In this review, we will be comparing SuperCenter Reference and Performa3 C208, 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 Performa3 C208 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | GoldenEar SC Ref | Revel Performa3 C208 |
|---|
| 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 | — | 4" |
|---|
| Woofer | 4 x 5.25" | 2 x 8" anodized aluminum cone with cast frames |
|---|
| Frequency response | 33-35k Hz | 50Hz- 20kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-350 watts | 50-350 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 14.09kg / 31lbs | 23.41kg / 51.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 5-7/8" x 35" x 11-1/16"
150.0 x 889.0 x 281.0mm | 12-1/16" x 29" x 13-11/16"
307.0 x 737.0 x 348.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the GoldenEar SC Ref 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* |
GoldenEar SC Ref |
Revel Performa3 C208 |
| Near-field |
Are you nuts? |
Are you nuts? |
| Small Room |
Bad |
Bad |
| Mid-size Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Good |
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.)
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 Performa3 C208 are 3-way speakers.
GoldenEar SC RefRevel Performa3 C208
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
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 Performa3 C208 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 8-inch
|
SuperCenter Reference features a " Tweeter and 4 x 5.25" Woofer. On the other hand, the 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
SuperCenter Reference has a frequency range of 33-35k Hz whereas Performa3 C208 has a frequency range of 50Hz- 20kHz. With a minimum frequency of 33Hz, the SuperCenter Reference can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Performa3 C208's min frequency of 50Hz.
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 Performa3 C208 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 Performa3 C208's is at 89 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the GoldenEar SC Ref a more sensitive speaker compared to Revel Performa3 C208, 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.
Both handle the same maximum of 350 watts RMS, though SuperCenter Reference is rated 20-350 watts and Performa3 C208 50-350 watts.
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 Performa3 C208 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Revel Performa3 C208'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 Performa3 C208'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 Performa3 C208 has external dimensions of 307.0 x 737.0 x 348.0mm (12-1/16 x 29 x 13-11/16inch).
GoldenEar SC Ref is 157mm shorter and 67mm less deeper than Revel Performa3 C208 but it is also 152mm 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.
Near-identical footprints. Revel Performa3 C208 is 67mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Revel Performa3 C208 is 157mm 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 Performa3 C208 is approximately 2564.8cm2 / 397.5inch2. The SuperCenter Reference requires 3% less surface area than the 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 GoldenEar SC Ref weighs 14.09kg / 31lbs and the Revel Performa3 C208 weighs 23.41kg / 51.5lbs. This makes the Performa3 C208 66% heavier than the SuperCenter Reference.
Here is a comparison of how SuperCenter Reference and Performa3 C208'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 Performa3 C208?
Here are the items that come with the Performa3 C208:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 2 Short feet
- 2 Long feet
- 2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)
- Owners Manual
 Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Number of Woofers |
4
vs
2
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
33 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Passive Radiator |
two 6-3/4-inch x 8-inch + one 7-inchx 10-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Height |
150mm
vs
307mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
2498cm2
vs
2564cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1899USD
vs
2200USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
|
Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| General |
GoldenEar SuperCenter Reference |
Revel Performa3 C208 |
| Brand |
GoldenEar |
Revel |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
20-350 watts |
50-350 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
33-35k Hz |
50Hz- 20kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
4 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
anodized aluminum cone with cast frames |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
dome with proprietary acoustic lens and waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
4" |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
150.0mm (5.9") |
307.0mm (12.1") |
| Width |
889.0mm (35") |
737.0mm (29") |
| Depth |
281.0mm (11.1") |
348.0mm (13.7") |
| Weight |
14.09kg (31lbs) |
23.41kg (51.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Passive Radiator |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Gloss Black |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | GoldenEar SC Ref digs deeper - 33Hz against 50Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | GoldenEar SC Ref is more sensitive (91dB vs 89dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (350W vs 350W). |
| Size | depends | GoldenEar SC Ref is easier to place; Revel Performa3 C208 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Revel Performa3 C208 sits in a wider range (8 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | GoldenEar SC Ref is cheaper - $1,899 against $2,200, about 14% less. |
A GoldenEar SC Ref B Revel Performa3 C208
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 is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Revel Performa3 C208 if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 50Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Revel Performa3 C208 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, GoldenEar SC Ref is the easier speaker to get right.
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.