In this review, we will be comparing W265 and UIW RLS III, two Passive In-wall speakers from Monitor Audio and Definitive Technology.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Monitor Audio W265 and Definitive UIW RLS III first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Monitor Audio W265 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 6.5" C-CAM Woofer
- 55-30kHz Frequency Response
- 88.5 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:20-65watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 332.0" x 8.3750" x 3.6250"( 332.0 x 213.0 x 93.0mm )
Definitive UIW RLS III Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 2 x 5.25" Polypropylene Woofer
- 24-30kHz Frequency Response
- 92 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:10-325watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 604.0" x 5.8750" x 3.8750"( 604.0 x 150.0 x 99.0mm )
What size room are the Monitor Audio W265 and Definitive UIW RLS III 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 W265 |
Definitive UIW RLS III |
| Near-field |
Good |
Are you nuts? |
| Small Room |
Good |
Bad |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
Good |
(* 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 W265 and Definitive UIW RLS III 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 W265 and UIW RLS III are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Monitor Audio W265 |
Definitive UIW RLS III |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
W265 features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" C-CAM Woofer . On the other hand, the UIW RLS III features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Polypropylene Woofer .
Frequency Response
W265 has a frequency range of 55-30kHz whereas UIW RLS III has a frequency range of 24-30kHz. With a minimum frequency of 24Hz, the UIW RLS III can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the W265's min frequency of 55Hz.
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
W265 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the UIW RLS III which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. W265 sensitivity is rated at 88.5 dB and the UIW RLS III's is rated at 92 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Definitive UIW RLS III a more sensitive speaker compared to Monitor Audio W265, 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.
W265 can handle a max power of 325 watts RMS from the amp the whereas W265 has a max power handling value of 65 watts RMS , 260 watts less than the UIW RLS III.
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
W265 features Spring post type posts and UIW RLS III 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 W265's and Definitive UIW RLS III's external dimensions. Monitor Audio W265 has external dimensions of 332.0 x 213.0 x 93.0mm ( 13.0625-inch x 8.3750-inch x 3.6250-inch) whereas Definitive UIW RLS III has external dimensions of 604.0 x 150.0 x 99.0mm ( 23.7500-inch x 5.8750-inch x 3.8750-inch) .
Monitor Audio W265 is 272mm shorter and 6mm less deeper than Definitive UIW RLS III but it is also 63mm wider.
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio W265?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of W265:
In-wall speakerGrillePaint skimInstallation GuideImportant Safety InstructionsCutout Template
What's in the Box of Definitive UIW RLS III?
Here are the items that come with the UIW RLS III:
In-wall loudspeakerGrilleSelf-adhesive foam gasketPaint maskWall-Mount TemplateOwners ManualOnline Product Registration Card