Short answer: the Revel W226Be. It ranks #5 of 28 in-wall speakers by sound quality, rated 4.2/5, at $4,949.90. The KEF CI250RRM-THX ranks #7, rated 4.1/5, at $4,357.90, $592 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
The Revel W226Be is the more accurate pick. A premium in-wall speaker with twin woofers for deeper bass, a beryllium tweeter, accurate sound and high output. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 5.51 against 4.67 for the KEF CI250RRM-THX. The tradeoff: The measurement comes from Revel, digitized from its published curves, and has no independent second test, so treat the figures as manufacturer supplied.
The case for the KEF CI250RRM-THX: An in-ceiling speaker with very deep bass for its type, voiced for Atmos height or surround channels and great with room correction. The tradeoff: At $2179 each, this is the most expensive speaker in this category.
Buy the Revel W226Be. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $592 with the KEF CI250RRM-THX does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Revel W226Be | KEF CI250RRM-THX | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4,949.90 per pair | $4,357.90 per pair |
| Ranked | #5 of 28 in In-Wall & In-Ceiling Speakers | #7 of 28 in In-Wall & In-Ceiling Speakers |
| Drivers | 2x 6.5” Deep Ceramic Composite (DCC) aluminum cone woofers, 1” beryllium dome tweeter with acoustic lens waveguide (2-way) | 10” LF woofer, 4” Uni-Q midrange, 1” vented aluminum dome tweeter with MAT (3-way coaxial) |
| Enclosure | In-wall, 18-36L enclosure (optional W226BEBB back box sold separately) | Open-backed, in-ceiling |
| Mounting Cutout | 226W x 549H mm | 300mm (11.81 in) |
| Dimensions | 23”H x 10.2”W x 3.8”D (583 x 259 x 96 mm) (88mm mounting depth) | 13.6” x 13.6” x 6.9” (346 x 346 x 175 mm) (168mm mounting depth) |
| Weight | 15.7 lbs (7.1 kg) | 13.2 lbs (6 kg) |
| Sensitivity | 90dB | 89dB |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (4 ohm minimum) | 8 ohms |
| Power Handling | 50-200W RMS at 4 ohms | 50-250W recommended amplifier power |
| Frequency Response | 43Hz-40kHz (-6dB, manufacturer) | 28Hz-20kHz +/-6dB (manufacturer, open-backed) |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Crossover Frequency | 2,000Hz | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 48.1Hz (measured, Revel vendor data on spinorama.org) | 51.3Hz (measured, spinorama.org ASR data) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 36.4Hz (measured, Revel vendor data on spinorama.org) | 23.3Hz (measured, spinorama.org ASR data) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.51 | 4.67 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.60 | 6.68 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Certification | - | THX |
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