Short answer: the Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2. It ranks #24 of 216 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.4/5, at $798; the Revel M126Be ranks #38, rated 4.3/5, and costs $4,400, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2 is the deeper-bass option. High-quality manufacturer Klippel NFS data shows 0.295dB on-axis average absolute deviation, 0.531 listening-window smoothness, and a strong 7.99 preference score with a subwoofer. Its bass reaches about 77.6Hz before falling 3dB, against 103Hz for the Revel M126Be. Watch for: Bass rolls off early for the cabinet size, measuring 77.6Hz at -3dB, 64.5Hz at -6dB, and 48.3Hz at -12dB; the preference score without a subwoofer is only 5.33.
What the Revel M126Be does well: Two-way design pairing a 6.5” midwoofer with a 1” beryllium dome tweeter, the smaller sibling to the reviewer’s favorite Revel F226Be. The tradeoff: At $2200/pair, the reviewer doesn’t consider it a strong value: an improvement over the less expensive Revel M106 and other Performa3 models, but not proportional to the price jump.
Buy the Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Revel M126Be and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2 | Revel M126Be | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $798 per pair | $4,400 per pair |
| Ranked | #24 of 216 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #38 of 216 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 77.6Hz (measured, spinorama.org) | 103Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | approximately 53Hz (measured, spinorama.org) | 44Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | Two 6.5-inch woofers; 27mm soft-dome tweeter | 6.5” Deep Ceramic Composite (DCC) Aluminum Cone with cast frame woofer, 1” Beryllium dome with acoustic lens waveguide tweeter |
| Sensitivity | 92dB at 2.83V/1m anechoic | 86.1dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal | 6 ohms nominal (4.9 ohms minimum, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Power Handling | 240W continuous; 400W short-term peak | - |
| Dimensions | 21 x 7.5 x 10.5 in each | 15.2”H x 8.3”W x 10.3”D (386.1 x 210.8 x 261.6 mm) |
| Weight | 29.1 lbs (13.2 kg) each | 22 lbs (10.0 kg) each |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.33 | 5.08 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.99 | 7.34 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported, rear |
Frequency Response Compared
Both speakers’ spinorama measurements, overlaid. A flatter line is more neutral: peaks sound forward or harsh, dips sound recessed. Each curve is shifted so its average from 300 Hz to 3 kHz sits at 0 dB, so loudness differences between the two are removed and only the shape is compared. The two were measured by different sources, so small differences, especially in the bass, can come from the measurement setup rather than the speakers.
Measurement data: Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2 (measured by the manufacturer) and Revel M126Be (measured by Erin’s Audio Corner), via spinorama.org.
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2:
- Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2 vs Perlisten S4b
- KEF Reference 1 Meta vs Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2
- Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2 vs GR-Research NX-Studio
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The Two Speakers In Full
Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2: $798 per pair Ascend Acoustics $798 eBay
Older model: the Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE Center (rated 3.7/5). See every Ascend CBM, HTM and CMT generation.
Same family: the Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2 (smaller bookshelf, ranked lower, rated 3.8/5) and the Ascend Acoustics HTM-200SE2 (smaller bookshelf, rated 4.3/5).
Pros: High-quality manufacturer Klippel NFS data shows 0.295dB on-axis average absolute deviation, 0.531 listening-window smoothness, and a strong 7.99 preference score with a subwoofer. Its dual 6.5-inch woofers, 92dB anechoic sensitivity, and 240W continuous power rating support high output and dynamics. Measured bass extension of 77.6Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Bass rolls off early for the cabinet size, measuring 77.6Hz at -3dB, 64.5Hz at -6dB, and 48.3Hz at -12dB; the preference score without a subwoofer is only 5.33. The 4.35 sound-power directivity-index standard deviation also indicates more off-axis variation than the strongest designs, and the rear port needs placement clearance.
