Revel W383 vs Revel W253L Comparison

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Revel W383

Passive In-wall |

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Revel W253L

Passive In-wall | 55-18kHz

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Revel W383

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Revel W253L

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Revel W383

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Revel W253L

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Revel W383 vs Revel W253L Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing W383 and W253L, two Passive In-wall speakers by Revel.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Revel W383 and Revel W253L first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Key Specs	Revel W383	Revel W253L
Brand	Revel United States · founded 1996	Revel United States · founded 1996
Design	2-way	2-way
Tweeter	1"	1" Hard-Dome
Woofer	8"	2 x 5.25" Aluminum
Frequency response	—	55-18kHz
Sensitivity	89 dB	91 dB
Impedance	8 ohms	8 ohms
Power range	10 - 125 W watts	10-130 watts
Weight	2.22kg / 4.9lbs	2.54kg / 5.6lbs
Dimensions (H x W x D)	12-15/16" x 9-15/16" x 3-11/16" 328.6 x 252.4 x 94.0mm	14.1250" x 6.4375" x 3.4375" 359.0 x 164.0 x 88.0mm

W383 and W253L are members of Revel's Architectural series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.

Revel Architectural Series History

Model	Body	Frequency	Sensitivity	Impedance	Woofer
Revel W253L	In-wall	55-18kHz	91 dB	8Ω	2 x 5.25"
Revel W553L	Center Channel		90.5 dB	8Ω	2 x 5.25"
Revel W383	In-wall		89 dB	8Ω	1 x 8"
Revel W763	In-wall		89 dB	8Ω	1 x 6.5"
Revel W783	In-wall		89 dB	8Ω	1 x 8"
Revel W990	In-wall		89 dB	8Ω	1 x 9"
Revel W228Be	In-wall	35-40k Hz	90 dB	6Ω	2 x 8"
Revel W126Be	In-wall	55-40k Hz	89 dB	6Ω	1 x 6.5"
Revel W226Be	In-wall	45-40k Hz	90 dB	6Ω	2 x 6.5"
Revel W263	In-wall		88 dB	8Ω	1 x 6.5"

The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.

Drivers

Both W383 and W253L are 2-way speakers.

Revel W383

Revel W253L

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 W383	Revel W253L
Driver Setup	2-way	2-way
Tweeter	1-inch	1-inch
Midrange	-	-
Woofer	1 x 8-inch	2 x 5.25-inch

W383 features a 1" Tweeter and 1 x 8" Woofer. On the other hand, the W253L features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer.

Frequency Response

W383 has a frequency range of whereas W253L has a frequency range of 55-18kHz. With a minimum frequency of Hz, the W383 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

W383

W253L

Min

Average

Median

Impedance and Sensitivity

W383 and W253L have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. W383 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the W253L's is at 91 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Revel W253L a more sensitive speaker compared to Revel W383, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

In-wall Speakers

W383

W253L

Min

Average

Median

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 W383 has a max power handling value of 125 watts RMS, 5 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.

Amplifier - change this

Distance

Playing as

Revel W383

Revel W253L

Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring

W383 features Spring clip type posts and W253L 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 W383's and Revel W253L's external dimensions. Revel W383 has external dimensions of 328.6 x 252.4 x 94.0mm () whereas 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).

Revel W253L is 88.4mm narrower and 6mm less deeper than Revel W383 but it is also 30.4mm 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.

Revel W383 needs about 64% more floor or shelf area. Revel W253L is 30mm 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 W383 weighs 2.22kg / 4.9lbs and the Revel W253L weighs 2.54kg / 5.6lbs. This makes the W253L 14% heavier than the W383.

Here is a comparison of how W383 and W253L's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive In-wall class.

Weight
All In-wall Speakers

Revel W383

Revel W253L

Min

Average

Max

What's in the Box of Revel W253L?

Here are the items that come with the W253L:

In-wall loudspeaker
Grille
Scrim cloth
Cutout template
Instruction Manual

Reasons to choose Revel W383 over Revel W253L

Woofer Size	8 inches vs 5.25 inches	Larger woofer
Low Frequency Response	Hz vs 55 Hz	Generates deeper bass
Height	328mm vs 359mm	Easier to fit in smaller spaces

Reasons to choose Revel W253L over Revel W383

Max Input Power	130 watts vs 125 watts	Handle more power from your amplifier
Sensitivity	91 dB vs 89 dB	Play louder with same amount of amplification power
Number of Woofers	2 vs 1	More woofers
High Frequency Response	18k Hz vs k Hz	Generates higher frequency
Base Surface Area	144cm² vs 237cm²	Takes less floor space
Price per pair*	660USD vs 850USD	costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

Revel W383 vs Revel W253L Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Revel W383	Revel W253L
Brand	Revel	Revel
Speaker Type	Passive In-wall Speaker	Passive In-wall Speaker
Power Range	10 - 125 W watts	10-130 watts
Sensitivity	89 dB	91 dB
Impedance	8 ohms	8 ohms
Frequency Response		55-18kHz
Drivers
Woofer Quantity	1	2
Woofer Size	8"	5.25"
Woofer Composition		Aluminum
Woofer Surround Material	n/a	Rubber
Tweeter Size	1"	1"
Tweeter Type	n/a	Hard-Dome
Aimable Tweeter	No	No
Midrange Driver	No	No
Physical Specs
Height	328.6mm (12.9")	359.0mm (14.1")
Width	252.4mm (9.9")	164.0mm (6.5")
Depth	94.0mm (3.7")	88.0mm (3.5")
Weight	2.22kg (4.9lbs)	2.54kg (5.6lbs)
Enclosure		In-wall
Moisture Resistancy	No	No
Connections
Biamp Inputs	n/a	No
Other
Parts Warranty	Lifetime	Lifetime
Labor Warranty	Lifetime	Lifetime

Verdict

Siblings in Revel's Architectural series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.

Area	Better	Why
Amplifier needs	B	Revel W253L is more sensitive (91dB vs 89dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier.
Headroom	evenly matched	Similar power handling (125W vs 130W).
Size	depends	Revel W253L is easier to place; Revel W383 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides.
Price	B	Revel W253L is cheaper - $660 against $850, about 22% less.

A Revel W383 B Revel W253L
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?

Revel W253L has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. In a large or open-plan room, Revel W383 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. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Revel W253L is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.

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.