In this review, we will be comparing R-3800-W II and R-5650-S II, two Passive In-wall speakers by Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch R-3800-W II and Klipsch R-5650-S II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch R-3800-W II | Klipsch R-5650-S II |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Horn-loaded dome | 1" Horn-loaded dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 8" IMG | 6.5" Cerametallic |
|---|
| Frequency response | 46-23kHz | 60-23kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 93 dB | 92 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 50 watts | up to 50 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 3.58kg / 7.9lbs | 3.27kg / 7.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14.6875" x 9.1250" x 3.8750"
374.0 x 232.0 x 99.0mm | 13.0000" x 8.0000" x 3.6875"
331.0 x 204.0 x 94.0mm |
|---|
R-3800-W II and R-5650-S II are members of Klipsch's Reference II series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Klipsch Reference II Series
History
What size room are the Klipsch R-3800-W II and Klipsch R-5650-S 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* |
Klipsch R-3800-W II |
Klipsch R-5650-S II |
| Near-field |
Good |
Good |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
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.
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Drivers
Both R-3800-W II and R-5650-S II are 2-way speakers.
Klipsch R-3800-W IIKlipsch R-5650-S 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 |
Klipsch R-3800-W II |
Klipsch R-5650-S II |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 8-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
R-3800-W II features a 1" Horn-loaded dome Tweeter and 1 x 8" IMG Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200 Hz. On the other hand, the R-5650-S II features a 1" Horn-loaded dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Cerametallic Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3400 Hz.
Frequency Response
R-3800-W II has a frequency range of 46-23kHz whereas R-5650-S II has a frequency range of 60-23kHz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the R-3800-W II can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R-5650-S II's min frequency of 60Hz.
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
R-3800-W II and R-5650-S II have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. R-3800-W II sensitivity is rated at 93 dB and the R-5650-S II's is at 92 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Klipsch R-3800-W II a more sensitive speaker compared to Klipsch R-5650-S II, 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.
R-3800-W II and R-5650-S II have the same power range of up to 50 watts.
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
R-3800-W II features Spring Posts type posts and R-5650-S II has a Spring Posts 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 Klipsch R-3800-W II's and Klipsch R-5650-S II's external dimensions. Klipsch R-3800-W II has external dimensions of 374.0 x 232.0 x 99.0mm (14.6875-inch x 9.1250-inch x 3.8750-inch) whereas Klipsch R-5650-S II has external dimensions of 331.0 x 204.0 x 94.0mm (13.0000-inch x 8.0000-inch x 3.6875-inch).
Klipsch R-3800-W II is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 28mm wider, 43mm taller and 5mm deeper than Klipsch R-5650-S II.
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 Klipsch R-3800-W II weighs 3.58kg / 7.9lbs and the Klipsch R-5650-S II weighs 3.27kg / 7.2lbs. This makes the R-3800-W II 9% heavier than the R-5650-S II.
Here is a comparison of how R-3800-W II and R-5650-S 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 Klipsch R-3800-W II?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of R-3800-W II:
- In-wall speaker
- White metal mesh grille
- Cardboard template
- Owners Manual (En/Fr/Sp)
What's in the Box of Klipsch R-5650-S II?
Here are the items that come with the R-5650-S II:
- In-wall speaker
- White metal mesh grille
- Cardboard template
- Owners Manual (En/Fr/Sp)
 Sensitivity |
93 dB
vs
92 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
60 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
331mm
vs
374mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
191cm2
vs
229cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
458USD
vs
858USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Klipsch R-3800-W II |
Klipsch R-5650-S II |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Passive In-wall Speaker |
Passive In-wall Speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 50 watts |
up to 50 watts |
| Sensitivity |
93 dB |
92 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
46-23kHz |
60-23kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
IMG |
Cerametallic |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Horn-loaded dome |
Horn-loaded dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2200 Hz |
3400 Hz |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
374.0mm (14.7") |
331.0mm (13") |
| Width |
232.0mm (9.1") |
204.0mm (8") |
| Depth |
99.0mm (3.9") |
94.0mm (3.7") |
| Weight |
3.58kg (7.9lbs) |
3.27kg (7.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
In-wall |
In-wall |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
Ltd. Lifetime |
Ltd. Lifetime |
| Labor Warranty |
Ltd. Lifetime |
Ltd. Lifetime |
Siblings in Klipsch's Reference II series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Klipsch R-3800-W II digs deeper - 46Hz against 60Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (93dB vs 92dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (50W vs 50W). |
| Size | depends | Klipsch R-5650-S II is easier to place; Klipsch R-3800-W II is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | B | Klipsch R-5650-S II is cheaper - $458 against $858, about 47% less; arguably a different class. |
A Klipsch R-3800-W II B Klipsch R-5650-S 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?
Klipsch R-3800-W II is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 87% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Klipsch R-5650-S II looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the Klipsch R-3800-W II appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 60Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Klipsch R-5650-S II much easier to justify. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $400 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
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.