Short answer: the Revel F226Be, if you are buying new. The KEF Reference 203 measures as well as it (#17 vs #15 of 228 floorstanding speakers, 4.6/5 vs 4.6/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the Revel F226Be is still sold new at $5,999.90. The KEF Reference 203’s replacement, the KEF Reference 3 Meta, is rated 4.6/5 at $15,999.98.
What the Revel F226Be does well: Compact, highly accurate three way towers with a beryllium tweeter and remarkably clean drivers. Watch for: 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.
What the KEF Reference 203 does well: A classic four way floorstander with neutral, accurate sound and low distortion, now discontinued but worth buying used. The tradeoff: This is a 20+ year old, long-discontinued speaker only findable secondhand (Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, audio forums): condition, driver matching, and component aging vary by unit, so audition before buying if at all possible.
Buy the Revel F226Be if you want one new; the KEF Reference 203 is discontinued, so only look for it used.
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Measured Differences
- Close enough not to matter: bass extension (36 Hz vs 37 Hz, 10 dB down).
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Specifications Side By Side
| Revel F226Be | KEF Reference 203 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5,999.90 per pair | $5,000 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #15 of 228 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #17 of 228 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 36Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 37Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 56Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 51Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 41.3”H x 9.8”W x 13.7”D (1049 x 248.9 x 348 mm) | 42”H (1067H mm) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (3.7 ohms minimum, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms nominal (3.6 ohms minimum, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner; 3.2 ohms per manufacturer spec) |
| 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 | 1x 0.75” supertweeter, coaxial 1” dome tweeter + 6.5” midrange, 2x 6.5” woofers |
| Sensitivity | 89.7dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 88dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 58.2 lbs (26.4 kg) each | 58 lbs (26.3 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front | Bass reflex, with switchable flat/cut/lifted bass ports for wall placement |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.96 (spinorama.org) | 5.83 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.15 (spinorama.org) | 7.84 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 400Hz, 2.7kHz, 15kHz |
| Frequency Response | - | 55Hz - 55kHz ±3dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Recommended Power | - | 50-200W |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Revel F226Be: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner.
- KEF Reference 203: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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