Short answer: the Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Tower. Both are rated 4.6/5 for sound quality (#12 and #15 of 228 floorstanding speakers), and the Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Tower costs $5,698 against $8,469.90 for the Revel F226Be, so with nothing between them on sound quality, price settles it.
The Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Tower is the more accurate, deeper-bass option. A 3-way bamboo tower with a RAAL ribbon tweeter that measures a 6.97 preference score, bass to 38.7Hz and a nearly flat on-axis response. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 6.97 against 5.96 for the Revel F226Be. Its bass reaches about 38.7Hz before falling 3dB, against 56Hz for the Revel F226Be. The tradeoff: Listening window smoothness measures a moderate 0.40 and on axis deviation runs 0.286dB average, both trailing the tighter figures posted by some smaller passive AsciLab and Ascend bookshelf models.
What the Revel F226Be does well: A compact three-way tower with a beryllium tweeter, excellent ±1.5dB on-axis linearity and a 5.96 preference score. The catch: Minimum impedance dips to about 3.7-4 ohms below roughly 500Hz despite the 8-ohm nominal rating, so it wants a genuine 4-ohm-capable two-channel amplifier; budget AVRs rated only for 6 or 8 ohms may struggle.
Buy the Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Tower. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $2,771.90 less than the Revel F226Be.
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A 3-way bamboo tower with a RAAL ribbon tweeter that measures a 6.97 preference score, bass to 38.7Hz and a nearly flat on-axis response.
Ascend Acoustics $5,698 eBay
A compact three-way tower with a beryllium tweeter, excellent ±1.5dB on-axis linearity and a 5.96 preference score.
Crutchfield $4,234.95 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Tower | Revel F226Be | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5,698 per pair | $8,469.90 per pair |
| Ranked | #12 of 228 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #15 of 228 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Enclosure | ported | - |
| Drivers | RAAL 70-20xram ribbon tweeter, 6” SEAS Excel Curv midrange (sealed sub-chamber), 2x 6” SEAS Excel aluminum woofers | Two 6.5” (165mm) Deep Ceramic Composite aluminum cones, with cast frames woofer, 5-1/4” (130mm) Deep Ceramic Composite aluminum cone, with cast frame midrange, 1” (25mm) Beryllium dome, with acoustic lens waveguide tweeter |
| Dimensions | 43”H x 7.5”W x 10.5”D (1092 x 190 x 267 mm) | 41.3”H x 9.8”W x 13.7”D (1049 x 248.9 x 348 mm) |
| Weight | 56 lbs (25.4 kg) each | 58.2 lbs (26.4 kg) each |
| Sensitivity | 87.5dB @ 2.83V/1m anechoic (manufacturer) | 89.7dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal | 8 ohms nominal (3.7 ohms minimum, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Power Handling | 400W continuous, 600W peak | - |
| Frequency Response | 36-27,000Hz +/-3dB anechoic (manufacturer) | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 38.7Hz (measured, spinorama.org vendor data) | 56Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 28.5Hz (measured, spinorama.org vendor data) | 36Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Warranty | 7 years parts and labor | - |
| Country | United States | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.97 | 5.96 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.42 | 8.15 (spinorama.org) |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported, front |
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 ELX Ribbon Tower (measured by the manufacturer) and Revel F226Be (measured by Erin’s Audio Corner), via spinorama.org.
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