In this review, we will be comparing B28W and Stage 280W, two Passive In-wall speakers from Revel and JBL. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Revel B28W and JBL Stage 280W first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Revel B28W Key Specs
- 1-way Design
- " Tweeter
- 2 x 8" Polymer-coated aluminum Woofer
- 36-150Hz Frequency Response
- 0 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:350watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 597.0" x 14.5000" x 4.0000"( 597.0 x 369.0 x 102.0mm )
JBL Stage 280W Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Horn-Loaded Tweeter
- 8" Polycellulose Woofer
- 42-25kHz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-120watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 374.0" x 9.3750" x 3.8750"( 374.0 x 239.0 x 99.0mm )
What size room are the Revel B28W and JBL Stage 280W 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* |
Revel B28W |
JBL Stage 280W |
| Near-field |
Are you nuts? |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Bad |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Poor |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Good |
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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Revel B28W and JBL Stage 280W compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that B28W is a 1-way design whereas the Stage 280W is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
Revel B28W |
JBL Stage 280W |
|
Driver Setup
|
1-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
1 x 8-inch
|
B28W features a " Tweeter and 2 x 8" Polymer-coated aluminum Woofer . On the other hand, the Stage 280W features a 1" Horn-Loaded Tweeter and 1 x 8" Polycellulose Woofer .
Frequency Response
B28W has a frequency range of 36-150Hz whereas Stage 280W has a frequency range of 42-25kHz. With a minimum frequency of 36Hz, the B28W can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Stage 280W's min frequency of 42Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the In-wall class in our database.
Low Frequency
In-wall Speakers
High Frequency
In-wall Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
B28W and Stage 280W have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. B28W sensitivity is rated at 0 dB and the Stage 280W's is at 90 dB. This 90 dB difference makes the JBL Stage 280W a more sensitive speaker compared to Revel B28W, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
In-wall Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
B28W can handle a max power of 350 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Stage 280W has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 230 watts less than the B28W.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
B28W features Spring clip type posts and Stage 280W has a Spring clip type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Revel B28W's and JBL Stage 280W's external dimensions. Revel B28W has external dimensions of 597.0 x 369.0 x 102.0mm ( 23.5000-inch x 14.5000-inch x 4.0000-inch) whereas JBL Stage 280W has external dimensions of 374.0 x 239.0 x 99.0mm ( 14.6875-inch x 9.3750-inch x 3.8750-inch) .
Revel B28W is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 130mm wider, 223mm taller and 3mm deeper than JBL Stage 280W.
What's in the Box of Revel B28W?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of B28W:
In-wall subwooferGrille8 Screws8 Washers8 IsolatorsOwners Manual
What's in the Box of JBL Stage 280W?
Here are the items that come with the Stage 280W:
In-wall loudspeakerGrilleCut-Out TemplateQuick Start Guide
Max Input Power 
Number of Woofers 
High Frequency Response 
Driver Setup 
Height 
Base Surface Area 
Price per pair*