In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by Revel. Revel PerformaBe M126Be is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the PerformaBe F228Be is a Floor-standing speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Revel M126Be and Revel PerformaBe F228Be first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Revel M126Be | Revel PerformaBe F228Be |
|---|
| Brand | Revel
United States · founded 1996 | Revel
United States · founded 1996 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" dome with proprietary acoustic lens waveguide |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" DCC Aluminum | 2 x 8" DCC Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 54-44k Hz | 27-44k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50-150 watts | 50-350 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 10.00kg / 22lbs | 37.27kg / 82lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 15-1/4" x 8-5/16" x 10-5/16"
388.0 x 212.0 x 262.0mm | 46-1/2" x 11-13/16" x 13-1/4"
1182.0 x 301.0 x 337.0mm |
|---|
M126Be and PerformaBe F228Be 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 M126Be and Revel PerformaBe F228Be 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 M126Be |
Revel PerformaBe F228Be |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Are you nuts? |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Good |
(* 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that M126Be is a 2-way design whereas the PerformaBe F228Be is a 3-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.
Revel M126BeRevel PerformaBe F228Be
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 M126Be |
Revel PerformaBe F228Be |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 8-inch
|
M126Be features a 1" beryllium Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" DCC Aluminum Woofer. On the other hand, the PerformaBe F228Be features a 1" beryllium dome with proprietary acoustic lens waveguide Tweeter, a 5.25" Midrange and 2 x 8" DCC Aluminum Woofer.
Frequency Response
M126Be has a frequency range of 54-44k Hz whereas PerformaBe F228Be has a frequency range of 27-44k 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 M126Be's min frequency of 54Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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
M126Be and PerformaBe F228Be have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. M126Be sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the PerformaBe F228Be's is at 90 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Revel PerformaBe F228Be a more sensitive speaker compared to Revel M126Be, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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 M126Be has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 200 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
PerformaBe F228Be features Binding post 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
M126Be has a rear firing port whereas PerformaBe F228Be has a front firing ports. Revel PerformaBe F228Be's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Revel M126Be with its rear-firing port.
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 M126Be's and Revel PerformaBe F228Be's external dimensions. 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) whereas 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).
Revel PerformaBe F228Be is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 89mm wider, 794mm taller and 75mm 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 M126Be is approximately 555.4cm2 / 86.1inch2 and base area of the Revel PerformaBe F228Be is approximately 1014.4cm2 / 157.2inch2. The M126Be requires 45% less surface area than the PerformaBe F228Be which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of Revel M126Be?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of M126Be:
- Bookshelf loudspeaker
- Grille
- Foam port plug
- Owners Manual
What's in the Box of Revel PerformaBe F228Be?
Here are the items that come with the PerformaBe F228Be:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Spike feet
- 4 Locking rings
- 4 Washers
- 2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)
- Foam port plug
- Owners Manual