Κώστας Φ.
Truth hurts. Here's a teddy bear.
- Μηνύματα
- 8.978
- Reaction score
- 895
The IWCB-626 (which stands for In-Wall Closed Box, a two-way speaker with a 6.5-inch woofer and a 6.5-inch passive radiator) is a rather plain-looking speaker. Beneath the surface, though, Atlantic has included a few important features to enhance its performance. For instance, the speaker includes a Directional Vector Control (DVC), a two-position switch that aims the sweet spot down 15 degrees in the event that you plan to install the speaker higher than ear level, which is a distinct possibility if you install the speakers next to a wall-mounted flat-panel display. Also on the baffle are a three-position high-frequency level control and a boundary-compensation switch, which will come in handy should you have to place the speaker close to a wall, such as in a corner. Perhaps the most important performance feature is the tweeter, which I'll discuss in more detail below.
The DVC and high-frequency level controls are both useful features, but I found that the sound was to my liking right out of the box with no adjustments required. The Atlantic speakers have a very open midrange presence with a distinctive, agreeable vocal clarity, albeit a little forward sounding. I suspect that the forward-sounding nature stems from the tweeter and crossover design. According to Atlantic, many consumers install in-wall speakers higher than ear level when seated to make them less visible or in order to position them adjacent to a flat-screen display. Since this is a two-way speaker, the woofer handles most of the midrange. But woofers tend to beam in the upper midrange, which can result in a perceived dip in those frequencies unless your ears are on axis with the woofer. Some manufacturers employ a pivoting tweeter, although that doesn't solve the midrange problem; it simply aims the high frequencies down toward the listener. Atlantic's solution is to cross over the dome tweeter about an octave lower than many speakers, down to 2 kilohertz, which is well into midrange territory. The tweeter has a wider dispersion in the midrange frequencies than the woofer, which results in broader coverage. Combined with the aforementioned Directional Vector Control, this makes for a lot of placement options.
...
Conclusions
I have reviewed more in-wall speakers than any other audio component, and I rank the Atlantic IWCB-626 high on my list of favorites. Mounting-bracket flaws aside, this speaker reproduces stereo and multichannel music with a sound quality more like a comparable freestanding model than a typical open-back in-wall speaker. Their midrange clarity and presence make it my choice for film sound, especially vocals and dialogue.
Highlights
• Closed-back enclosure provides more consistent sonic performance in multiple locations
• Open midrange with distinctive vocal clarity, although a bit forward sounding
• Design and features allow for flexible in-wall placement
Speaker: IWCB-626
Type: In-Wall
Tweeter (size in inches, type): 1 soft dome
Midrange (size in inches, type): N/A
Woofer (size in inches, type): 6.5, graphite poly cone; 6.5, passive radiator
Nominal Impedance (ohms): 6
Recommended Amp Power (watts): 10–140
Available Finishes: White (paintable)
Dimensions (H x W x D, inches): 21.625 x 12.313 x 3.875
Weight (pounds): 9
Price: $950 each
** These listings are based on the manufacturer's stated specs
Ratings:
Build Quality: 81 Average
• Excellent speaker build quality—use caution when installing bracket
Value: 90 Good
• Good speaker choice for movies and music
• Midrange reproduces vocals, instruments, and movie dialogue with clarity and definition
Features: 90 Good
• Adjustable switches make this speaker a good choice for flexible placement options
Performance: 95 Excellent
• Excellent vocal clarity
• Good midbass response
Ergonomics: 89 Average
• Closed-back design eliminates wall cavity as a potential performance variable
Overall Rating: 90
The Atlantic IWCB-626 offers good sound for movies and music and makes a thoughtful choice for whole-house or home theater speaker systems.
Full Review: hometheatermag.com
