Website author headshot
Cameron Oatley
ExtremeHiFi
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi

Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.

What reviewers think

Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.

Product Strengths

  • Retains the neutrality, realism, and musicality associated with the M&K Sound design in a discreet enclosure
  • The front three IW150 models perfectly match each other in terms of tonality and are utterly transparent
  • Capable of a pleasingly open sound that fills the room with wonderful detail and clarity
  • The transient response of these speakers is incredible, viscerally delivering the scares as the soundtrack suddenly goes from relative silence to very loud

Product Considerations

  • Slightly lacking at the low-end, designed to be used with a subwoofer
  • Placement can be non-trivial and orientation moreso because of the multi-woofer/tweeter design, resulting in a weird dispersion that will sound different depending on which side of the speaker one is on
  • Putting them in the wall might change its sonic integrity

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • IW150 is an in-wall version of the M&K Sound S150

Takeaway: The IW150 delivers the detail, clarity, and transience of a professional studio monitor from a discreet, in-wall enclosure. If one is looking for in-wall speakers that vanish into their decor, then these are worth an audition.

What are hifi reviews useful for? (1) Identifying products you should demo in person at a dealer. (2) Learning which products reviewers unanimously praise as the best they've heard (this means they probably are legitimately great). (3) Identifying a product's attributes that satisfy your idiosyncratic needs and tastes. Beyond that, we often discount what reviewers say because they heap praise on most products—and are often apprehensive about publishing strong criticism or comparisons between products. Further, they seldom have more than a few products on-hand, often relying on their memories to compare past products. Always listen for yourself.

All

IW150A

reviews

[{"title":"M&K IW150 In-Wall Speaker Review","link":"https://erinsaudiocorner.com/loudspeakers/mkiw150","source":"erinsaudiocorner.com","datePublished":""},{"title":"M&K Sound IW150 5.1 speaker pack review","link":"https://www.homecinemachoice.com/content/mk-sound-iw150-51-speaker-pack-review","source":"homecinemachoice.com","datePublished":""}]
An excellent review of a great product
/
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
An excellent review of a great product
Publisher
/
3/1/2022

Manufacturer details

  • Nominal System Impedance: 4 ohm (Z-min 3.4 ohm)
  • Frequency Response: 80-20K Hz (average response in room +/- 3 dB)
  • Crossover Frequency: 2.0K Hz "Phase focused" (2nd order)
  • Tweeter: 1 x 1.1" Dome Coated silk dome / Low compression
  • Tweeter Angle: 15º Angle fixed
  • Woofer: 2 x 5.25" Coated glass fibre
  • Power Handling: 180 watt Long term IEC-268-5
  • Sensitivity: 90 dB Average SPL 2.83 volt / 1mtr
  • Max SPL Continued: 110 dB
  • Max SPL Peak: 116 dB
  • Cutout Dimensions: 13.03 x 11.33 inch (331 x 288 mm)
  • Cabinet Dimensions: 12.95 x 11.25 inch (329 x 286 mm)
  • Cabinet Depth: 3.74 inch (95 mm)
  • Grille Dimensions: 14.17 x 12.48 inch (360 x 317 mm)
  • Weight: 15.0 lbs (6.9 kg)
The IW150A is a versatile in-wall/in-ceiling speaker, designed for the ultimate home theater experience. Targeted primarily as a Dolby Atmos-friendly in-ceiling model, it can also be used for other in-wall cinema or multi-room music applications. Its single 15-degree angle-fixed tweeter makes the IW150A ideal for effects-based sound in multi-speaker setups.
The IW150A. Targeted primarily as a Dolby Atmos-friendly in-ceiling model, it can also be used for other in-wall cinema or multi-room music applications. Its single 15-degree angle-fixed tweeter makes the IW150A ideal for effects-based sound in multi-speaker setups. The debut of the new 150 member means that, along with the IW28S subwoofer, there is within the 150 Series a complete in-wall/ in-ceiling seamless solution for reference-grade home cinemas. The Versatile use of the IW150A makes it fit in any position. Turn it – UP, SIDE or DOWN your choice.
Manufacturer Site

