In this review, we will be comparing D9.2 and F328Be, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Spendor and Revel.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Spendor D9.2 and Revel PerformaBe F328Be first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Spendor D9.2 | Revel PerformaBe F328Be |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.87" | 1" |
|---|
| Midrange | 7.09" | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 7.09" | 3 x 8.0" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 27-25k Hz | 26-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 91 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | — | 50-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 35.00kg / 77lbs | 51.18kg / 112.6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 45.5" x 8.3" x 15.7"
1155.7 x 210.8 x 398.8mm | 50-15/16" x 13-1/2" x 17-5/8"
1294.0 x 343.0 x 448.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Spendor D9.2 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* |
Spendor D9.2 |
Revel PerformaBe F328Be |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
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Drivers
Both D9.2 and F328Be are 3-way speakers.
Spendor D9.2Revel PerformaBe F328Be
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Spendor D9.2 |
Revel PerformaBe F328Be |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.87-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 7.09-inch |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 7.09-inch
|
3 x 8.0-inch
|
D9.2 features a 0.87" Tweeter, a 7.09" Midrange and 1 x 7.09" Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 500 Hz, 4.2 kHz. On the other hand, the F328Be features a 1" Tweeter, a 5.25" Midrange and 3 x 8.0" Aluminum Woofer.
Frequency Response
D9.2 has a frequency range of 27-25k 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 D9.2'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
D9.2 and F328Be have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. D9.2 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 Spendor D9.2, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
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
F328Be features 5-way posts posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. D9.2 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/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 Spendor D9.2's and Revel PerformaBe F328Be's external dimensions. Spendor D9.2 has external dimensions of 1155.7 x 210.8 x 398.8mm (45.5 x 8.3 x 15.7inch) 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 132.2mm wider, 138.3mm taller and 49.2mm deeper than Spendor D9.2.
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 Spendor D9.2 is approximately 840.7cm2 / 130.3inch2 and base area of the Revel PerformaBe F328Be is approximately 1536.6cm2 / 238.2inch2. The D9.2 requires 45% less surface area than the F328Be 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 Spendor D9.2 weighs 35.00kg / 77lbs and the Revel PerformaBe F328Be weighs 51.18kg / 112.6lbs. This makes the F328Be 46% heavier than the D9.2.
Here is a comparison of how D9.2 and F328Be'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 F328Be?
Here are the items that come with the F328Be:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Spike feet
- 4 Locking rings
- 4 Washers
- 2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)
- 2 Foam port plugs
- Owners Manual
 Height |
1155mm
vs
1294mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
840cm2
vs
1536cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
14998USD
vs
17600USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
8.0 inches
vs
7.09 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Number of Woofers |
3
vs
1
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
26 Hz
vs
27 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| General |
Spendor D9.2 |
Revel PerformaBe F328Be |
| Brand |
Spendor |
Revel |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
91 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
27-25k Hz |
26-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
3 |
| Woofer Size |
7.09" |
8.0" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Aluminum |
| Tweeter Size |
0.87" |
1" |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
7.09" |
5.25" |
| Crossover Frequency |
500 Hz, 4.2 kHz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1155.7mm (45.5") |
1294.0mm (50.9") |
| Width |
210.8mm (8.3") |
343.0mm (13.5") |
| Depth |
398.8mm (15.7") |
448.0mm (17.6") |
| Weight |
35.00kg (77lbs) |
51.18kg (112.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Gloss Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
A generation apart: Spendor D9.2 is the newer design, against a 2017 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass |
evenly matched |
Much the same reach (27Hz vs 26Hz). |
| Amplifier needs |
evenly matched |
Similar sensitivity (90dB vs 91dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Size |
depends |
Spendor D9.2 is easier to place; Revel PerformaBe F328Be is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability |
B |
Revel PerformaBe F328Be: bi-amping. |
| Price |
A |
Spendor D9.2 is cheaper - $14,998 against $17,600, about 15% less. |
A Spendor D9.2
B Revel PerformaBe F328Be
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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?
The usual trade-off: Revel PerformaBe F328Be measures better, Spendor D9.2 costs about 15% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. In a large or open-plan room, Revel PerformaBe F328Be has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Spendor D9.2 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.