|---|
| Woofer | 4 x 5.25" Polypropylene | 8" C-CAM |
|---|
| Frequency response | 25-35kHz | 50-30kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 92 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-350 watts | 30-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.35kg / 14lbs | 5.67kg / 12.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 26.5000" x 7.1250" x 3.3125"
674.0 x 181.0 x 85.0mm | 17.1875" x 10.5625" x 3.8750"
437.0 x 269.0 x 99.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the GoldenEar Invisa SPS and Monitor Audio CP-WT380IDC 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 |
Monitor Audio CP-WT380IDC |
| 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Invisa Signature Point Source SPS and CP-WT380IDC are 3-way speakers.
GoldenEar Invisa SPSMonitor Audio CP-WT380IDC
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
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 |
Monitor Audio CP-WT380IDC |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.25-inch |
1 x 4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 8-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 CP-WT380IDC features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter, a 4" Midrange and 1 x 8" C-CAM Woofer.
Frequency Response
Invisa Signature Point Source SPS has a frequency range of 25-35kHz whereas CP-WT380IDC has a frequency range of 50-30kHz. 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 CP-WT380IDC's min frequency of 50Hz.
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
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 CP-WT380IDC which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Invisa Signature Point Source SPS sensitivity is rated at 92 dB and the CP-WT380IDC's is rated at 89 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the GoldenEar Invisa SPS a more sensitive speaker compared to Monitor Audio CP-WT380IDC, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Invisa Signature Point Source SPS can handle a max power of 350 watts RMS, whereas CP-WT380IDC has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 230 watts less than the Invisa Signature Point Source SPS.
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.
Monitor Audio CP-WT380IDC
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Invisa Signature Point Source SPS features Spring post type posts and CP-WT380IDC 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 SPS's and Monitor Audio CP-WT380IDC'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 Monitor Audio CP-WT380IDC has external dimensions of 437.0 x 269.0 x 99.0mm (17.1875-inch x 10.5625-inch x 3.8750-inch).
GoldenEar Invisa SPS is 88mm narrower and 14mm less deeper than Monitor Audio CP-WT380IDC but it is also 237mm 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 GoldenEar Invisa SPS weighs 6.35kg / 14lbs and the Monitor Audio CP-WT380IDC weighs 5.67kg / 12.5lbs. This makes the Invisa Signature Point Source SPS 12% heavier than the CP-WT380IDC.
Here is a comparison of how Invisa Signature Point Source SPS and CP-WT380IDC's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive In-wall class.
Weight
All In-wall Speakers
Monitor Audio CP-WT380IDC
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
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio CP-WT380IDC?
Here are the items that come with the CP-WT380IDC:
- In-Wall speaker
- Magnetic grille
- Paint skim
- Installation Guide
- Important Safety Instructions
- Limited Warranty/Registration Card
- MountingTemplate
 Max Input Power |
350 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Number of Woofers |
4
vs
1
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
30k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
153cm2
vs
266cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
|
Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Height |
437mm
vs
674mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
2350USD
vs
2990USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
GoldenEar Invisa Signature Point Source (SPS) |
Monitor Audio CP-WT380IDC |
| Brand |
GoldenEar |
Monitor Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Passive In-wall Speaker |
Passive In-wall Speaker |
| Power Range |
20-350 watts |
30-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
92 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
25-35kHz |
50-30kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
4 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
C-CAM |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Folded Ribbon |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
Yes |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5.25" |
4" |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
674.0mm (26.5") |
437.0mm (17.2") |
| Width |
181.0mm (7.1") |
269.0mm (10.6") |
| Depth |
85.0mm (3.3") |
99.0mm (3.9") |
| Weight |
6.35kg (14lbs) |
5.67kg (12.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
In-wall |
In-wall |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
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 | GoldenEar Invisa SPS digs deeper - 25Hz against 50Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | GoldenEar Invisa SPS is more sensitive (92dB vs 89dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | GoldenEar Invisa SPS is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | A | GoldenEar Invisa SPS takes more power (350W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Price | B | Monitor Audio CP-WT380IDC is cheaper - $2,350 against $2,990, about 21% less. |
A GoldenEar Invisa SPS B Monitor Audio CP-WT380IDC
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 SPS leads across most of the measured areas for a fairly modest premium, which makes it the easier pick if the budget stretches. Monitor Audio CP-WT380IDC is the one to take if it does not. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 50Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Monitor Audio CP-WT380IDC much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate GoldenEar Invisa SPS the better fit for a large room and a very large room, and Monitor Audio CP-WT380IDC for a small room and a mid-size 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.