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A U D I O R E V I E W
Definitive Technology UIW RLS II
Consumers are the winners as in-wall speaker sound-quality continues to improve.
D
efinitive Technology is an acknowl-
edged leader in the loudspeaker indus-
try,and a brand that is respected among
audio and home-theater enthusiasts
alike.The firm manufactures a variety of
freestanding speakers, lifestyle, all-
weather and in-wall speakers.The UIW (Ultimate In-
Wall) RLS II is the company's flagship in-wall model,
with a suggested retail price of $650 each.
"clean, detailed highs with
exceptional clarity"
Unlike the OEM Systems speakers, the RLS IIs are
built with a back box or enclosure, minimizing the
performance variances caused by walls' structures
— a good feature. The enclosure is very solid, inert
and heavy,but easy to install and is held in place with
ten dogleg clamps.
The Definitive Technology RLS II is a two-way
speaker with two 6 1/2-inch mid-bass drivers, two
6 1/2-inch pressure-driven passive radiators, and a
1-inch aluminum dome tweeter in a D'Appolito line
array of drivers. This proven design features a
vertically symmetrical driver array with the tweeter
centrally positioned between the two mid-bass
drivers and their associated passive radiators, a con-
figuration thought to promote more even off-axis
response compared with asymmetrical driver arrays.
"a deep soundstage and
sweet, detailed high
frequencies"
I noticed immediately two characteristics about
the RLS IIs: a deep soundstage and sweet, detailed
high frequencies. Rebecca Pidgeon's "Spanish
Harlem" was virtually three-dimensional, with a
sound field extending well beyond the outer edges
of the speakers with lots of depth behind the speak-
ers. Pidgeon's naturally sweet voice sounded very
smooth, complemented by the detail in the percus-
sion instruments in the recording.I noticed the same
detail in John William's By Request: The Best
of John Williams and the Boston Pops Orchestra
[Philip Records],a selection of orchestral film sound-
tracks.In "March From Midway, " the clarity of the tri-
angle was easily distinguished in the mix,and the full
impact of the Boston Pops Orchestra came through
beautifully in "1941" from the same disc, as did a
deep and broad soundstage.
"lots of depth behind the
speakers"
Although the printed specifications for the RLS II
indicates that low frequency response extends to 22
|
G a r y A l t u n i a n
"they sound superb"
Hz, the speakers require a subwoofer for full,
balanced sound quality.Without the two Morel subs,
the RLS IIs exhibited rather tubby and punchy mid-
bass, but that was easily corrected with the addition
of the subs.When the crossover points were adjust-
ed correctly, the Definitive Technology in-walls
blended well with the subwoofers and the tubby
nature of the bass disappeared.
The RLS IIs have wide horizontal dispersion,
an important characteristic for in-wall speakers,
since they can't be toed-in towards the listening
position.Off-axis response remained very good even
when listeners were seated well away from the
sweet spot.
"a sound field extending well
beyond the outer edges of
the speakers"
I noticed another characteristic about the RLS IIs:
More than has been the case with other speakers I
have reviewed, the sound quality of the RLS IIs
improved significantly with extended break-in. My
initial impression was that vocals in all recordings
sounded distant through the RLS IIs, a layer or two
behind other aspects of the recordings, but
midrange clarity and vocal presence improved dra-
matically with additional playing time. For example,
Diana Krall's voice in Let's Face the Music and
Dance [Verve Records] at first sounded withdrawn,
but displayed much greater (and much more appro-
priate) presence after several hours of playing —
almost as if Krall had suddenly moved closer to the
microphone. Similarly, the fully broken-in RLS IIs
made Chet Atkins and Mark Knopfler sound down
right live on "There'll Be Some Changes Made"from
the guitar duet's Neck and Neck [Columbia
Records].With increased use, the speakers revealed
much greater midrange presence, openness, and
transparency. It was evident that the two 6 1/2-inch
drivers took additional time to loosen up and the
result was worth the wait.
Summary
The Definitive Technology RLS IIs offer a sweet high
end with lots of detail and good imaging and sound-
staging qualities. They also have broad dispersion
owing to their D'Appolito configuration. When
allowed to breaking for several hours, the speakers
open up and reveal excellent midrange and vocal
characteristics.They do need a subwoofer to reach
the lowest octaves of bass, but once a sub is added,
they sound superb.
The Last Word
• Clean, detailed highs with
exceptional clarity
• Midrange opens up dramatically
after several hours of of use
• Requires a subwoofer for deep bass
• Claimed low-frequency extension
to 22 Hz is a stretch
Specifications
UIW RLS II two-way, five-driver in-wall
loudspeakers
• Driver complement: Two 6 1/2" bass-mid
range drivers, two 6 1/2" pressure-driven
bass radiators, 1" aluminum dome tweeter
• Frequency Response: 22 Hz – 30 kHz
• Sensitivity: 92B (1W/1m)
• Impedance: 8 ohms
• Power handling: 10 – 350 watts
• Dimensions: Mounting flange 8 1/8" x 29 3/4";
cut-out 7" x 28 1/2" x 3 7/8"
(including drywall thickness)
• Weight: 17 lbs.
• Warranty: Five years
• Price: $650 each
Manufacturer Information
Definitive Technology
(410) 363-7148
www.definitivetech.com
11433 Cronridge Dr. • Owings Mills, MD 21117 • (410)363-7148
Visit us at www.definitivetech.com
Excerpted from The Perfect Vision magazine, March/April 2006.
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