In this review, we will be comparing W253L and 265-LS, two Passive In-wall speakers from Revel and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Revel W253L and Polk Audio 265-LS first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Revel W253L | Polk Audio 265-LS |
|---|
| Brand | Revel
United States · founded 1996 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" Ring Radiator |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 6.5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.25" Aluminum | 6.5" Aerated polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-18kHz | 28-33kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 91 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 10-130 watts | 10-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 2.54kg / 5.6lbs | 4.09kg / 9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14.1250" x 6.4375" x 3.4375"
359.0 x 164.0 x 88.0mm | 19.1875" x 7.2500" x 3-3/4"
488.0 x 185.0 x 95.3mm |
|---|
What size room are the Revel W253L and Polk Audio 265-LS 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 |
Polk Audio 265-LS |
| 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that W253L is a 2-way design whereas the 265-LS is a 3-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.
Revel W253LPolk Audio 265-LS
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
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 |
Polk Audio 265-LS |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 6.5-inch |
|
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 265-LS features a 1" Ring Radiator Tweeter, a 6.5" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" Aerated polypropylene Woofer.
Frequency Response
W253L has a frequency range of 55-18kHz whereas 265-LS has a frequency range of 28-33kHz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the 265-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
W253L and 265-LS 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.
265-LS can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas W253L has a max power handling value of 130 watts RMS, 70 watts less than the 265-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
W253L features Spring post type posts and 265-LS has a Spring post 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 Polk Audio 265-LS'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 Polk Audio 265-LS has external dimensions of 488.0 x 185.0 x 95.3mm (19.1875-inch x 7.2500-inch x 0.0000-inch).
Polk Audio 265-LS is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 21mm wider, 129mm taller and 7.3mm 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.
Polk Audio 265-LS needs about 22% more floor or shelf area. Polk Audio 265-LS is 129mm 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 Polk Audio 265-LS weighs 4.09kg / 9lbs. This makes the 265-LS 61% heavier than the W253L.
Here is a comparison of how W253L and 265-LS'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 Polk Audio 265-LS?
Here are the items that come with the 265-LS:
- In-wall loudspeaker
- White metal grille
- Power Port plug
- Mounting template
- Owners Manual
 Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
 Height |
359mm
vs
488mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
144cm2
vs
176cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
660USD
vs
758USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
130 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
|
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
28 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
33k Hz
vs
18k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| General |
Revel W253L |
Polk Audio 265-LS |
| Brand |
Revel |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Passive In-wall Speaker |
Passive In-wall Speaker |
| Power Range |
10-130 watts |
10-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
91 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55-18kHz |
28-33kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Aerated polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Ring Radiator |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
6.5" |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
359.0mm (14.1") |
488.0mm (19.2") |
| Width |
164.0mm (6.5") |
185.0mm (7.3") |
| Depth |
88.0mm (3.5") |
95.3mm (3.8") |
| Weight |
2.54kg (5.6lbs) |
4.09kg (9lbs) |
| 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 | B | Polk Audio 265-LS digs deeper - 28Hz against 55Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (91dB vs 91dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | B | Polk Audio 265-LS takes more power (200W vs 130W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Revel W253L is easier to place; Polk Audio 265-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 | A | Revel W253L is cheaper - $660 against $758, about 13% less. |
A Revel W253L B Polk Audio 265-LS
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: Polk Audio 265-LS measures better, Revel W253L costs about about 15% 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 55Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Revel W253L much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Polk Audio 265-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.