BW HTM71 S2 vs Revel Performa3 C208 Comparison

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BW HTM71 S2

Passive Center Channel | 50-28k Hz

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Revel Performa3 C208

Passive Center Channel | 50Hz- 20kHz

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BW HTM71 S2

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Revel Performa3 C208

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BW HTM71 S2

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Revel Performa3 C208

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BW HTM71 S2 vs Revel Performa3 C208 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing HTM71 S2 and Revel Performa3 C208, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Bowers Wilkins and Revel.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of BW HTM71 S2 and Revel Performa3 C208 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

BW HTM71 S2 Key Specs

3-way Design

1" Decoupled Carbon Dome Tweeter

4" Midrange

2 x 6.5" Aerofoil Profile Woofer

50-28k Hz Frequency Response

89 dB Sensitivity

Impedance: 8ohms

Power Range:30-200watts

Weight:18.05kg

Dimensions (H x W x D): 228.0" x 23-1/4" x 11-7/8"( 228.0 x 591.0 x 302.0mm )

Revel Performa3 C208 Key Specs

3-way Design

1" dome with proprietary acoustic lens and waveguide Tweeter

4" Midrange

2 x 8" anodized aluminum cone with cast frames Woofer

4" Midrange

50Hz- 20kHz Frequency Response

89 dB Sensitivity

Impedance: 8ohms

Power Range:50-350watts

Weight:23.41kg

Dimensions (H x W x D): 307.0" x 29" x 13-11/16"( 307.0 x 737.0 x 348.0mm )

What size room are the BW HTM71 S2 and Revel Performa3 C208 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*	BW HTM71 S2	Revel Performa3 C208
Near-field	Poor	Are you nuts?
Small Room	Average	Bad
Mid-size Room	Good	Poor
Large Room	Average	Good
Very Large Room	Poor	Good

(* 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.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the BW HTM71 S2 and Revel Performa3 C208 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.

**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Drivers

Both HTM71 S2 and Revel Performa3 C208 are 3-way speakers.

Driver	BW HTM71 S2	Revel Performa3 C208
Driver Setup	3-way	3-way
Tweeter	1-inch	1-inch
Midrange	1 x 4-inch	1 x 4-inch
Woofer	2 x 6.5-inch	2 x 8-inch

HTM71 S2 features a 1" Decoupled Carbon Dome Tweeter , a 4" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Aerofoil Profile Woofer . On the other hand, the Revel Performa3 C208 features a 1" aluminum dome with proprietary acoustic lens and waveguide Tweeter , a 4" Midrange and 2 x 8" anodized aluminum cone with cast frames Woofer .

Frequency Response

HTM71 S2 has a frequency range of 50-28k Hz whereas Revel Performa3 C208 has a frequency range of 50Hz- 20kHz.

Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.

Low Frequency

Center Channel Speakers

HTM71 S2

Revel Performa3 C208

Min

Average

Max

High Frequency

Center Channel Speakers

BW HTM71 S2

Revel Performa3 C208

Min

Average

Max

None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.

Impedance and Sensitivity

HTM71 S2 and Revel Performa3 C208 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 89 dB.

Sensitivity

Center Channel Speakers

HTM71 S2

Revel Performa3 C208

Min

Average

Max

Power Range

Power range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.

HTM71 S2 can handle a max power of 350 watts RMS from the amp the whereas HTM71 S2 has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS , 150 watts less than the Revel Performa3 C208.

Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.

Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring

HTM71 S2 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Revel Performa3 C208 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

Revel Performa3 C208's Binding post terminals

Physical Specs

Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare BW HTM71 S2's and Revel Performa3 C208's external dimensions. BW HTM71 S2 has external dimensions of 228.0 x 591.0 x 302.0mm ( 8-15/16 x 23-1/4 x 11-7/8inch) whereas Revel Performa3 C208 has external dimensions of 307.0 x 737.0 x 348.0mm ( 12-1/16 x 29 x 13-11/16inch) .

Revel Performa3 C208 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 146mm wider, 79mm taller and 46mm deeper than BW HTM71 S2.

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 BW HTM71 S2 is approximately 1784.8cm² / 276.6inch² and base area of the Revel Performa3 C208 is approximately 2564.8cm² / 397.5inch². The HTM71 S2 requires 30% less surface area than the Revel Performa3 C208 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 BW HTM71 S2 weighs 18.05kg / 39.7lbs and the Revel Performa3 C208 weighs 23.41kg / 51.5lbs. This makes the Revel Performa3 C208 30% heavier than the HTM71 S2.

Here is a comparison of how HTM71 S2 and Revel Performa3 C208's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.

Weight
All Center Channel Speakers

BW HTM71 S2

Revel Performa3 C208

Min

Average

Max

What's in the Box of BW HTM71 S2?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of HTM71 S2:

Center-channel loudspeaker

Grille

2 Two-piece foam port plugs

4 Self-adhesive rubber feet

4 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)

Manual

Bowers Wilkins brochure

Warranty Information

What's in the Box of Revel Performa3 C208?

Here are the items that come with the Revel Performa3 C208:

Center-channel loudspeaker

Grille

2 Short feet

2 Long feet

2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)

Owners Manual

Reasons to choose Bowers & Wilkins HTM71 S2 over Revel Performa3 C208

High Frequency Response	28k Hz vs 20k Hz	Generates higher frequency
Height	228mm vs 307mm	Easier to fit in smaller spaces
Base Surface Area	1784cm² vs 2564cm²	Takes less floor space
Price per pair*	1999USD vs 2200USD	costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

Reasons to choose Revel Performa3 C208 over Bowers & Wilkins HTM71 S2

Max Input Power	350 watts vs 200 watts	Handle more power from your amplifier
Woofer Size	8 inches vs 6.5 inches	Larger woofer

BW HTM71 S2 vs Revel Performa3 C208 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Bowers & Wilkins HTM71 S2	Revel Performa3 C208
Brand	Bowers Wilkins	Revel
Speaker Type	Center channel speaker	Center channel speaker
Power Range	30-200 watts	50-350 watts
Sensitivity	89 dB	89 dB
Impedance	8 ohms	8 ohms
Impedance	3.0 ohms	n/a
Frequency Response	50-28k Hz	50Hz- 20kHz
Drivers
Woofer Quantity	2	2
Woofer Size	6.5"	8"
Woofer Composition	Aerofoil Profile	anodized aluminum cone with cast frames
Woofer Surround Material	Rubber	n/a
Tweeter Size	1"	1"
Tweeter Type	Decoupled Carbon Dome	dome with proprietary acoustic lens and waveguide
Aimable Tweeter	No	No
Midrange Driver	4"	4"
Firing Direction	rear	n/a
Physical Specs
Height	228.0mm (9")	307.0mm (12.1")
Width	591.0mm (23.3")	737.0mm (29")
Depth	302.0mm (11.9")	348.0mm (13.7")
Weight	18.05kg (39.7lbs)	23.41kg (51.5lbs)
Enclosure	Bass Reflex	Passive Radiator
Available Colors	Gloss Black, Satin White, Rosenut	Gloss Black
Grille	Yes	Yes
Moisture Resistancy	No	No
Connections
Biamp Inputs	Yes	n/a
Other
Parts Warranty	5 Years	5 Years
Labor Warranty	5 Years	5 Years