In this review, we will be comparing Revel Performa3 C208 and Revel C426Be, two Passive Center Channel speakers by Revel
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Revel Performa3 C208 and Revel C426Be first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Revel Performa3 C208 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" dome with proprietary acoustic lens and waveguide Tweeter
- 4" Midrange
- 2 x 8" anodized aluminum cone with cast frames Woofer
- 50Hz- 20kHz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:50-350watts
- Weight:23.41kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 307.0" x 29" x 13-11/16"( 307.0 x 737.0 x 348.0mm )
Revel C426Be Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" dome with proprietary acoustic lens and waveguide Tweeter
- 5-1/4" Midrange
- 4 x 6.5" aluminum with Deep Ceramic Composite coating Woofer
- 5-1/4" Midrange
- 38-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:50-300watts
- Weight:33.05kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 313.0" x 38-5/8" x 14-1/16"( 313.0 x 982.0 x 358.0mm )
What size room are the Revel Performa3 C208 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* |
Revel Performa3 C208 |
Revel C426Be |
| Near-field |
Are you nuts? |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Bad |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Poor |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Good |
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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Revel Performa3 C208 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 Revel Performa3 C208 and Revel C426Be are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Revel Performa3 C208 |
Revel C426Be |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
1 x 5-1/4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
4 x 6.5-inch
|
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 . 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
Revel Performa3 C208 has a frequency range of 50Hz- 20kHz 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 Revel Performa3 C208's min frequency of 50Hz.
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 C208 and Revel C426Be have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Revel Performa3 C208 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Revel C426Be's is at 90 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Revel C426Be a more sensitive speaker compared to Revel Performa3 C208, 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.
Revel Performa3 C208 can handle a max power of 350 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Revel C426Be has a max power handling value of 300 watts RMS, 50 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 C208 features Binding post type posts and Revel C426Be has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Revel Performa3 C208's Binding post terminals
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 Revel Performa3 C208's and Revel C426Be's external dimensions. Revel Performa3 C208 has external dimensions of 307.0 x 737.0 x 348.0mm ( 12-1/16 x 29 x 13-11/16inch) 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 245mm wider, 6mm taller and 10mm deeper than Revel Performa3 C208.
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 C208 is approximately 2564.8cm2 / 397.5inch2 and base area of the Revel C426Be is approximately 3515.6cm2 / 544.9inch2. The Revel Performa3 C208 requires 27% less surface area than the Revel C426Be which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.