Short answer: the Revel W990. It ranks #19 of 28 in-wall speakers by sound quality, rated 3.5/5, at $4,239.90; the Grimani Systems Rixos-L ranks #20, rated 3.4/5, and costs $16,400, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The Revel W990 is the more accurate, deeper-bass choice. A three way in-wall speaker with very deep bass for its type and room tuning controls for flexible placement. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 3.60 against 2.16 for the Grimani Systems Rixos-L. Its bass reaches about 32.2Hz before falling 3dB, against 87.9Hz for the Grimani Systems Rixos-L. Watch for: Its measured preference score is only 3.6, or 5.09 with a perfect subwoofer, because the midrange is uneven: on-axis deviation is high (0.86 normalized deviation on axis, 0.69 in the listening window) and on-axis smoothness is just 0.34.
The case for the Grimani Systems Rixos-L: An active in-wall speaker with its own rack amplifier, very high output and wide, even coverage for a home theater. The tradeoff: Audio Science Review measured a preference score of only 2.16, or 5.53 with a perfect subwoofer, because on-axis response is uneven (0.64 smoothness, 0.55dB average deviation).
Buy the Revel W990. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Grimani Systems Rixos-L and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Revel W990 | Grimani Systems Rixos-L | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4,239.90 per pair | $16,400 per pair |
| Ranked | #19 of 28 in In-Wall & In-Ceiling Speakers | #20 of 28 in In-Wall & In-Ceiling Speakers |
| Drivers | 9” micro-ceramic composite (MCC) woofer, 3.5” midrange, 1” aluminum dome tweeter with waveguide (3-way) | 2x 8” mid-bass woofers, 1” compression driver on a Conic Section Array waveguide (2.5-way) |
| Enclosure | In-wall, passive | In-wall or on-wall, active (tri-amplified by the supplied external rack DSP amplifier) |
| Mounting Cutout | 318W x 486H mm | - |
| Dimensions | 20.7”H x 13.9”W x 4.1”D (527 x 352 x 103 mm) (95mm mounting depth) | 36”H x 13”W x 6”D (914 x 330 x 152 mm) |
| Weight | 17 lbs (7.7 kg) | 32 lbs (14.5 kg) |
| Sensitivity | 85.9dB (measured, Audio Science Review) | 96dB |
| Power Handling | 10-200W RMS recommended amplifier power | - |
| Warranty | 5 years | 2 years |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 32.2Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 87.9Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 22.4Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 70.3Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.60 | 2.16 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.09 | 5.53 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | - | 600W recommended (supplied 4-channel DSP amplifier) |
| Frequency Response | - | 80Hz-20kHz (-6dB, manufacturer) |
| Impedance | - | 8 ohms (tweeter), 4 ohms (woofers) |
| Maximum SPL | - | 113dB continuous, 117dB peak at 1m (manufacturer specified) |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 350Hz, 1,000Hz |
| Country | - | United States |
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