Monitor Audio CP-IW260X In-Wall Speaker (Single)

The CP-IW260X sits at the top of Monitor Audio's Controlled Performance in-wall range, delivering full-range three-way performance from a flush-mounted enclosure. Where most architectural speakers use an open-back design that relies on the wall cavity for bass loading, the CP-IW260X incorporates an integrated sealed back-box in cast polymer, giving a controlled, predictable low-frequency response regardless of the wall construction behind it. A die-cast aluminium baffle provides a rigid mounting platform for the five-driver array.

Driver Array

Five C-CAM (Ceramic-Coated Aluminium/Magnesium) drivers are arranged in a symmetrical B-M-T-M-B configuration: two 6.5-inch bass drivers flank two 4-inch midrange drivers, which in turn flank a 25mm C-CAM Gold Dome tweeter at the centre. The symmetrical layout ensures consistent dispersion whether the speaker is mounted in portrait or landscape orientation. The midrange drivers feature underhung voice coils.

Crossover & Level Controls

The three-way crossover network uses low-loss inductors and audiophile-grade polypropylene capacitors. Bass-to-mid transition is set at 500Hz with 12dB/octave slopes, while the mid-to-treble crossover sits at 3kHz with steeper 18dB/octave slopes to protect the Gold Dome tweeter. Rear-panel switches provide boundary compensation and mid/high-frequency level adjustment of ±1dB, allowing the installer to fine-tune the tonal balance for the room acoustics and speaker placement.

Installation

Monitor Audio's patented Tri-Grip fixing system uses ten dog-leg fixings that provide three times the clamping surface area of conventional systems, pulling the speaker firmly into the wall without relying on the plasterboard alone. The trimless magnetic grille sits flush with the wall surface and can be painted to match the surrounding decor. Cut-out dimensions are 880 × 230mm with a mounting depth of just 96mm, and the speaker can be oriented in either portrait or landscape to suit the installation.

Range Context

The CP-IW260X is the smaller of two full-range Controlled Performance in-wall models. Its larger sibling, the CP-IW460X, shares the same B-M-T-M-B driver layout but replaces the Gold Dome tweeter with a high-frequency air motion ribbon tweeter and adds RST (Rigid Surface Technology) to the mid/bass drivers. Both models are designed as in-wall equivalents of conventional floorstanding speakers, intended for dedicated home cinema or high-performance stereo installations where visible cabinets are not desired.