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JBL HDI-4500 vs Revel Performa3 C208 Comparison

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JBL HDI-4500

Passive Center Channel | 50-30k Hz

JBL HDI-4500
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Revel Performa3 C208

Passive Center Channel | 50Hz- 20kHz

Revel Performa3 C208
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JBL HDI-4500 JBL HDI-4500
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Revel Performa3 C208 Revel Performa3 C208
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JBL HDI-4500
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Revel Performa3 C208
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JBL HDI-4500 vs Revel Performa3 C208 Speaker Comparison

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.

JBL HDI-4500 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" horn-loaded high-frequency compression Tweeter
  • 4 x 5.25" Advanced Aluminum Matrix cone Woofer
  • 50-30k Hz Frequency Response
  • 90 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 4ohms
  • Power Range:20-250watts
  • Weight:20.15kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 197.0" x 33-1/8" x 12-3/16"( 197.0 x 842.0 x 310.0mm )

Revel Performa3 C208 Key Specs

  • 3-way Design
  • 1" dome with proprietary acoustic lens and waveguide Tweeter
  • 4" Midrange
  • 2 x 8" anodized aluminum cone with cast frames Woofer
  • 4" Midrange
  • 50Hz- 20kHz Frequency Response
  • 89 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:50-350watts
  • Weight:23.41kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 307.0" x 29" x 13-11/16"( 307.0 x 737.0 x 348.0mm )

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:

Listening Environment* JBL HDI-4500 Revel Performa3 C208
Near-field Poor Are you nuts?
Small Room Poor Bad
Mid-size Room Good Poor
Large Room Good Good
Very Large Room Average 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.)

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.


**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


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

HDI-4500
Revel Performa3 C208
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Center Channel Speakers

JBL HDI-4500
Revel Performa3 C208
Min
Average
Max

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

HDI-4500
Revel Performa3 C208
Min
Average
Max

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 Terminals
JBL HDI-4500's 5-Way post terminals

Revel Performa3 C208Binding 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
JBL HDI-4500
Revel Performa3 C208
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of JBL HDI-4500?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of HDI-4500:
  • Center-channel loudspeaker
  • Grille
  • 2 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 loudspeaker
  • Grille
  • 2 Short feet
  • 2 Long feet
  • 2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)
  • Owners Manual

  • Reasons to choose JBL HDI-4500 over Revel Performa3 C208
    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)

    Reasons to choose Revel Performa3 C208 over JBL HDI-4500

    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 vs 2610cm2 Takes less floor space
    JBL HDI-4500 vs Revel Performa3 C208 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    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

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