In this review, we will be comparing CP-WT150 and 100 IW LCR5, two Passive In-wall speakers from Monitor Audio and Focal.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Monitor Audio CP-WT150 and Focal 100 IW LCR5 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Monitor Audio CP-WT150 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 5" Poly Woofer
- 75-25kHz Frequency Response
- 85 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:20-50watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 326.0" x 8.1250" x 3.7500"( 326.0 x 207.0 x 96.0mm )
Focal 100 IW LCR5 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Inverted Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 2 x 5.125" Polyglass Woofer
- 55-23kHz Frequency Response
- 90.5 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:25-120watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 415.0" x 5.8130" x 3.2500"( 415.0 x 148.0 x 83.0mm )
What size room are the Monitor Audio CP-WT150 and Focal 100 IW LCR5 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* |
Monitor Audio CP-WT150 |
Focal 100 IW LCR5 |
| 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 Monitor Audio CP-WT150 and Focal 100 IW LCR5 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 CP-WT150 and 100 IW LCR5 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Monitor Audio CP-WT150 |
Focal 100 IW LCR5 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
2 x 5.125-inch
|
CP-WT150 features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Poly Woofer . On the other hand, the 100 IW LCR5 features a 1" Inverted Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.125" Polyglass Woofer .
Frequency Response
CP-WT150 has a frequency range of 75-25kHz whereas 100 IW LCR5 has a frequency range of 55-23kHz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the 100 IW LCR5 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the CP-WT150's min frequency of 75Hz.
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
CP-WT150 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the 100 IW LCR5 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. CP-WT150 sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the 100 IW LCR5's is rated at 90.5 dB. This 6 dB difference makes the Focal 100 IW LCR5 a more sensitive speaker compared to Monitor Audio CP-WT150, 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.
CP-WT150 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS from the amp the whereas CP-WT150 has a max power handling value of 50 watts RMS , 70 watts less than the 100 IW LCR5.
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
CP-WT150 features Spring post type posts and 100 IW LCR5 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 Monitor Audio CP-WT150's and Focal 100 IW LCR5's external dimensions. Monitor Audio CP-WT150 has external dimensions of 326.0 x 207.0 x 96.0mm ( 12.8125-inch x 8.1250-inch x 3.7500-inch) whereas Focal 100 IW LCR5 has external dimensions of 415.0 x 148.0 x 83.0mm ( 16.3130-inch x 5.8130-inch x 3.2500-inch) .
Focal 100 IW LCR5 is 59mm narrower and 13mm less deeper than Monitor Audio CP-WT150 but it is also 89mm taller.
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio CP-WT150?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of CP-WT150:
In-wall speakerMagnetic grilleCosmetic scrimInstallation GuideImportant Safety InstructionsLimited Warranty/Registration CardMountingTemplate
What's in the Box of Focal 100 IW LCR5?
Here are the items that come with the 100 IW LCR5:
One in-wall speaker1 metal-mesh grill (white)Cut-out templateUser manual