M&K Sound's new in-wall speakers for 2026 are the IW500A and the IW500T, sold alongside an IW210S in-wall subwoofer, a C12S custom-installation sub and a VA500 DSP subwoofer amplifier. M&K's homepage dates the launch 04.11.2026 under the line "Five new. One complete cinema." Both speakers fit a 100 mm cabinet depth. No prices have been published.
| Model | What it is | Drivers | Depth | Main job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IW500A | In-wall/in-ceiling speaker | 1.1" silk dome tweeter, 2 × 6.5" carbon fibre woofers | 100 mm | Height, front wide, surround or Dolby Atmos |
| IW500T | Tripole® in-wall speaker | 1.1" tweeter, 6.5" carbon fibre woofer, 4 × 3.5" side drivers | 100 mm | Surround |
| IW210S | Passive in-wall subwoofer | 2 × 10" paper cones | 146 mm | Bass for any M&K in-wall system |
| C12S | Passive custom-install sub | 1 × 12" paper pulp | 250 mm | Behind the screen, in cabinetry or on a stage |
| VA500 DSP | 1U rack amplifier | — | 206 mm rack depth | Powers the IW210S, C12S and other M&K passive subs |
What did M&K Sound launch in November 2026?
M&K Sound launched a complete in-wall cinema family: two speakers, two passive subwoofers and the amplifier that drives them. The company presents them as one system ("Every channel. One family." on its homepage), so an integrator can build every channel of a room from the same range.
The new models sit beside the IW500, M&K's existing flagship in-wall LCR speaker. That model was THX Certified Dominus at its launch in February 2024. The product pages for the IW500A and IW500T do not claim a THX certification of their own, and they do not describe themselves as front left, centre or right speakers. Read them as the surround and height partners to the IW500, not as replacements for it. For how M&K approaches a full immersive layout, see our earlier piece on designing immersive audio with M&K Sound speakers, and our guide to home cinema speakers for how M&K compares with other brands.
As of 11 November 2026, M&K's news page carries no launch article for the five models. The figures below come from each product page.
What is the M&K IW500A for?
The IW500A is an in-wall or in-ceiling speaker that M&K says "can serve as a height, front wide, surround or Dolby Atmos channel" (IW500A page). It pairs one 1.1-inch coated silk dome tweeter with two 6.5-inch coated carbon fibre woofers in a sealed enclosure.
| IW500A spec | Figure |
|---|---|
| Frequency response | 80 Hz–20 kHz (in-room average, ±3 dB) |
| Sensitivity | 91 dB (2.83 V / 1 m) |
| Impedance | 4 ohm nominal (3.4 ohm minimum) |
| Power handling | 100 W rated; 200 W long term |
| Recommended amplifier | 25–250 W |
| Maximum output | 112 dB continuous; 118 dB peak |
| Cut-out | 423 × 338 mm |
| Cabinet depth | 100 mm |
| Weight | 10.0 kg |
Two details matter for planning. First, the 4-ohm load: check that the AV receiver or power amplifier is rated for it across every channel it will drive. Second, the 100 mm depth. That suits a standard stud wall, but the cut-out must miss studs, ducts and wiring, so speaker positions should be fixed at the framing stage, not after drywall. Ask about this when you vet a home theatre installer.
M&K's spec table shows "[TBC]" beside the tweeter angle, so the final angle has not been confirmed.
How is the IW500T Tripole different?
The IW500T is M&K's in-wall surround speaker, built on the company's Tripole® design. It adds four 3.5-inch side drivers to a front-facing 1.1-inch tweeter and 6.5-inch carbon fibre woofer (IW500T page). M&K calls it "the perfect in-wall surround channel".
The side drivers are what make it a Tripole. In the product image they sit in an angled recess in the upper half of the baffle, firing sideways. Sending sound sideways as well as forwards spreads surround effects across the seats, instead of aiming them at one listening position.
| IW500A | IW500T | |
|---|---|---|
| Drivers | Tweeter + 2 × 6.5" woofers | Tweeter + 6.5" woofer + 4 × 3.5" side drivers |
| Crossover | 2.3 kHz, 2nd order | 1.4 kHz, "phase focused", 4th/2nd order |
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 89 dB |
| Recommended amplifier | 25–250 W | 25–400 W |
| Maximum output (peak) | 118 dB | 117 dB |
| Cut-out and depth | 423 × 338 mm, 100 mm | 423 × 338 mm, 100 mm |
| Weight | 10.0 kg | 11.0 kg |
The two models share a cut-out and a cabinet depth. That simplifies the build: one back-box size and one framing detail for the whole surround and height layout.
M&K's tripole surrounds are already part of our project record. A Berkshire living-room media wall we advised on paired an M&K 5.2 in-wall system with tripole surrounds, Lyngdorf RoomPerfect room correction and two Lyngdorf BW-2 boundary subwoofers (Zebra on Instagram, 15 January 2026). A 7.4.4 cinema in Kenilworth, Warwickshire used the earlier IW150T and IW150A with four M&K C-15 subwoofers (Zebra on Instagram, 1 October 2025). The new 500 Series models follow the same "T for surround, A for heights and wides" split.
What do the IW210S, C12S and VA500 DSP do?
The IW210S and C12S are passive subwoofers, and the VA500 DSP is the rack amplifier M&K built to drive them. Neither sub has an amplifier inside, so each one needs a channel of external power.
