Short answer: the KEF R5. It ranks #9 of 56 floorstanding speakers by sound quality at $2999; the Revel F228Be ranks #15 and costs $7000, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the KEF R5 offers: Slim three-way tower with the acoustic advantages of KEF’s coincident Uni-Q midrange/tweeter: horizontal and vertical off-axis responses track the direct sound smoothly. Watch for: The unusual gap between 77Hz F3 and 33Hz F10 indicates a gradual bass contour rather than flat deep-bass output; a subwoofer and roughly 80Hz high-pass are recommended for high-level playback.
What the Revel F228Be gets right: CEA2034 spinorama shows an essentially flat on-axis response with very nice directivity. The catch: Minimum impedance dips to 3.4 ohms with a secondary rise around 2kHz, calling for an amplifier comfortable with a demanding load.
Buy the KEF R5. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Revel F228Be and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| KEF R5 | Revel F228Be | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,999/pair Discontinued | $7000 |
| Ranked | #9 of 56 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #15 of 56 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 77Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 61Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 33Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 25Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Sensitivity | Approximately 86dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 89.3dB (300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, measured by Audio Science Review; 90dB manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | Approximately 3.5 ohms minimum near 150Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms |
| Drivers | 1" aluminum tweeter coaxial with 5" midrange; dual 5.25" 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 | 40.4"H x 6.9"W x 13.5"D | 50.9"H x 13.5"W x 17.6"D (1292.9 x 342.9 x 447 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes | - |
| Weight | 59.5 lb each | 112.4 lbs / 51 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, front |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Revel F226Be vs Revel F208
- Revel F206 vs Revel F226Be
- Revel F226Be vs PSB Imagine T65
- KEF R11 Meta vs Revel F228Be
- Revel F208 vs Revel F228Be
The Two Speakers In Full
KEF R5: $2,999/pair Discontinued
Pros: Slim three-way tower with the acoustic advantages of KEF’s coincident Uni-Q midrange/tweeter: horizontal and vertical off-axis responses track the direct sound smoothly, producing stable imaging and a well-behaved directivity index. Erin measured deep low-frequency reach for the cabinet width—77Hz F3 but 33Hz F10—and less than 1% harmonic distortion at 86dB. At 96dB it remains clean when high-passed, and its mild response deviations are suitable for equalization because the radiation pattern stays orderly.
Cons: The unusual gap between 77Hz F3 and 33Hz F10 indicates a gradual bass contour rather than flat deep-bass output; a subwoofer and roughly 80Hz high-pass are recommended for high-level playback. Erin measured a minimum near 3.5 ohms around 150Hz, although most of the curve remains above 4 ohms, so amplifier quality still matters. Sensitivity is approximately 86dB/2.83V/1m. At 102dB, compression reaches roughly 1dB around 150Hz, showing the limits of the twin 5.25-inch woofers. This original model lacks the Meta version’s MAT rear-wave absorption. Discontinued.
Full KEF R5 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 33Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 77Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 40.4"H x 6.9"W x 13.5"D |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 1" aluminum tweeter coaxial with 5" midrange; dual 5.25" woofers |
| Impedance | Approximately 3.5 ohms minimum near 150Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | Approximately 86dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 59.5 lb each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
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Revel F228Be: $7000 Crutchfield
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows an essentially flat on-axis response with very nice directivity. Predicted in-room response is nearly perfect, with a smooth slope down from bass to treble. Horizontal beamwidth of about ±70 degrees is wide and holds up well until narrowing above 8kHz. Vertical directivity offers more degrees of listening-height freedom than a typical bookshelf design, a benefit of this tower’s driver layout. Distortion is extremely low across the full audio range at 86dB SPL/1m and stays comfortable even at 96dB SPL/1m. Near-field measurements of the individual drivers show nice, well-integrated crossover behavior with only low-level resonances.
Cons: Minimum impedance dips to 3.4 ohms with a secondary rise around 2kHz, calling for an amplifier comfortable with a demanding load. Very expensive and very heavy (51 kg each).
Full Revel F228Be review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 25Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 61Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 50.9"H x 13.5"W x 17.6"D (1292.9 x 342.9 x 447 mm) |
| Drivers | 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 |
| Impedance | 8 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 89.3dB (300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, measured by Audio Science Review; 90dB manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 112.4 lbs / 51 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons