In this review, we will be comparing W253L and R-5650-S II, two Passive In-wall speakers from Revel and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Revel W253L and Klipsch R-5650-S II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Revel W253L | Klipsch R-5650-S II |
|---|
| Brand | Revel
United States · founded 1996 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" Horn-loaded dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.25" Aluminum | 6.5" Cerametallic |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-18kHz | 60-23kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 92 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 10-130 watts | up to 50 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 2.54kg / 5.6lbs | 3.27kg / 7.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14.1250" x 6.4375" x 3.4375"
359.0 x 164.0 x 88.0mm | 13.0000" x 8.0000" x 3.6875"
331.0 x 204.0 x 94.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Revel W253L and Klipsch R-5650-S II 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 |
Klipsch R-5650-S II |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Good |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
No way |
(* 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 R-5650-S II are 2-way speakers.
Revel W253LKlipsch R-5650-S II
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 |
Klipsch R-5650-S II |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
W253L features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer. On the other hand, the R-5650-S II features a 1" Horn-loaded dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Cerametallic Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3400 Hz.
Frequency Response
W253L has a frequency range of 55-18kHz whereas R-5650-S II has a frequency range of 60-23kHz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the W253L can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R-5650-S II's min frequency of 60Hz.
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 R-5650-S II have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. W253L sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the R-5650-S II's is at 92 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Klipsch R-5650-S II a more sensitive speaker compared to Revel W253L, 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 R-5650-S II has a max power handling value of 50 watts RMS, 80 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 Posts type posts and R-5650-S II has a Spring Posts 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 Klipsch R-5650-S II'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 Klipsch R-5650-S II has external dimensions of 331.0 x 204.0 x 94.0mm (13.0000-inch x 8.0000-inch x 3.6875-inch).
Revel W253L is 40mm narrower and 6mm less deeper than Klipsch R-5650-S II but it is also 28mm 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.
Klipsch R-5650-S II needs about 33% more floor or shelf area. Revel W253L is 28mm 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 Revel W253L weighs 2.54kg / 5.6lbs and the Klipsch R-5650-S II weighs 3.27kg / 7.2lbs. This makes the R-5650-S II 29% heavier than the W253L.
Here is a comparison of how W253L and R-5650-S II'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 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 Klipsch R-5650-S II?
Here are the items that come with the R-5650-S II:
- In-wall speaker
- White metal mesh grille
- Cardboard template
- Owners Manual (En/Fr/Sp)
 Max Input Power |
130 watts
vs
50 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
55 Hz
vs
60 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
144cm2
vs
191cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
91 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
23k Hz
vs
18k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
331mm
vs
359mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
458USD
vs
660USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Revel W253L |
Klipsch R-5650-S II |
| Brand |
Revel |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Passive In-wall Speaker |
Passive In-wall Speaker |
| Power Range |
10-130 watts |
up to 50 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
92 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55-18kHz |
60-23kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Cerametallic |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Horn-loaded dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
3400 Hz |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
359.0mm (14.1") |
331.0mm (13") |
| Width |
164.0mm (6.5") |
204.0mm (8") |
| Depth |
88.0mm (3.5") |
94.0mm (3.7") |
| Weight |
2.54kg (5.6lbs) |
3.27kg (7.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
In-wall |
In-wall |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
Lifetime |
Ltd. Lifetime |
| Labor Warranty |
Lifetime |
Ltd. Lifetime |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Revel W253L digs deeper - 55Hz against 60Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (91dB vs 92dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | A | Revel W253L takes more power (130W vs 50W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| 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 | B | Klipsch R-5650-S II is cheaper - $458 against $660, about 31% less. |
A Revel W253L B Klipsch R-5650-S II
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?
The usual trade-off: Revel W253L measures better, Klipsch R-5650-S II costs about about 44% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 60Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Klipsch R-5650-S II much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Revel W253L the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and Klipsch R-5650-S II for near-field listening and a small room.
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.