In this review, we will be comparing HDI-4500 and Revel Performa3 C208, two Passive Center Channel speakers from JBL and Revel. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL HDI-4500 and Revel Performa3 C208 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the JBL HDI-4500 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the JBL HDI-4500 and Revel Performa3 C208 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that HDI-4500 is a 2-way design whereas the Revel Performa3 C208 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 |
JBL HDI-4500 |
Revel Performa3 C208 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 8-inch
|
HDI-4500 features a 1" horn-loaded high-frequency compression Tweeter and 4 x 5.25" Advanced Aluminum Matrix cone Woofer . On the other hand, the Revel 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
HDI-4500 has a frequency range of 50-30k Hz whereas Revel Performa3 C208 has a frequency range of 50Hz- 20kHz.
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
HDI-4500 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Revel Performa3 C208 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the HDI-4500 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. HDI-4500 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Revel Performa3 C208's is rated at 89 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the JBL HDI-4500 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. 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.
HDI-4500 can handle a max power of 350 watts RMS from the amp the whereas HDI-4500 has a max power handling value of 250 watts RMS , 100 watts less than the Revel Performa3 C208.
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
HDI-4500 features Binding post type posts and Revel Performa3 C208 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
JBL HDI-4500's 5-Way post terminals
Revel Performa3 C208'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 JBL HDI-4500's and Revel Performa3 C208's external dimensions. JBL HDI-4500 has external dimensions of 197.0 x 842.0 x 310.0mm ( 7-3/4 x 33-1/8 x 12-3/16inch) 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) .
JBL HDI-4500 is 110mm shorter and 38mm less deeper than Revel Performa3 C208 but it is also 105mm wider.
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 JBL HDI-4500 is approximately 2610.2cm2 / 404.6inch2 and base area of the Revel Performa3 C208 is approximately 2564.8cm2 / 397.5inch2. The HDI-4500 requires 2% more surface area than the Revel Performa3 C208 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 JBL HDI-4500 weighs 20.15kg / 44.3lbs and the Revel Performa3 C208 weighs 23.41kg / 51.5lbs. This makes the Revel Performa3 C208 16% heavier than the HDI-4500.
Here is a comparison of how HDI-4500 and Revel 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 JBL HDI-4500?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of HDI-4500:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrille2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)Owners Manual
What's in the Box of Revel Performa3 C208?
Here are the items that come with the Revel Performa3 C208:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrille2 Short feet2 Long feet2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)Owners Manual
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Number of Woofers |
4
vs
2
|
More woofers |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
197mm
vs
307mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
1925USD
vs
2200USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
350 watts
vs
250 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
| Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Base Surface Area |
2564cm2 (737x348mm)
vs
2610cm2 (842x310mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
JBL HDI-4500 |
Revel Performa3 C208 |
| Brand |
JBL |
Revel |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
20-250 watts |
50-350 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50-30k Hz |
50Hz- 20kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
4 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Advanced Aluminum Matrix cone |
anodized aluminum cone with cast frames |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
horn-loaded high-frequency compression |
dome with proprietary acoustic lens and waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
N/A" |
4" |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
197.0mm (7.8") |
307.0mm (12.1") |
| Width |
842.0mm (33.1") |
737.0mm (29") |
| Depth |
310.0mm (12.2") |
348.0mm (13.7") |
| Weight |
20.15kg (44.3lbs) |
23.41kg (51.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Passive Radiator |
| Available Colors |
Walnut |
Gloss Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |