Short answer: the Revel W228Be. It ranks #5 of 18 in-wall speakers by sound quality, rated 4.2/5, at $7,699.90. The JBL Synthesis SCL-3 ranks #10, rated 3.7/5, at $7,259.90, $440 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
Why pick the Revel W228Be: Revel’s own measurement, published on spinorama.org, gives a preference score of 6.79, or 8.33 with a perfect subwoofer. The tradeoff: Audio Science Review’s independent Klippel measurement was far weaker than Revel’s own (preference score 2.31, or 6.15 with a subwoofer, and -3dB at 108Hz), so real bass depends heavily on the installation and enclosure.
The case for the JBL Synthesis SCL-3: JBL’s own measurements show 0.32dB average on-axis deviation and a 2.28 directivity-index deviation, and the preference score rises from 3.80 to 6.42 with a subwoofer. Watch for: Bass rolls off early, at 72.4Hz for -3dB and about 45.8Hz for -10dB in free air, so it needs a subwoofer.
Buy the Revel W228Be. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $440 with the JBL Synthesis SCL-3 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Revel W228Be | JBL Synthesis SCL-3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $7,699.90 per pair | $7,259.90 per pair |
| Ranked | #5 of 18 in In-Wall & In-Ceiling Speakers | #10 of 18 in In-Wall & In-Ceiling Speakers |
| Drivers | 2x 8” DCC aluminum woofers, 5.25” DCC aluminum midrange, 1” beryllium dome tweeter with acoustic lens waveguide (3-way) | Two 5.25” aluminum matrix cone woofers, 1” 2409H compression driver on HDI horn (2-way) |
| Enclosure | In-wall, 27-54L enclosure (optional W228BEBB back box sold separately) | In-wall/in-ceiling, integrated MDF back box |
| Mounting Cutout | 309W x 896H mm | - |
| Dimensions | 37”H x 13.9”W x 4.1”D (939 x 353 x 105 mm) (96mm mounting depth) | 16.5”H x 16.5”W x 6”D (418 x 418 x 153 mm) |
| Weight | 31.5 lbs (14.3 kg) | 24.3 lbs (11.02 kg) |
| Sensitivity | 90dB | 91dB (2.83V/1m) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (4 ohm minimum) | 6 ohms |
| Power Handling | 50-400W RMS at 4 ohms | 200W RMS maximum recommended amplifier power |
| Frequency Response | 35Hz-40kHz (-6dB, manufacturer) | 65Hz-33kHz -6dB (manufacturer, on-axis) |
| Maximum SPL | 115dB (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Crossover Frequency | 220Hz, 2,500Hz | 1.3kHz |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 43.4Hz (measured, Revel vendor data on spinorama.org) | 72.4Hz (measured, JBL data on spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 26.9Hz (measured, Revel vendor data on spinorama.org) | 45.8Hz (measured, JBL data on spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.79 | 3.80 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.33 | 6.42 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Revel W228Be:
- Revel W226Be vs Revel W228Be
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- Revel W228Be vs JBL Synthesis SCL-4
- Revel W228Be vs MartinLogan Tribute 5XW
- JBL Synthesis SCL-3 vs JBL Synthesis SCL-4
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The Two Speakers In Full
Revel W228Be: $7,699.90 per pair Crutchfield eBay
Pros: Revel’s own measurement, published on spinorama.org, gives a preference score of 6.79, or 8.33 with a perfect subwoofer. Bass measures to 43.4Hz at -3dB and 34.3Hz at -6dB, exceptional for an in-wall, and predicted in-room response is very smooth (0.91 smoothness) with tightly controlled directivity (SPDI deviation 1.89dB). Its three-way design uses dual 8” aluminum woofers, a 5.25” midrange and a 1” beryllium tweeter, rated for 115dB output, and the midrange and tweeter module rotates for vertical or horizontal mounting. Measured bass extension of 43.4Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Audio Science Review’s independent Klippel measurement was far weaker than Revel’s own (preference score 2.31, or 6.15 with a subwoofer, and -3dB at 108Hz), so real bass depends heavily on the installation and enclosure. The Revel figures are manufacturer supplied and digitized. At $3850 each a stereo pair costs twice that, and the speaker is about 939mm tall and 14.3kg with a 27 to 54 liter enclosure requirement, with the back box sold separately.
Full Revel W228Be review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 26.9Hz (measured, Revel vendor data on spinorama.org) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 43.4Hz (measured, Revel vendor data on spinorama.org) |
| Crossover Frequency | 220Hz, 2,500Hz |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 37”H x 13.9”W x 4.1”D (939 x 353 x 105 mm) (96mm mounting depth) |
| Drivers | 2x 8” DCC aluminum woofers, 5.25” DCC aluminum midrange, 1” beryllium dome tweeter with acoustic lens waveguide (3-way) |
| Enclosure | In-wall, 27-54L enclosure (optional W228BEBB back box sold separately) |
| Frequency Response | 35Hz-40kHz (-6dB, manufacturer) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (4 ohm minimum) |
| Maximum SPL | 115dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Mounting Cutout | 309W x 896H mm |
| Power Handling | 50-400W RMS at 4 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 90dB |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.79 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.33 |
| Weight | 31.5 lbs (14.3 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
JBL Synthesis SCL-3: $7,259.90 per pair Audio Advice eBay
Pros: JBL’s own measurements show 0.32dB average on-axis deviation and a 2.28 directivity-index deviation, and the preference score rises from 3.80 to 6.42 with a subwoofer. Two 5.25-inch aluminum woofers and a 2409H compression driver on JBL’s imaging horn give 91dB sensitivity, and the square baffle works in walls or ceilings. Bi-wire and bi-amp terminals and a paintable magnetic grille suit custom home theaters. Measured bass extension of 72.4Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Bass rolls off early, at 72.4Hz for -3dB and about 45.8Hz for -10dB in free air, so it needs a subwoofer. Listening-window smoothness is only 0.43 inside a 3.1dB reference band, rougher than the other JBL Synthesis in-walls. The data is manufacturer supplied and digitized from graphs. At $3630 each it costs twice as much as the better-measuring SCL-6.
Full JBL Synthesis SCL-3 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 45.8Hz (measured, JBL data on spinorama.org) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 72.4Hz (measured, JBL data on spinorama.org) |
| Crossover Frequency | 1.3kHz |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 16.5”H x 16.5”W x 6”D (418 x 418 x 153 mm) |
| Drivers | Two 5.25” aluminum matrix cone woofers, 1” 2409H compression driver on HDI horn (2-way) |
| Enclosure | In-wall/in-ceiling, integrated MDF back box |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz-33kHz -6dB (manufacturer, on-axis) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms |
| Power Handling | 200W RMS maximum recommended amplifier power |
| Sensitivity | 91dB (2.83V/1m) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.80 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.42 |
| Weight | 24.3 lbs (11.02 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons