Short answer: the Revel F226Be for better sound quality, the PSB Imagine T65 for the lower price. The Revel F226Be ranks #9 of 54 floorstanding speakers at $7700. The PSB Imagine T65 ranks #24 at $2699, $5001 cheaper.
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 PSB Imagine T65 offers: Three-way design with dual 6.5” woven carbon fiber woofers delivers genuinely strong, extended low end for a $2,699 tower - among the better performers Erin has measured in this price class. Watch for: Noticeable dip in the midrange/crossover region that Erin flagged as affecting dialogue and vocal clarity, though he notes a couple bands of EQ smooths it out.
Buy the Revel F226Be if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the PSB Imagine T65 if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| Revel F226Be | PSB Imagine T65 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $7700 | $2,699 |
| Ranked | #9 of 54 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #24 of 54 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 36Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 26Hz (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 56Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 47Hz (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 41.3"H x 9.8"W x 13.7"D (1049 x 248.9 x 348 mm) | 38-13/16"H x 8-3/8"W x 13.5"D (986 x 213 x 343mm) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (3.7 ohms minimum, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms nominal (3.3 ohms minimum measured by Erin’s Audio Corner; manufacturer specifies 4 ohms minimum) |
| 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" titanium dome tweeter, 5.25" woven carbon fiber midrange, 2x 6.5" woven carbon fiber woofers |
| Sensitivity | 89.7dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 85.1dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 58.2 lbs / 26.4 kg each | 44 lbs each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front | - |
| Crossovers | - | 600Hz & 2000Hz, 4th-order Linkwitz-Riley |
| Recommended Power | - | 20-200W |
| Bass Reflex | - | Dual rear slot ports, individual woofer chambers |
| Frequency Response | - | 28Hz - 20kHz (±1.5dB, manufacturer specified) |
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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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PSB Imagine T65: $2,699 The Audio Factory
Pros: Three-way design with dual 6.5” woven carbon fiber woofers delivers genuinely strong, extended low end for a $2,699 tower - among the better performers Erin has measured in this price class. Distortion shows a clean second-order character with clear separation from third-order all the way up to 96 dB, indicating a well-controlled motor. Compression data shows enhancement rather than compression below about 50-60 Hz, so the bass can sound louder as you turn it up rather than choking off. Wide, forgiving vertical listening window (about ±25°) thanks to the 3-way layout, giving more seating and placement flexibility than most towers. Plenty of dynamic headroom for home theater use or a two-channel system - 100W drove it comfortably in Erin’s room.
Cons: Noticeable dip in the midrange/crossover region that Erin flagged as affecting dialogue and vocal clarity, though he notes a couple bands of EQ smooths it out. Some horizontal dispersion mismatch (about 10-15° of ballooning between 1-3 kHz) between the midrange and tweeter can add extra perceived attack or detail if your room’s sidewalls are reflective. Dips to 4 ohms, so it wants an amplifier comfortable driving a 4-ohm load. Distortion climbs above 3% around 60 Hz at 96 dB, though it’s benign second-order distortion.
Full PSB Imagine T65 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 26Hz (measured average, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 47Hz (measured average, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Reflex | Dual rear slot ports, individual woofer chambers |
| Crossovers | 600Hz & 2000Hz, 4th-order Linkwitz-Riley |
| Dimensions | 38-13/16"H x 8-3/8"W x 13.5"D (986 x 213 x 343mm) |
| Drivers | 1" titanium dome tweeter, 5.25" woven carbon fiber midrange, 2x 6.5" woven carbon fiber woofers |
| Frequency Response | 28Hz - 20kHz (±1.5dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (3.3 ohms minimum measured by Erin's Audio Corner; manufacturer specifies 4 ohms minimum) |
| Recommended Power | 20-200W |
| Sensitivity | 85.1dB (measured average, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 44 lbs each |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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