In this review, we will be comparing W250-LCR and IWSUB8, two Passive In-wall speakers from Monitor Audio and Focal. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Monitor Audio W250-LCR and Focal IWSUB8 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Monitor Audio W250-LCR Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 2 x 5" Metal Matrix Polymer Woofer
- 60-30kHz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:30-100watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 353.0" x 5.7500" x 4.0000"( 353.0 x 147.0 x 102.0mm )
Focal IWSUB8 Key Specs
- 1-way Design
- " Tweeter
- 8" Polyglass Woofer
- 34-140HzHz Frequency Response
- --- Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:up to 200watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 347.0" x 13.6250" x 4.2500"( 347.0 x 347.0 x 108.0mm )
What size room are the Monitor Audio W250-LCR and Focal IWSUB8 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 W250-LCR |
Focal IWSUB8 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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 W250-LCR and Focal IWSUB8 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that W250-LCR is a 2-way design whereas the IWSUB8 is a 1-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.
| Driver |
Monitor Audio W250-LCR |
Focal IWSUB8 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
1-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5-inch
|
1 x 8-inch
|
W250-LCR features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5" Metal Matrix Polymer Woofer . On the other hand, the IWSUB8 features a " Tweeter and 1 x 8" Polyglass Woofer .
Frequency Response
W250-LCR has a frequency range of 60-30kHz whereas IWSUB8 has a frequency range of 34-140HzHz. With a minimum frequency of 34Hz, the IWSUB8 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the W250-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
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
W250-LCR and IWSUB8 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. W250-LCR sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the IWSUB8's is at ---. This 88 dB difference makes the Monitor Audio W250-LCR a more sensitive speaker compared to Focal IWSUB8, 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.
W250-LCR can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas W250-LCR has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS , 100 watts less than the IWSUB8.
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
W250-LCR features Spring post type posts and IWSUB8 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 W250-LCR's and Focal IWSUB8's external dimensions. Monitor Audio W250-LCR has external dimensions of 353.0 x 147.0 x 102.0mm ( 13.8750-inch x 5.7500-inch x 4.0000-inch) whereas Focal IWSUB8 has external dimensions of 347.0 x 347.0 x 108.0mm ( 13.6250-inch x 13.6250-inch x 4.2500-inch) .
Monitor Audio W250-LCR is 200mm narrower and 6mm less deeper than Focal IWSUB8 but it is also 6mm taller.
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio W250-LCR?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of W250-LCR:
In-wall speakerGrillePaint skimInstallation GuideImportant Safety InstructionsCutout Template
What's in the Box of Focal IWSUB8?
Here are the items that come with the IWSUB8:
Passive in-wall subwooferMagnetic mounting frameMetal-mesh grille2 Angled mounting bracketsThirty-six 30mm screwsTwelve 13.5
Driver Setup 
Number of Woofers 
Base Surface Area 
Max Input Power 
High Frequency Response 
Height 
Price per pair*