In this review, we will be comparing 255c-LS and W253L, two Passive In-wall speakers from Polk Audio and Revel.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk Audio 255c-LS and Revel W253L first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Polk Audio 255c-LS | Revel W253L |
|---|
| Brand | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 | Revel
United States · founded 1996 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.0" Ring radiator | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.25" Aerated polypropylene | 2 x 5.25" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 44-29kHz | 55-18kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 91 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 10-150 watts | 10-130 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 3.12kg / 6.9lbs | 2.54kg / 5.6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 7.6250" x 13.1250" x 7-3/8"
194.0 x 334.0 x 187.5mm | 14.1250" x 6.4375" x 3.4375"
359.0 x 164.0 x 88.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Polk Audio 255c-LS and Revel W253L speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
Polk Audio 255c-LS |
Revel W253L |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both 255c-LS and W253L are 2-way speakers.
Polk Audio 255c-LSRevel W253L
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Polk Audio 255c-LS |
Revel W253L |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.0-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
255c-LS features a 1.0" Ring radiator Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Aerated polypropylene Woofer. On the other hand, the W253L features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer.
Frequency Response
255c-LS has a frequency range of 44-29kHz whereas W253L has a frequency range of 55-18kHz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the 255c-LS can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the W253L's min frequency of 55Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the In-wall class in our database.
Low Frequency
In-wall Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
255c-LS and W253L have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 91 dB.
Sensitivity
In-wall Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
255c-LS can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas W253L has a max power handling value of 130 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the 255c-LS.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
255c-LS features Spring clip type posts and W253L has a Spring clip type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Polk Audio 255c-LS's and Revel W253L's external dimensions. Polk Audio 255c-LS has external dimensions of 194.0 x 334.0 x 187.5mm (7.6250-inch x 13.1250-inch x 0.0000-inch) whereas Revel W253L has external dimensions of 359.0 x 164.0 x 88.0mm (14.1250-inch x 6.4375-inch x 3.4375-inch).
Revel W253L is 170mm narrower and 99.5mm less deeper than Polk Audio 255c-LS but it is also 165mm taller.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Polk Audio 255c-LS needs about 334% more floor or shelf area. Polk Audio 255c-LS is 100mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Revel W253L is 165mm taller.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Polk Audio 255c-LS weighs 3.12kg / 6.9lbs and the Revel W253L weighs 2.54kg / 5.6lbs. This makes the 255c-LS 23% heavier than the W253L.
Here is a comparison of how 255c-LS and W253L's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive In-wall class.
Weight
All In-wall Speakers
What's in the Box of Polk Audio 255c-LS?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 255c-LS:
- In-wall loudspeaker
- White metal grille
- Mounting template
- Owners Manual
What's in the Box of Revel W253L?
Here are the items that come with the W253L:
- In-wall loudspeaker
- Grille
- Scrim cloth
- Cutout template
- Instruction Manual
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
130 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
44 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
29k Hz
vs
18k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
194mm
vs
359mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
598USD
vs
660USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Base Surface Area |
144cm2
vs
626cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Polk Audio 255c-LS |
Revel W253L |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
Revel |
| Speaker Type |
Passive In-wall Speaker |
Passive In-wall Speaker |
| Power Range |
10-150 watts |
10-130 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
91 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
44-29kHz |
55-18kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aerated polypropylene |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.0" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Ring radiator |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
194.0mm (7.6") |
359.0mm (14.1") |
| Width |
334.0mm (13.1") |
164.0mm (6.5") |
| Depth |
187.5mm (7.4") |
88.0mm (3.5") |
| Weight |
3.12kg (6.9lbs) |
2.54kg (5.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
In-wall |
In-wall |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
Lifetime |
Lifetime |
| Labor Warranty |
Lifetime |
Lifetime |
A generation apart: Revel W253L is the newer design, against a 2010 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Polk Audio 255c-LS digs deeper - 44Hz against 55Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (91dB vs 91dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (150W vs 130W). |
| Size | depends | Revel W253L is easier to place; Polk Audio 255c-LS is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Revel W253L sits in a wider range (12 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($598 vs $660 a pair). |
A Polk Audio 255c-LS B Revel W253L
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Polk Audio 255c-LS has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 55Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Polk Audio 255c-LS has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Revel W253L is the easier speaker to get right.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.