Revel F206 vs Polk Reserve R500

Last updated: October 1, 2026

Short answer: the Polk Reserve R500, if you are buying new. The Revel F206 ranks higher than it (#18 vs #37 of 74 floorstanding speakers, 4.5/5 vs 4.2/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the Polk Reserve R500 is still sold new at $1,259.98.

Revel F206 vs Polk Reserve R500

Buy the Polk Reserve R500 if you want one new; the Revel F206 is discontinued, so only look for it used.

Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.

Specifications Side By Side

Revel F206 Polk Reserve R500
Price$2,000 per pair used, Discontinued$1,259.98 per pair
Ranked#18 of 74 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers#37 of 74 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers
Bass Extension (-10dB)34Hz (measured, Audio Science Review)33Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner)
Bass Extension (-3dB)60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review)51Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner)
Dimensions40.3”H x 8.4”W x 12.2”D (1023.6 x 213.4 x 309.9 mm)40.3”H x 6.8”W x 12.4”D (1023.6 x 172.7 x 315 mm)
Impedance4 ohms nominal (3.3 ohms minimum, measured by Audio Science Review)4.1 ohms minimum above 80Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner; 8 ohms nominal per manufacturer)
DriversDual 6.5” (16.5 cm) Aluminum Cone, Cast-frame Woofers, 5.25” (13.3 cm) Aluminum Cone, Cast-frame Midrange, 1” (2.5 cm) Aluminum Tweeter with Acoustic Lens WaveguideTwo 5.25” Turbine Cone woofer, 1” Pinnacle Ring Radiator tweeter
Sensitivity87dB (measured, Audio Science Review)86.2dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner)
Weight57.3 lbs (26 kg) each39.2 lbs (17.8 kg) each
Woofer Cabinetported, frontported, rear
Spinorama Preference Score5.515.86
Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub7.527.44
DIY KitNoNo

How Revel F206 compares with other leading options:

Prices on this page were last checked October 3, 2026 at 10:26 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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The Two Speakers In Full

Revel F206: $2,000 per pair used Discontinued eBay

Revel F206 ranking card

Newer model: the Revel F226Be, ranked higher, rated 4.6/5.

Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows a pretty even on-axis response. Predicted in-room response is excellent, with a smooth downward slope. Horizontal beamwidth of about ±65 degrees is wide, if a bit uneven. Distortion is very nice at 86dB SPL/1m, falling below the frequency range where human hearing is most sensitive, and stays excellent even at 96dB SPL/1m. Near-field measurements of the individual drivers show nice suppression of port and woofer resonances. Really amazing value for the performance. Measured bass extension of 60Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 87dB.

Cons: Some directivity error and a small peak around 4.5kHz show up alongside the directivity error around 3kHz. Vertical directivity means listening position needs to stay within the tweeter axis, though the reviewer notes there is some leeway. Minimum impedance dips to 3.3 ohms, calling for an amplifier comfortable with a demanding load. Discontinued.

Bass Extension (-10dB)34Hz (measured, Audio Science Review)
Bass Extension (-3dB)60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review)
DIY KitNo
Dimensions40.3”H x 8.4”W x 12.2”D (1023.6 x 213.4 x 309.9 mm)
DriversDual 6.5” (16.5 cm) Aluminum Cone, Cast-frame Woofers, 5.25” (13.3 cm) Aluminum Cone, Cast-frame Midrange, 1” (2.5 cm) Aluminum Tweeter with Acoustic Lens Waveguide
Impedance4 ohms nominal (3.3 ohms minimum, measured by Audio Science Review)
Sensitivity87dB (measured, Audio Science Review)
Spinorama Preference Score5.51
Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub7.52
Weight57.3 lbs (26 kg) each
Woofer Cabinetported, front

Polk Reserve R500: $1,259.98 per pair Amazon eBay

Polk Reserve R500 ranking card

Pros: Dual 5.25” midwoofers paired with a ring radiator tweeter in a floorstanding tower design. Surprisingly neutral overall compared to Polk’s smaller bookshelf models: notably more even-handed than the brighter-sounding R200 the reviewer tested previously. Good linearity on-axis, within about -3/+2dB. Sensitivity close to 86dB, easily driven to adequate levels in a small-to-medium room with a 100W-capable amplifier. Takes very well to EQ: a single band of correction (about a 2dB cut around 4-5kHz) resolves the main tonal issue and transforms the sound. Dynamic range and compression performance is solidly “medium,” holding up fine through about 20dB of level increase before higher-frequency and bass output start to taper at extreme volumes. Measured bass extension of 51Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 86.2dB.

Cons: A bump around 4-6kHz gives a “shouty,” mildly sibilant quality in the lower treble. Counterintuitively, toeing the speaker out to reduce brightness makes this worse rather than better, since the ring-radiator tweeter’s directivity narrows rapidly above about 6-7kHz: pointed on-axis retains enough top-end air to balance the bump, but toed away that air drops off and the shoutiness stands out more. Bass is adequate for its 5.25” woofers but lacks real weight below about 40-50Hz; a subwoofer is still needed for movies and bass-heavy music. A cabinet resonance around 160-170Hz subtracts from rather than adds boom to the mid-bass region. Vertical listening window is fairly narrow: sitting more than about 10-20° above or below the tweeter axis causes a suckout in the 2-5kHz range, reducing clarity and attack. Multitone distortion ramps up noticeably around 1kHz, and crossing over to a subwoofer at 80Hz doesn’t meaningfully reduce it: likely a surround-related effect rather than excursion-related. Without applying corrective EQ, the reviewer says the 4-6kHz brightness would make it harder to live with day to day.

Bass Extension (-10dB)33Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner)
Bass Extension (-3dB)51Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner)
DIY KitNo
Dimensions40.3”H x 6.8”W x 12.4”D (1023.6 x 172.7 x 315 mm)
DriversTwo 5.25” Turbine Cone woofer, 1” Pinnacle Ring Radiator tweeter
Impedance4.1 ohms minimum above 80Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner; 8 ohms nominal per manufacturer)
Sensitivity86.2dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner)
Spinorama Preference Score5.86
Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub7.44
Weight39.2 lbs (17.8 kg) each
Woofer Cabinetported, rear