Short answer: the Dynaudio Heritage Special for better sound quality, the Revel M126Be for the lower price. The Dynaudio Heritage Special ranks #23 of 100 bookshelf speakers at $7000. The Revel M126Be ranks #28 at $4400, $2600 cheaper.
What the Dynaudio Heritage Special gets right: One of the rare cases where the reviewer measured a speaker as flawed but still genuinely enjoyed listening to it. The catch: At lower listening volumes, dynamic range and kick-drum punch fell short of higher-sensitivity speakers the reviewer has tested (JBL 4367, KEF Reference 1 Meta) - the sheer output ceiling is impressive.
What the Revel M126Be offers: Two-way design pairing a 6.5” midwoofer with a 1” beryllium dome tweeter, the smaller sibling to the reviewer’s favorite Revel F226Be. Watch for: At $4,400/pair, the reviewer doesn’t consider it a strong value - an improvement over Revel’s less expensive M106 and Performa3 models, but not proportional to the price jump.
Buy the Dynaudio Heritage Special if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Revel M126Be if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| Dynaudio Heritage Special | Revel M126Be | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $7,000 | $4400 |
| Ranked | #23 of 100 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #28 of 100 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | 18cm MSP cone woofer, 28mm Esotar 3 dome tweeter | 6.5" Deep Ceramic Composite (DCC) Aluminum Cone with cast frame woofer, 1" Beryllium dome with acoustic lens waveguide tweeter |
| Dimensions | 15.2"H x 8.2"W x 12.6"D (385 x 208 x 320 mm) | 15.2"H x 8.3"W x 10.3"D (386.1 x 210.8 x 261.6 mm) |
| Weight | 24.3 lbs / 11 kg (24.25 lbs) each | 22 lbs / 10.0 kg each |
| Impedance | 5.1 ohms minimum, ported mode (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 6 ohms nominal (4.9 ohms minimum, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (measured at 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 86.1dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 52Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 103Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 44Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Discontinued | Yes (limited run of 2,500 pairs) | - |
| Country of Origin | Denmark | - |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported, rear |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Dynaudio Heritage Special: $7,000 Safe and Sound HQ
Pros: One of the rare cases where the reviewer measured a speaker as flawed but still genuinely enjoyed listening to it. A massive 4” voice coil on the midwoofer gives it exceptional output capability for a bookshelf speaker - averaged 100dB at 3.5 meters with no audible mechanical noise, port chuffing, or woofer bottoming even when deliberately pushed hard. Bass is very robust and doesn’t noticeably give up output as volume increases, staying solid at both low and high listening levels. Big, well-proportioned soundstage - wide without losing image focus. Limited run of 2,500 pairs with genuine collectible/heritage value; the tweeter (Esotar 3) and midwoofer both use premium Dynaudio-made drivers with an unusually wide, stout voice coil.
Cons: At lower listening volumes, dynamic range and kick-drum punch fell short of higher-sensitivity speakers the reviewer has tested (JBL 4367, KEF Reference 1 Meta) - the sheer output ceiling is impressive, but it isn’t a highly dynamic-sounding speaker at modest levels. A degree of “softness” in the upper mid-range. Selective sibilance in the 4-6kHz treble region that shows up on some tracks but not others, which the reviewer found mildly aggravating and would want to EQ down given the choice. Neither the tweeter nor the woofer is fully flush-mounted to the baffle, likely intentional as part of the heritage-styled look, but the reviewer wonders how much this affected linearity. At $7,000/pair MSRP (and a discontinued limited run, so used/open-box pricing around $5,000/pair is about the best you’ll do now), this is a serious investment for a bookshelf speaker.
Full Dynaudio Heritage Special review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 52Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Country of Origin | Denmark |
| Dimensions | 15.2"H x 8.2"W x 12.6"D (385 x 208 x 320 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes (limited run of 2,500 pairs) |
| Drivers | 18cm MSP cone woofer, 28mm Esotar 3 dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 5.1 ohms minimum, ported mode (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (measured at 2.83V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 24.3 lbs / 11 kg (24.25 lbs) each |
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- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Dynaudio Heritage Special vs Wharfedale Linton 85
- Dynaudio Heritage Special vs Wharfedale Super Linton
- Dynaudio Heritage Special vs Arendal 1528 Monitor 8
- Dynaudio Heritage Special vs ELAC VELA BS 403
- Dynaudio Heritage Special vs KEF R3
- Dynaudio Heritage Special vs Audio First Cadentia 3
- Dynaudio Heritage Special vs Perlisten S4b
Revel M126Be: $4400 Crutchfield
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.
Cons: At $4,400/pair, the reviewer doesn’t consider it a strong value - an improvement over Revel’s less expensive M106 and 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 →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 103Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| 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) |
| Weight | 22 lbs / 10.0 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Revel M126Be vs ELAC VELA BS 403
- Revel M126Be vs Wharfedale Linton 85
- Revel M126Be vs Selah Audio Purezza
- Revel M126Be vs Emotiva Airmotiv XB2
- Revel M126Be vs ELAC DB63
- Revel M126Be vs Radiant Acoustics Clarity 6.2
- Revel M126Be vs JBL HDI-1600
- Revel M126Be vs Wharfedale Super Linton
- See all 10 comparisons