Klipsch RW-5802-II In-Wall Subwoofer - White (Each) at Vinyl Sound Toronto Canada

The RW-5802-II is a passive dual 8" in-wall subwoofer from Klipsch (Indianapolis, Indiana, USA), available at Vinyl Sound in Toronto, Canada. Part of Klipsch's Reference architectural series, it is engineered to deliver powerful, room-filling low-frequency effects entirely concealed within the wall cavity, with no visible cabinetry in the finished space. Two front-firing 8" Cerametallic Cone Woofers in cast aluminum frames operate within a sealed MDF baffle and ABS composite shell enclosure, producing a frequency range of 45Hz to 140Hz (+/-4dB) at 90dB sensitivity and 8 ohms nominal impedance. The RW-5802-II is a passive module designed exclusively for use with the Klipsch RSA-500 subwoofer amplifier, sold separately, which delivers 300W RMS into 8 ohms for a single module or 500W RMS into 4 ohms when driving two RW-5802-II units simultaneously. The unit fits standard 2" x 4" wall construction, accommodates both new construction and retrofit installations with a minimum 0.5" drywall surface, and includes a flat magnetic paintable steel grille for a seamless wall finish. The RW-5802-II is available in white.

Dual 8" Cerametallic Woofers and Sealed Enclosure Design

The RW-5802-II's sonic foundation is its pair of front-firing 8" Cerametallic cone woofers mounted in cast aluminum frames. Klipsch's Cerametallic cone material is anodized on both outer surfaces, electrochemically converting the aluminum substrate into a ceramic compound that is second only to diamond in material hardness. This ceramic surface treatment creates a cone that is exceptionally rigid and well-damped simultaneously, allowing the dual woofers to move at high speeds and with high excursion without the cone flex or resonance coloration that affects conventional aluminum or polymer designs at elevated output levels. The two drivers operate in a sealed MDF baffle and ABS composite shell enclosure, providing controlled acoustic suspension for tight, accurate bass rather than the one-note boom associated with ported in-wall subwoofer designs. The sealed enclosure also significantly reduces low-frequency energy transfer into adjacent rooms through the wall structure, an important consideration in multi-room residential installations.

RSA-500 Amplifier Integration and Dual-Module Scalability

The Klipsch RW-5802-II is engineered as a passive module requiring the dedicated Klipsch RSA-500 subwoofer amplifier for operation. The RSA-500 is a BASH (Bridged Amplifier Switching Hybrid) design that delivers 300W RMS into an 8-ohm load when powering a single RW-5802-II module, and scales to 500W RMS into a 4-ohm load when a second RW-5802-II is wired in parallel on the same amplifier. The RSA-500's dynamic power rating reaches 875W into 8 ohms for transient headroom on demanding LFE material. The amplifier includes a continuously variable low-pass crossover adjustable from 40Hz to 120Hz for integration with main speakers, a dedicated unfiltered LFE input for direct connection to a home theater AV receiver's subwoofer output, a Sub EQ Selector that configures the amplifier's EQ curve to match the RW-5802-II's driver and enclosure characteristics, a phase switch, and power mode settings including a DC voltage trigger input for automatic on/off with the AV system. The RSA-500 ships with rack ears for 19" rack installation and a detachable IEC power cord.

Key Features

• Dual 8" Front-Firing Cerametallic Cone Woofers: Two cast aluminum frame drivers with anodized Cerametallic cone surfaces operate as a matched pair within the sealed enclosure, providing high rigidity, strong damping, and high-excursion capability for deep, clean bass reproduction from 45Hz to 140Hz.
• Sealed MDF Baffle and ABS Shell Enclosure: The composite sealed enclosure provides controlled acoustic suspension for tight, accurate bass, eliminates port noise and one-note resonances associated with ported designs, and significantly reduces low-frequency transmission into adjacent rooms and building structure.
• RSA-500 Exclusive Compatibility: The RW-5802-II operates exclusively with the Klipsch RSA-500 BASH subwoofer amplifier (sold separately), which delivers 300W RMS at 8 ohms for single-module installations and 500W RMS at 4 ohms for dual-module systems. The Sub EQ Selector on the RSA-500 configures optimized EQ for the RW-5802-II's driver and enclosure.
• Dual-Module Scalability: A single RSA-500 amplifier can drive two RW-5802-II modules simultaneously at 4 ohms for 500W total output, allowing a dual-subwoofer installation from one rack-mountable amplifier unit for larger rooms or more even bass distribution across multiple seating rows.
• New Construction and Retrofit Compatible: The RW-5802-II fits standard 2" x 4" wall construction and accommodates any new or existing structure with a minimum 0.5" drywall surface, supporting both new construction framing and retrofit wall-access installations.
• Flat Magnetic Paintable Steel Grille: The bezel-free flat magnetic steel grille covers the driver face flush with the wall surface, accepts standard interior wall paint for any decor, and attaches and detaches without tools for driver inspection or servicing.
• 90dB Sensitivity at 8 Ohms: High sensitivity for a passive in-wall subwoofer enables the RSA-500 amplifier to deliver substantial low-frequency output without requiring extreme drive levels, contributing to clean, undistorted bass at reference listening volumes.
• Limited 5-Year Warranty on Woofer: Klipsch backs the RW-5802-II with a limited 5-year warranty on the woofer and a 2-year warranty on electronics, reflecting the long-term reliability expected from an architectural installation product.