Brand highlights

Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:

  • M&K Sound speakers are frequently used as reference monitors in music and film production facilities, indicating a professional-grade accuracy.
  • The brand's Phased-Focused crossover technology is designed to create a uniform timbre balance throughout the listening room, improving the three-dimensional response from almost any position.
  • M&K Sound's Tripole speaker design combines a direct radiator for precise directional sound with a dipole for diffused sound, delivering a more immersive 360-degree soundstage.
  • M&K designs subwoofers implementing a push-pull driver configuration to reduce distortion and increase bass output, enabling a smaller cabinet size while maintaining powerful bass.

MP150

  • Positioning: An entry-level on-wall speaker designed for compact spaces.
  • Description: Offers low-compression tweeters and studio-monitor derived components to deliver clear sound in environments with limited space. Compared to higher series like the 300, M, and 950, it sacrifices advanced features and power for simplicity and affordability.

S300

  • Positioning: A compact, full-range speaker aimed at delivering reference home cinema sound.
  • Description: Uses driver mounting with isolated tweeter and woofer brackets to reduce cabinet coloration and maintain clarity. When compared with the S300T, M70, and MP950, it presents a straightforward design focused on purity of sound rather than the enhanced surround or advanced performance found in the higher series.

S300T

  • Positioning: A specialized tripole speaker optimized for immersive and precisely positioned rear sound.
  • Description: Integrates isolated side chambers with additional drivers to boost surround imaging and deliver a more enveloping sound field than the standard S300. In comparison with the M70 and MP950, its focus remains on enhanced surround coverage rather than the overall higher power and advanced engineering of the premium lines.

M70

  • Positioning: A design-focused, ultra-slim on-wall speaker balancing aesthetics with modern performance.
  • Description: Features optimized crossover design and new components for easy, vibration-free installation paired with clear and dynamic sound reproduction. Relative to the entry-level MP150 and 300 series, it offers refined engineering and elegance, though it does not reach the high-powered, professional level found in the 950 series.

MP950

  • Positioning: A high-end on-wall speaker engineered for exceptional performance in demanding home cinema settings.
  • Description: Uses professional-grade drivers with a phase-focused crossover for high power handling, speed, and precise imaging that set it apart with superior sound dynamics. Compared to the MP150, S300 series, and M70, it delivers the most advanced technology.
See All Products
Avg. Product Price
$1,001-$2,500
Used For Sale
109
 Available (Scroll Down)
Brand Popularity
64
 of 900+
Badges
Top 50 Brand
Top 250 Brand
Products Listed
35
Founding Year
1974

Our take on the brand

M&K Sound invented the world's first subwoofer in 1973 and is widely used in Hollywood studios for mixing and mastering film soundtracks. Their push-pull subwoofer design cancels out harmonic distortion, and their speakers deliver professional studio monitor neutrality, making them a top choice for high-end audio production.

Look inside the brand

Brand Page

Our interview with the brand

What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?

What's your approach to customer support?

What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?

What other products pair best with yours?

From our interview with
.
Brand Page

What if you spend more?

Product image
Wisdom Audio
Insight Series P4i
2760
2760
/
1
Reviews

Compact in size, the Insight Series P4i defies traditional categorization. Sharing the design elements of its larger Insight Series sibling, it is hard to believe the musical and cinematic performance and dynamic quality of this small in-wall loudspeaker. The Insight Series P4i includes a planar magnetic driver – and four robust 3”x5” woofers for low distortion, high-resolution sound, and a superior dynamic range. The result is excellent, uniform horizontal dispersion throughout its operating range, providing superb off-axis coverage in both in-wall and in-ceiling applications.

