Short answer: the Revel F228Be, if you are buying new. The Revel F208 ranks higher than the Magnepan LRS+ (#27 vs #149 of 188 floorstanding speakers) but is discontinued; its replacement, the Revel F228Be, is rated 4.5/5 at $11,000 and is still sold new.
The Revel F208 is the more accurate, deeper-bass pick. CEA2034 spinorama shows a fairly even on-axis response with sensitivity matching spec at ~87-88dB. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 6.35 against 1.27 for the Magnepan LRS+. Its bass reaches about 47Hz before falling 3dB, against 74Hz for the Magnepan LRS+. The tradeoff: Some directivity error and tweeter-response ripple right at the 2.2kHz crossover point.
The case for the Magnepan LRS+: Thin, two-way planar-magnetic open-baffle/dipole panel design (about 48” tall, just 1” deep). Watch for: Extremely current-hungry and power-hungry: even a pair of 600W Macintosh monoblock amplifiers only averaged about 90dB output.
Buy the Revel F228Be, the replacement for the discontinued Revel F208; it is rated higher for sound quality than the Magnepan LRS+.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Revel F208 | Magnepan LRS+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4,800 per pair used, Discontinued | $1300 per pair |
| Ranked | #27 of 188 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #149 of 188 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 24Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 67Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 47Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 74Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 46.6”H x 13.5”W x 14.8”D (1183.6 x 342.9 x 375.9 mm) | 48”H x 13.5”W x 1”D (1219.2 x 342.9 x 25.4 mm) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 3.5 ohms minimum (measured, Audio Science Review) | 4 ohms nominal, 3 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | Dual 8” (20 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 | Full-range planar magnetic dipole panel (48” tall x 13.5” wide); quasi-ribbon design, two-way with separate mid/bass and tweeter ribbon sections |
| Sensitivity | 88.2dB (measured by Audio Science Review; 88.5dB manufacturer specified) | 85.1dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 79.4 lbs (36 kg) each | 30 lbs (13.6 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front | open baffle |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.35 | 1.27 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.67 | 4.32 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Revel F208: $4,800 per pair used Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Revel F228Be, ranked lower, rated 4.5/5.
Same family: the Revel M105 (smaller bookshelf, rated 4.2/5), the Revel M106 (larger bookshelf, rated 4.6/5), the Revel F206 (smaller floorstanding, ranked lower, rated 4.5/5), the Revel Performa3 C205 (smaller center, rated 4.1/5) and the Revel Performa3 C208 (larger center, rated 4/5).
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows a fairly even on-axis response with sensitivity matching spec at ~87-88dB. Predicted in-room response is a smooth, textbook-quality downward slope that should translate well to most rooms without correction. Early reflections sum so cleanly with the direct sound that side-wall absorption isn’t recommended: it would work against the speaker’s naturally well-integrated off-axis behavior. Distortion stays below 0.5% from 100Hz up at 96dB/1m, with all distortion components falling below audible threshold above 200Hz. Very wide horizontal directivity of about ±75 degrees. Measured performance was judged very close to Revel’s own flagship Salon2, and Revel’s speakers (including this one) are developed using Harman’s double-blind listening test methodology. Preference score of 7.4 (7.7 with a subwoofer added). Measured bass extension of 47Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 88.2dB.
Cons: Some directivity error and tweeter-response ripple right at the 2.2kHz crossover point. A notable on-axis dip at about 4kHz, attributed to probable cabinet diffraction. Cumulative spectral decay (waterfall) shows an unexplained resonance around 4-5kHz that the reviewer couldn’t pin down a clear cause for. Vertical directivity shows narrowband interference nulls just above and below the tweeter axis (roughly 2-3kHz), typical of a non-coaxial tower with vertically separated drivers, so listening height matters more than it would with a coincident design. Minimum impedance dips to 3.4 ohms, calling for a robust, high-current amplifier. Distortion climbs substantially below about 80-100Hz (up to ~5% in the deep bass) when driven hard, an excursion-limited trade-off typical of towers at high output. Isolating the woofers alone shows their usable range ending around 500-700Hz at the crossover, with somewhat elevated (though still low in absolute terms) 2nd/3rd harmonic distortion in the 100-300Hz region. Discontinued.
Full Revel F208 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 24Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 47Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 46.6”H x 13.5”W x 14.8”D (1183.6 x 342.9 x 375.9 mm) |
| Drivers | Dual 8” (20 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 |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 3.5 ohms minimum (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Sensitivity | 88.2dB (measured by Audio Science Review; 88.5dB manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.35 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.67 |
| Weight | 79.4 lbs (36 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Magnepan LRS+: $1300 per pair Magnepan eBay
Pros: Thin, two-way planar-magnetic open-baffle/dipole panel design (about 48” tall, just 1” deep). Delivers a uniquely dramatic and enveloping soundstage with genuinely three-dimensional depth effects that work across all music genres, not just classical or orchestral material as commonly assumed. Extremely tight, locked-in center-phantom imaging when set up correctly. Open-baffle design avoids the “boxy” enclosure coloration of conventional cabinet speakers. Multitone distortion is remarkably consistent from low to high frequency, a characteristic the reviewer hasn’t observed in conventional cone-and-dome speakers. Compression at high output stays modest (about 0.5-1dB) through the midrange and treble, giving roughly 20-26dB of usable dynamic range in that region. At its price, a strong contender for a dedicated secondary listening room, even if not a main-system replacement. Measured bass extension of 74Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 85.1dB.
Cons: Extremely current-hungry and power-hungry: even a pair of 600W Macintosh monoblock amplifiers only averaged about 90dB output. A robust, high-power amplifier is essentially mandatory, and budget amps won’t cut it. Bass rolls off very quickly (F3 74Hz, F10 67Hz, described as falling off “like a rock”), making a subwoofer an absolute requirement for any low-end content. A roughly 3dB dip in the mid-bass (100-300Hz) region thins out vocal body and fullness compared to a conventional bookshelf speaker. A resonance/bump around 400Hz adds a mild boxy quality, though it responds well to about 2dB of EQ correction. Extraordinarily fussy about exact positioning: both seating height (must align with the acoustic reference point between the panel’s lower tie-down points) and horizontal aiming are unusually critical; moving just a couple of inches can cause treble content above roughly 500-600Hz to nearly vanish. Distinct off-axis cancellation zones exist directly to the sides of the panel, where very little sound is audible at all. Fails badly under extreme dynamic-transient testing in the bass, and the reviewer blew fuses pushing the speaker during testing: not built for high-volume or highly dynamic playback. A genuinely different category from conventional hi-fi speakers, requiring more setup patience and experimentation than a typical monopole design.
Full Magnepan LRS+ review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 67Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 74Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 48”H x 13.5”W x 1”D (1219.2 x 342.9 x 25.4 mm) |
| Drivers | Full-range planar magnetic dipole panel (48” tall x 13.5” wide); quasi-ribbon design, two-way with separate mid/bass and tweeter ribbon sections |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 85.1dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 1.27 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 4.32 |
| Weight | 30 lbs (13.6 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | open baffle |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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