Short answer: the Revel F228Be. It ranks #6 of 25 floorstanding speakers at $7000; the Revel F226Be ranks #8 and costs $7700, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Revel F226Be gets right: Three-way design with a beryllium tweeter, a dedicated 5.25” mid-range, and dual 5.25” midwoofers (not a coaxial layout). The tradeoff: Minimum impedance of 3.7 ohms means it wants a 4-ohm-capable amplifier.
On the Revel F228Be side: CEA2034 spinorama shows an essentially flat on-axis response with very nice directivity. The tradeoff: Minimum impedance dips to 3.4 ohms with a secondary rise around 2kHz, calling for an amplifier comfortable with a demanding load.
Buy the Revel F226Be if the price matters more than the ranking. Buy the Revel F228Be if the ranking matters more than the price.
Specifications Side By Side
| Revel F226Be | Revel F228Be | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $7700 | $7000 |
| Ranked | #8 of 25 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #6 of 25 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 36Hz | 25Hz |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 56Hz | 61Hz |
| Dimensions | 41.3"H x 9.8"W x 13.7"D (1049 x 248.9 x 348 mm) | 50.9"H x 13.5"W x 17.6"D (1292.9 x 342.9 x 447 mm) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
| 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 | Dual 8" (200mm) Deep Ceramic Composite aluminum cones, with cast frames woofers, 5-1/4" (130mm) Deep Ceramic Composite aluminum cone, with cast frame midrange, 1" (25mm) Beryllium dome, with acoustic lens waveguide tweeter |
| Sensitivity | 90dB | 89.5dB |
| Weight | 58.2 lbs / 26.4 kg each | 112.4 lbs / 51 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | Front ported | Front ported |
The Two Speakers In Full
Revel F226Be: $7700 Crutchfield
Pros: Three-way design with a beryllium tweeter, a dedicated 5.25” mid-range, and dual 5.25” midwoofers (not a coaxial layout). On-axis frequency response holds within about ±1.5dB - excellent linearity. Average sensitivity around 90dB (2.83V/1m), notably higher than some competing three-way designs, meaning less amplifier power is needed for the same output. Wide horizontal radiation of about ±70° at the -6dB point, landing right in the reviewer’s preferred 60-70° range for an enveloping soundstage without excess diffusion. Distortion at 96dB stays under 1% THD through most of the midrange - strong output capability. Flat enough on- and off-axis response that toeing the speaker away from the listener preserves the same tonal balance rather than changing it, giving flexibility in placement.
Cons: Minimum impedance of 3.7 ohms means it wants a 4-ohm-capable 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 is recommended for home theater use, though it can work without one for music alone. Vertical directivity tolerance is tighter (about ±20° in the crossover region) than true coaxial designs, since the tweeter, midrange, and woofers are physically separated - a bigger consideration with multiple theater rows or if you tend to stand and move around the room. On-axis, the top end reads as a bit bright according to the 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.
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 36Hz |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 56Hz |
| 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 |
| Sensitivity | 90dB |
| Weight | 58.2 lbs / 26.4 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | Front ported |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Links
Revel F228Be: $7000 Crutchfield
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows an essentially flat on-axis response with very nice directivity. Predicted in-room response is nearly perfect, with a smooth slope down from bass to treble. Horizontal beamwidth of about ±70 degrees is wide and holds up well until narrowing above 8kHz. Vertical directivity offers more degrees of listening-height freedom than a typical bookshelf design, a benefit of this tower’s driver layout. Distortion is extremely low across the full audio range at 86dB SPL/1m and stays comfortable even at 96dB SPL/1m. Near-field measurements of the individual drivers show nice, well-integrated crossover behavior with only low-level resonances.
Cons: Minimum impedance dips to 3.4 ohms with a secondary rise around 2kHz, calling for an amplifier comfortable with a demanding load. Very expensive and very heavy (51 kg each).
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 25Hz |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 61Hz |
| Dimensions | 50.9"H x 13.5"W x 17.6"D (1292.9 x 342.9 x 447 mm) |
| Drivers | Dual 8" (200mm) Deep Ceramic Composite aluminum cones, with cast frames woofers, 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 |
| Sensitivity | 89.5dB |
| Weight | 112.4 lbs / 51 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | Front ported |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Links
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Product prices and availability were last checked August 9, 2026 at 6:57 AM UTC and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.