In this review, we will be comparing SuperCenter Reference and C426Be, two Passive Center Channel speakers from GoldenEar and Revel.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of GoldenEar SC Ref and Revel C426Be first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | GoldenEar SC Ref | Revel C426Be |
|---|
| Brand | GoldenEar
United States · founded 2010 | Revel
United States · founded 1996 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | — | 1" dome with proprietary acoustic lens and waveguide |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5-1/4" |
|---|
| Woofer | 4 x 5.25" | 4 x 6.5" aluminum with Deep Ceramic Composite coating |
|---|
| Frequency response | 33-35k Hz | 38-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-350 watts | 50-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 14.09kg / 31lbs | 33.05kg / 72.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 5-7/8" x 35" x 11-1/16"
150.0 x 889.0 x 281.0mm | 12-5/16" x 38-5/8" x 14-1/16"
313.0 x 982.0 x 358.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the GoldenEar SC Ref 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* |
GoldenEar SC Ref |
Revel C426Be |
| Near-field |
Are you nuts? |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Bad |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Poor |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Good |
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 SuperCenter Reference and C426Be are 3-way speakers.
GoldenEar SC RefRevel C426Be
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
GoldenEar SC Ref |
Revel C426Be |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5-1/4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 5.25-inch
|
4 x 6.5-inch
|
SuperCenter Reference features a " Tweeter and 4 x 5.25" Woofer. On the other hand, the 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
SuperCenter Reference has a frequency range of 33-35k Hz whereas C426Be has a frequency range of 38-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 33Hz, the SuperCenter Reference can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the C426Be's min frequency of 38Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel 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
SuperCenter Reference and C426Be have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. SuperCenter Reference sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the C426Be's is at 90 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the GoldenEar SC Ref a more sensitive speaker compared to Revel C426Be, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
SuperCenter Reference can handle a max power of 350 watts RMS, whereas C426Be has a max power handling value of 300 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the SuperCenter Reference.
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
SuperCenter Reference features Binding post type posts and C426Be has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Revel C426Be's Binding post terminals
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 GoldenEar SC Ref's and Revel C426Be's external dimensions. GoldenEar SC Ref has external dimensions of 150.0 x 889.0 x 281.0mm (5-7/8 x 35 x 11-1/16inch) 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 93mm wider, 163mm taller and 77mm deeper than GoldenEar SC Ref.
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.
Revel C426Be needs about 41% more floor or shelf area. Revel C426Be is 77mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Revel C426Be is 163mm 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 GoldenEar SC Ref is approximately 2498.1cm2 / 387.2inch2 and base area of the Revel C426Be is approximately 3515.6cm2 / 544.9inch2. The SuperCenter Reference requires 29% less surface area than the 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 GoldenEar SC Ref weighs 14.09kg / 31lbs and the Revel C426Be weighs 33.05kg / 72.7lbs. This makes the C426Be 135% heavier than the SuperCenter Reference.
Here is a comparison of how SuperCenter Reference and 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 GoldenEar SC Ref?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of SuperCenter Reference:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- 4 Leveling feet
- 4 Threaded-inserts
- Owners Manual
What's in the Box of Revel C426Be?
Here are the items that come with the C426Be:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- Feet assembly
- 2 Port plugs
- Owners Manual
 Max Input Power |
350 watts
vs
300 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
33 Hz
vs
38 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Passive Radiator |
two 6-3/4-inch x 8-inch + one 7-inchx 10-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Height |
150mm
vs
313mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
2498cm2
vs
3515cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1899USD
vs
4950USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
|
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
35k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| General |
GoldenEar SuperCenter Reference |
Revel C426Be |
| Brand |
GoldenEar |
Revel |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
20-350 watts |
50-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
33-35k Hz |
38-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
4 |
4 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
aluminum with Deep Ceramic Composite coating |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
dome with proprietary acoustic lens and waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5-1/4" |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
150.0mm (5.9") |
313.0mm (12.3") |
| Width |
889.0mm (35") |
982.0mm (38.7") |
| Depth |
281.0mm (11.1") |
358.0mm (14.1") |
| Weight |
14.09kg (31lbs) |
33.05kg (72.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Walnut |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Revel C426Be costs roughly 2.6x what GoldenEar SC Ref 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 | A | GoldenEar SC Ref digs deeper - 33Hz against 38Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (91dB vs 90dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (350W vs 300W). |
| Size | depends | GoldenEar SC Ref is easier to place; Revel C426Be is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Passive Radiator vs Ported. |
| Price | A | GoldenEar SC Ref is cheaper - $1,899 against $4,950, about 62% less; arguably a different class. |
A GoldenEar SC Ref B Revel C426Be
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?
GoldenEar SC Ref has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 38Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate GoldenEar SC Ref the better fit for a very large room, and Revel C426Be for a mid-size room.
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.