IW210S. Two 10-inch paper-cone drivers in a sealed in-wall box, 146 mm deep, with a 721 × 352 mm cut-out (IW210S page). M&K quotes 30 Hz–20 kHz in-room and 120 dB peak output. Its crossover runs from 43 to 300 Hz and is set on the VA500.
C12S. A single 12-inch driver in a sealed 580 × 400 × 250 mm cabinet, for "custom installations where space is at a premium": behind an acoustically transparent screen, inside joinery or under a stage (C12S page). M&K quotes 22–200 Hz in-room and the same 120 dB peak as the IW210S.
VA500 DSP. A 1U, 19-inch rack amplifier rated at 500 W RMS into 4 ohms (250 W into 8 ohms), with signal-sensing auto-on and a 12 V trigger (VA500 DSP page). M&K calls it "the dedicated power behind" the IW28S, IW210S, C12S and C15S. The page names a flat EQ setting and an LFE crossover setting but lists no other DSP functions.
| IW210S | C12S | |
|---|---|---|
| Drivers | 2 × 10" | 1 × 12" |
| In-room response | 30 Hz–20 kHz | 22–200 Hz |
| Peak output | 120 dB | 120 dB |
| Depth | 146 mm | 250 mm |
| Weight | 19.8 kg | 21.5 kg |
| Power | VA500 DSP | VA500 DSP |
The bass you hear depends on where the subs sit, more than on which model you choose. The VA500 sets level and crossover, and system-wide room correction comes from the processor upstream. Placement comes first, as our guide to common home cinema mistakes explains: treatment and subwoofer position change a room, and correction finishes the job.
Who should consider the new M&K in-wall range?
The range suits rooms where the speakers must disappear into the walls but the system still has to play at cinema level. Think media walls in living rooms, basement cinemas with framed walls, and new builds where the cavities can be planned. All five products are aimed at custom installation, so they are specified and fitted by an integrator, not bought off the shelf.
It is a weaker fit in two cases:
- ▪Retrofit into finished walls. Each speaker needs a 423 × 338 mm opening and the IW210S needs 721 × 352 mm. Cutting that into plaster or drywall that is already finished means making good and redecorating.
- ▪A room that needs a front stage. The IW500A and IW500T are not marketed as LCR speakers. A full M&K in-wall front stage would pair them with the IW500 or another model, so budget for that as well.
In Ontario, a basement is often the natural home for an in-wall system, since the walls are usually being framed anyway. Our guide to basement home theatres in Ontario covers permits and damp before any speaker is chosen.
What we don't know yet
- ▪Price. None of the five product pages lists a price, and we found no published retail figure.
- ▪Availability in Canada. M&K named Audio Collective Group as its exclusive US distributor in April 2026 (M&K news). We did not find a Canadian distributor or ship date for the new models.
- ▪Certification. The pages state no THX certification for the new models.
- ▪Listening. We have not heard any of the five yet. Everything above comes from M&K's published specifications.
Where Zebra fits
Zebra Home Cinema is an independent advisor: we do not sell equipment and we do not install it. We help clients decide whether a system like this suits the room. When it is time to build, we introduce a vetted, trade-only integrator from our Black Book. The first conversation is free. See what we do, or how an advisor differs from an installer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the M&K IW500A and IW500T THX certified?
The product pages for the IW500A and IW500T do not mention THX certification. M&K's earlier IW500 in-wall LCR speaker was announced as THX Certified Dominus in February 2024. If certification matters to your project, ask the integrator or M&K to confirm it in writing before you specify the new models.
How deep a wall do the new M&K in-wall speakers need?
The IW500A and IW500T both have a 100 mm cabinet depth and a 423 × 338 mm cut-out. The IW210S subwoofer is deeper at 146 mm, with a 721 × 352 mm cut-out. Check stud spacing, insulation, ducts and wiring before you commit to a position. These depths come from M&K's product pages.
Does the IW210S in-wall subwoofer need its own amplifier?
Yes. The IW210S is passive. M&K says it is powered by a dedicated external amplifier, the new VA500 DSP, which is rated at 500 W RMS into 4 ohms. The VA500 also sets the crossover, between 43 and 300 Hz. Plan rack space for a 1U, 19-inch unit.
Can I use the IW500A as a Dolby Atmos height speaker?
Yes. M&K lists the IW500A as an in-wall or in-ceiling speaker that can serve as a height, front wide, surround or Dolby Atmos channel. For ceiling use, check the joist depth and spacing against its 100 mm cabinet depth and 423 × 338 mm cut-out.
How much do the new M&K Sound speakers cost?
M&K has not published prices for the IW500A, IW500T, IW210S, C12S or VA500 DSP. Speakers sold through custom installation are usually quoted by the integrator as part of a full system. Ask for a written, itemised quote that names each model.
Sources
- ▪M&K Sound — homepage launch banner, "Five new. One complete cinema." (04.11.2026; read 11 November 2026)
- ▪M&K Sound — IW500A In-Wall/In-Ceiling (read 11 November 2026)
- ▪M&K Sound — IW500T Tripole® In-Wall Speaker (read 11 November 2026)
- ▪M&K Sound — IW210S In-Wall Subwoofer (read 11 November 2026)
- ▪M&K Sound — C12S Custom Installation Sub (read 11 November 2026)
- ▪M&K Sound — VA500 DSP Subwoofer Amplifier (read 11 November 2026)
- ▪M&K Sound — IW500 launch, THX Certified Dominus (15 February 2024)
- ▪M&K Sound — News (read 11 November 2026)
