In this review, we will be comparing Reva 2 and M106, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and Revel.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale Reva 2 and Revel M106 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale Reva 2 | Revel M106 |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | Revel
United States · founded 1996 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1" Hard-Dome with Acoustic Lens Waveguide |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" Woven Glass Fiber | 6.5" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 48-20k Hz | 59Hz- 20kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-80 watts | 50-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.82kg / 17.2lbs | 8.41kg / 18.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14-1/16" x 7-7/8" x 12-13/16"
358.0 x 201.0 x 326.0mm | 15-1/16" x 8-1/4" x 11"
383.0 x 210.0 x 280.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale Reva 2 and Revel M106 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* |
Wharfedale Reva 2 |
Revel M106 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Reva 2 and M106 are 2-way speakers.
Wharfedale Reva 2Revel M106
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Wharfedale Reva 2 |
Revel M106 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Reva 2 features a 1" woven textile Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Woven Glass Fiber Woofer. On the other hand, the M106 features a 1" aluminum Hard-Dome with Acoustic Lens Waveguide Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2300Hz.
Frequency Response
Reva 2 has a frequency range of 48-20k Hz whereas M106 has a frequency range of 59Hz- 20kHz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the Reva 2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the M106's min frequency of 59Hz.
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
Reva 2 and M106 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Reva 2 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the M106's is at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Revel M106 a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale Reva 2, 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.
M106 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas Reva 2 has a max power handling value of 80 watts RMS, 70 watts less than the M106.
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
Reva 2 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. M106 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale Reva 2's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Revel M106's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Reva 2 has a bottom firing port whereas M106 has a rear firing ports. Wharfedale Reva 2's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Revel M106 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 Wharfedale Reva 2's and Revel M106's external dimensions. Wharfedale Reva 2 has external dimensions of 358.0 x 201.0 x 326.0mm (14-1/16 x 7-7/8 x 12-13/16inch) whereas Revel M106 has external dimensions of 383.0 x 210.0 x 280.0mm (15-1/16 x 8-1/4 x 11inch).
Wharfedale Reva 2 is 9mm narrower and 25mm shorter than Revel M106 but it is also 46mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale Reva 2 and Revel M106 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale Reva 2 and Revel M106 Size and External Dimensions
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 Wharfedale Reva 2 is approximately 655.3cm2 / 101.6inch2 and base area of the Revel M106 is approximately 588.0cm2 / 91.1inch2. The Reva 2 requires 11% more surface area than the M106 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of Wharfedale Reva 2 and Revel M106 on a Media Console
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 Wharfedale Reva 2 weighs 7.82kg / 17.2lbs and the Revel M106 weighs 8.41kg / 18.5lbs. This makes the M106 8% heavier than the Reva 2.
Here is a comparison of how Reva 2 and M106's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Wharfedale Reva 2?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Reva 2:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles (pre-installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- 4 Jumper bars (pre-installed)
- Pair of white gloves
- User-feets Manual
What's in the Box of Revel M106?
Here are the items that come with the M106:
- Bookshelf loudspeaker
- Grille
- Foam port plug
- Owners Manual
 Low Frequency Response |
48 Hz
vs
59 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
358mm
vs
383mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
999USD
vs
2200USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
80 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Base Surface Area |
588cm2
vs
655cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Wharfedale Reva 2 |
Revel Performa3 M106 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Revel |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-80 watts |
50-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
48-20k Hz |
59Hz- 20kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Glass Fiber |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Hard-Dome with Acoustic Lens Waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2300Hz |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
358.0mm (14.1") |
383.0mm (15.1") |
| Width |
201.0mm (7.9") |
210.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
326.0mm (12.8") |
280.0mm (11") |
| Weight |
7.82kg (17.2lbs) |
8.41kg (18.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Wood composite laminate |
Wood/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black |
Gloss Walnut,Piano Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24" |
24-25" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Revel M106 costs roughly 2.2x what Wharfedale Reva 2 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 | Wharfedale Reva 2 digs deeper - 48Hz against 59Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (86dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | B | Revel M106 takes more power (150W vs 80W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Wharfedale Reva 2: bi-amping. Revel M106 sits in a wider range (8 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Wharfedale Reva 2 is cheaper - $999 against $2,200, about 55% less; arguably a different class. |
A Wharfedale Reva 2 B Revel M106
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 59Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Wharfedale Reva 2 the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and Revel M106 for a mid-size room and a large room.
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.