Technical Specifications

Connections at a Glance

• Speaker binding posts on the RW-5802-II connect to the dedicated speaker outputs of the Klipsch RSA-500 amplifier
• RSA-500 accepts unfiltered LFE input from AV receiver subwoofer output, or stereo line-level inputs from a preamplifier for two-channel use
• A single RSA-500 drives one RW-5802-II at 8 ohms (300W), or two RW-5802-II modules wired in parallel at 4 ohms (500W)
• RSA-500 includes 3.5mm DC trigger input for automatic power-on integration with AV system trigger outputs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Klipsch RW-5802-II?

The Klipsch RW-5802-II is a passive dual 8" in-wall subwoofer from Klipsch's Reference series, featuring two front-firing Cerametallic cone woofers in cast aluminum frames within a sealed MDF baffle and ABS composite enclosure, with a frequency response of 45Hz to 140Hz at 90dB sensitivity and 8 ohms nominal impedance. It is a passive module that must be used exclusively with the Klipsch RSA-500 subwoofer amplifier, which delivers 300W RMS for a single unit or 500W RMS for two units. It fits standard 2" x 4" wall construction and is available in white with a flat magnetic paintable steel grille.

How does the Klipsch RW-5802-II compare to the Klipsch PRO-1200SW and the Sonance Sub 10 Round?

The Klipsch RW-5802-II and PRO-1200SW are both sealed in-wall passive subwoofers from Klipsch but differ in driver configuration and amplification approach. The RW-5802-II uses dual 8" Cerametallic drivers in a standard stud-bay footprint and requires the dedicated RSA-500 BASH amplifier with its built-in EQ and crossover. The PRO-1200SW uses a single 12" Cerametallic long-throw driver tuned for deeper extension to 21Hz versus the RW-5802-II's 45Hz, and pairs with Klipsch KDA Series DSP amplifiers. The RW-5802-II's dual-driver design and its RSA-500 integration make it particularly well suited for architectural two-channel and home theater applications where a self-contained amplification solution with built-in crossover management is preferred. Compared to the Sonance Sub 10 Round, the RW-5802-II uses a larger combined cone area with two 8" drivers in a sealed enclosure for more output and tighter bass than the Sonance's single-driver bandpass approach.

Does the Klipsch RW-5802-II require a specific amplifier?

Yes, the Klipsch RW-5802-II must be used exclusively with the Klipsch RSA-500 subwoofer amplifier, which is sold separately. The RSA-500 is a BASH (Bridged Amplifier Switching Hybrid) amplifier that includes a Sub EQ Selector with a dedicated EQ preset optimized specifically for the RW-5802-II's Cerametallic drivers and sealed enclosure, a continuously variable low-pass crossover from 40Hz to 120Hz, an unfiltered LFE input, a phase switch, and a DC trigger input for automatic power-on. Using the RW-5802-II with any other amplifier bypasses these optimized EQ settings and is not supported by Klipsch. The RSA-500 ships with rack ears for 19" rack installation.

Can one RSA-500 amplifier power two RW-5802-II subwoofers?

Yes, a single Klipsch RSA-500 amplifier can drive up to two RW-5802-II subwoofer modules simultaneously. When two units are connected in parallel to the RSA-500, the combined load drops to 4 ohms and the amplifier delivers 500W RMS total output. This dual-module configuration is well suited to larger rooms where a single subwoofer would be insufficient to achieve even bass distribution across multiple seating positions, or where higher maximum output is required for demanding home cinema applications. The RSA-500's dynamic power rating of 875W into 8 ohms also provides substantial transient headroom for single-module operation during peak low-frequency effects in film soundtracks.

What does Cerametallic mean for the RW-5802-II's performance?

Cerametallic is Klipsch's proprietary woofer cone treatment in which an aluminum cone substrate is electrochemically anodized to convert both outer surfaces into a ceramic compound. This ceramic layer is second only to diamond in hardness, giving the cone exceptional stiffness relative to its mass. In the RW-5802-II, two 8" Cerametallic cones move at high speed and high excursion without the cone flex, resonance coloration, or blurring that affects conventional aluminum or polymer cone designs at elevated drive levels. The dual-cone rigidity contributes directly to the tight, well-defined character of the sealed-enclosure bass output across the full 45Hz to 140Hz operating range.

Where can I buy the Klipsch RW-5802-II in Toronto or Canada?

The Klipsch RW-5802-II In-Wall Subwoofer is available at Vinyl Sound, an authorized Klipsch dealer in Toronto, Canada. Vinyl Sound carries the matching Klipsch RSA-500 subwoofer amplifier as well, and can advise on single-module and dual-module system configurations, installation requirements, and integration with home theater AV receivers and two-channel preamplifiers for architectural audio builds across the Toronto area and across Canada.

Is the Klipsch RW-5802-II suitable for a two-channel music system as well as home theater?

Yes, the Klipsch RW-5802-II is suited to both home theater and two-channel music applications. The RSA-500 amplifier accepts stereo line-level inputs from a two-channel preamplifier in addition to the unfiltered LFE input used in home theater configurations, and its continuously variable 40Hz to 120Hz low-pass crossover allows integration with a wide range of main speakers at their respective roll-off points. The sealed enclosure character of the RW-5802-II produces tighter, more accurate bass than ported designs, which is particularly valued in two-channel music reproduction where low-frequency transient accuracy and pitch definition are priorities alongside raw extension and output level.

Can the grille be painted and how does it attach?

Yes, the Klipsch RW-5802-II's flat steel grille is designed to accept standard interior wall paint, allowing it to be finished to match any wall color or texture for a seamless installation appearance. The grille attaches magnetically to the speaker face with no visible hardware, screws, or clips, and can be removed and reinstalled without tools for driver access or servicing. The flat, bezel-free profile of the grille sits flush with the surrounding wall surface when installed, integrating the subwoofer into the room architecture rather than presenting it as a visible speaker installation.