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Sonos In-wall Speakers vs B&W CWM663 Comparison

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Sonos In-wall Speakers

Passive In-wall | 44-20kHz

Sonos In-wall Speakers
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B&W CWM663

Passive In-wall | 45-50kHz

Bowers & Wilkins Performance Series CWM663
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Sonos In-wall Speakers Sonos In-wall Speake...
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B&W CWM663 B&W CWM663
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Sonos In-wall Speake...
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B&W CWM663
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Sonos In-wall Speakers vs B&W CWM663 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing In-wall Speakers and CWM663, two Passive In-wall speakers from Sonos and Bowers Wilkins.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Sonos In-wall Speakers and B&W CWM663 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Sonos In-wall Speakers Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
  • 6.5" Polypropylene Woofer
  • 44-20kHz Frequency Response
  • 89 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:up to 130watts
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 274.0" x 6.9375" x 3.6250"( 274.0 x 177.0 x 93.0mm )

B&W CWM663 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
  • 6" Kevlar Woofer
  • 45-50kHz Frequency Response
  • 88 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:25-150watts
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 280.0" x 7.2500" x 3.7500"( 280.0 x 185.0 x 96.0mm )

What size room are the Sonos In-wall Speakers and B&W CWM663 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* Sonos In-wall Speakers B&W CWM663
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.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Sonos In-wall Speakers and B&W CWM663 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 In-wall Speakers and CWM663 are 2-way speakers.

Driver Sonos In-wall Speakers B&W CWM663
Driver Setup 2-way 2-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1-inch
Midrange - -
Woofer 1 x 6.5-inch 1 x 6-inch

In-wall Speakers features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Polypropylene Woofer . On the other hand, the CWM663 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6" Kevlar Woofer .

Frequency Response

In-wall Speakers has a frequency range of 44-20kHz whereas CWM663 has a frequency range of 45-50kHz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the In-wall Speakers can go slightly deeper then the CWM663's min frequency of 45Hz.

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

In-wall Speakers
CWM663
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

In-wall Speakers

Sonos In-wall Speakers
B&W CWM663
Min
Average
Max

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

In-wall Speakers and CWM663 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. In-wall Speakers sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the CWM663's is at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Sonos In-wall Speakers a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W CWM663, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

In-wall Speakers

In-wall Speakers
CWM663
Min
Average
Max

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.

In-wall Speakers can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas In-wall Speakers has a max power handling value of 130 watts RMS , 20 watts less than the CWM663.

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

In-wall Speakers features Spring post type posts and CWM663 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 Sonos In-wall Speakers's and B&W CWM663's external dimensions. Sonos In-wall Speakers has external dimensions of 274.0 x 177.0 x 93.0mm ( 10.7500-inch x 6.9375-inch x 3.6250-inch) whereas B&W CWM663 has external dimensions of 280.0 x 185.0 x 96.0mm ( 11.0000-inch x 7.2500-inch x 3.7500-inch) .

B&W CWM663 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 8mm wider, 6mm taller and 3mm deeper than Sonos In-wall Speakers.

What's in the Box of Sonos In-wall Speakers?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of In-wall Speakers:
  • 2 In-wall loudspeakers
  • 2 Grilles
  • 2 Cutout Templates
  • What's in the Box of B&W CWM663?

    Here are the items that come with the CWM663:
  • 2 In-wall loudspeakers
  • 2 Mounting frames
  • 2 Grilles
  • 2 Paint mask
  • 2 Cut-out templates
  • Quick Start Guide
  • Template
  • Warranty Information

  • Reasons to choose Sonos In-wall Speakers over Bowers & Wilkins Performance Series CWM663
    Sensitivity 89 dB vs 88 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Woofer Size 6.5 inches vs 6 inches Larger woofer
    Low Frequency Response 44 Hz vs 45 Hz Generates deeper bass
    Height 274mm vs 280mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 164cm2 vs 177cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 659USD vs 900USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

    Reasons to choose Bowers & Wilkins Performance Series CWM663 over Sonos In-wall Speakers

    Max Input Power 150 watts vs 130 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    High Frequency Response 50k Hz vs 20k Hz Generates higher frequency
    Sonos In-wall Speakers vs B&W CWM663 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General Sonos In-wall Speakers Bowers & Wilkins Performance Series CWM663
    Brand Sonos Bowers Wilkins
    Speaker Type Passive In-wall Speaker Passive In-wall Speaker
    Power Range up to 130 watts 25-150 watts
    Sensitivity 89 dB 88 dB
    Impedance 8 ohms 8 ohms
    Frequency Response 44-20kHz 45-50kHz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 1
    Woofer Size 6.5" 6"
    Woofer Composition Polypropylene Kevlar
    Woofer Surround Material Rubber Rubber
    Tweeter Size 1" 1"
    Tweeter Type Soft-Dome Soft-Dome
    Aimable Tweeter Yes No
    Midrange Driver N/A" N/A"
    Physical Specs
    Height 274.0mm (10.8") 280.0mm (11")
    Width 177.0mm (7") 185.0mm (7.3")
    Depth 93.0mm (3.7") 96.0mm (3.8")
    Enclosure In-wall In-wall
    Moisture Resistancy No No
    Connections
    Biamp Inputs No No
    Other
    Parts Warranty 2 Years 5 Years
    Labor Warranty 2 Years 5 Years

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