Klipsch R-5650-W II In-Wall Speaker (Each) at Vinyl Sound Toronto Canada

The R-5650-W II is a 2-way in-wall speaker from Klipsch (Indianapolis, Indiana, USA), available at Vinyl Sound in Toronto, Canada. Part of Klipsch's Reference architectural speaker lineup, it is designed for both home theater and two-channel stereo music applications where a flush-mount, invisible installation is preferred without compromising the sound quality expected from a quality standalone speaker. The R-5650-W II pairs a 6.5" Cerametallic Cone Woofer with a 1" Titanium Dome Compression Driver mated to a 4" square 90° x 60° pivoting Tractrix Horn, covering a frequency range of 52Hz to 23kHz (+/-3dB) at a high 93dB sensitivity at 8 ohms. Power handling is 50W RMS and 200W peak, with a recommended amplifier power of 100W. The pivoting horn allows the tweeter's 90° x 60° dispersion pattern to be aimed directly at the main listening position for superior imaging and clarity regardless of the speaker's position on the wall, and onboard treble and midbass attenuation switches allow fine-tuning of the tonal balance for challenging room acoustics or corner placements. The low-profile SlimTrim magnetic grille is paintable and reduces visible frame depth by 80% compared to the previous generation.

Pivoting Tractrix Horn and Linear Travel Suspension Tweeter

The defining capability of the R-5650-W II is its 1" titanium dome compression driver with Linear Travel Suspension, mated to a 4" square Tractrix horn that pivots up to 15° in either direction. In most in-wall speaker installations, the speaker position on the wall is dictated by stud bay locations rather than the ideal acoustic axis toward the listening position. The pivoting horn resolves this by allowing the installer to physically aim the 90° x 60° dispersion pattern toward the main seating area after installation, directing more of the direct high-frequency sound at the listener and reducing off-axis reflections from ceiling, side walls, and floor that smear imaging and reduce clarity. The result is a wider soundstage, better-defined stereo imaging, and more intelligible vocal reproduction than fixed-horn in-wall speakers can achieve in variable installation positions. Linear Travel Suspension constrains the titanium diaphragm to a piston-like motion without lateral deviation, reducing distortion and improving smoothness through the critical 2500Hz crossover handoff region to the Cerametallic woofer below.

6.5" Cerametallic Woofer and Installation Flexibility

The 6.5" Cerametallic woofer in the R-5650-W II uses Klipsch's anodized aluminum cone technology, in which the aluminum substrate is electrochemically converted to a ceramic compound on both outer surfaces for exceptional stiffness and damping. This cone rigidity allows the woofer to reach accurately into the 52Hz lower extension while maintaining tight, well-defined bass character without the looseness associated with softer cone materials. The speaker uses an infinite baffle enclosure type, leveraging the wall cavity as its working acoustic environment, with an ABS frame that can be painted to match any wall finish. Treble and midbass attenuation switches on the rear of the frame allow independent level adjustment of the high and upper-bass frequency ranges, enabling the installer to compensate for room acoustics, speaker placement relative to walls and corners, or listener preference. An IR receiver knockout on the frame accommodates installation of a standard 0.5" tube-type infrared repeater device for remote control systems. The speaker fits any new or existing construction through a 13" x 8" drywall cutout at 3.75" mounting depth, and sure-grip mounting dogs clamp evenly against the drywall for long-term installation reliability.

Key Features

• 1" Titanium Dome Compression Driver with Pivoting 90° x 60° Tractrix Horn: The horn pivots up to 15° in either direction, allowing the installer to aim the 90° horizontal by 60° vertical dispersion pattern directly at the main listening position from any wall location, maximizing direct sound and minimizing reflections for superior imaging and clarity.
• Linear Travel Suspension (LTS) Tweeter: LTS constrains the titanium diaphragm to controlled piston motion, reducing lateral excursion deviation to lower distortion and increase smoothness through the high-frequency band and through the 2500Hz crossover transition.
• 6.5" Cerametallic Cone Woofer: Anodized aluminum cone with ceramic surface treatment delivers exceptional rigidity and damping for tight, accurate bass response from 52Hz through the 2500Hz crossover frequency with low distortion at high output levels.
• Treble and Midbass Attenuation Switches: Independent onboard switches allow independent adjustment of high-frequency and upper-bass output levels, enabling compensation for challenging room acoustics, corner or boundary placements, and personal tonal preference without requiring external equalization.
• IR Receiver Knockout: A breakout port on the speaker frame accommodates a standard 0.5" tube-type infrared repeater device, allowing the speaker's wall position to double as a remote control receiver location for whole-home IR control systems.
• 93dB Sensitivity at 8 Ohms: High efficiency allows the R-5650-W II to produce substantial output from modest amplifier power, a significant advantage in whole-home distributed audio systems where long speaker wire runs reduce the power delivered from a central amplifier.
• SlimTrim Low-Profile Magnetic Grille: The new SlimTrim aluminum grille reduces the visible frame size by 90% and grille depth by 80% compared to the previous generation, creating a near edge-to-edge consistent look flush with the wall. The magnetic grille is paintable to match any wall finish and attaches without visible hardware.
• Infinite Baffle ABS Frame: The wall cavity acts as the acoustic environment, and the ABS frame is fully paintable. Compatible with the Klipsch ME-650-W fire-rated enclosure (sold separately) for building code compliance and improved room-to-room sound isolation.
• New and Retrofit Construction Compatible: Installs in any new or existing structure through a 13" x 8" drywall cutout at 3.75" mounting depth. A cardboard cutting template is included. The optional IK-650-W installation kit (sold separately) adds a mud ring, wire tie, and metal wings for stud attachment.

Technical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Klipsch R-5650-W II?

