In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by Revel. Revel Performa3 C208 is a Center Channel speaker whereas the M106 is a Bookshelf speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Revel Performa3 C208 and Revel M106 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 M106 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Hard-Dome with Acoustic Lens Waveguide Tweeter
- 6.5" Aluminum Woofer
- 59Hz- 20kHz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:50-150watts
- Weight:8.41kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 383.0" x 8-1/4" x 11"( 383.0 x 210.0 x 280.0mm )
Revel Performa3 C208 and M106 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 M106 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 M106 |
| 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 M106 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 C208 is a 3-way design whereas the M106 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 M106 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
1 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 M106 features a 1" aluminum Hard-Dome with Acoustic Lens Waveguide Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2300Hz.
Frequency Response
Revel Performa3 C208 has a frequency range of 50Hz- 20kHz whereas M106 has a frequency range of 59Hz- 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 M106's min frequency of 59Hz.
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 M106 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 M106's is at 87 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Revel Performa3 C208 a more sensitive speaker compared to Revel M106, 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 M106 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 200 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 M106 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Revel Performa3 C208's Binding post terminals
Revel M106'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 M106'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 M106 has external dimensions of 383.0 x 210.0 x 280.0mm ( 15-1/16 x 8-1/4 x 11inch) .
Revel M106 is 527mm narrower and 68mm less deeper than Revel Performa3 C208 but it is also 76mm taller.
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 M106 is approximately 588.0cm2 / 91.1inch2. The Revel Performa3 C208 requires 336% more surface area than the M106 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 M106?
Here are the items that come with the M106:
Bookshelf loudspeakerGrilleFoam port plugOwners Manual
Max Input Power 
Driver Setup 
Sensitivity 
Woofer Size 
Height 
Base Surface Area