In this review, we will be comparing HTM71 S3 and Revel C426Be, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Bowers Wilkins and Revel. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of B&W HTM71 S3 and Revel C426Be first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
B&W HTM71 S3 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Solid Body Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 4" Midrange
- 4 x 5" Aerofoil Profile Woofer
- 50-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:30-200watts
- Weight:17.50kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 235.0" x 24-3/4" x 14"( 235.0 x 629.0 x 356.0mm )
Revel C426Be Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" dome with proprietary acoustic lens and waveguide Tweeter
- 5-1/4" Midrange
- 4 x 6.5" aluminum with Deep Ceramic Composite coating Woofer
- 5-1/4" Midrange
- 38-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:50-300watts
- Weight:33.05kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 313.0" x 38-5/8" x 14-1/16"( 313.0 x 982.0 x 358.0mm )
What size room are the B&W HTM71 S3 and Revel C426Be 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* |
B&W HTM71 S3 |
Revel C426Be |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the B&W HTM71 S3 and Revel C426Be 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 S3 and Revel C426Be are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
B&W HTM71 S3 |
Revel C426Be |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
1 x 5-1/4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 5-inch
|
4 x 6.5-inch
|
HTM71 S3 features a 1" Decoupled Carbon Solid Body Soft-Dome Tweeter , a 4" Midrange and 4 x 5" Aerofoil Profile Woofer . On the other hand, the Revel C426Be features a 1" beryllium dome with proprietary acoustic lens and waveguide Tweeter , a 5-1/4" Midrange and 4 x 6.5" aluminum with Deep Ceramic Composite coating Woofer .
Frequency Response
HTM71 S3 has a frequency range of 50-28k Hz whereas Revel C426Be has a frequency range of 38-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 38Hz, the Revel C426Be can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the HTM71 S3's min frequency of 50Hz.
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
High Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
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 S3 and Revel C426Be have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. HTM71 S3 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Revel C426Be's is at 90 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Revel C426Be a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W HTM71 S3, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel Speakers
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 S3 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas HTM71 S3 has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS , 100 watts less than the Revel C426Be.
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 S3 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Revel C426Be has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
B&W HTM71 S3's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Revel C426Be'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 B&W HTM71 S3's and Revel C426Be's external dimensions. B&W HTM71 S3 has external dimensions of 235.0 x 629.0 x 356.0mm ( 9-1/4inch x 24-3/4inch x 14inch ) whereas Revel C426Be has external dimensions of 313.0 x 982.0 x 358.0mm ( 12-5/16 x 38-5/8 x 14-1/16inch) .
Revel C426Be is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 353mm wider, 78mm taller and 2mm deeper than B&W HTM71 S3.
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 B&W HTM71 S3 is approximately 2239.2cm2 / 347.1inch2 and base area of the Revel C426Be is approximately 3515.6cm2 / 544.9inch2. The HTM71 S3 requires 36% less surface area than the Revel C426Be 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 B&W HTM71 S3 weighs 17.50kg / 38.5lbs and the Revel C426Be weighs 33.05kg / 72.7lbs. This makes the Revel C426Be 89% heavier than the HTM71 S3.
Here is a comparison of how HTM71 S3 and Revel C426Be's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of B&W HTM71 S3?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of HTM71 S3:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrilleTwo-piece foam port plug4 Self-adhesive rubber feet4 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)ManualBowers & Wilkins brochureWarranty InformationOnline Registration Card
What's in the Box of Revel C426Be?
Here are the items that come with the Revel C426Be:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrilleFeet assembly2 Port plugsOwners Manual