Short answer: the Revel F226Be if sound quality matters most, the KEF R5 if price matters most. The Revel F226Be ranks #10 of 73 floorstanding speakers, rated 4.6/5, at $7,700. The KEF R5 ranks #22, rated 4.4/5, at $2,999, $4,701 cheaper.
The case for the Revel F226Be: Compact three-way tower with a beryllium dome tweeter in an acoustic lens waveguide, a dedicated 5.25” mid-range, and dual 6.5” woofers (not a coaxial layout): all Deep Ceramic Composite aluminum cones engineered specifically to avoid breakup outside their crossover bands, and it measures that way: neither the woofers nor the mid-range show breakup spikes even well outside their intended pass bands, and even the front port measures unusually clean (only a mild ~3dB bump around 150Hz, well controlled versus the resonances the reviewer typically sees from ports). The catch: Minimum impedance dips to about 3.7-4 ohms below roughly 500Hz despite the 8-ohm nominal rating, so it wants a genuine 4-ohm-capable two-channel amplifier; budget AVRs rated only for 6 or 8 ohms may struggle.
The case for the KEF R5: 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. The catch: 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.
One note: the KEF R5 is discontinued, but it still ranks #22 of 73 floorstanding speakers by sound quality, ahead of most of what is still sold new, so it is worth considering used.
Buy the Revel F226Be if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the KEF R5 if the price matters more than sound quality.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Revel F226Be | KEF R5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $7700 per pair | $2,999 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #10 of 73 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #22 of 73 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 36Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 33Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 56Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 77Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 41.3”H x 9.8”W x 13.7”D (1049 x 248.9 x 348 mm) | 40.4”H x 6.9”W x 13.5”D |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (3.7 ohms minimum, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | Approximately 3.5 ohms minimum near 150Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | Two 6.5” (165mm) Deep Ceramic Composite aluminum cones, with cast frames woofer, 5-1/4” (130mm) Deep Ceramic Composite aluminum cone, with cast frame midrange, 1” (25mm) Beryllium dome, with acoustic lens waveguide tweeter | 1” aluminum tweeter coaxial with 5” midrange; dual 5.25” woofers |
| Sensitivity | 89.7dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | Approximately 86dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 58.2 lbs (26.4 kg) each | 59.5 lbs (27 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.96 (spinorama.org) | 5.78 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.15 (spinorama.org) | 7.40 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Revel F226Be:
- Revel F226Be vs KEF Blade Two Meta
- Revel F226Be vs MoFi SourcePoint V10 Master Edition
- MoFi SourcePoint 888 vs Revel F226Be
- Revel F328Be vs Revel F226Be
- Radiant Acoustics Clarity 66 vs Revel F226Be
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The Two Speakers In Full
Revel F226Be: $7700 per pair Crutchfield eBay
Older model: the Revel F206 (ranked lower, rated 4.5/5).
Pros: Compact three-way tower with a beryllium dome tweeter in an acoustic lens waveguide, a dedicated 5.25” mid-range, and dual 6.5” woofers (not a coaxial layout): all Deep Ceramic Composite aluminum cones engineered specifically to avoid breakup outside their crossover bands, and it measures that way: neither the woofers nor the mid-range show breakup spikes even well outside their intended pass bands, and even the front port measures unusually clean (only a mild ~3dB bump around 150Hz, well controlled versus the resonances the reviewer typically sees from ports). On-axis frequency response holds within about ±1.5dB above roughly 65Hz (excellent linearity) and off-axis behavior tracks it closely, with only mild, subdued peaking around 4-6kHz that doesn’t show up as real resonance in the spinorama data. Average sensitivity around 90dB (2.83V/1m), notably higher than some competing three-way designs and most bookshelf speakers, translating directly into better dynamic range at both low and high listening levels: one reviewer specifically praised its ability to deliver full transient impact (snare hits, kick drum) even at quiet, conversational volumes rather than needing to be cranked up to feel dynamic. Wide, consistent horizontal radiation of about ±60-70° at the -6dB point, landing right in the reviewer’s preferred range for an enveloping soundstage without excess diffusion, and exceptionally wide vertical dispersion: roughly ±80° up to 10kHz and still ±70° above that, which one reviewer called the widest vertical radiation pattern he had measured to date. Distortion stays under 3% even at 104dB SPL, and in real-world testing up to 105dB from 12-14 feet away, full-range with no crossover, the reviewer heard no audible mechanical noise, port chuffing, or compression at all. Flat enough on- and off-axis response that toeing the speaker 10-15° away from the listener preserves the same tonal balance rather than changing it, and the wide, well-controlled directivity lets sidewall reflections reinforce rather than smear the soundstage. Measured bass extension of 56Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 89.7dB.
Cons: Minimum impedance dips to about 3.7-4 ohms below roughly 500Hz despite the 8-ohm nominal rating, so it wants a genuine 4-ohm-capable two-channel amplifier; budget AVRs rated only for 6 or 8 ohms may struggle. F3 of 56Hz and F10 of 36Hz mean it doesn’t extend nearly as low as some three-way rivals with larger woofers: a dedicated subwoofer (10-12”, or 15” for content below 30Hz) is recommended for home theater or bass-heavy music, even though the speaker itself can play surprisingly loud without one. Vertical directivity tolerance is tighter in the crossover handoff region than a true coaxial design would offer, since the tweeter, midrange, and woofers are physically separated: a mild directivity bump appears around 2-2.5kHz that’s typical of non-coaxial multi-way speakers, though not audibly problematic within about ±10° vertically. On-axis, the top end reads as a bit bright according to one reviewer’s subjective impression, generally benefiting from some toe-out. High-gloss cabinet finish can create distracting reflections if used behind a projector screen in a home theater setup. Front-ported, so it can technically sit close to a wall, but doing so makes the bass boomier.
Full Revel F226Be review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 36Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 56Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 41.3”H x 9.8”W x 13.7”D (1049 x 248.9 x 348 mm) |
| Drivers | Two 6.5” (165mm) Deep Ceramic Composite aluminum cones, with cast frames woofer, 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 nominal (3.7 ohms minimum, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 89.7dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.96 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.15 (spinorama.org) |
| Weight | 58.2 lbs (26.4 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Erin’s Audio Corner: Revel PerformaBe F226Be Floorstanding Loudspeaker Review. I love this speaker. More from Erin’s Audio Corner →
- Erin’s Audio Corner: Should You Buy the Revel F226Be or the MoFi 888?
- Erin’s Audio Review Website Revel F226B
- Erin’s Audio Corner: My Top 5 Speakers at Any Price
- Erin’s Audio Corner Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
KEF R5: $2,999 per pair Discontinued eBay
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. Measured bass extension of 77Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 86dB.
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) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 40.4”H x 6.9”W x 13.5”D |
| 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) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.78 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.40 |
| Weight | 59.5 lbs (27 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons