Short answer: the Miller & Kreisel IW150. It ranks #17 of 28 in-wall speakers by sound quality, rated 3.6/5, at $4,998; the MartinLogan Tribute 5XW ranks #23, rated 3.2/5, and costs $6,999.98, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The Miller & Kreisel IW150 is the more accurate choice. An in-wall speaker with three tweeters beside two woofers, designed to spread sound evenly across a room from one opening. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 2.88 against 1.84 for the MartinLogan Tribute 5XW. The catch: Bass is thin: measured -3dB is 95.2Hz and -6dB is 82.0Hz, and Miller & Kreisel rates it only to 80Hz, so a subwoofer is required, and even with a perfect subwoofer the score reaches only 6.32.
The MartinLogan Tribute 5XW is the deeper-bass pick. A slim, efficient in-wall speaker with a folded motion tweeter that rotates for vertical or horizontal mounting. Its bass reaches about 74.7Hz before falling 3dB, against 95.2Hz for the Miller & Kreisel IW150. The tradeoff: The measurement is the weakest of the in-wall speakers here: a preference score of 1.84, or just 4.91 with a perfect subwoofer, with on-axis smoothness of 0.30, an average on-axis deviation of 1.56dB and wide directivity swings (SPDI deviation 3.25dB).
Buy the Miller & Kreisel IW150. It is rated higher for sound quality than the MartinLogan Tribute 5XW and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Miller & Kreisel IW150 | MartinLogan Tribute 5XW | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4,998 per pair | $6,999.98 per pair |
| Ranked | #17 of 28 in In-Wall & In-Ceiling Speakers | #23 of 28 in In-Wall & In-Ceiling Speakers |
| Drivers | 2x 5.25” polypropylene bass/midrange drivers, 3x 1” soft fabric dome tweeters | 1.25 x 2.4” Folded Motion XT Obsidian tweeter, 2x 5.25” carbon fiber woofers, 2x 6.5” passive radiators |
| Enclosure | In-wall | Sealed back box, in-wall |
| Mounting Cutout | 288W x 331H mm | 236W x 757H mm |
| Dimensions | 13.9”H x 12.2”W (354 x 311 mm) baffle (95mm mounting depth) | 31.1”H x 10.6”W x 4.1”D (791 x 269 x 104 mm) (97mm mounting depth) |
| Weight | 18.7 lbs (8.5 kg) | 25.6 lbs (11.6 kg) |
| Sensitivity | 90dB | 94dB (manufacturer), 88.1dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
| Power Handling | 25-400W recommended amplifier power | 20-250W recommended amplifier power |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz-20kHz +/-3dB (manufacturer) | 71Hz-25kHz +/-3dB (manufacturer) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 95.2Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 74.7Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 68.7Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 68.3Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.88 | 1.84 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.32 | 4.91 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 2,250Hz |
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