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 KEF CI250RRM-THX ranks #6, rated 4.1/5, at $5,999.98, $1,699.92 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
What the Revel W228Be does well: Revel’s own measurement, published on spinorama.org, gives a preference score of 6.79, or 8.33 with a perfect subwoofer. Watch for: 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.
What the KEF CI250RRM-THX does well: 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 W228Be. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $1,699.92 you would save on the KEF CI250RRM-THX does not close the gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Revel W228Be | KEF CI250RRM-THX | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $7,699.90 per pair | $5,999.98 per pair |
| Ranked | #5 of 18 in In-Wall & In-Ceiling Speakers | #6 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) | 10” LF woofer, 4” Uni-Q midrange, 1” vented aluminum dome tweeter with MAT (3-way coaxial) |
| Enclosure | In-wall, 27-54L enclosure (optional W228BEBB back box sold separately) | Open-backed, in-ceiling |
| Mounting Cutout | 309W x 896H mm | 300mm (11.81 in) |
| Dimensions | 37”H x 13.9”W x 4.1”D (939 x 353 x 105 mm) (96mm mounting depth) | 13.6” x 13.6” x 6.9” (346 x 346 x 175 mm) (168mm mounting depth) |
| Weight | 31.5 lbs (14.3 kg) | 13.2 lbs (6 kg) |
| Sensitivity | 90dB | 89dB |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (4 ohm minimum) | 8 ohms |
| Power Handling | 50-400W RMS at 4 ohms | 50-250W recommended amplifier power |
| Frequency Response | 35Hz-40kHz (-6dB, manufacturer) | 28Hz-20kHz +/-6dB (manufacturer, open-backed) |
| Maximum SPL | 115dB (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Crossover Frequency | 220Hz, 2,500Hz | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 43.4Hz (measured, Revel vendor data on spinorama.org) | 51.3Hz (measured, spinorama.org ASR data) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 26.9Hz (measured, Revel vendor data on spinorama.org) | 23.3Hz (measured, spinorama.org ASR data) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.79 | 4.67 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.33 | 6.68 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Certification | - | THX |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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- Revel W226Be vs Revel W228Be
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- Revel W228Be vs JBL Synthesis SCL-4
- Revel W228Be vs MartinLogan Tribute 5XW
- KEF CI250RRM-THX vs MartinLogan Tribute 5XW
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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
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- 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