Full Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2 review and specifications →
| Released | Nov 2022 (3 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | approximately 53Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 77.6Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 21 x 7.5 x 10.5 in each |
| Drivers | Two 6.5-inch woofers; 27mm soft-dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal |
| Power Handling | 240W continuous; 400W short-term peak |
| Sensitivity | 92dB at 2.83V/1m anechoic |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.33 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.99 |
| Weight | 29.1 lbs (13.2 kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2 vs Arendal 1528 Monitor 8
- Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2 vs Wharfedale Super Linton
- Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2 vs MoFi SourcePoint 10
- Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2 vs AsciLab F6Bs
- Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2 vs Radiant Acoustics Clarity 6.2
- Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2 vs Dynaudio Heritage Special
- Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2 vs MoFi SourcePoint 8
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Revel M126Be: $4,400 per pair Crutchfield $2,200.00 eBay
Older models: the Revel M106 (ranked higher, rated 4.6/5) and the Revel Performa M22 (ranked lower, rated 3.3/5). See every Revel Performa generation.
Same family: the Revel F226Be (smallest floorstanding, rated 4.6/5), the Revel F228Be (floorstanding, rated 4.5/5), the Revel F328Be (largest floorstanding, rated 4.7/5) and the Revel C426Be (center, rated 4/5).
Pros: Two-way design pairing a 6.5” midwoofer with a 1” beryllium dome tweeter, the smaller sibling to the reviewer’s favorite Revel F226Be. Wide, immersive stereo imaging: hard-panned sounds in test tracks localized 2-3 feet outside the physical speaker positions without losing pinpoint precision. Horizontal radiation of about 60-70°, landing right in the reviewer’s preferred range for an enveloping yet still well-focused soundstage. Extended bass-shelf tuning (similar in concept to the KEF R3 Meta) combines with in-room gain for a more linear low end rather than a boomy hump. Diffraction dips visible on-axis around 3kHz and 7kHz largely disappear in the estimated in-room response, since they fill in as you move off-axis. Distortion stays within 3% down to about 100Hz at both 86dB and 96dB output: strong performance for a 6.5” bookshelf woofer. Can be driven by a standard AVR thanks to a manageable 4.9-ohm minimum impedance. Measured bass extension of 103Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 86.1dB.
Cons: At $2200/pair, the reviewer doesn’t consider it a strong value: an improvement over the less expensive Revel M106 and other Performa3 models, but not proportional to the price jump. Bass tops out around 50Hz in-room; a subwoofer is still needed for real low-end extension. Vertical placement is fairly critical: there’s a notable hole in the response around the 1.7kHz crossover if you sit above the tweeter axis. Toeing the speaker out to a full 30° introduces a roughly 1dB discontinuity in the midrange along with high-frequency rolloff; the reviewer recommends staying close to on-axis or within about 10°. An unexplained jump in distortion appears right at the 1.7kHz crossover point under compression testing, which may be linked to an occasional “glaring” quality the reviewer noticed in the 2-3kHz region at very high volumes (92-93dB from 2 meters). A mild 2-3kHz forwardness occasionally stood out on some tracks, correctable with about 1dB of EQ, though the reviewer considers it minor.
Full Revel M126Be review and specifications →
| Released | May 2020 (6 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 103Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 15.2”H x 8.3”W x 10.3”D (386.1 x 210.8 x 261.6 mm) |
| Drivers | 6.5” Deep Ceramic Composite (DCC) Aluminum Cone with cast frame woofer, 1” Beryllium dome with acoustic lens waveguide tweeter |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (4.9 ohms minimum, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 86.1dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.08 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.34 |
| Weight | 22 lbs (10.0 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Revel M126Be vs ELAC VELA BS 403
- Revel M126Be vs Ascend Acoustics Sierra-LX
- Revel M126Be vs Wharfedale Linton 85
- Revel M126Be vs Ascend Acoustics Sierra-2EX V2
- Revel M126Be vs JTR Speakers Noesis 210HT
- Revel M126Be vs Selah Audio Purezza
- Revel M126Be vs Dynaudio Heritage Special
- Revel M126Be vs Radiant Acoustics Clarity 6.2
- See all 23 comparisons