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IW500 In-Wall Speaker
Groundbreaking design features for truly natural sound

New product

The first THX® Certified Dominus in-wall loudspeaker for very large home cinemas with both vertical and horizontal installation flexibility

M&K Sound has combined a high-performance one-inch soft dome tweeter with a precision-crafted aluminum waveguide to ensure accurate and focused vertical and horizontal dispersion characteristics. The design marks the first time M&K Sound has developed a horn-loaded loudspeaker which guarantees real and natural delivery, whether placed vertically or horizontally.

The IW500 combines two Kurt Muller three-inch soft dome midrange drivers (800 Hz to 2500 Hz) with shallow waveguides. These pair with a complex crossover network to promote an audible smoothness and non-fatiguing character across the frequency range. By consolidating excellent vertical response from the crossover with excellent horizontal dispersion from the vertical driver array, the IW500 produces a profoundly flat power response.

The IW500’s onboard dual 8-inch woofers employ large magnets and carbon fiber cones to achieve its high sensitivity rating (92 dB SPL @ 1 meter with 2.83V), enabling a full-bodied and visceral low-frequency response. M&K Sound’s proprietary ‘Capacitive Coupling’ design feature in the crossover allows for a much smaller enclosure than normally required. It also ensures tighter bass response, increased impedance (easier to drive) and less distortion.

The IW500’s revolutionary crossover is responsible for the loudspeaker’s smooth frequency and polar responses. Transition between high, mid and bass frequencies is seamless, a trademark designfeature of M&K Sound’s reference loudspeakers. The IW500 includes newly developed transducerswith extra-large magnets for less compressed and less distorted sound.

We are pleased to verify that the incredibly detailed audio design from M&K Sound has ensured that their IW500 met these high standards of excellence. This is a spectacular accomplishment of which they should be very proud.

‘It just sounds real’

Every facet of M&K Sound’s enduring legacy of technological achievement is incorporated into the latest IW500 flagship loudspeaker. As each model in M&K Sound’s extensive range is timbre-matched for the ultimate sonic cohesion in any room, the IW500 can ably complement surround and height speakers from the award-winning M&K 300 and 150 Series. The IW500 now brings the sonic precision, neutrality and articulation, for which M&K is world-renowned, into the very largest of residential cinema and listening rooms.

THX room size

Designed for use in high-end home theaters or Hi-Fi stereo systems, and with an 80 Hz–20 kHz (+/-1.5 dB) frequency response, the IW500 pairs ideally with one or more subwoofers (such as M&K Sound’s own THX Certified Dominus X15+ subwoofer). The new M&K Sound speaker will deliver a natural, open and articulate sound field with extraordinary high output every time. Perfect for large home cinemas and media rooms, the IW500 measures a maximum SPL of greater than 117 dB and a power amplifier handling of 100–500 watts.

M&K took on a lofty task to design the highest performance and most powerful in-wall speaker for ultra-high fidelity in expansive home and private spaces of up to 6,500 cubic feet in size, and with up to a 20-foot viewing distance from the screen.

Specifications IW500

Specifications for the IW500

Sound

THX® CertificationYesTHX® Certified Dominus
Nominal System Impedance4 ohm(Z-min 4.6 ohm)
Frequency Response80-20K Hz(on axis response in room +/- 1.5dB)
Low Frequency Roll Off55Hz(-10 @55 Hz near field)
Crossover Frequency700Hz, 2.5K HzPower Response optimized
Tweeter1 x 1,1” DomeCoated silk dome / Scan speak
Mid-range2 x 3″Coated Sik dome w/ Rear Chamber
Woofer2 x 8″Carbon Fibre laminated
Power Handling500 wattLong term IEC-268-5 (cycled input 77-20K Hz)
Power Handling300 wattRated IEC-268-5 (constant input 77-20K Hz)
Recommended Amp Power100-500 wattRecommended Amp Power Min / Max
Sensitivity92 dBAverage SPL 2.83 volt / 1M (on axis 100-20kHz)
Max SPL Continued113 dBSinewave 100-8000 Hz / THD less than 10%
Max SPL Peak121 dBSinewave 100-8000 Hz / THD less than 10%

Colors

System PrincipSealedWith capacitive coupling
ConnectionTerminal Gold PlatingPush terminal 4mm cable
FinishPaintBlack cabinet

Dimensions

CutoutH x W33.35 x 12.44 inch / 847 x 316 mm
Cabinet dimensionsH x W33.27 x 12.36 inch / 845 x 314 mm
Cabinet depthD3.86 inch / 98 mm
Dimensions GrilleH x W x D35.35 x 14.45 inch / 898 x 367 mm
WeightNetto40.8 lbs / 18.5 kg

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The M&K Sound In-Wall Loudspeaker

The M&K Sound Frameless Architectural In-Wall loudspeaker range consists of open baffle designs as well as sealed box versions of the brand’s popular satellite and on-wall models to provide wide flexibility in terms of applications and acoustic preferences. The series maintains the sonic integrity that has made M&K Sound a legend for over four decades.

