In this review, we will be comparing 265-LS and 100 IW LCR5, two Passive In-wall speakers from Polk Audio and Focal.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk Audio 265-LS and Focal 100 IW LCR5 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Polk Audio 265-LS | Focal 100 IW LCR5 |
|---|
| Brand | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 | Focal
France · founded 1979 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Ring Radiator | 1" Inverted Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 6.5" | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Aerated polypropylene | 2 x 5.125" Polyglass |
|---|
| Frequency response | 28-33kHz | 55-23kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 90.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 10-200 watts | 25-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 4.09kg / 9lbs | 1.77kg / 3.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 19.1875" x 7.2500" x 3-3/4"
488.0 x 185.0 x 95.3mm | 16.3130" x 5.8130" x 3.2500"
415.0 x 148.0 x 83.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Polk Audio 265-LS 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* |
Polk Audio 265-LS |
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 265-LS is a 3-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.
Polk Audio 265-LSFocal 100 IW LCR5
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Polk Audio 265-LS |
Focal 100 IW LCR5 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6.5-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 5.125-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 100 IW LCR5 features a 1" Inverted Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.125" Polyglass Woofer.
Frequency Response
265-LS has a frequency range of 28-33kHz whereas 100 IW LCR5 has a frequency range of 55-23kHz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the 265-LS 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
265-LS and 100 IW LCR5 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 100 IW LCR5's is at 90.5 dB.
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.
265-LS can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas 100 IW LCR5 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 80 watts less than the 265-LS.
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
265-LS 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 Polk Audio 265-LS's and Focal 100 IW LCR5's external dimensions. Polk Audio 265-LS has external dimensions of 488.0 x 185.0 x 95.3mm (19.1875-inch x 7.2500-inch x 0.0000-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).
Polk Audio 265-LS is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 37mm wider, 73mm taller and 12.3mm deeper than Focal 100 IW LCR5.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Polk Audio 265-LS weighs 4.09kg / 9lbs and the Focal 100 IW LCR5 weighs 1.77kg / 3.9lbs. This makes the 265-LS 131% heavier than the 100 IW LCR5.
Here is a comparison of how 265-LS and 100 IW LCR5's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive In-wall class.
Weight
All In-wall Speakers
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 loudspeaker
- White metal grille
- Power Port plug
- Mounting template
- Owners Manual
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
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.125 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
28 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
33k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
|
Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
 Height |
415mm
vs
488mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
122cm2
vs
176cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
598USD
vs
758USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Polk Audio 265-LS |
Focal 100 IW LCR5 |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Passive In-wall Speaker |
Passive In-wall Speaker |
| Power Range |
10-200 watts |
25-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
90.5 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
28-33kHz |
55-23kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.125" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aerated polypropylene |
Polyglass |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Ring Radiator |
Inverted Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6.5" |
No |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
488.0mm (19.2") |
415.0mm (16.3") |
| Width |
185.0mm (7.3") |
148.0mm (5.8") |
| Depth |
95.3mm (3.8") |
83.0mm (3.3") |
| Weight |
4.09kg (9lbs) |
1.77kg (3.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
In-wall |
In-wall |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
Yes |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
Lifetime |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
Lifetime |
5 Years |
A generation apart: Focal 100 IW LCR5 is the newer design, against a 2010 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Polk Audio 265-LS digs deeper - 28Hz against 55Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (91dB vs 91dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | A | Polk Audio 265-LS takes more power (200W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Focal 100 IW LCR5 is easier to place; Polk Audio 265-LS is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | B | Focal 100 IW LCR5 is cheaper - $598 against $758, about 21% less. |
A Polk Audio 265-LS B Focal 100 IW LCR5
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
The usual trade-off: Polk Audio 265-LS measures better, Focal 100 IW LCR5 costs about about 27% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 55Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Focal 100 IW LCR5 much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Polk Audio 265-LS has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Focal 100 IW LCR5 is the easier speaker to get right.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.