In this review, we will be comparing F1-8S and F328Be, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Fyne Audio and Revel.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Fyne Audio F1-8S and Revel PerformaBe F328Be first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Fyne Audio F1-8S | Revel PerformaBe F328Be |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | — | 1" |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | — | 3 x 8.0" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 30-34k Hz | 26-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 91 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | — | 50-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 29.94kg / 65.9lbs | 51.18kg / 112.6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 42.8" x 13.2" x 17.5" 1087.1 x 335.3 x 444.5mm | 50-15/16" x 13-1/2" x 17-5/8" 1294.0 x 343.0 x 448.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Fyne Audio F1-8S 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* |
Fyne Audio F1-8S |
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 F1-8S 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.
| Driver |
Fyne Audio F1-8S |
Revel PerformaBe F328Be |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
x -inch
|
3 x 8.0-inch
|
F1-8S features a " Tweeter and x " Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1800 Hz. On the other hand, the F328Be features a 1" Tweeter, a 5.25" Midrange and 3 x 8.0" Aluminum Woofer.
Frequency Response
F1-8S has a frequency range of 30-34k 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 F1-8S's min frequency of 30Hz.
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
F1-8S and F328Be have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 91 dB.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
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
F328Be features 5-way posts posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. F1-8S 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 Fyne Audio F1-8S's and Revel PerformaBe F328Be's external dimensions. Fyne Audio F1-8S has external dimensions of 1087.1 x 335.3 x 444.5mm (42.8 x 13.2 x 17.5inch) 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 7.7mm wider, 206.9mm taller and 3.5mm deeper than Fyne Audio F1-8S.
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 Fyne Audio F1-8S is approximately 1490.4cm2 / 231.0inch2 and base area of the Revel PerformaBe F328Be is approximately 1536.6cm2 / 238.2inch2. The F1-8S requires 3% 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 Fyne Audio F1-8S weighs 29.94kg / 65.9lbs and the Revel PerformaBe F328Be weighs 51.18kg / 112.6lbs. This makes the F328Be 71% heavier than the F1-8S.
Here is a comparison of how F1-8S 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
Height |
1087mm
vs
1294mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
1490cm2
vs
1536cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
Woofer Size |
8.0 inches
vs
inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
26 Hz
vs
30 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
34k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Price per pair* |
17600USD
vs
17999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Fyne Audio F1-8S |
Revel PerformaBe F328Be |
| Brand |
Fyne Audio |
Revel |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
91 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
30-34k Hz |
26-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
|
3 |
| Woofer Size |
" |
8.0" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Aluminum |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1" |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5.25" |
| Crossover Frequency |
1800 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1087.1mm (42.8") |
1294.0mm (50.9") |
| Width |
335.3mm (13.2") |
343.0mm (13.5") |
| Depth |
444.5mm (17.5") |
448.0mm (17.6") |
| Weight |
29.94kg (65.9lbs) |
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 |
A generation apart: Fyne Audio F1-8S is the newer design, against a 2017 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
| Bass |
B |
Revel PerformaBe F328Be digs deeper - 26Hz against 30Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs |
evenly matched |
Similar sensitivity (91dB vs 91dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Size |
depends |
Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability |
B |
Revel PerformaBe F328Be: bi-amping. |
| Price |
evenly matched |
Much the same money ($17,999 vs $17,600 a pair). |
A Fyne Audio F1-8S
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?
Revel PerformaBe F328Be has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does.
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.