Unlike other In-Wall makers, M&K Sound employs the exact same drivers and crossover technologies found in our acclaimed professional and consumer reference monitors to deliver consistent sound coverage throughout the room for superior imaging in stereo and surround, even when the speakers are ftted in the ceiling.

M&K Sound drive units represent the culmination of decades of intensely focused transducer innovation.

Timbre Matching

The ambitious goal of the latest M&K Sound Architectural In-Wall range has been to counterbalance the inevitable acoustic consequences of reducing internal volume to 20 – 30% of a normal cabinet, while preserving the celebrated neutrality, realism and musicality that are the signature of M&K Sound.

This level of tonal consistency and timbre matching offers unique flexibility and the opportunity to mix and match speakers from across the entire M&K Sound line-up.

M&K Sealed In-Wall Boxes

The materials, acoustic properties, assembly and volume of every M&K Sound sealed box are all known factors during system design, so that the construction of the wall, the type of materials inside the wall and the volume of air behind the speaker all have no impact on final performance. It is this extreme level of control over the interaction of speaker and wall that makes it possible for M&K Sound to offer designer-friendly, invisible installation at no sacrifce in ultimate performance.

M&K Sound back boxes of 18mm MDF are painted with black structure polyurethane lacquer for moisture resistant sealed surfaces. The sealed box also provides effective protection against dust, insects and vermin. Damping pads on the rear panel eliminate vibration when in direct contact with the wall in shallow installations. All mounting hardware is pre-ftted to the box, including metal clamps to fx speaker wire in the pre-cut cable groove on the rear of the box. Goldplated push-on terminals with +/- polarity markings allow easy cable connection without the use of tools. Torx mounting screws with special washers are used for smooth mounting along with a practical, effcient, self-tightening dog ear clamp system for a perfect seal between baffle and wall.

Invisible, Immersive and In the Right Place

Ever more complex surround formats such as Dolby Atmos, DTS X and Auro create an increasing need for high performance, yet concealed loudspeakers to handle installations incorporating 9 – 11 channels and beyond with discretion and style.

To deliver full-bodied performance from shallow, sealed enclosures, M&K Sound begins with the identical drivers used in our original satellite models and extensively modifes the crossover design to compensate precisely for the reduced internal volume bringing In-Wall response much closer to the frequency response of the original loudspeakers. Further revisions take into account practical considerations such as service access and, most critically, ensure easy, fast, accurate and safe installation.

Simply mark the intended placement using the cut-out template enclosed with the speaker, prepare the opening, attach speaker wire, drop in the box, tighten screws and fit the front grille. Then, get ready to be blown away.

M&K Custom Designed Tweeters

Flush-mounted in the steel baffle to eliminate reflections, M&K Sound’s custom designed tweeters raise the bar for speed, accuracy, reliability, build quality and performance.

Based on M&K Sound’s proprietary aerodynamic flow control damping system, our exclusive tweeters provide extended frequency response for an absolutely seamless transition to the bass/mid drive units.

M&K IW28S Bass Driver

The illustration below presents the many components and technologies that come together in the IW28S Subwoofer bass drivers.

M&K Sound proudly works to a higher, stricter standard and because we alone dictate the specifcations for our exclusive, custom designed drivers down to the last detail, they deliver the precision and effortless, natural sound reproduction that continue to make M&K Sound the frst choice of professionals and enthusiasts.

Metal Grilles

M&K’s Architectural frameless, low profle, metal mesh front grilles are a subtly elegant, virtually invisible element in any living space. The grilles can be painted to match the surrounding surface.

For vibration-free mounting, the M&K In-Wall grilles are fitted with multiple rubber-coated neodymium magnets with more than enough strength for safe in-ceiling use.

Hardened Steel Baffles

The specially modifed M&K drive units are mounted in solid steel font baffles to reinforce the wall and eliminate the rattle and buzz of common plastic frame In-Wall speakers.

The heat hardened steel is powder coated for effective rust-proofng to last a lifetime. IW950, IW150II, IW300 and IW28S incorporate folded baffle edges for enhanced stability in a hostile and unpredictable environment.