In this review, we will be comparing PerformaBe F226Be and R7, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Revel and KEF. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Revel PerformaBe F226Be and KEF R7 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Revel PerformaBe F226Be and KEF R7 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Revel PerformaBe F226Be and KEF R7 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 PerformaBe F226Be and R7 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Revel PerformaBe F226Be |
KEF R7 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.25-inch |
1 x 5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
PerformaBe F226Be features a 1" beryllium dome with proprietary acoustic lens waveguide Tweeter , a 5.25" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" DCC Aluminum Woofer . On the other hand, the R7 features a 1" aluminum Dome Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 400Hz and 2900Hz.
Frequency Response
PerformaBe F226Be has a frequency range of 50-40k Hz whereas R7 has a frequency range of 48-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the R7 can go slightly deeper then the PerformaBe F226Be'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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing 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
PerformaBe F226Be and R7 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. PerformaBe F226Be sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the R7's is at 88 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Revel PerformaBe F226Be a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF R7, 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. 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.
PerformaBe F226Be can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas PerformaBe F226Be has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the R7.
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
Both PerformaBe F226Be and R7 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
KEF R7's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
PerformaBe F226Be has a front firing port whereas R7 has a rear firing ports. Revel PerformaBe F226Be's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to KEF R7 with its rear-firing port.
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 PerformaBe F226Be's and KEF R7's external dimensions. Revel PerformaBe F226Be has external dimensions of 1050.0 x 250.0 x 350.0mm ( 41-5/16 x 9-13/16 x 13-3/4inch) whereas KEF R7 has external dimensions of 1113.0 x 200.0 x 389.0mm ( 43-13/16 x 8 x 15-5/16inch) .
Revel PerformaBe F226Be is 63mm shorter and 39mm less deeper than KEF R7 but it is also 50mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Revel PerformaBe F226Be and KEF R7 in scale.
Comparison image of Revel PerformaBe F226Be and KEF R7 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 PerformaBe F226Be is approximately 875.0cm2 / 135.6inch2 and base area of the KEF R7 is approximately 778.0cm2 / 120.6inch2. The PerformaBe F226Be requires 12% more surface area than the R7 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 PerformaBe F226Be weighs 26.36kg / 58lbs and the KEF R7 weighs 31.40kg / 69.1lbs. This makes the R7 19% heavier than the PerformaBe F226Be.
Here is a comparison of how PerformaBe F226Be and R7'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 PerformaBe F226Be?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of PerformaBe F226Be:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille4 Spike feet4 Locking rings4 Washers2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)Foam port plugOwners Manual
What's in the Box of KEF R7?
Here are the items that come with the R7:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille2 Foam port plugs4 Outrigger feet4 Spikes4 Protective discs4 Screws4 WashersWrenchHex-keyUser ManualWarranty Information
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Height |
1050mm
vs
1113mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
48 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
778cm2 (200x389mm)
vs
875cm2 (250x350mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
4500USD
vs
7700USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Revel PerformaBe F226Be |
KEF R7 |
| Brand |
Revel |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
50-200 watts |
15-250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50-40k Hz |
48-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
DCC Aluminum |
Hybrid Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
dome with proprietary acoustic lens waveguide |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5.25" |
5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
400Hz and 2900Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1050.0mm (41.3") |
1113.0mm (43.8") |
| Width |
250.0mm (9.8") |
200.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
350.0mm (13.8") |
389.0mm (15.3") |
| Weight |
26.36kg (58lbs) |
31.40kg (69.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Wood/Lacquer |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black |
Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |