In this review, we will be comparing M106 and M105, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Revel
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Revel M106 and Revel M105 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
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 M105 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Hard-Dome with Acoustic Lens Waveguide Tweeter
- 5.25" Aluminum Woofer
- 60Hz- 20kHz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:50-120watts
- Weight:7.14kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 359.0" x 7-15/16" x 9-7/8"( 359.0 x 202.0 x 251.0mm )
M106 and M105 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 M106 and Revel M105 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 M106 |
Revel M105 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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 M106 and Revel M105 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
Both M106 and M105 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Revel M106 |
Revel M105 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
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. On the other hand, the M105 features a 1" aluminum Hard-Dome with Acoustic Lens Waveguide Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2300Hz.
Frequency Response
M106 has a frequency range of 59Hz- 20kHz whereas M105 has a frequency range of 60Hz- 20kHz. With a minimum frequency of 59Hz, the M106 can go slightly deeper then the M105's min frequency of 60Hz.
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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf 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
M106 and M105 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. M106 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the M105's is at 86 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Revel M106 a more sensitive speaker compared to Revel M105, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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.
M106 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas M105 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the M106.
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
M106 features Binding post type posts and M105 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Revel M106's Binding post terminals
Revel M105's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both M106 and M105 have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
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 M106's and Revel M105's external dimensions. Revel M106 has external dimensions of 383.0 x 210.0 x 280.0mm ( 15-1/16 x 8-1/4 x 11inch) whereas Revel M105 has external dimensions of 359.0 x 202.0 x 251.0mm ( 14-1/8 x 7-15/16 x 9-7/8inch) .
Revel M106 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 8mm wider, 24mm taller and 29mm deeper than Revel M105.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Revel M106 and Revel M105 in scale.
Comparison image of Revel M106 and Revel M105 Size and External Dimensions
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 M106 is approximately 588.0cm2 / 91.1inch2 and base area of the Revel M105 is approximately 507.0cm2 / 78.6inch2. The M106 requires 16% more surface area than the M105 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of Revel M106 and Revel M105 on a Media Console
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 M106 weighs 8.41kg / 18.5lbs and the Revel M105 weighs 7.14kg / 15.7lbs. This makes the M106 18% heavier than the M105.
Here is a comparison of how M106 and M105's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Revel M106?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of M106:
Bookshelf loudspeakerGrilleFoam port plugOwners Manual
What's in the Box of Revel M105?
Here are the items that come with the M105:
Bookshelf loudspeakerGrilleFoam port plugOwners Manual
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
59 Hz
vs
60 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
359mm
vs
383mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
507cm2
vs
588cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1650USD
vs
2200USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Revel Performa3 M106 |
Revel Performa3 M105 |
| Brand |
Revel |
Revel |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
50-150 watts |
50-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
59Hz- 20kHz |
60Hz- 20kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome with Acoustic Lens Waveguide |
Hard-Dome with Acoustic Lens Waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2300Hz |
2300Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
383.0mm (15.1") |
359.0mm (14.1") |
| Width |
210.0mm (8.3") |
202.0mm (8") |
| Depth |
280.0mm (11") |
251.0mm (9.9") |
| Weight |
8.41kg (18.5lbs) |
7.14kg (15.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Wood/Lacquer |
Wood/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Walnut,Piano Black |
Gloss Walnut,Piano Black,Piano White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-25" |
24-25" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |