Canton Atelier InWall 11 black

An in-wall speaker that disappears from sight while fully occupying the soundstage: that’s the challenge taken up by Canton’s new Atelier generation. With the InWall 11, the German manufacturer brings to in-wall installation the transducer technologies usually reserved for its traditional hi-fi ranges, notably the ATB aluminum-titanium diaphragms and the Wave surround. The vertical column format, over one meter high, hides a full three-way configuration with dual passive radiator.

A full three-way system in just 85 mm depth

The InWall 11’s chassis houses five drivers in a remarkably slim enclosure. Two 174 mm woofers share the work: one handles the midrange, the other the bass. Both use ATB (Aluminium Titanium Black) diaphragms, a composite combining the rigidity of titanium with the lightness of aluminum, mounted on Canton’s patented triple-fold Wave surround. This surround allows for long excursion, which partly compensates for the constraints imposed by the shallow cabinet depth.

Two passive diaphragms of the same diameter and ATB technology extend the low-frequency response. This technical choice makes it possible to reach a stated low-end limit of 32 Hz, an unusually ambitious figure for an in-wall speaker. The 25 mm black aluminum tweeter, equipped with an acoustic lens, takes over from 3,000 Hz and goes up to 40,000 Hz.

Nominal impedance varies between 4 and 8 ohms depending on frequency. The sensitivity of 89.5 dB (2.83 V/1 m) is in line with the norm for this type of speaker and doesn’t call for over-the-top amplification, although the 140 W continuous and 200 W peak power handling allow for comfortable listening levels in a living room or dedicated theater.

Installation designed for both new builds and renovations

The InWall 11 is installed in plasterboard or drywall using a clamp system. This mounting works with different wall thicknesses and generally does not require a supporting structure in advance. The required wall cutout is about 275 × 1100 mm to accommodate the cabinet, which then protrudes by just a few centimeters.

The oversized magnetic fabric grille (325 × 1150 mm) completely hides the mounts and the junction between the speaker and the wall. According to Canton, the fabric is acoustically neutral. This frameless finish sets the InWall models apart from their OnWall counterparts in the same range, which retain a lacquered frame. Cables run behind the wall, eliminating any visible routing.

The speaker can be oriented vertically or horizontally. Vertical use corresponds to the classic positioning for front or surround speakers. Horizontal orientation, on the other hand, is better suited to a center-channel role under a screen, even though Canton does offer a dedicated variant for this purpose, the InWall 11 C, with a symmetrical driver layout around the tweeter.

Where to place the InWall 11 in an audio system

In stereo, a pair of InWall 11s can serve as the main speakers in a system built into a TV unit or media wall. The virtually zero visual footprint frees up living space without sacrificing sound quality. In a home theater setup, they can be used as left and right front speakers, paired with an InWall 11 C as the center and surround speakers from the same Atelier range.

The 4 to 8 ohm impedance and sensitivity close to 90 dB make the InWall 11 compatible with most hi-fi amplifiers or AV receivers on the market. Canton recommends its Smart Amp 5.1 as the natural partner, but this is by no means mandatory.

The stated frequency response goes down to 32 Hz, which may be sufficient for balanced music listening. For movie soundtracks with strong infrasonic content, adding a subwoofer is still recommended. The two passive diaphragms do not replace a dedicated subwoofer at the very lowest frequencies.

Comparison with the previous Atelier 1100 generation

The InWall 11 succeeds the Atelier 1100, which used plain aluminum diaphragms and an aluminum-manganese tweeter. The new ATB drivers adopt the technology introduced on Canton’s GLE S2 series, with increased rigidity to reduce cone distortion at high levels. The frequency response gains a few hertz in the bass (32 Hz versus 35 Hz stated) and extends further in the treble (40 kHz versus 30 kHz).

The mounting system has also evolved. The Atelier 1100 used metal hooks anchored in the wall. The InWall 11 switches to an integrated clamp system, more universal and quicker to implement. The oversized fabric grille is a new feature: on the previous generation, a lacquered frame surrounded the front panel even in in-wall installations.

Weight is slightly reduced (12 kg versus 13.1 kg for the Atelier 1100), despite comparable external dimensions. Mounting depth remains under 10 cm, allowing the speaker to fit into most standard partition walls.

Technical specifications

Acoustic characteristics

• Acoustic design: 3-way, bass-reflex with passive radiators
• Frequency response: 32 – 40,000 Hz
• Crossover frequency: 3000 Hz
• Impedance: 4 – 8 ohms
• Sensitivity: 89.5 dB
  • Measurement conditions: 2.83 V / 1 m

Power handling

• Nominal power: 140 W
• Music power: 200 W

Drivers

• ATB drivers (Aluminium Titanium Black) with Wave surround:
  • 1 × 174 mm midrange
  • 1 × 174 mm woofer
  • 2 × 174 mm passive radiators
• Tweeter: 1 × 25 mm AB (Aluminium Black)

Dimensions and weight

• Dimensions:
  • Without grille: 275 × 1100 × 85 mm
  • With grille: 325 × 1150 × 91 mm
• Weight: 12 kg

General information

• Type: in-wall loudspeaker (InWall)
• Applications: home cinema, integrated hi-fi installations
• Highlights:
  • Discreet in-wall integration with frameless fabric grille
  • Easy installation thanks to the supplied kit
  • Balanced and immersive sound despite a discreet design