In this review, we will be comparing R-5502-W II and CWM652, two Passive In-wall speakers from Klipsch and Bowers Wilkins. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch R-5502-W II and B&W CWM652 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Klipsch R-5502-W II Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Horn-loaded Tweeter
- 2 x 5.25" Cerametallic Woofer
- 46-20kHz Frequency Response
- 92 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:up to 75watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 416.0" x 6.5000" x 3.3750"( 416.0 x 166.0 x 86.0mm )
B&W CWM652 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 5" Kevlar Woofer
- 54-50kHz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:25-100watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 229.0" x 6.0000" x 3.7500"( 229.0 x 153.0 x 96.0mm )
What size room are the Klipsch R-5502-W II and B&W CWM652 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-5502-W II |
B&W CWM652 |
| Near-field |
Good |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
Bad |
(* 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 Klipsch R-5502-W II and B&W CWM652 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both R-5502-W II and CWM652 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Klipsch R-5502-W II |
B&W CWM652 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
R-5502-W II features a 1" Horn-loaded Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Cerametallic Woofer . On the other hand, the CWM652 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Kevlar Woofer .
Frequency Response
R-5502-W II has a frequency range of 46-20kHz whereas CWM652 has a frequency range of 54-50kHz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the R-5502-W II can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the CWM652's min frequency of 54Hz.
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
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
R-5502-W II and CWM652 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. R-5502-W II sensitivity is rated at 92 dB and the CWM652's is at 86 dB. This 6 dB difference makes the Klipsch R-5502-W II a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W CWM652, 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. 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.
R-5502-W II can handle a max power of 100 watts RMS from the amp the whereas R-5502-W II has a max power handling value of 75 watts RMS , 25 watts less than the CWM652.
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
R-5502-W II features Spring post type posts and CWM652 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 Klipsch R-5502-W II's and B&W CWM652's external dimensions. Klipsch R-5502-W II has external dimensions of 416.0 x 166.0 x 86.0mm ( 16.3750-inch x 6.5000-inch x 3.3750-inch) whereas B&W CWM652 has external dimensions of 229.0 x 153.0 x 96.0mm ( 9.0000-inch x 6.0000-inch x 3.7500-inch) .
B&W CWM652 is 13mm narrower and 187mm shorter than Klipsch R-5502-W II but it is also 10mm deeper.
What's in the Box of Klipsch R-5502-W II?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of R-5502-W II:
In-wall speakerWhite metal mesh grilleCardboard templateOwners Manual (En/Fr/Sp)
What's in the Box of B&W CWM652?
Here are the items that come with the CWM652:
2 In-wall loudspeakers2 Mounting frames2 Grilles2 Paint mask2 Cut-out templatesQuick Start GuideTemplateWarranty Information
Sensitivity 
Woofer Size 
Base Surface Area 
Price per pair* 
Max Input Power 
High Frequency Response 
Height