In this review, we will be comparing PerformaBe F228Be and F328Be, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by Revel
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Revel PerformaBe F228Be and Revel PerformaBe F328Be first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Revel PerformaBe F228Be Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" dome with proprietary acoustic lens waveguide Tweeter
- 5.25" Midrange
- 2 x 8" DCC Aluminum Woofer
- 27-44k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:50-350watts
- Weight:37.27kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1182.0" x 11-13/16" x 13-1/4"( 1182.0 x 301.0 x 337.0mm )
Revel PerformaBe F328Be Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Tweeter
- 5.25" Midrange
- 3 x 8.0" Aluminum Woofer
- 5.25" Midrange
- 26-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 91 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:50-300watts
- Weight:51.18kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1294.0" x 13-1/2" x 17-5/8"( 1294.0 x 343.0 x 448.0mm )
PerformaBe F228Be and F328Be are members of Revel's PerformaBe series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Revel PerformaBe Series
History
What size room are the Revel PerformaBe F228Be and Revel PerformaBe F328Be 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 PerformaBe F228Be |
Revel PerformaBe F328Be |
| Near-field |
Are you nuts? |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Good |
Average |
(* 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 PerformaBe F228Be and Revel PerformaBe F328Be 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 PerformaBe F228Be and F328Be are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Revel PerformaBe F228Be |
Revel PerformaBe F328Be |
|
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
|
3 x 8.0-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 F328Be features a 1" Tweeter , a 5.25" Midrange and 3 x 8.0" Aluminum Woofer .
Frequency Response
PerformaBe F228Be has a frequency range of 27-44k Hz whereas F328Be has a frequency range of 26-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 26Hz, the F328Be can go slightly deeper then the PerformaBe F228Be's min frequency of 27Hz.
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 F228Be and F328Be 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 F328Be's is at 91 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Revel PerformaBe F328Be 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. 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 F228Be can handle a max power of 350 watts RMS from the amp the whereas F328Be has a max power handling value of 300 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the PerformaBe F228Be.
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 F228Be and F328Be features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
PerformaBe F228Be has a front firing port whereas F328Be has a rear firing ports. Revel PerformaBe F228Be's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Revel PerformaBe F328Be 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 F228Be's and Revel PerformaBe F328Be'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 Revel PerformaBe F328Be has external dimensions of 1294.0 x 343.0 x 448.0mm ( 50-15/16 x 13-1/2 x 17-5/8inch) .
Revel PerformaBe F328Be is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 42mm wider, 112mm taller and 111mm deeper than Revel PerformaBe F228Be.
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 Revel PerformaBe F328Be is approximately 1536.6cm2 / 238.2inch2. The PerformaBe F228Be requires 34% less surface area than the F328Be which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.