In this review, we will be comparing PerformaBe F228Be and Kendall, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Revel and KLH.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Revel PerformaBe F228Be and KLH Kendall first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Revel PerformaBe F228Be | KLH Kendall |
|---|
| Brand | Revel
United States · founded 1996 | KLH
United States · founded 1957 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" dome with proprietary acoustic lens waveguide | 1" |
|---|
| Midrange | 5.25" | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 8" DCC Aluminum | 2 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 27-44k Hz | 25-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 96 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50-350 watts | up to 250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 37.27kg / 82lbs | 22.14kg / 48.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 46-1/2" x 11-13/16" x 13-1/4"
1182.0 x 301.0 x 337.0mm | 40-3/16" x 8-5/16" x 14-15/16"
1021.0 x 212.0 x 380.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both PerformaBe F228Be and Kendall are 3-way speakers.
Revel PerformaBe F228BeKLH Kendall
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 PerformaBe F228Be |
KLH Kendall |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.25-inch |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
PerformaBe F228Be features a 1" beryllium dome with proprietary acoustic lens waveguide Tweeter, a 5.25" Midrange and 2 x 8" DCC Aluminum Woofer. On the other hand, the Kendall features a 1" anodized aluminum Tweeter, a 5.25" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar Woofer.
Frequency Response
PerformaBe F228Be has a frequency range of 27-44k Hz whereas Kendall has a frequency range of 25-23k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 25Hz, the Kendall can go slightly deeper then the PerformaBe F228Be's min frequency of 27Hz.
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
PerformaBe F228Be and Kendall have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. PerformaBe F228Be sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Kendall's is at 96 dB. This 6 dB difference makes the KLH Kendall a more sensitive speaker compared to Revel PerformaBe F228Be, 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.
PerformaBe F228Be can handle a max power of 350 watts RMS, whereas Kendall has a max power handling value of 250 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the PerformaBe F228Be.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both PerformaBe F228Be and Kendall features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
KLH Kendall's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
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 PerformaBe F228Be's and KLH Kendall's external dimensions. Revel PerformaBe F228Be has external dimensions of 1182.0 x 301.0 x 337.0mm (46-1/2 x 11-13/16 x 13-1/4inch) whereas KLH Kendall has external dimensions of 1021.0 x 212.0 x 380.0mm (40-3/16 x 8-5/16 x 14-15/16inch).
KLH Kendall is 89mm narrower and 161mm shorter than Revel PerformaBe F228Be but it is also 43mm deeper.
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 F228Be is approximately 1014.4cm2 / 157.2inch2 and base area of the KLH Kendall is approximately 805.6cm2 / 124.9inch2. The PerformaBe F228Be requires 26% more surface area than the Kendall 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 F228Be weighs 37.27kg / 82lbs and the KLH Kendall weighs 22.14kg / 48.7lbs. This makes the PerformaBe F228Be 68% heavier than the Kendall.
Here is a comparison of how PerformaBe F228Be and Kendall'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 F228Be?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of PerformaBe F228Be:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Spike feet
- 4 Locking rings
- 4 Washers
- 2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)
- Foam port plug
- Owners Manual
What's in the Box of KLH Kendall?
Here are the items that come with the Kendall:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- Foam port
- 4 Rubber feet
- 4 Spike feet (with nuts)
- 4 Protective discs
- Manual
 Max Input Power |
350 watts
vs
250 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
44k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
27 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1021mm
vs
1182mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
805cm2
vs
1014cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1500USD
vs
11000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Revel PerformaBe F228Be |
KLH Kendall |
| Brand |
Revel |
KLH |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
50-350 watts |
up to 250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
96 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
27-44k Hz |
25-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
DCC Aluminum |
Woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Butyl Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
dome with proprietary acoustic lens waveguide |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Firing Direction |
front |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1182.0mm (46.5") |
1021.0mm (40.2") |
| Width |
301.0mm (11.9") |
212.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
337.0mm (13.3") |
380.0mm (15") |
| Weight |
37.27kg (82lbs) |
22.14kg (48.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Wood/Lacquer |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
| Available Colors |
Gloss White |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
10 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
10 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Revel PerformaBe F228Be costs roughly 7.3x what KLH Kendall does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (27Hz vs 25Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | B | KLH Kendall is more sensitive (96dB vs 90dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | A | Revel PerformaBe F228Be takes more power (350W vs 250W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | KLH Kendall is easier to place; Revel PerformaBe F228Be is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Revel PerformaBe F228Be: bi-amping; KLH Kendall: bi-amping. Revel PerformaBe F228Be sits in a wider range (4 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | KLH Kendall is cheaper - $1,500 against $11,000, about 86% less; arguably a different class. |
A Revel PerformaBe F228Be B KLH Kendall
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 PerformaBe F228Be has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, KLH Kendall is the easier speaker to get right. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, KLH Kendall 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.