In this review, we will be comparing W253L and 100 IW LCR5, two Passive In-wall speakers from Revel and Focal. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Revel W253L and Focal 100 IW LCR5 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Revel W253L Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 2 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer
- 55-18kHz Frequency Response
- 91 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:10-130watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 359.0" x 6.4375" x 3.4375"( 359.0 x 164.0 x 88.0mm )
Focal 100 IW LCR5 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Inverted Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 2 x 5.125" Polyglass Woofer
- 55-23kHz Frequency Response
- 90.5 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:25-120watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 415.0" x 5.8130" x 3.2500"( 415.0 x 148.0 x 83.0mm )
What size room are the Revel W253L and Focal 100 IW LCR5 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 W253L |
Focal 100 IW LCR5 |
| 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Revel W253L and Focal 100 IW LCR5 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both W253L and 100 IW LCR5 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Revel W253L |
Focal 100 IW LCR5 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 5.125-inch
|
W253L features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer . On the other hand, the 100 IW LCR5 features a 1" Inverted Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.125" Polyglass Woofer .
Frequency Response
W253L has a frequency range of 55-18kHz whereas 100 IW LCR5 has a frequency range of 55-23kHz.
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
W253L and 100 IW LCR5 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. W253L sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the 100 IW LCR5's is at 90.5 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. 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.
W253L can handle a max power of 130 watts RMS from the amp the whereas 100 IW LCR5 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 10 watts less than the W253L.
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
W253L features Spring post type posts and 100 IW LCR5 has a Spring post 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 W253L's and Focal 100 IW LCR5's external dimensions. 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) whereas Focal 100 IW LCR5 has external dimensions of 415.0 x 148.0 x 83.0mm ( 16.3130-inch x 5.8130-inch x 3.2500-inch) .
Focal 100 IW LCR5 is 16mm narrower and 5mm less deeper than Revel W253L but it is also 56mm taller.
What's in the Box of Revel W253L?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of W253L:
In-wall loudspeakerGrilleScrim clothCutout templateInstruction Manual
What's in the Box of Focal 100 IW LCR5?
Here are the items that come with the 100 IW LCR5:
One in-wall speaker1 metal-mesh grill (white)Cut-out templateUser manual
Max Input Power 
Woofer Size 
Height 
High Frequency Response 
Base Surface Area 
Price per pair*