Wisdom Audio specializes in planar magnetic drivers and line source speaker technology, which provides consistent sound coverage throughout a room and minimizes sound distortion compared to traditional point source speakers. Their speakers are designed to be integrated into walls or ceilings without compromising sound quality.
Check Amazon
Expand Details

Product Strengths

  • Truly outstanding sound quality, delivering a near-electrostatic, audiophile listening experience in a disappearing, in-wall package
  • Uses planar magnetic thin-film drivers (PMD) which can be highly detailed with excellent transient response
  • PMDs are quite reliable because the spread-out "voice grid" is great at dissipating heat
  • PMDs are super-easy for an amplifier to drive, as they are "an almost perfectly resistive load"

Product Considerations

  • Horizontal center channel use of the Insight P4i requires stud modifications due to its size

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • The Insight series squeezes most of the sound quality of the Wisdom Audio Sage Series into a less imposing, less costly package

Takeaway: The Wisdom Audio Insight P4i speakers provide excellent sound quality in an in-wall design, and are a great way to get high-end audio without large, free-standing speakers. They could be worth buying for those who want the best possible sound without compromising on interior design.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Wisdom Audio specializes in planar magnetic drivers and line source speaker technology, which provides consistent sound coverage throughout a room and minimizes sound distortion compared to traditional point source speakers. Their speakers are designed to be integrated into walls or ceilings without compromising sound quality.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page

What competes at this price?

Focal
300 IWLCR 6
1199
/
Released
Discreetly positioned both horizontally and vertically, this LCR (left, center, right) loudspeaker offers a pure Home Cinema experience, just as it ideally complements a classic floorstanding or bookshelf speaker system. Among its strengths: exclusive Focal technologies for hi-fi sound, discreet, easy installation, and an adjustable turntable that targets the listening point.
Check Amazon
Focal is a French hifi brand that makes their own drivers in-house, including their highly-regarded beryllium tweeters and unique slatefiber mid/bass drivers made from recycled carbon fiber. Their speakers and headphones feature distinctive technologies like their "W" sandwich cone design for optimal driver performance and Mimi Sound Personalization that adapts audio to individual hearing profiles.
Expand Details

Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • Tool-less design with the Easy Quick Install (EQI) system allows for quick and easy installation
  • Flax cone drivers offer light, stiff cones with good natural damping
  • The design allows for both horizontal and vertical installation by rotating the high-frequency/mid-range pod
  • Delivers impressive dynamics, a clean, neutral balance, and articulate dialogue handling
  • Easy to drive with an amplifier

Product Considerations

  • The Easy Quick Install (EQI) system may not work in all situations due to space constraints behind the wall
  • The open-back design can make the speaker's balance dependent on the installation environment, potentially requiring EQ adjustments
  • Adding the included black acoustic cloth to the grille darkens the overall color shade, which is not ideal for color matching applications
  • If a clamp breaks on the tool-less design, it is not easily replaceable
  • Requires more horizontal spacing than speakers with traditional dogears, requiring installers to be more careful about between-stud placement

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Vs Focal Kanta No. 2: The Kanta No. 2 has a weightier midrange, superlative upper frequencies, more depth, wider soundstage, and improved imaging, though the 300IWLCR6's sound quality is satisfying
  • Vs PSB W-LCR: The PSB exhibits a very slight nasal characteristic, which is not noticed on the Focal LCRs
  • Vs Martin Logan Axis: The Martin Logan Axis has impressive imaging and upper-end frequency output due to its folded ribbon tweeter, which is very different from the Focals' inverted dome aluminum and magnesium tweeter

Takeaway: The Focal 300IWLCR6 in-wall loudspeaker is easy to install and delivers great sound for music and movies, especially when paired with a good subwoofer. The speaker can be easily installed, and it can fit into various home theater setups.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Focal is a French hifi brand that makes their own drivers in-house, including their highly-regarded beryllium tweeters and unique slatefiber mid/bass drivers made from recycled carbon fiber. Their speakers and headphones feature distinctive technologies like their "W" sandwich cone design for optimal driver performance and Mimi Sound Personalization that adapts audio to individual hearing profiles.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page

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