In this review, we will be comparing Reference 5 Meta and PerformaBe F228Be, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from KEF and Revel. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF Reference 5 Meta and Revel PerformaBe F228Be first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the KEF Reference 5 Meta and Revel PerformaBe F228Be 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 5 Meta and Revel PerformaBe F228Be 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 5 Meta and PerformaBe F228Be are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
KEF Reference 5 Meta |
Revel PerformaBe F228Be |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5-inch |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 8-inch
|
Reference 5 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 PerformaBe F228Be features a 1" beryllium dome with proprietary acoustic lens waveguide Tweeter , a 5.25" Midrange and 2 x 8" DCC Aluminum Woofer .
Frequency Response
Reference 5 Meta has a frequency range of 40-35k Hz whereas PerformaBe F228Be has a frequency range of 27-44k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 27Hz, the PerformaBe F228Be can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Reference 5 Meta's min frequency of 40Hz.
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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing 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 5 Meta is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the PerformaBe F228Be 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 5 Meta can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Reference 5 Meta sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the PerformaBe F228Be's is rated at 90 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Revel PerformaBe F228Be a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Reference 5 Meta, 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. 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 5 Meta can handle a max power of 400 watts RMS from the amp the whereas PerformaBe F228Be has a max power handling value of 350 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Reference 5 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
Both Reference 5 Meta and PerformaBe F228Be features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
KEF Reference 5 Meta's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Reference 5 Meta has a rear firing port whereas PerformaBe F228Be has a front firing ports. Revel PerformaBe F228Be's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to KEF Reference 5 Meta with its rear-firing port.
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 5 Meta's and Revel PerformaBe F228Be's external dimensions. KEF Reference 5 Meta has external dimensions of 1402 x 323 x 467 mm ( 55.2 x 12.7 x 18.4 in.) whereas Revel PerformaBe F228Be has external dimensions of 1182.0 x 301.0 x 337.0mm ( 46-1/2 x 11-13/16 x 13-1/4inch) .
KEF Reference 5 Meta is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 22mm wider, 220mm taller and 130mm deeper than Revel PerformaBe F228Be.
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 5 Meta is approximately 1508.4cm2 / 233.8inch2 and base area of the Revel PerformaBe F228Be is approximately 1014.4cm2 / 157.2inch2. The Reference 5 Meta requires 49% more surface area than the PerformaBe F228Be 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 5 Meta weighs 60.20kg / 132.4lbs and the Revel PerformaBe F228Be weighs 37.27kg / 82lbs. This makes the Reference 5 Meta 62% heavier than the PerformaBe F228Be.
Here is a comparison of how Reference 5 Meta and PerformaBe F228Be'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 F228Be?
Here are the items that come with the PerformaBe F228Be:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille4 Spike feet4 Locking rings4 Washers2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)Foam port plugOwners Manual
 Max Input Power |
400 watts
vs
350 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Number of Woofers |
4
vs
2
|
More woofers |
 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 |
| Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
27 Hz
vs
40 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
44k Hz
vs
35k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Height |
1182mm
vs
1402mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1014cm2 (301x337mm)
vs
1508cm2 (323x467mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
11000USD
vs
22000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
KEF Reference 5 Meta |
Revel PerformaBe F228Be |
| Brand |
KEF |
Revel |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
50-400 watts |
50-350 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
40-35k Hz |
27-44k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
4 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
aluminium cone |
DCC Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
aluminium dome with MAT |
dome with proprietary acoustic lens waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5" |
5.25" |
| Crossover Frequency |
450Hz and 2100Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1402.0mm (55.2") |
1182.0mm (46.5") |
| Width |
323.0mm (12.7") |
301.0mm (11.9") |
| Depth |
467.0mm (18.4") |
337.0mm (13.3") |
| Weight |
60.20kg (132.4lbs) |
37.27kg (82lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
Wood/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
High-Gloss White/Blue, High-Gloss White/Champagne, High-Gloss Black/Grey, High-Gloss Black/Copper, Satin Walnut/Silver |
Gloss White |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 years |
5 Years |