In this review, we will be comparing Reference 4 Meta and Revel C426Be, two Passive Center Channel speakers from KEF and Revel. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF Reference 4 Meta and Revel C426Be first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the KEF Reference 4 Meta 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KEF Reference 4 Meta and Revel C426Be 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
Both Reference 4 Meta and Revel C426Be are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
KEF Reference 4 Meta |
Revel C426Be |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5-inch |
1 x 5-1/4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 6.5-inch
|
4 x 6.5-inch
|
Reference 4 Meta features a 1" aluminium dome with MAT Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 4 x 6.5" aluminium cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 450Hz and 2100Hz. On the other hand, the Revel 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
Reference 4 Meta has a frequency range of 48-35k Hz whereas Revel C426Be has a frequency range of 38-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 38Hz, the Revel C426Be can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Reference 4 Meta's min frequency of 48Hz.
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
Reference 4 Meta is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Revel C426Be 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 Reference 4 Meta can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Reference 4 Meta sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Revel C426Be's is rated at 90 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Revel C426Be a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Reference 4 Meta, 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.
Reference 4 Meta can handle a max power of 400 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Revel C426Be has a max power handling value of 300 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the Reference 4 Meta.
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
Reference 4 Meta features Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Revel C426Be has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KEF Reference 4 Meta's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Revel C426Be'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 KEF Reference 4 Meta's and Revel C426Be's external dimensions. KEF Reference 4 Meta has external dimensions of 205 x 1090 x 463 mm ( 8.1 x 42.9 x 18.2 in.) 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 108mm narrower and 105mm less deeper than KEF Reference 4 Meta but it is also 108mm 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 KEF Reference 4 Meta is approximately 5046.7cm2 / 782.2inch2 and base area of the Revel C426Be is approximately 3515.6cm2 / 544.9inch2. The Reference 4 Meta requires 44% more surface area than the Revel C426Be 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 KEF Reference 4 Meta weighs 45.20kg / 99.4lbs and the Revel C426Be weighs 33.05kg / 72.7lbs. This makes the Reference 4 Meta 37% heavier than the Revel C426Be.
Here is a comparison of how Reference 4 Meta and Revel 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 Revel C426Be?
Here are the items that come with the Revel C426Be:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrilleFeet assembly2 Port plugsOwners Manual
 Max Input Power |
400 watts
vs
300 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Height |
205mm
vs
313mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Low Frequency Response |
38 Hz
vs
48 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
35k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
3515cm2 (982x358mm)
vs
5046cm2 (1090x463mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
4950USD
vs
8000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
KEF Reference 4 Meta |
Revel C426Be |
| Brand |
KEF |
Revel |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
50-400 watts |
50-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
48-35k Hz |
38-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
4 |
4 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
aluminium cone |
aluminum with Deep Ceramic Composite coating |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
aluminium dome with MAT |
dome with proprietary acoustic lens and waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5" |
5-1/4" |
| Crossover Frequency |
450Hz and 2100Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
205.0mm (8.1") |
313.0mm (12.3") |
| Width |
1090.0mm (42.9") |
982.0mm (38.7") |
| Depth |
463.0mm (18.2") |
358.0mm (14.1") |
| Weight |
45.20kg (99.4lbs) |
33.05kg (72.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
High-Gloss White/Blue, High-Gloss White/Champagne, High-Gloss Black/ Grey, High-Gloss Black/Copper, Satin Walnut/Silver |
Walnut |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 years |
5 Years |