Revel PerformaBe F226Be Floorstanding Speaker Review

[gorman]

He did recommend them in his "Top 5 Speakers at Any Price Video" as of 1 year ago though.

And the only floorstanders in his selection. Thanks for pointing this out. Appreciated.

 

[testp]

And the only floorstanders in his selection. Thanks for pointing this out. Appreciated.

also, he reviews a LOT speakers as do Amir here

 

[MattHooper]

I auditioned these speakers a couple times several years ago. This was really a case of “ sounds like they measure.” my reaction was “ boy do they sound linear!” It was really hard to find fault with the frequency response. They did all the things the measurements suggest in terms of maintaining and even tonality even off axis.

The snare has an excellent ‘paper sound’ timbre to it.

I loved reading that comment! I listen to lots of old and new jazz/R&B and lots of drums and bass driven music so I’m always paying attention to the sound of drums. And I always evaluate the sound of snare drums through a system. I’m looking for that
“ papery” quality that I’m so familiar with from live drums. All too often drum snares sound more like modulated bursts of white noise.

 

[LunaTempesta]

I am in the market for new speakers around the 6k price mark.

Would anybody in the west european area (Netherlands/Western Germany/Belgium) know a place that auditions and sells these speakers?
If they do that well compared to others I wouldn't mind paying a little bit extra. Sadly the one store I find charges almost 10k for the pair, which is too much.

 

[JanRSmit]

Check https://www.referencesounds.nl/en/ , they carry amongst others Revel

 

[Oddball]

Search: 18 results found for "revel"

Established in 2008, Nintronics Audio is a specialist retailer and installer of High Fidelity Music and Home Cinema Systems.

nintronics.co.uk

Not in EU, but close enough. They have great price on 228s that could fit your budget. Did not do business with them but they seem very responsive. Was looking into 328s but still can't decide.

Also found these that might be closer to you. Have never heard or dealt with the seller though.

Revel F 228 Beryllium (3433908697) | Neugerät | Standlautsprecher | Angebot auf audio-markt.de

Angeboten wird „F 228 Beryllium“ von Revel als Neugerät aus der Kategorie „Standlautsprecher“ bei audio-markt.de - dem Online-Marktplatz für High-End. Das Inserat mit der Nummer 3433908697 endet am 24.04.2025 um 06:53 Uhr.

www.audio-markt.de

 

[LunaTempesta]

Check https://www.referencesounds.nl/en/ , they carry amongst others Revel

Might be worth to go for a listen, sadly their price list for the 226 is out of my budget, nearing 10k.
All the retailers listed also somehow do not seem to carry Revel at this point in time.

Search: 18 results found for "revel"

Established in 2008, Nintronics Audio is a specialist retailer and installer of High Fidelity Music and Home Cinema Systems.

nintronics.co.uk

Not in EU, but close enough. They have great price on 228s that could fit your budget. Did not do business with them but they seem very responsive. Was looking into 328s but still can't decide.

Also found these that might be closer to you. Have never heard or dealt with the seller though.

Revel F 228 Beryllium (3433908697) | Neugerät | Standlautsprecher | Angebot auf audio-markt.de

Angeboten wird „F 228 Beryllium“ von Revel als Neugerät aus der Kategorie „Standlautsprecher“ bei audio-markt.de - dem Online-Marktplatz für High-End. Das Inserat mit der Nummer 3433908697 endet am 24.04.2025 um 06:53 Uhr.

www.audio-markt.de

Don't want to risk shipping from overseas incase I need support in one way or another. But if that's the set price it is very good indeed.

The other seems to be a second hand marketplace for hifi.

Thanks!

 

[gorman]

Might be worth to go for a listen, sadly their price list for the 226 is out of my budget, nearing 10k

Don't want to risk shipping from overseas in case I need support in one way or another. But if that's the set price it is very good indeed.

Honestly I fail to understand why audio companies allow situations like these... how can the same exact product cost twice as much in Europe compared to the UK?

I'm assuming the £3,999 price is for the couple, considering they say it's discounted from £8,399. Whereas the price for a single speaker in the Netherlands is €4,899 (and the center speaker, C426Be, is an eye watering 5,999). It would sound like a joke if it wasn't sadly true.

 

[testp]

Honestly I fail to understand why audio companies allow situations like these... how can the same exact product cost twice as much in Europe compared to the UK?

I'm assuming the £3,999 price is for the couple, considering they say it's discounted from £8,399. Whereas the price for a single speaker in the Netherlands is €4,899 (and the center speaker, C426Be, is an eye watering 5,999). It would sound like a joke if it wasn't sadly true.

this is for a pair & new, as mentioned in the listing -> https://www.audio-markt.de/market/revel-f-228-beryllium-3433908697 hardly it is discounted from 11k for one piece..

i've looked into this site before many times, while i have not dealt with them, i consider this place solid. Also good sign for a dealer to have a website, not sure do they have a demo floor or such..

