In this review, we will be comparing S4700 and F328Be, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from JBL and Revel.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL S4700 and Revel PerformaBe F328Be first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | JBL S4700 | Revel PerformaBe F328Be |
|---|
| Brand | JBL
United States · founded 1946 | Revel
United States · founded 1996 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | — | 1" |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 15" Pure Pulp | 3 x 8.0" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 38-40k Hz | 26-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 94 dB | 91 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 300 watts | 50-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 54.50kg / 119.9lbs | 51.18kg / 112.6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 42-1/16" x 19-11/16" x 14-5/8"
1068.0 x 500.0 x 371.0mm | 50-15/16" x 13-1/2" x 17-5/8"
1294.0 x 343.0 x 448.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the JBL S4700 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* |
JBL S4700 |
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.
Drivers
Both S4700 and F328Be are 3-way speakers.
JBL S4700Revel PerformaBe F328Be
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
JBL S4700 |
Revel PerformaBe F328Be |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 15-inch
|
3 x 8.0-inch
|
S4700 features a " Tweeter and 1 x 15" Pure Pulp Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 80Hz and 12000Hz. On the other hand, the F328Be features a 1" Tweeter, a 5.25" Midrange and 3 x 8.0" Aluminum Woofer.
Frequency Response
S4700 has a frequency range of 38-40k Hz whereas F328Be has a frequency range of 26-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 26Hz, the F328Be can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the S4700'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 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
S4700 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the F328Be which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. S4700 sensitivity is rated at 94 dB and the F328Be's is rated at 91 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the JBL S4700 a more sensitive speaker compared to Revel PerformaBe F328Be, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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 300 watts RMS, though S4700 is rated up to 300 watts and F328Be 50-300 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
Both S4700 and F328Be features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or 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 JBL S4700's and Revel PerformaBe F328Be's external dimensions. JBL S4700 has external dimensions of 1068.0 x 500.0 x 371.0mm (42-1/16 x 19-11/16 x 14-5/8inch) 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).
JBL S4700 is 226mm shorter and 77mm less deeper than Revel PerformaBe F328Be but it is also 157mm 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.
JBL S4700 needs about 21% more floor or shelf area. Revel PerformaBe F328Be is 77mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Revel PerformaBe F328Be is 226mm 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 JBL S4700 is approximately 1855.0cm2 / 287.5inch2 and base area of the Revel PerformaBe F328Be is approximately 1536.6cm2 / 238.2inch2. The S4700 requires 21% more surface area than the F328Be 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 S4700 weighs 54.50kg / 119.9lbs and the Revel PerformaBe F328Be weighs 51.18kg / 112.6lbs. This makes the S4700 6% heavier than the F328Be.
Here is a comparison of how S4700 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
 Sensitivity |
94 dB
vs
91 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
8.0 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Height |
1068mm
vs
1294mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
15000USD
vs
17600USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Number of Woofers |
3
vs
1
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
26 Hz
vs
38 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
1536cm2
vs
1855cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
JBL S4700 |
Revel PerformaBe F328Be |
| Brand |
JBL |
Revel |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 300 watts |
50-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
94 dB |
91 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
38-40k Hz |
26-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
3 |
| Woofer Size |
15" |
8.0" |
| Woofer Composition |
Pure Pulp |
Aluminum |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1" |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5.25" |
| Crossover Frequency |
80Hz and 12000Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1068.0mm (42") |
1294.0mm (50.9") |
| Width |
500.0mm (19.7") |
343.0mm (13.5") |
| Depth |
371.0mm (14.6") |
448.0mm (17.6") |
| Weight |
54.50kg (119.9lbs) |
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 |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
A generation apart: Revel PerformaBe F328Be is the newer design, against a 2012 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 38Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | JBL S4700 is more sensitive (94dB vs 91dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Revel PerformaBe F328Be is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (300W vs 300W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | JBL S4700: bi-amping; Revel PerformaBe F328Be: bi-amping. JBL S4700 sits in a wider range (8 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | JBL S4700 is cheaper - $15,000 against $17,600, about 15% less. |
A JBL S4700 B Revel PerformaBe F328Be
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?
The usual trade-off: Revel PerformaBe F328Be measures better, JBL S4700 costs about about 17% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 38Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper JBL S4700 much easier to justify. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, JBL S4700 is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.