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 MartinLogan Tribute 5XW ranks #17, rated 3.2/5, at $6,999.98, $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. 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.
Why pick the MartinLogan Tribute 5XW: Erin’s Audio Corner’s Klippel measurement shows a rated 94dB sensitivity that measured a still efficient 88.1dB at 1 meter, so it plays loudly for its size. The catch: 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 Revel W228Be. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $699.92 saving on the MartinLogan Tribute 5XW is not enough to make up the difference.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Revel W228Be | MartinLogan Tribute 5XW | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $7,699.90 per pair | $6,999.98 per pair |
| Ranked | #5 of 18 in In-Wall & In-Ceiling Speakers | #17 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) | 1.25 x 2.4” Folded Motion XT Obsidian tweeter, 2x 5.25” carbon fiber woofers, 2x 6.5” passive radiators |
| Enclosure | In-wall, 27-54L enclosure (optional W228BEBB back box sold separately) | Sealed back box, in-wall |
| Mounting Cutout | 309W x 896H mm | 236W x 757H mm |
| Dimensions | 37”H x 13.9”W x 4.1”D (939 x 353 x 105 mm) (96mm mounting depth) | 31.1”H x 10.6”W x 4.1”D (791 x 269 x 104 mm) (97mm mounting depth) |
| Weight | 31.5 lbs (14.3 kg) | 25.6 lbs (11.6 kg) |
| Sensitivity | 90dB | 94dB (manufacturer), 88.1dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (4 ohm minimum) | 4 ohms |
| Power Handling | 50-400W RMS at 4 ohms | 20-250W recommended amplifier power |
| Frequency Response | 35Hz-40kHz (-6dB, manufacturer) | 71Hz-25kHz +/-3dB (manufacturer) |
| Maximum SPL | 115dB (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Crossover Frequency | 220Hz, 2,500Hz | 2,250Hz |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 43.4Hz (measured, Revel vendor data on spinorama.org) | 74.7Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 26.9Hz (measured, Revel vendor data on spinorama.org) | 68.3Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.79 | 1.84 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.33 | 4.91 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
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- JBL Synthesis SCL-3 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
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
MartinLogan Tribute 5XW: $6,999.98 per pair Audio Advice eBay
Pros: Erin’s Audio Corner’s Klippel measurement shows a rated 94dB sensitivity that measured a still efficient 88.1dB at 1 meter, so it plays loudly for its size. The folded thin-film Folded Motion XT Obsidian tweeter rotates for horizontal or vertical mounting, and it pairs two carbon fiber woofers with two 6.5” passive radiators in a sealed box. It accepts 20-250W of amplifier power and mounts with a slim 3.8” depth behind the wall. Measured bass extension of 74.7Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 94dB.
Cons: 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). Bass measured -3dB at only 74.7Hz, so a subwoofer is required, and MartinLogan rates it to 71Hz. At $3500 each a stereo pair costs twice that and MartinLogan sells it through dealers.
Full MartinLogan Tribute 5XW review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 68.3Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 74.7Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 2,250Hz |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 31.1”H x 10.6”W x 4.1”D (791 x 269 x 104 mm) (97mm mounting depth) |
| Drivers | 1.25 x 2.4” Folded Motion XT Obsidian tweeter, 2x 5.25” carbon fiber woofers, 2x 6.5” passive radiators |
| Enclosure | Sealed back box, in-wall |
| Frequency Response | 71Hz-25kHz +/-3dB (manufacturer) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms |
| Mounting Cutout | 236W x 757H mm |
| Power Handling | 20-250W recommended amplifier power |
| Sensitivity | 94dB (manufacturer), 88.1dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 1.84 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 4.91 |
| Weight | 25.6 lbs (11.6 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons