In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by Revel. Revel PerformaBe F328Be is a Floor-standing speaker whereas the M126Be is a Bookshelf speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Revel PerformaBe F328Be and Revel M126Be first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Revel PerformaBe F328Be Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Tweeter
- 5.25" Midrange
- 3 x 8.0" Aluminum Woofer
- 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 )
Revel M126Be Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 6.5" DCC Aluminum Woofer
- 54-44k Hz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:50-150watts
- Weight:10.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 388.0" x 8-5/16" x 10-5/16"( 388.0 x 212.0 x 262.0mm )
F328Be and M126Be 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 F328Be and Revel M126Be 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 F328Be |
Revel M126Be |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
(* 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 F328Be and Revel M126Be 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that F328Be is a 3-way design whereas the M126Be is a 2-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.
| Driver |
Revel PerformaBe F328Be |
Revel M126Be |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.25-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
3 x 8.0-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
F328Be features a 1" Tweeter , a 5.25" Midrange and 3 x 8.0" Aluminum Woofer . On the other hand, the M126Be features a 1" beryllium Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" DCC Aluminum Woofer .
Frequency Response
F328Be has a frequency range of 26-40k Hz whereas M126Be has a frequency range of 54-44k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 26Hz, the F328Be can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the M126Be's min frequency of 54Hz.
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
F328Be and M126Be have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. F328Be sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the M126Be's is at 86 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the Revel PerformaBe F328Be a more sensitive speaker compared to Revel M126Be, 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.
F328Be can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas M126Be has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 150 watts less than the F328Be.
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
F328Be features 5-way posts posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. M126Be has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both F328Be and M126Be have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
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 F328Be's and Revel M126Be's external dimensions. 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) whereas Revel M126Be has external dimensions of 388.0 x 212.0 x 262.0mm ( 15-1/4 x 8-5/16 x 10-5/16inch) .
Revel PerformaBe F328Be is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 131mm wider, 906mm taller and 186mm deeper than Revel M126Be.
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 F328Be is approximately 1536.6cm2 / 238.2inch2 and base area of the Revel M126Be is approximately 555.4cm2 / 86.1inch2. The F328Be requires 177% more surface area than the M126Be which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of Revel PerformaBe F328Be?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of F328Be:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille4 Spike feet4 Locking rings4 Washers2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)2 Foam port plugsOwners Manual
What's in the Box of Revel M126Be?
Here are the items that come with the M126Be:
Bookshelf loudspeakerGrilleFoam port plugOwners Manual