In this review, we will be comparing Grandis GR8T 8" 3-Way High Fidelity Tower Speaker (SINGLE) and F328Be, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Aperion and Revel.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Aperion Grandis GR8T 8" 3-Way High Fidelity Tower Speaker (SINGLE) and Revel PerformaBe F328Be first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Aperion Grandis GR8T 8" 3-Way High Fidelity Tower Speaker (SINGLE) | Revel PerformaBe F328Be |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" | 1" |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | — | 3 x 8.0" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 28-42k Hz | 26-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 91 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-300 Watts watts | 50-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 48.99kg / 107.8lbs | 51.18kg / 112.6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 49.6" x 13.1" x 13.8"
1259.8 x 332.7 x 350.5mm | 50-15/16" x 13-1/2" x 17-5/8"
1294.0 x 343.0 x 448.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Aperion Grandis GR8T 8" 3-Way High Fidelity Tower Speaker (SINGLE) and Revel PerformaBe F328Be 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* |
Aperion Grandis GR8T 8" 3-Way High Fidelity Tower Speaker (SINGLE) |
Revel PerformaBe F328Be |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Average |
(* 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.
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through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Grandis GR8T 8" 3-Way High Fidelity Tower Speaker (SINGLE) is a 2-way design whereas the F328Be 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.
Aperion Grandis GR8T 8" 3-Way High Fidelity Tower Speaker (SINGLE)Revel PerformaBe F328Be
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Aperion Grandis GR8T 8" 3-Way High Fidelity Tower Speaker (SINGLE) |
Revel PerformaBe F328Be |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
x -inch
|
3 x 8.0-inch
|
Grandis GR8T 8" 3-Way High Fidelity Tower Speaker (SINGLE) features a 1.1" Tweeter and x " Woofer. On the other hand, the F328Be features a 1" Tweeter, a 5.25" Midrange and 3 x 8.0" Aluminum Woofer.
Frequency Response
Grandis GR8T 8" 3-Way High Fidelity Tower Speaker (SINGLE) has a frequency range of 28-42k Hz whereas F328Be has a frequency range of 26-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 26Hz, the F328Be can go slightly deeper then the Grandis GR8T 8" 3-Way High Fidelity Tower Speaker (SINGLE)'s min frequency of 28Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Grandis GR8T 8" 3-Way High Fidelity Tower Speaker (SINGLE)
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
Grandis GR8T 8" 3-Way High Fidelity Tower Speaker (SINGLE) is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the F328Be which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Grandis GR8T 8" 3-Way High Fidelity Tower Speaker (SINGLE) can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Grandis GR8T 8" 3-Way High Fidelity Tower Speaker (SINGLE) sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the F328Be's is rated at 91 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Revel PerformaBe F328Be a more sensitive speaker compared to Aperion Grandis GR8T 8" 3-Way High Fidelity Tower Speaker (SINGLE), hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Grandis GR8T 8" 3-Way High Fidelity Tower Speaker (SINGLE)
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.
Grandis GR8T 8" 3-Way High Fidelity Tower Speaker (SINGLE) can handle a max power of 600 watts RMS, whereas F328Be has a max power handling value of 300 watts RMS, 300 watts less than the Grandis GR8T 8" 3-Way High Fidelity Tower Speaker (SINGLE).
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.
Aperion Grandis GR8T 8" 3-Way High Fidelity Tower Speaker (SINGLE)
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
F328Be features 5-way posts posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Grandis GR8T 8" 3-Way High Fidelity Tower Speaker (SINGLE) has a Binding post which doesn't 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 Aperion Grandis GR8T 8" 3-Way High Fidelity Tower Speaker (SINGLE)'s and Revel PerformaBe F328Be's external dimensions. Aperion Grandis GR8T 8" 3-Way High Fidelity Tower Speaker (SINGLE) has external dimensions of 1259.8 x 332.7 x 350.5mm (49.6 x 13.1 x 13.8inch) whereas Revel PerformaBe F328Be has external dimensions of 1294.0 x 343.0 x 448.0mm (50-15/16 x 13-1/2 x 17-5/8inch).
