Short answer: the Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Tower. It ranks #12 of 228 floorstanding speakers by sound quality, rated 4.6/5, at $5,698; the Revel F228Be ranks #29, rated 4.5/5, and costs $11,000, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
The Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Tower is the more accurate, deeper-bass pick. Highly accurate three way bamboo towers with a ribbon tweeter, deep tight bass and a long warranty. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 6.97 against 6.01 for the Revel F228Be. Its bass reaches about 38.7Hz before falling 3dB, against 61Hz for the Revel F228Be. Watch for: 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.
The case for the Revel F228Be: Premium floorstanding speakers with extremely accurate sound, very low distortion, wide even dispersion and a forgiving range of listening heights. The tradeoff: Minimum impedance dips to 3.4 ohms with a secondary rise around 2kHz, calling for an amplifier comfortable with a demanding load.
Buy the Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Tower. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Revel F228Be and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Highly accurate three way bamboo towers with a ribbon tweeter, deep tight bass and a long warranty.
Premium floorstanding speakers with extremely accurate sound, very low distortion, wide even dispersion and a forgiving range of listening heights.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Tower | Revel F228Be | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5,698 per pair | $11,000 per pair |
| Ranked | #12 of 228 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #29 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 | Dual 8” (200mm) Deep Ceramic Composite aluminum cones, with cast frames woofers, 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) | 50.9”H x 13.5”W x 17.6”D (1292.9 x 342.9 x 447 mm) |
| Weight | 56 lbs (25.4 kg) each | 112.4 lbs (51 kg) each |
| Sensitivity | 87.5dB @ 2.83V/1m anechoic (manufacturer) | 89.3dB (300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, measured by Audio Science Review; 90dB manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal | 8 ohms |
| Power Handling | 400W continuous, 600W peak | - |
| Frequency Response | 36-27,000Hz +/-3dB anechoic (manufacturer) | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 38.7Hz (measured, spinorama.org vendor data) | 61Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 28.5Hz (measured, spinorama.org vendor data) | 25Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Warranty | 7 years parts and labor | - |
| Country | United States | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.97 | 6.01 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.42 | 7.51 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported, front |
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