In this review, we will be comparing Scala Utopia Evo and F328Be, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Focal and Revel.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Scala Utopia Evo and Revel PerformaBe F328Be first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Focal Scala Utopia Evo | Revel PerformaBe F328Be |
|---|
| Brand | Focal
France · founded 1979 | Revel
United States · founded 1996 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" Inverted Dome | 1" |
|---|
| Midrange | 6.5" | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 10.5" W sandwich | 3 x 8.0" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 27-40k Hz | 26-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 92 dB | 91 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50-500 watts | 50-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 85.00kg / 187lbs | 51.18kg / 112.6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 49-1/8" x 26-3/8" x 15-1/2"
1247.0 x 670.0 x 393.0mm | 50-15/16" x 13-1/2" x 17-5/8"
1294.0 x 343.0 x 448.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Focal Scala Utopia Evo 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* |
Focal Scala Utopia Evo |
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.
Drivers
Both Scala Utopia Evo and F328Be are 3-way speakers.
Focal Scala Utopia EvoRevel 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 |
Focal Scala Utopia Evo |
Revel PerformaBe F328Be |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6.5-inch |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 10.5-inch
|
3 x 8.0-inch
|
Scala Utopia Evo features a 1.1" Beryllium Inverted Dome Tweeter, a 6.5" Midrange and 1 x 10.5" W sandwich Woofer. On the other hand, the F328Be features a 1" Tweeter, a 5.25" Midrange and 3 x 8.0" Aluminum Woofer.
Frequency Response
Scala Utopia Evo has a frequency range of 27-40k 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 Scala Utopia Evo's min frequency of 27Hz.
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
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
Scala Utopia Evo and F328Be have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Scala Utopia Evo sensitivity is rated at 92 dB and the F328Be's is at 91 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Focal Scala Utopia Evo a more sensitive speaker compared to Revel PerformaBe F328Be, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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.
Scala Utopia Evo can handle a max power of 500 watts RMS, whereas F328Be has a max power handling value of 300 watts RMS, 200 watts less than the Scala Utopia Evo.
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
Both Scala Utopia Evo and F328Be features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or 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 Focal Scala Utopia Evo's and Revel PerformaBe F328Be's external dimensions. Focal Scala Utopia Evo has external dimensions of 1247.0 x 670.0 x 393.0mm (49-1/8 x 26-3/8 x 15-1/2inch) 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).
Focal Scala Utopia Evo is 47mm shorter and 55mm less deeper than Revel PerformaBe F328Be but it is also 327mm wider.
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.
Focal Scala Utopia Evo needs about 71% more floor or shelf area. Revel PerformaBe F328Be is 55mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Revel PerformaBe F328Be is 47mm taller.
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 Focal Scala Utopia Evo is approximately 2633.1cm2 / 408.1inch2 and base area of the Revel PerformaBe F328Be is approximately 1536.6cm2 / 238.2inch2. The Scala Utopia Evo requires 71% more surface area than the F328Be which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Focal Scala Utopia Evo weighs 85.00kg / 187lbs and the Revel PerformaBe F328Be weighs 51.18kg / 112.6lbs. This makes the Scala Utopia Evo 66% heavier than the F328Be.
Here is a comparison of how Scala Utopia Evo and F328Be's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
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 |
500 watts
vs
300 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
91 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
10.5 inches
vs
8.0 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Height |
1247mm
vs
1294mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
|
Number of Woofers |
3
vs
1
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
26 Hz
vs
27 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
1536cm2
vs
2633cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
17600USD
vs
49999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Focal Scala Utopia Evo |
Revel PerformaBe F328Be |
| Brand |
Focal |
Revel |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
50-500 watts |
50-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
92 dB |
91 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
27-40k Hz |
26-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
3 |
| Woofer Size |
10.5" |
8.0" |
| Woofer Composition |
W sandwich |
Aluminum |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Inverted Dome |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1247.0mm (49.1") |
1294.0mm (50.9") |
| Width |
670.0mm (26.4") |
343.0mm (13.5") |
| Depth |
393.0mm (15.5") |
448.0mm (17.6") |
| Weight |
85.00kg (187lbs) |
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 |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Focal Scala Utopia Evo costs roughly 2.8x what Revel PerformaBe F328Be 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 (27Hz vs 26Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (92dB vs 91dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | A | Focal Scala Utopia Evo takes more power (500W vs 300W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Revel PerformaBe F328Be is easier to place; Focal Scala Utopia Evo is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Focal Scala Utopia Evo: bi-amping; Revel PerformaBe F328Be: bi-amping. Focal Scala Utopia Evo sits in a wider range (7 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Revel PerformaBe F328Be is cheaper - $17,600 against $49,999, about 65% less; arguably a different class. |
A Focal Scala Utopia Evo B Revel PerformaBe F328Be
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?
Focal Scala Utopia Evo is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 2.8x the price. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Revel PerformaBe F328Be looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the Focal Scala Utopia Evo appeals to you. In a large or open-plan room, Focal Scala Utopia Evo has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Revel PerformaBe F328Be is the easier speaker to get right. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $32,399 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.