Short answer: the JBL Synthesis SCL-4. It ranks #16 of 28 in-wall speakers by sound quality, rated 3.6/5, at $7,259.90; the Grimani Systems Rixos-L ranks #20, rated 3.4/5, and costs $16,400, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
The JBL Synthesis SCL-4 is the more accurate pick. A compact in-wall speaker with a horn tweeter, very even coverage and bi-amp terminals for custom theater installs. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 3.56 against 2.16 for the Grimani Systems Rixos-L. Watch for: Bass is the weakest here, at 83.7Hz for -3dB and about 61.9Hz for -10dB in free air, so it needs a subwoofer.
What the Grimani Systems Rixos-L does well: An active in-wall speaker with its own rack amplifier, very high output and wide, even coverage for a home theater. The catch: Audio Science Review measured a preference score of only 2.16, or 5.53 with a perfect subwoofer, because on-axis response is uneven (0.64 smoothness, 0.55dB average deviation).
Buy the JBL Synthesis SCL-4. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Grimani Systems Rixos-L and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Synthesis SCL-4 | Grimani Systems Rixos-L | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $7,259.90 per pair | $16,400 per pair |
| Ranked | #16 of 28 in In-Wall & In-Ceiling Speakers | #20 of 28 in In-Wall & In-Ceiling Speakers |
| Drivers | 7” aluminum matrix cone woofer, 1” 2409H compression driver on HDI horn (2-way) | 2x 8” mid-bass woofers, 1” compression driver on a Conic Section Array waveguide (2.5-way) |
| Enclosure | In-wall, integrated MDF back box | In-wall or on-wall, active (tri-amplified by the supplied external rack DSP amplifier) |
| Dimensions | 25”H x 16.1”W x 3.7”D (636 x 409 x 93 mm) | 36”H x 13”W x 6”D (914 x 330 x 152 mm) |
| Weight | 27.6 lbs (12.51 kg) | 32 lbs (14.5 kg) |
| Sensitivity | 91dB (2.83V/1m) | 96dB |
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms (tweeter), 4 ohms (woofers) |
| Power Handling | 200W RMS maximum recommended amplifier power | - |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz-33kHz -6dB (manufacturer, on-axis) | 80Hz-20kHz (-6dB, manufacturer) |
| Crossover Frequency | 1.3kHz | 350Hz, 1,000Hz |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 83.7Hz (measured, JBL data on spinorama.org) | 87.9Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 61.9Hz (measured, JBL data on spinorama.org) | 70.3Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.56 | 2.16 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.55 | 5.53 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | - | 600W recommended (supplied 4-channel DSP amplifier) |
| Maximum SPL | - | 113dB continuous, 117dB peak at 1m (manufacturer specified) |
| Warranty | - | 2 years |
| Country | - | United States |
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