In this review, we will be comparing Platinum C250 3G and C426Be, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Monitor Audio and Revel.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Monitor Audio Platinum C250 3G and Revel C426Be first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Monitor Audio Platinum C250 3G | Revel C426Be |
|---|
| Brand | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 | Revel
United States · founded 1996 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" | 1" dome with proprietary acoustic lens and waveguide |
|---|
| Midrange | 2.5" | 5-1/4" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5" RDT III | 4 x 6.5" aluminum with Deep Ceramic Composite coating |
|---|
| Frequency response | 30-60k Hz | 38-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 300 watts | 50-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 25.40kg / 55.9lbs | 33.05kg / 72.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 8.8" x 24.8" x 12.8"
225 x 630 x 325.7 mm | 12-5/16" x 38-5/8" x 14-1/16"
313.0 x 982.0 x 358.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Monitor Audio Platinum C250 3G 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:
| Listening Environment* |
Monitor Audio Platinum C250 3G |
Revel C426Be |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| 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 Platinum C250 3G and C426Be are 3-way speakers.
Monitor Audio Platinum C250 3GRevel C426Be
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Monitor Audio Platinum C250 3G |
Revel C426Be |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 2.5-inch |
1 x 5-1/4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5-inch
|
4 x 6.5-inch
|
Platinum C250 3G features a 1" MPD III Tweeter, a 2.5" Midrange and 2 x 5" RDT III Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 850 Hz - 3500 Hz. On the other hand, the 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
Platinum C250 3G has a frequency range of 30-60k Hz whereas C426Be has a frequency range of 38-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 30Hz, the Platinum C250 3G can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the C426Be'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 Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel 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
Platinum C250 3G is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the 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 Platinum C250 3G can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Platinum C250 3G sensitivity is rated at 88dB and the C426Be's is rated at 90 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Revel C426Be a more sensitive speaker compared to Monitor Audio Platinum C250 3G, 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. 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 Platinum C250 3G is rated up to 300 watts and C426Be 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.
Monitor Audio Platinum C250 3G
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Platinum C250 3G features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. C426Be has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Monitor Audio Platinum C250 3G's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Revel C426Be's Binding post terminals
Monitor Audio Platinum C250 3G Port
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 Monitor Audio Platinum C250 3G's and Revel C426Be's external dimensions. Monitor Audio Platinum C250 3G has external dimensions of 225 x 630 x 325.7 mm (8.8 x 24.8 x 12.8-inch) 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 clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 352mm wider, 88mm taller and 32mm deeper than Monitor Audio Platinum C250 3G.
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 Monitor Audio Platinum C250 3G is approximately 2053.8cm2 / 318.3inch2 and base area of the Revel C426Be is approximately 3515.6cm2 / 544.9inch2. The Platinum C250 3G requires 42% less surface area than the C426Be which gives it a small advantage 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 Monitor Audio Platinum C250 3G weighs 25.40kg / 55.9lbs and the Revel C426Be weighs 33.05kg / 72.7lbs. This makes the C426Be 30% heavier than the Platinum C250 3G.
Here is a comparison of how Platinum C250 3G and C426Be's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
Monitor Audio Platinum C250 3G
What's in the Box of Revel C426Be?
Here are the items that come with the C426Be:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- Feet assembly
- 2 Port plugs
- Owners Manual
 Low Frequency Response |
30 Hz
vs
38 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
60k Hz
vs
40k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
225mm
vs
313mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
2053cm2
vs
3515cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 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 |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Number of Woofers |
4
vs
2
|
More woofers |
 Price per pair* |
4950USD
vs
5900USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Monitor Audio Platinum C250 3G |
Revel C426Be |
| Brand |
Monitor Audio |
Revel |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 300 watts |
50-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
30-60k Hz |
38-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
4 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
RDT III |
aluminum with Deep Ceramic Composite coating |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
dome with proprietary acoustic lens and waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
2.5" |
5-1/4" |
| Crossover Frequency |
850 Hz - 3500 Hz |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
225.0mm (8.9") |
313.0mm (12.3") |
| Width |
630.0mm (24.8") |
982.0mm (38.7") |
| Depth |
326.0mm (12.8") |
358.0mm (14.1") |
| Weight |
25.40kg (55.9lbs) |
33.05kg (72.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Piano Black, Piano Ebony, Satin White |
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 |
A generation apart: Monitor Audio Platinum C250 3G is the newer design, against a 2018 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Monitor Audio Platinum C250 3G digs deeper - 30Hz against 38Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Revel C426Be is more sensitive (90dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Revel C426Be is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (300W vs 300W). |
| Size | depends | Monitor Audio Platinum C250 3G is easier to place; Revel C426Be is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Sealed vs Ported. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Expandability | A | Monitor Audio Platinum C250 3G: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | Revel C426Be is cheaper - $4,950 against $5,900, about 16% less. |
A Monitor Audio Platinum C250 3G B Revel C426Be
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. 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 Revel C426Be much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Revel C426Be has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Monitor Audio Platinum C250 3G is the easier speaker to get right.
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.