In this review, we will be comparing Installer Series IW5-LCR and CWM663, two Passive In-wall speakers from MartinLogan and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of MartinLogan Installer Series IW5-LCR and B&W CWM663 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
MartinLogan Installer Series IW5-LCR Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 0.75" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 2 x 5.5" Mineral-filled poly Woofer
- 60-20kHz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:15-70watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 210.0" x 11.6250" x 3.0000"( 210.0 x 296.0 x 77.0mm )
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 MartinLogan Installer Series IW5-LCR 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* |
MartinLogan Installer Series IW5-LCR |
B&W CWM663 |
| Near-field |
Good |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
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 MartinLogan Installer Series IW5-LCR 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
Both Installer Series IW5-LCR and CWM663 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
MartinLogan Installer Series IW5-LCR |
B&W CWM663 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.5-inch
|
1 x 6-inch
|
Installer Series IW5-LCR features a 0.75" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.5" Mineral-filled poly Woofer . On the other hand, the CWM663 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6" Kevlar Woofer .
Frequency Response
Installer Series IW5-LCR has a frequency range of 60-20kHz whereas CWM663 has a frequency range of 45-50kHz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the CWM663 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Installer Series IW5-LCR's min frequency of 60Hz.
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
MartinLogan Installer Series IW5-LCR
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
Installer Series IW5-LCR and CWM663 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Installer Series IW5-LCR sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the CWM663's is at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the MartinLogan Installer Series IW5-LCR a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W CWM663, 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.
Installer Series IW5-LCR can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Installer Series IW5-LCR has a max power handling value of 70 watts RMS , 80 watts less than the CWM663.
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
Installer Series IW5-LCR 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 MartinLogan Installer Series IW5-LCR's and B&W CWM663's external dimensions. MartinLogan Installer Series IW5-LCR has external dimensions of 210.0 x 296.0 x 77.0mm ( 8.2500-inch x 11.6250-inch x 3.0000-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) .
MartinLogan Installer Series IW5-LCR is 70mm shorter and 19mm less deeper than B&W CWM663 but it is also 111mm wider.
What's in the Box of MartinLogan Installer Series IW5-LCR?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Installer Series IW5-LCR:
In-wall loudspeakerGrilleUser-feets ManualCutout Template
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