In this review, we will be comparing Revel Performa3 C205 and Revel Performa3 C208, two Passive Center Channel speakers by Revel Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Revel Performa3 C205 and Revel Performa3 C208 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Revel Performa3 C205 and Revel Performa3 C208 are members of Revel's Performa3 series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Revel Performa3 Series History
What size room are the Revel Performa3 C205 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Revel Performa3 C205 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.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Revel Performa3 C205 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 |
Revel Performa3 C205 |
Revel Performa3 C208 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 8-inch
|
Revel Performa3 C205 features a 1" aluminum dome with proprietary acoustic lens and waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" aluminum cone with cast frames 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
Revel Performa3 C205 has a frequency range of 80Hz- 20kHz whereas Revel Performa3 C208 has a frequency range of 50Hz- 20kHz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the Revel Performa3 C208 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Revel Performa3 C205's min frequency of 80Hz.
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
Revel Performa3 C205 and Revel Performa3 C208 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 89 dB.
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.
Revel Performa3 C205 can handle a max power of 350 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Revel Performa3 C205 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS , 230 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
Revel Performa3 C205 features Binding post type posts and Revel Performa3 C208 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Revel Performa3 C205's Binding 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 Revel Performa3 C205's and Revel Performa3 C208's external dimensions. Revel Performa3 C205 has external dimensions of 207.0 x 535.0 x 294.0mm ( 8-1/8 x 21-1/16 x 11-9/16inch) 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) .
Revel Performa3 C208 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 202mm wider, 100mm taller and 54mm deeper than Revel Performa3 C205.
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 Revel Performa3 C205 is approximately 1572.9cm2 / 243.8inch2 and base area of the Revel Performa3 C208 is approximately 2564.8cm2 / 397.5inch2. The Revel Performa3 C205 requires 39% less surface area than the Revel Performa3 C208 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 Revel Performa3 C205 weighs 11.86kg / 26.1lbs and the Revel Performa3 C208 weighs 23.41kg / 51.5lbs. This makes the Revel Performa3 C208 97% heavier than the Revel Performa3 C205.
Here is a comparison of how Revel Performa3 C205 and Revel Performa3 C208'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 Performa3 C205?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Revel Performa3 C205:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrille2 Short feet2 Long feetOwners Manual
What's in the Box of Revel Performa3 C208?
Here are the items that come with the Revel Performa3 C208:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrille2 Short feet2 Long feet2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)Owners Manual
 Height |
207mm
vs
307mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1572cm2 (535x294mm)
vs
2564cm2 (737x348mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1100USD
vs
2200USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
350 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
80 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Revel Performa3 C205 |
Revel Performa3 C208 |
| Brand |
Revel |
Revel |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
50-120 watts |
50-350 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
80Hz- 20kHz |
50Hz- 20kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
aluminum cone with cast frames |
anodized aluminum cone with cast frames |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
dome with proprietary acoustic lens and waveguide |
dome with proprietary acoustic lens and waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
4" |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
207.0mm (8.1") |
307.0mm (12.1") |
| Width |
535.0mm (21.1") |
737.0mm (29") |
| Depth |
294.0mm (11.6") |
348.0mm (13.7") |
| Weight |
11.86kg (26.1lbs) |
23.41kg (51.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Passive Radiator |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black |
Gloss Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |