Short answer: the Revel F226Be. It ranks #9 of 54 floorstanding speakers by sound quality at $7700; the PS Audio Aspen FR10 ranks #28 and costs $12000, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Revel F226Be offers: 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… 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 PS Audio Aspen FR10 offers: Distinctive driver layout: two 6” mid-bass drivers plus three 6x9” passive radiators, an 8” planar ribbon mid-range, and a 2.5” planar ribbon tweeter, with the woofers placed low near the floor to counteract typical floor-bounce… Watch for: At roughly $10,000/pair, expectations are high, and the reviewer found some measured shortfalls relative to that price.
Buy the Revel F226Be. It ranks higher for sound quality than the PS Audio Aspen FR10 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Revel F226Be | PS Audio Aspen FR10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $7700 | $12000 |
| Ranked | #9 of 54 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #28 of 54 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 36Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 28Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 56Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 47Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 41.3"H x 9.8"W x 13.7"D (1049 x 248.9 x 348 mm) | 41.5"H x 11.8"W x 16.3"D (1054.1 x 298.5 x 412.8 mm) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (3.7 ohms minimum, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal, 3.6 ohms minimum (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 | 2x 6.5" carbon fiber cone woofers, 1x 8" planar magnetic ribbon midrange, 1x 2.5" planar magnetic ribbon tweeter + 3x passive radiators |
| Sensitivity | 89.7dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 84.4dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 58.2 lbs / 26.4 kg each | 119 lbs / 54 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front | passive radiator |
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- KEF Blade Two Meta vs JBL 4367
- PS Audio Aspen FR10 vs Dali Rubikore 6
- Revel F226Be vs JBL 4367
The Two Speakers In Full
Revel F226Be: $7700 Crutchfield
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.
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) |
| 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) |
| Weight | 58.2 lbs / 26.4 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front |
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PS Audio Aspen FR10: $12000 Psaudio
Pros: Distinctive driver layout: two 6” mid-bass drivers plus three 6x9” passive radiators, an 8” planar ribbon mid-range, and a 2.5” planar ribbon tweeter, with the woofers placed low near the floor to counteract typical floor-bounce cancellation in the mid-bass/lower-midrange handoff. Deliberately shelved bass response around 150Hz allows placement closer to the rear wall than typical, without the usual boominess. Extremely wide horizontal dispersion (the -6dB point isn’t reached until about 80-85° off-axis), giving a wide, enveloping soundstage that stays consistent rather than narrowing unevenly at different frequencies. Passed multiple stereo-imaging tests with precise placement despite the wide radiation, keeping instruments distinctly separated even in complex, heavily panned tracks. Exceptionally low multitone distortion at high frequency - among the best the reviewer has measured on any speaker. Bass extends smoothly to an F3 of 47Hz and F10 of 28Hz, potentially usable without a subwoofer for material that doesn’t dig much below 40Hz. Shows output enhancement rather than compression below about 50Hz even at high volume, adding extra punch and attack to bass transients.
Cons: At roughly $10,000/pair, expectations are high, and the reviewer found some measured shortfalls relative to that price. A scoop around 600Hz slightly thins out vocal fullness; EQ can restore some body there. A narrow but pronounced dip around 6-7kHz shows up in measurements, though EQ didn’t meaningfully improve it in testing and the reviewer says he’d rather have a dip than a peak in that sibilance-prone region. On-axis, the treble reads as mildly elevated (though far less than some rivals like Martin Logan or Focal); needs about 20° of toe-out, per the manufacturer’s own recommendation, to sound properly balanced and take on a warmer character. Sidewall acoustic treatment should be avoided, since the speaker’s wide, room-filling sound depends on that sidewall interaction, limiting setup flexibility in treated rooms. A minor resonance-like anomaly appears around 800Hz, and some compression shows up at the highest frequencies (around 12kHz) under extreme output testing, though unlikely to be audible in real listening. Large and heavy floorstander (about 76 lbs each, 41” tall).
Full PS Audio Aspen FR10 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 28Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 47Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 41.5"H x 11.8"W x 16.3"D (1054.1 x 298.5 x 412.8 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 6.5" carbon fiber cone woofers, 1x 8" planar magnetic ribbon midrange, 1x 2.5" planar magnetic ribbon tweeter + 3x passive radiators |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3.6 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 84.4dB (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 119 lbs / 54 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | passive radiator |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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