In this review, we will be comparing 265-LS and CWM652, two Passive In-wall speakers from Polk Audio and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk Audio 265-LS and B&W CWM652 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Polk Audio 265-LS Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Ring Radiator Tweeter
- 6.5" Midrange
- 6.5" Aerated polypropylene Woofer
- 28-33kHz Frequency Response
- 91 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:10-200watts
- Weight:4.09kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 488.0" x 7.2500" x 0.0000"
B&W CWM652 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 5" Kevlar Woofer
- 54-50kHz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:25-100watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 229.0" x 6.0000" x 3.7500"( 229.0 x 153.0 x 96.0mm )
What size room are the Polk Audio 265-LS and B&W CWM652 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* |
Polk Audio 265-LS |
B&W CWM652 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Bad |
(* 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 Polk Audio 265-LS and B&W CWM652 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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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that 265-LS is a 3-way design whereas the CWM652 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.
| Driver |
Polk Audio 265-LS |
B&W CWM652 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6.5-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
265-LS features a 1" Ring Radiator Tweeter , a 6.5" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" Aerated polypropylene Woofer . On the other hand, the CWM652 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Kevlar Woofer .
Frequency Response
265-LS has a frequency range of 28-33kHz whereas CWM652 has a frequency range of 54-50kHz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the 265-LS can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the CWM652's min frequency of 54Hz.
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
265-LS and CWM652 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. 265-LS sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the CWM652's is at 86 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the Polk Audio 265-LS a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W CWM652, 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.
265-LS can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas CWM652 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the 265-LS.
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
265-LS features Spring post type posts and CWM652 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 Polk Audio 265-LS's and B&W CWM652's external dimensions. Polk Audio 265-LS has external dimensions of ( 19.1875-inch x 7.2500-inch x 0.0000-inch) whereas B&W CWM652 has external dimensions of 229.0 x 153.0 x 96.0mm ( 9.0000-inch x 6.0000-inch x 3.7500-inch) .
B&W CWM652 is 32mm narrower and 259mm shorter than Polk Audio 265-LS but it is also 96mm deeper.
What's in the Box of Polk Audio 265-LS?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 265-LS:
In-wall loudspeakerWhite metal grillePower Port plugMounting templateOwners Manual
What's in the Box of B&W CWM652?
Here are the items that come with the CWM652:
2 In-wall loudspeakers2 Mounting frames2 Grilles2 Paint mask2 Cut-out templatesQuick Start GuideTemplateWarranty Information