In this review, we will be comparing IWS-10 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 IWS-10 and Focal 100 IW LCR5 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Monitor Audio IWS-10 | Focal 100 IW LCR5 |
|---|
| Brand | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 | Focal
France · founded 1979 |
|---|
| Design | 1-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | — | 1" Inverted Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 10" C-CAM/RDT | 2 x 5.125" Polyglass |
|---|
| Frequency response | 28-120Hz | 55-23kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 90.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 150 watts | 25-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | — | 1.77kg / 3.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11.0000" x 11.0000" x 3.5625"
280.0 x 280.0 x 91.0mm | 16.3130" x 5.8130" x 3.2500"
415.0 x 148.0 x 83.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Monitor Audio IWS-10 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 IWS-10 |
Focal 100 IW LCR5 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that IWS-10 is a 1-way design whereas the 100 IW LCR5 is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
Monitor Audio IWS-10Focal 100 IW LCR5
TweeterWoofer
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 |
Monitor Audio IWS-10 |
Focal 100 IW LCR5 |
|
Driver Setup
|
1-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 10-inch
|
2 x 5.125-inch
|
IWS-10 features a " Tweeter and 1 x 10" C-CAM/RDT 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
IWS-10 has a frequency range of 28-120Hz whereas 100 IW LCR5 has a frequency range of 55-23kHz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the IWS-10 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 100 IW LCR5's min frequency of 55Hz.
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
IWS-10 and 100 IW LCR5 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. IWS-10 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the 100 IW LCR5's is at 90.5 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the Focal 100 IW LCR5 a more sensitive speaker compared to Monitor Audio IWS-10, 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.
IWS-10 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas 100 IW LCR5 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the IWS-10.
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
IWS-10 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
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 Monitor Audio IWS-10's and Focal 100 IW LCR5's external dimensions. Monitor Audio IWS-10 has external dimensions of 280.0 x 280.0 x 91.0mm (11.0000-inch x 11.0000-inch x 3.5625-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 132mm narrower and 8mm less deeper than Monitor Audio IWS-10 but it is also 135mm taller.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Monitor Audio IWS-10 needs about 107% more floor or shelf area. Focal 100 IW LCR5 is 135mm taller.
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio IWS-10?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of IWS-10:
- In-wall passive subwoofer
- Grille (pre-installed)
- Installation Guide
- Template
- Important Safety Instructions
What's in the Box of Focal 100 IW LCR5?
Here are the items that come with the 100 IW LCR5:
- One in-wall speaker
- 1 metal-mesh grill (white)
- Cut-out template
- User manual