In this review, we will be comparing PerformaBe F228Be and Cornwall IV, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Revel and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Revel PerformaBe F228Be and Klipsch Cornwall IV first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Revel PerformaBe F228Be | Klipsch Cornwall IV |
|---|
| Brand | Revel
United States · founded 1996 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" dome with proprietary acoustic lens waveguide | 1" horn-loaded |
|---|
| Midrange | 5.25" | 1.75" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 8" DCC Aluminum | 15" Fiber composite |
|---|
| Frequency response | 27-44k Hz | 34-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 102 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50-350 watts | up to 100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 37.27kg / 82lbs | 44.55kg / 98lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 38" x 25-5/16" x 15-1/2"
966.0 x 643.0 x 394.0mm |
|---|
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 Cornwall IV are 3-way speakers.
Revel PerformaBe F228BeKlipsch Cornwall IV
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 |
Klipsch Cornwall IV |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.25-inch |
1 x 1.75-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
1 x 15-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 Cornwall IV features a 1" titanium-diaphragm compression horn-loaded Tweeter, a 1.75" Midrange and 1 x 15" Fiber composite Woofer.
Frequency Response
PerformaBe F228Be has a frequency range of 27-44k Hz whereas Cornwall IV has a frequency range of 34-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 27Hz, the PerformaBe F228Be can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Cornwall IV's min frequency of 34Hz.
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 Cornwall IV 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 Cornwall IV's is at 102 dB. This 12 dB difference makes the Klipsch Cornwall IV 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 Cornwall IV has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 250 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 Cornwall IV features dual binding post speaker terminals for 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 Klipsch Cornwall IV'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 Klipsch Cornwall IV has external dimensions of 966.0 x 643.0 x 394.0mm (38 x 25-5/16 x 15-1/2inch).
Revel PerformaBe F228Be is 342mm narrower and 57mm less deeper than Klipsch Cornwall IV but it is also 216mm 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 PerformaBe F228Be is approximately 1014.4cm2 / 157.2inch2 and base area of the Klipsch Cornwall IV is approximately 2533.4cm2 / 392.7inch2. The PerformaBe F228Be requires 60% less surface area than the Cornwall IV which gives it a small advantage 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 Klipsch Cornwall IV weighs 44.55kg / 98lbs. This makes the Cornwall IV 20% heavier than the PerformaBe F228Be.
Here is a comparison of how PerformaBe F228Be and Cornwall IV'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 Klipsch Cornwall IV?
Here are the items that come with the Cornwall IV:
- 2 Floorstanding loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- Owners Manual
- Congratulations letter
- Klipsch brochure
 Max Input Power |
350 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
27 Hz
vs
34 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
44k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
1014cm2
vs
2533cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
102 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Height |
966mm
vs
1182mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
6598USD
vs
11000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Revel PerformaBe F228Be |
Klipsch Heritage Cornwall IV |
| Brand |
Revel |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
50-350 watts |
up to 100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
102 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
27-44k Hz |
34-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
15" |
| Woofer Composition |
DCC Aluminum |
Fiber composite |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
dome with proprietary acoustic lens waveguide |
horn-loaded |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5.25" |
1.75" |
| Firing Direction |
front |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1182.0mm (46.5") |
966.0mm (38") |
| Width |
301.0mm (11.9") |
643.0mm (25.3") |
| Depth |
337.0mm (13.3") |
394.0mm (15.5") |
| Weight |
37.27kg (82lbs) |
44.55kg (98lbs) |
| 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 1.7x what Klipsch Cornwall IV 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 | A | Revel PerformaBe F228Be digs deeper - 27Hz against 34Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Klipsch Cornwall IV is more sensitive (102dB vs 90dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | A | Revel PerformaBe F228Be takes more power (350W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Revel PerformaBe F228Be is easier to place; Klipsch Cornwall IV is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Revel PerformaBe F228Be: bi-amping; Klipsch Cornwall IV: bi-amping. Klipsch Cornwall IV sits in a wider range (12 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Klipsch Cornwall IV is cheaper - $6,598 against $11,000, about 40% less; arguably a different class. |
A Revel PerformaBe F228Be B Klipsch Cornwall IV
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?
Revel PerformaBe F228Be is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 67% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Klipsch Cornwall IV looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the Revel PerformaBe F228Be appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 34Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Klipsch Cornwall IV much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Klipsch Cornwall IV has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Revel PerformaBe F228Be is the easier speaker to get right.
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.