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 MartinLogan Tribute 5XW ranks #23, rated 3.2/5, and costs $6,999.98, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The Revel W990 is the more accurate, deeper-bass option. 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 1.84 for the MartinLogan Tribute 5XW. Its bass reaches about 32.2Hz before falling 3dB, against 74.7Hz for the MartinLogan Tribute 5XW. The tradeoff: 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.
What the MartinLogan Tribute 5XW does well: A slim, efficient in-wall speaker with a folded motion tweeter that rotates for vertical or horizontal mounting. 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 W990. It is rated higher for sound quality than the MartinLogan Tribute 5XW 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 | MartinLogan Tribute 5XW | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4,239.90 per pair | $6,999.98 per pair |
| Ranked | #19 of 28 in In-Wall & In-Ceiling Speakers | #23 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) | 1.25 x 2.4” Folded Motion XT Obsidian tweeter, 2x 5.25” carbon fiber woofers, 2x 6.5” passive radiators |
| Enclosure | In-wall, passive | Sealed back box, in-wall |
| Mounting Cutout | 318W x 486H mm | 236W x 757H mm |
| Dimensions | 20.7”H x 13.9”W x 4.1”D (527 x 352 x 103 mm) (95mm mounting depth) | 31.1”H x 10.6”W x 4.1”D (791 x 269 x 104 mm) (97mm mounting depth) |
| Weight | 17 lbs (7.7 kg) | 25.6 lbs (11.6 kg) |
| Sensitivity | 85.9dB (measured, Audio Science Review) | 94dB (manufacturer), 88.1dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Power Handling | 10-200W RMS recommended amplifier power | 20-250W recommended amplifier power |
| Warranty | 5 years | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 32.2Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 74.7Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 22.4Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 68.3Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.60 | 1.84 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.09 | 4.91 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Impedance | - | 4 ohms |
| Frequency Response | - | 71Hz-25kHz +/-3dB (manufacturer) |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 2,250Hz |
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