Revel PerformaBe F328Be is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 10.3mm wider, 34.2mm taller and 97.5mm deeper than Aperion Grandis GR8T 8" 3-Way High Fidelity Tower Speaker (SINGLE).
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Aperion Grandis GR8T 8" 3-Way High Fidelity Tower Speaker (SINGLE) is approximately 1166.1cm2 / 180.7inch2 and base area of the Revel PerformaBe F328Be is approximately 1536.6cm2 / 238.2inch2. The Grandis GR8T 8" 3-Way High Fidelity Tower Speaker (SINGLE) requires 24% less surface area than the F328Be which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 Aperion Grandis GR8T 8" 3-Way High Fidelity Tower Speaker (SINGLE) weighs 48.99kg / 107.8lbs and the Revel PerformaBe F328Be weighs 51.18kg / 112.6lbs. This makes the F328Be 4% heavier than the Grandis GR8T 8" 3-Way High Fidelity Tower Speaker (SINGLE).
Here is a comparison of how Grandis GR8T 8" 3-Way High Fidelity Tower Speaker (SINGLE) and F328Be's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Aperion Grandis GR8T 8" 3-Way High Fidelity Tower Speaker (SINGLE)
What's in the Box of Revel PerformaBe F328Be?
Here are the items that come with the F328Be:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Spike feet
- 4 Locking rings
- 4 Washers
- 2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)
- 2 Foam port plugs
- Owners Manual
 Max Input Power |
600 watts
vs
300 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
42k Hz
vs
40k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
1259mm
vs
1294mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1166cm2
vs
1536cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
10998USD
vs
17600USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
8.0 inches
vs
inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
26 Hz
vs
28 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Aperion Grandis GR8T 8" 3-Way High Fidelity Tower Speaker (SINGLE) |
Revel PerformaBe F328Be |
| Brand |
Aperion |
Revel |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
20-300 Watts watts |
50-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
91 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
28-42k Hz |
26-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
|
3 |
| Woofer Size |
" |
8.0" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Aluminum |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1" |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5.25" |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1259.8mm (49.6") |
1294.0mm (50.9") |
| Width |
332.7mm (13.1") |
343.0mm (13.5") |
| Depth |
350.5mm (13.8") |
448.0mm (17.6") |
| Weight |
48.99kg (107.8lbs) |
51.18kg (112.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Gloss Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Revel PerformaBe F328Be costs roughly 1.6x what Aperion Grandis GR8T 8" 3-Way High Fidelity Tower Speaker (SINGLE) does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass |
evenly matched |
Much the same reach (28Hz vs 26Hz). |
| Amplifier needs |
B |
Revel PerformaBe F328Be is more sensitive (91dB vs 89dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match |
B |
Revel PerformaBe F328Be is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom |
A |
Aperion Grandis GR8T 8" 3-Way High Fidelity Tower Speaker (SINGLE) takes more power (600W vs 300W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size |
depends |
Aperion Grandis GR8T 8" 3-Way High Fidelity Tower Speaker (SINGLE) is easier to place; Revel PerformaBe F328Be is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability |
B |
Revel PerformaBe F328Be: bi-amping. |
| Price |
A |
Aperion Grandis GR8T 8" 3-Way High Fidelity Tower Speaker (SINGLE) is cheaper - $10,998 against $17,600, about 38% less; arguably a different class. |
A Aperion Grandis GR8T 8" 3-Way High Fidelity Tower Speaker (SINGLE)
B Revel PerformaBe F328Be
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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 PerformaBe F328Be measures better, Aperion Grandis GR8T 8" 3-Way High Fidelity Tower Speaker (SINGLE) costs about 38% 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 your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Revel PerformaBe F328Be is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $6,602 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
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.