In this review, we will be comparing W253L and Stage 280W, two Passive In-wall speakers from Revel and JBL.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Revel W253L and JBL Stage 280W first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Revel W253L | JBL Stage 280W |
|---|
| Brand | Revel
United States · founded 1996 | JBL
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" Horn-Loaded |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.25" Aluminum | 8" Polycellulose |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-18kHz | 42-25kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 10-130 watts | 20-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 2.54kg / 5.6lbs | — |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14.1250" x 6.4375" x 3.4375"
359.0 x 164.0 x 88.0mm | 14.6875" x 9.3750" x 3.8750"
374.0 x 239.0 x 99.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Revel W253L 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 W253L |
JBL Stage 280W |
| 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 W253L and Stage 280W are 2-way speakers.
Revel W253LJBL Stage 280W
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Revel W253L |
JBL Stage 280W |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 8-inch
|
W253L features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer. On the other hand, the Stage 280W features a 1" Horn-Loaded Tweeter and 1 x 8" Polycellulose Woofer.
Frequency Response
W253L has a frequency range of 55-18kHz whereas Stage 280W has a frequency range of 42-25kHz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the Stage 280W 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
W253L and Stage 280W have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. W253L sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the Stage 280W's is at 90 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Revel W253L a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL Stage 280W, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
W253L can handle a max power of 130 watts RMS, whereas Stage 280W has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 10 watts less than the W253L.
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
W253L 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
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 Revel W253L's and JBL Stage 280W'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 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).
JBL Stage 280W is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 75mm wider, 15mm taller and 11mm deeper than Revel W253L.
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.
JBL Stage 280W needs about 64% more floor or shelf area. JBL Stage 280W is 15mm taller.
What's in the Box of Revel W253L?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of W253L:
- In-wall loudspeaker
- Grille
- Scrim cloth
- Cutout template
- Instruction Manual
What's in the Box of JBL Stage 280W?
Here are the items that come with the Stage 280W:
- In-wall loudspeaker
- Grille
- Cut-Out Template
- Quick Start Guide