In this review, we will be comparing Performa4 F346 and AE520, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Revel and Acoustic Energy.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Revel Performa4 F346 and AE520 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Revel Performa4 F346 | AE520 |
|---|
| Brand | Revel
United States · founded 1996 | Acoustic Energy
United Kingdom · founded 1987 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" dome with waveguide |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5.2" |
|---|
| Woofer | 3 x 6.5" Micro Ceramic Composite (MCC) | 4 x 5" carbon fibre cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 30-40k Hz | 30Hz - 28kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-250 watts | up to 300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 39.77kg / 87.5lbs | 30.00kg / 66lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 44-7/16" x 14-1/8" x 16-3/8"
1129.0 x 359.0 x 416.0mm | 44.5" x 7.3" x 12.6"
1130.0 x 185.0 x 320.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Performa4 F346 is a 2-way design whereas the AE520 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.
Revel Performa4 F346AE520
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Revel Performa4 F346 |
AE520 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5.2-inch |
|
Woofer
|
3 x 6.5-inch
|
4 x 5-inch
|
Performa4 F346 features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 3 x 6.5" Micro Ceramic Composite (MCC) Woofer. On the other hand, the AE520 features a 1" carbon fibre dome with waveguide Tweeter, a 5.2" Midrange and 4 x 5" carbon fibre cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 373Hz and 2.8kHz.
Frequency Response
Performa4 F346 has a frequency range of 30-40k Hz whereas AE520 has a frequency range of 30Hz - 28kHz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Performa4 F346 and AE520 have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Performa4 F346 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the AE520's is at 90 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the AE520 a more sensitive speaker compared to Revel Performa4 F346, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
AE520 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS, whereas Performa4 F346 has a max power handling value of 250 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the AE520.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be 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 Performa4 F346's and AE520's external dimensions. Revel Performa4 F346 has external dimensions of 1129.0 x 359.0 x 416.0mm (44-7/16inch x 14-1/8inch x 16-3/8inch) whereas AE520 has external dimensions of 1130.0 x 185.0 x 320.0mm (44.5 x 7.3 x 12.6inch).
AE520 is 174mm narrower and 96mm less deeper than Revel Performa4 F346 but it is also 1mm taller.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Revel Performa4 F346 needs about 152% more floor or shelf area. Revel Performa4 F346 is 96mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall.
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 Performa4 F346 is approximately 1493.4cm2 / 231.5inch2 and base area of the AE520 is approximately 592.0cm2 / 91.8inch2. The Performa4 F346 requires 152% more surface area than the AE520 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 Performa4 F346 weighs 39.77kg / 87.5lbs and the AE520 weighs 30.00kg / 66lbs. This makes the Performa4 F346 33% heavier than the AE520.
Here is a comparison of how Performa4 F346 and AE520's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of Revel Performa4 F346?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Performa4 F346:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)
- Four M8 Spikes
- 4 Nuts
- 4 Discs
- Quick Start Guide
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
1129mm
vs
1130mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
250 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Number of Woofers |
4
vs
3
|
More woofers |
 Base Surface Area |
592cm2
vs
1493cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
4999USD
vs
6998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Revel Performa4 F346 |
Acoustic Energy AE520 |
| Brand |
Revel |
Acoustic Energy |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
20-250 watts |
up to 300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
30-40k Hz |
30Hz - 28kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
3 |
4 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Micro Ceramic Composite (MCC) |
carbon fibre cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
dome with waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6.5" |
5.2" |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
373Hz and 2.8kHz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1129.0mm (44.4") |
1130.0mm (44.5") |
| Width |
359.0mm (14.1") |
185.0mm (7.3") |
| Depth |
416.0mm (16.4") |
320.0mm (12.6") |
| Weight |
39.77kg (87.5lbs) |
30.00kg (66lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
Resonance Suppression Composite (RSC) |
| Available Colors |
Walnut |
Piano Gloss Black, Piano Gloss White, American Walnut wood veneer |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
|
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
|
A generation apart: Revel Performa4 F346 is the newer design, against a 2019 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (30Hz vs 30Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | B | AE520 is more sensitive (90dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (250W vs 300W). |
| Size | depends | AE520 is easier to place; Revel Performa4 F346 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | A | Revel Performa4 F346: bi-amping. Revel Performa4 F346 sits in a wider range (6 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | AE520 is cheaper - $4,999 against $6,998, about 29% less. |
A Revel Performa4 F346 B AE520
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. In a large or open-plan room, Revel Performa4 F346 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, AE520 is the easier speaker to get right. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, AE520 is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.