The Klipsch R-5650-W II is a 2-way in-wall speaker from Klipsch's Reference architectural series, featuring a 6.5" Cerametallic cone woofer and a 1" titanium dome compression driver with Linear Travel Suspension mated to a 4" square 90° x 60° pivoting Tractrix horn. It delivers a frequency response of 52Hz to 23kHz at 93dB sensitivity and 8 ohms, with 50W RMS and 200W peak power handling. Onboard treble and midbass attenuation switches, an IR receiver knockout, and a low-profile SlimTrim magnetic paintable grille make it one of the most feature-complete and installer-friendly in-wall speakers in its category.

How does the Klipsch R-5650-W II compare to the Polk Audio 265-RT and the Sonance Portrait Series SR1?

The Klipsch R-5650-W II distinguishes itself from the Polk Audio 265-RT and Sonance Portrait SR1 primarily through its pivoting horn tweeter and Cerametallic cone technology. The R-5650-W II's Tractrix horn pivots up to 15° to aim the 90° x 60° dispersion pattern at the listening position regardless of wall placement, which neither the Polk 265-RT nor the Sonance SR1 offers in the same configuration. The Klipsch's 93dB sensitivity also exceeds both competitors, making it a stronger choice for long-run distributed audio systems where amplifier power is shared across multiple zones. The Polk 265-RT uses a swiveling tweeter with a wider dispersion character, while the Sonance Portrait SR1 emphasizes a narrower footprint for specific placement scenarios. The R-5650-W II's Cerametallic woofer provides tighter, more detailed bass than the Polk's composite cone, at the cost of a slightly smaller cone area.

What does the pivoting Tractrix horn do and why does it matter?

The pivoting Tractrix horn on the R-5650-W II allows the 1" titanium compression driver's dispersion axis to be physically rotated up to 15° in either direction after the speaker is installed in the wall. Because high-frequency sounds are highly directional, the location where in-wall speakers can be installed in a wall is typically constrained by stud placement, which rarely aligns perfectly with the ideal acoustic axis toward the main listening seat. The pivoting horn resolves this mismatch by letting the installer aim the tweeter's 90° x 60° pattern directly at the primary listening position, sending more direct sound to the listener and less reflected energy off adjacent surfaces. The practical benefit is better stereo imaging, wider soundstage, and more intelligible vocal reproduction compared to fixed-horn or fixed-dome tweeter in-wall speakers installed in the same position.

Can the Klipsch R-5650-W II be used for home theater surround channels?

Yes, the Klipsch R-5650-W II is suited to home theater surround channel use as well as LCR front channel and stereo music applications. Its 93dB sensitivity, 50W RMS power handling, and pivoting horn make it particularly effective as a side or rear surround channel where the speaker's position on the wall may not align with the ideal acoustic axis toward the seating area. The treble attenuation switch can be used to reduce high-frequency output if the speaker is positioned close to the listening seats, which is common in side surround positions. For optimal system coherence across all channels, pairing multiple R-5650-W II units throughout the system ensures consistent tonal character between front and surround positions.

What do the treble and midbass attenuation switches do?

The treble and midbass attenuation switches on the R-5650-W II's rear frame independently reduce the output level of the high-frequency driver and the upper-bass to midrange frequency band by a fixed amount. The treble switch reduces the tweeter's output to compensate for overly reflective room surfaces, close speaker-to-listener distances such as side surround positions, or rooms that measure bright in the upper frequencies. The midbass switch reduces the woofer's output in the upper bass and lower midrange to compensate for proximity to room boundaries or corners, which can cause acoustic reinforcement and a bass-heavy tonal balance. Both switches operate passively in the crossover network and require no tools or external equipment, making them a valuable tool for fine-tuning the R-5650-W II in challenging installation environments without adding room correction processing.

Where can I buy the Klipsch R-5650-W II in Toronto or Canada?

The Klipsch R-5650-W II In-Wall Speaker is available at Vinyl Sound, an authorized Klipsch dealer in Toronto, Canada. Vinyl Sound carries the full Klipsch Reference architectural speaker lineup and can advise on amplifier pairing, multi-room distributed audio system design, and installation accessory selection including the IK-650-W installation kit and the ME-650-W fire-rated enclosure for building code compliance across the Toronto area and across Canada.

What is the SlimTrim grille and how does it attach?

The SlimTrim is Klipsch's low-profile aluminum magnetic grille introduced with the R-5650-W II generation. Compared to the previous grille design, the SlimTrim reduces the visible frame width by 90% and frame depth by 80%, creating a near edge-to-edge appearance that sits flush with the wall surface rather than standing proud of it. The grille is paintable with standard interior wall paint to match any wall color or finish. It attaches to the speaker's frame using magnets rather than clips or screws, so it can be removed and reinstalled without tools for driver access, while virtually eliminating grille resonance distortion that affected earlier mechanical-attachment designs. A tightly secured magnetic grille also reduces the risk of the grille becoming loose or rattling at high listening levels.

Is the Klipsch R-5650-W II compatible with a fire-rated enclosure?

Yes, the Klipsch R-5650-W II is compatible with the Klipsch ME-650-W fire-rated speaker enclosure, sold separately. The ME-650-W is installed in the wall cavity behind the speaker and meets local building code requirements for in-wall speaker fire separation in residential and commercial construction. It also reduces low-frequency sound transmission between adjacent rooms by providing an isolated acoustic environment behind the speaker, which can meaningfully improve privacy and acoustic separation in bedroom, office, or hotel installations where sound bleed between spaces is a concern. Building code requirements for fire-rated speaker enclosures vary by jurisdiction; consulting with a local installer or building inspector will determine whether the ME-650-W is required in a specific installation in Toronto or elsewhere in Canada.