iW3 In-Wall Speaker (pair)

Click the image to enlarge

MSRP: $450.00

Price: $399.00
Quantity:  

More iW3 due April 1, 2012.

Product Information

The iW3 is NHT’s best high performance, compact 6.5", 3-way, in-wall speaker - which means it's way-better than freestanding bookshelf speakers in it's price range, period.  The iW3 is useful in premium and high end distributed sound applications in home music, home theater, office or commercial installations, and is suitable for all 5 or 7 channels in an all in-wall home theater system.  The iW3 can be used in walls (and ceilings) in bedrooms, hallways, entry ways, waiting rooms, and in both primary and secondary rooms where high quality music and speech are desired and budgets are moderate to slightly generous. 

The iW3 is a very high quality 3-way system, employing a 6.5" anodized aluminum cone woofer and a coaxially mounted "flying bridge" which holds a 3/4" anodized aluminum dome tweeter and 2 x 1.25" anodized aluminum dome midrange drivers - all managed by a very high quality 2nd order crossover network.  The driver units are moisture resistant, all the hardware is stainless steel the frame is polypropylene and both the mounting lip and baffle are gasketed which allows use in bathrooms, pool, patio and other high moisture areas.  

The iW3 is a 3-piece, modular design as well featuring a separate bezel (frame), baffle (speaker plate) and grill.  In fact, NHT has designed the IW1, 2 and 3 models in-wall speakers this system so you can easily upgrade or replace each model without ever removing the frame from the wall.  The iW3 has similar dispersion to a typical bookshelf design so therefore works best when placed in rooms where the listeners are centrally positioned or aimed into the center of the room. Because of its co-axial layout, the IW3 can be mounted in the wall (or ceilings) either horizontally or vertically. A convenient cardboard template for the cutout is included to make installation location and retrofit cutting easier.


The iW3 has a fail-proof, 6-point spring-loaded, dog ear clamping system that grabs the ceiling material like a politician at a BBQ, even when the mounting surface is uneven, with integrity and simplicity.  The springs maintains the bezel's pressure and seal with the wall or ceiling surface and therefore eliminates the speaker from coming loose and paint lines from cracking over the life of the installation.  This feature is important because typical sheetrock compresses when clamped - non-spring loaded, rigid clamping systems will become loose over time and begin to vibrate and the air seal can leak causing the speaker to lose bass and crack the paint line.  The baffle is both gasketed on the edge and floats on 6 butyl rubber pads to help isolate it from the wall and frame resonances.  The speaker terminals are easy to use spring loaded push to open types which will also maintain contact with the speaker wire over the life of the installation.

The iW3 is painted with a neutral white primer and may be painted to match with typical latex paints. When painting, the grill and speaker frame is painted separately.  A convenient cardboard paint shield is included to protect the drive units in the speaker frame.

For new construction, NHT makes the IWB - a new construction framing bracket which allows you accurately place the iW1/2/3 speakers location during the framing stages of construction much like a recessed lighting fixture.  The iWB provides a lip that the sheetrock or wall finishing crew flushes up to to provide perfecting mounting for the iW1, 2 or 3.  Note: the iWB is NOT required for retrofit installations in existing ceilings and walls. 

The iW3 like most other NHT iW speaker models are sold in stereo pairs only.

The Company - Let’s not forget that you’re buying an NHT speaker and that means all sorts of things like you care about getting the best speaker value for your money, that you care about quality craftsmanship and high-end performance. It also means you’re ready to join our family of fanatics who love music, movies and gear that produces them. Welcome to the club - tell a friend. Now Hear This!

Reviews

(2) Reviews

IW3 Review

I installed four IW3 speakers in my basement bar and pool room. The speakers are clear, bright, and have an impressive range. Coupled with a powered sub, the system cranks out solid, rich tunes and movies without the clutter of visible speakers. Haven't heard another inwall set that compares at this price range. Highly recommended.

J Gates

Peoria, IL

12/1/2009

High End in-walls at a budget price

As a custom audio engineer, I have installed dozens of models of in-walls over the years. The iW3 is the best sound for the money I have ever heard. They consistently perform with clarity and effortless power in all sizes of rooms. They are my go to speaker choice for HT in-walls where high clarity output is needed and price is a factor. I suspect that in most rooms, it is difficult to find anything significantly better at any price. I have replaced larger expensive tower speakers with the iW3s and an NHT subwoofer, hidden from view, and now the wife and the husband like the sound and aesthetics better.

Rich Strack

Stroudsburg, PA

12/23/2010

Specifications

System Type - 3-way in-wall loudspeaker 

Woofer - 6.5" long-throw anodized aluminum cone 

Midrange – 2 x 1.25" fluid cooled anodized aluminum dome 

Tweeter - .75" fluid cooled anodized aluminum dome 

Crossover Frequencies - 4.3kHz and 1.7kHz

Crossover Slopes - 12dB/octave HP, 12dB/octave BP, 12dB/octave LP 

Response - 53Hz - 20kHz, +/- 3dB 

Sensitivity - 86dB (2.83V at 1M) 

Impedance - 8 ohms nominal 

Recommended Amplifier Power - 10W/ch minimum, 150W/ch maximum 

Inputs – 2 each professional grade, gold plated spring posts

Weight - 7 lbs/3.2 kg each speaker

Shipping Weight 14 lbs/6.4 kg for each pair

Cutout Dimensions - 10 1/4" H 8 1/8" W 

Bezel Dimensions - 11 3/8" H 9 1/4"" W 

Depth Behind Wall - 3 1/4" 

Finish - Matte white (paintable)

Sold in pairs only.