In this review, we will be comparing Revel Performa3 C208 and Revel Performa3 C205, two Passive Center Channel speakers by Revel
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Revel Performa3 C208 and Revel Performa3 C205 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 Performa3 C205 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" dome with proprietary acoustic lens and waveguide Tweeter
- 2 x 5.25" aluminum cone with cast frames Woofer
- 80Hz- 20kHz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:50-120watts
- Weight:11.86kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 207.0" x 21-1/16" x 11-9/16"( 207.0 x 535.0 x 294.0mm )
Revel Performa3 C208 and Revel Performa3 C205 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 C208 and Revel Performa3 C205 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 Performa3 C205 |
| Near-field |
Are you nuts? |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Bad |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Poor |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Good |
Poor |
(* 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 Performa3 C205 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Revel Performa3 C208 is a 3-way design whereas the Revel Performa3 C205 is a 2-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 C208 |
Revel Performa3 C205 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
2 x 5.25-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 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 .
Frequency Response
Revel Performa3 C208 has a frequency range of 50Hz- 20kHz whereas Revel Performa3 C205 has a frequency range of 80Hz- 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 C208 and Revel Performa3 C205 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 C208 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 C208 features Binding post type posts and Revel Performa3 C205 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Revel Performa3 C208's Binding post terminals
Revel Performa3 C205'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 Performa3 C205'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 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) .
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 C208 is approximately 2564.8cm2 / 397.5inch2 and base area of the Revel Performa3 C205 is approximately 1572.9cm2 / 243.8inch2. The Revel Performa3 C208 requires 63% more surface area than the Revel Performa3 C205 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 Revel Performa3 C208 weighs 23.41kg / 51.5lbs and the Revel Performa3 C205 weighs 11.86kg / 26.1lbs. This makes the Revel Performa3 C208 97% heavier than the Revel Performa3 C205.
Here is a comparison of how Revel Performa3 C208 and Revel Performa3 C205'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 C208?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Revel Performa3 C208:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrille2 Short feet2 Long feet2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)Owners Manual
What's in the Box of Revel Performa3 C205?
Here are the items that come with the Revel Performa3 C205:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrille2 Short feet2 Long feetOwners Manual
 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 |
 Height |
207mm
vs
307mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1572cm2
vs
2564cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1100USD
vs
2200USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Revel Performa3 C208 |
Revel Performa3 C205 |
| Brand |
Revel |
Revel |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
50-350 watts |
50-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50Hz- 20kHz |
80Hz- 20kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
anodized aluminum cone with cast frames |
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 |
4" |
No |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
307.0mm (12.1") |
207.0mm (8.1") |
| Width |
737.0mm (29") |
535.0mm (21.1") |
| Depth |
348.0mm (13.7") |
294.0mm (11.6") |
| Weight |
23.41kg (51.5lbs) |
11.86kg (26.1lbs) |
| 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 |