 

[Rsauditt]

Moved to a new house with my dedicated audio room being 16x12x8. I have all the bass traps/1st reflection panels and diffusers in place. I was trying to get my large Ushers to work in this room with no luck. I ended up with the Revel F226be speakers. These speakers are perfect for the room whether I use Jim Smiths speaker positioning method or the typical 1/3 or 1/5 into the room method. The f228be’s would be too big. All my audio g up members indicated I don’t need a sub with these on most music I listen too. I have been demoing my system with a small NHT subwoofer/controller I have and with its 10” woofer, with it crossed over at 60 with high level inputs, with the volume just barely on, it gives the speakers a better fullness, better bass definition. I’m probably going to get a pair of Rel T5x subs to compliment the 226be’s. I don’t need much more bass and the t5x subs are fast and down to 30hz.

 

[Chubbs McCallister]

Moved to a new house with my dedicated audio room being 16x12x8. I have all the bass traps/1st reflection panels and diffusers in place. I was trying to get my large Ushers to work in this room with no luck. I ended up with the Revel F226be speakers. These speakers are perfect for the room whether I use Jim Smiths speaker positioning method or the typical 1/3 or 1/5 into the room method. The f228be’s would be too big. All my audio g up members indicated I don’t need a sub with these on most music I listen too. I have been demoing my system with a small NHT subwoofer/controller I have and with its 10” woofer, with it crossed over at 60 with high level inputs, with the volume just barely on, it gives the speakers a better fullness, better bass definition. I’m probably going to get a pair of Rel T5x subs to compliment the 226be’s. I don’t need much more bass and the t5x subs are fast and down to 30hz.

What is the difference between a fast and a slow subwoofer?

 

[Jim Taylor]

I don’t need much more bass and the t5x subs are fast and down to 30hz.

A comment on the subject of fast bass vs. slow bass ...

Totem Acoustics Rainmaker Speaker Review

Vince, the owner and designer, is great at doing demos at shows. Like Andrew Jones, he picks his clips carefully and with his nice presentation style, wins a lot of customers. He would routinely advertise that this woofers were so good that they didn't need any crossover! Likely then they...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Rsauditt]

What is the difference between a fast and a slow subwoofer?

About 4”-7”! I’m in the camp that likes multiple smaller woofers than 1 bigger 1, so 8” woofers are my sweet spot. I rather get the Revel Salon 2 with multiple 8” woofers over say the Usher be20 that has multiple 11” Eaton woofers.

 

[Jim Taylor]

About 4”-7”! I’m in the camp that likes multiple smaller woofers than 1 bigger 1, so 8” woofers are my sweet spot. I rather get the Revel Salon 2 with multiple 8” woofers over say the Usher be20 that has multiple 11” Eaton woofers.

I've heard people say similar things in the past. Is this preference related to engineering principles, or is it related to something else? IOW, is it related to room size and the attendant room modes, production costs of the speaker, floor bounce cancellation or something similar?

 

[ex audiophile]

I asked chatGPT about the slow/fast subwoofer notion:

"The idea of "fast" versus "slow" subwoofers is largely considered a myth; all subwoofers can reproduce bass frequencies effectively if they are designed well, and perceived speed is more about how well the subwoofer integrates with other speakers in the system. Factors like cabinet design and driver alignment play a more significant role in the overall sound quality than the size of the subwoofer itself."

Now that I'm older I'm choosing subwoofers based on my ability to move them around lol. I'm very happy with a pair of the new KC92s paired with my 226bes (thank you Erin).

 

[jeffaegrim]

A comment on the subject of fast bass vs. slow bass ...

Totem Acoustics Rainmaker Speaker Review

Vince, the owner and designer, is great at doing demos at shows. Like Andrew Jones, he picks his clips carefully and with his nice presentation style, wins a lot of customers. He would routinely advertise that this woofers were so good that they didn't need any crossover! Likely then they...

www.audiosciencereview.com

It’s amazing that an unequivocal post by Dr. Toole on a given audio related topic can be linked and it will still be ignored in the following replies. Like there could be any further discussion on „fast“ vs „slow“ bass.

 

[Jim Taylor]

It’s amazing that an unequivocal post by Dr. Toole on a given audio related topic can be linked and it will still be ignored in the following replies. Like there could be any further discussion on „fast“ vs „slow“ bass.

There can always be further discussion. In fact, there can be disagreement. However, on a website dedicated to logic and use of scientific principles, the disagreements need to be founded on rigorously-sorted examples backed up by measurements, as if the post were a paper submitted to peer review.

We don't be perfessers here, but we be close!

 

[Rsauditt]

My ears are the only measurement tools I need.
Simple question, is it easier to push a 8” ball or a 15” ball? If you have a 200 watt amp, what size diaphragm would be easier to move: 1”, 5”, 8”, 12”, 15”? Why do you see the power of the amp go way up with the size of the speaker? The rel t5x has a 8” driver, try pushing a 12” driver with that size amp. The bigger Rel’s with the larger cones have 3-5x the power. For home theater, I’d get a 12” or 15” for the full impact.
I also prefer speaker systems with the multiple smaller woofers like the Revel or Raidho

 

[Oddball]

BS on measurements. My ears are the only measurement tools I need.

Well that's not going to take off on this forum anytime soon .

 

[ahofer]

BS on measurements. My ears are the only measurement tools I need.

This may not be the most satisfying place for you.

Listening is good, but you can’t listen to everything, and certainly not in identical conditions. Measurements are great for triage, and they are all you need to understand the fidelity of electronics.