Short answer: the Revel W226Be. It ranks #4 of 18 in-wall speakers by sound quality, rated 4.2/5, at $4,949.90; the KEF CI250RRM-THX ranks #6, rated 4.1/5, and costs $5,999.98, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Revel W226Be does well: Revel’s own measurement, published on spinorama.org, gives a preference score of 5.51, or 7.60 with a perfect subwoofer. The catch: 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: Independently measured by Audio Science Review to a genuine 51.3Hz at -3dB and roughly 23.3Hz at -10dB, the deepest bass extension of any in-wall or in-ceiling speaker in this category. The tradeoff: At $3000 each, this is the most expensive speaker in this category.
Buy the Revel W226Be. It is rated higher for sound quality than the KEF CI250RRM-THX and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Revel W226Be | KEF CI250RRM-THX | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4,949.90 per pair | $5,999.98 per pair |
| Ranked | #4 of 18 in In-Wall & In-Ceiling Speakers | #6 of 18 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 |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Revel W226Be compares with other leading options:
- Revel W126Be vs Revel W226Be
- Revel W226Be vs Revel W228Be
- Revel W226Be vs Miller & Kreisel IW150
- KEF Ci3160RLM-THX vs KEF CI250RRM-THX
- KEF CI250RRM-THX vs KEF CI50R
Prices on this page were last checked September 26, 2026 at 11:14 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Revel W226Be: $4,949.90 per pair Crutchfield eBay
Pros: Revel’s own measurement, published on spinorama.org, gives a preference score of 5.51, or 7.60 with a perfect subwoofer. Bass measures to 48.1Hz at -3dB and 43.7Hz at -6dB, deeper than the single-woofer W126Be, and directivity is well controlled (SPDI deviation 1.95dB). Dual 6.5” aluminum cone woofers and a 1” beryllium dome tweeter behind an acoustic lens waveguide give 90dB sensitivity and a rated 110dB maximum output, and it accepts 50-200W of amplifier power. Measured bass extension of 48.1Hz (-3dB).
Cons: The measurement comes from Revel, digitized from its published curves, and has no independent second test, so treat the figures as manufacturer supplied. At $2475 each a stereo pair costs twice that, and the back box is not included and is sold separately. Predicted in-room smoothness (0.81) and on-axis deviation (0.33dB) are good but not ahead of the cheaper W126Be, so the extra cost buys bass and output rather than a cleaner midrange.
Full Revel W226Be review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 36.4Hz (measured, Revel vendor data on spinorama.org) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 48.1Hz (measured, Revel vendor data on spinorama.org) |
| Crossover Frequency | 2,000Hz |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 23”H x 10.2”W x 3.8”D (583 x 259 x 96 mm) (88mm mounting depth) |
| Drivers | 2x 6.5” Deep Ceramic Composite (DCC) aluminum cone woofers, 1” beryllium dome tweeter with acoustic lens waveguide (2-way) |
| Enclosure | In-wall, 18-36L enclosure (optional W226BEBB back box sold separately) |
| Frequency Response | 43Hz-40kHz (-6dB, manufacturer) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (4 ohm minimum) |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Mounting Cutout | 226W x 549H mm |
| Power Handling | 50-200W RMS at 4 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 90dB |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.51 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.60 |
| Weight | 15.7 lbs (7.1 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
KEF CI250RRM-THX: $5,999.98 per pair Abt Electronics eBay
Pros: Independently measured by Audio Science Review to a genuine 51.3Hz at -3dB and roughly 23.3Hz at -10dB, the deepest bass extension of any in-wall or in-ceiling speaker in this category. It’s a THX-certified 3-way coaxial design, a 10” woofer built around a 4” Uni-Q midrange and 1” aluminum dome tweeter, deliberately voiced for the 30-60 degree off-axis angle typical of a ceiling-mounted Dolby Atmos height or surround channel rather than a straight-down listening position. Run through a receiver’s automated room correction, spinorama’s EQ-adjusted figures show its preference score climbing from 4.67 to 5.68, so it responds well to correction. Measured bass extension of 51.3Hz (-3dB).
Cons: At $3000 each, this is the most expensive speaker in this category. Its raw on-axis measurement trails the Ci3160RLM-THX (preference score 4.67 vs. 4.62) since the driver array is tuned for off-axis dispersion rather than a flat straight-ahead response, and its on-axis deviation averages 1.14dB, one of the roughest of the batch measured on-axis.
Full KEF CI250RRM-THX review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 23.3Hz (measured, spinorama.org ASR data) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 51.3Hz (measured, spinorama.org ASR data) |
| Certification | THX |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 13.6” x 13.6” x 6.9” (346 x 346 x 175 mm) (168mm mounting depth) |
| Drivers | 10” LF woofer, 4” Uni-Q midrange, 1” vented aluminum dome tweeter with MAT (3-way coaxial) |
| Enclosure | Open-backed, in-ceiling |
| Frequency Response | 28Hz-20kHz +/-6dB (manufacturer, open-backed) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms |
| Mounting Cutout | 300mm (11.81 in) |
| Power Handling | 50-250W recommended amplifier power |
| Sensitivity | 89dB |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.67 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.68 |
| Weight | 13.2 lbs (6 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons