Short answer: the Revel F226Be for better sound quality, the Revival Audio Atalante 5 for the lower price. The Revel F226Be ranks #9 of 54 floorstanding speakers at $7700. The Revival Audio Atalante 5 ranks #33 at $5000, $2700 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 Revival Audio Atalante 5 offers: Strong, punchy mid-bass at moderate-to-loud volumes with no port chuffing or excursion strain even pushed hard - a rarity at this price. Watch for: A pronounced on-axis peak around 4kHz creates real glare/shoutiness on some material, and combined with a mid-bass emphasis that overshadows lower-midrange detail at higher volumes, tonal balance can feel inconsistent - the…
Buy the Revel F226Be if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Revival Audio Atalante 5 if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| Revel F226Be | Revival Audio Atalante 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $7700 | $5000 |
| Ranked | #9 of 54 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #33 of 54 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 36Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 30Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 56Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 42Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 41.3"H x 9.8"W x 13.7"D (1049 x 248.9 x 348 mm) | 28" x 16.5" x 14" (710 x 420 x 355 mm) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (3.7 ohms minimum, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal (3.2 ohms minimum, measured above 80Hz, 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 | 1.1" (28mm) dome tweeter, 3" dome midrange, 12" woofer |
| Sensitivity | 89.7dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 88.6dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 58.2 lbs / 26.4 kg each | 72.8 lbs / 33 kg (73 lb) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front | 3-way, switchable ported/sealed via port bungs |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 450Hz, 3.5kHz |
| Output Power | - | 30-200W recommended |
| Frequency Response | - | 28Hz - 22kHz -3dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Country of Origin | - | France |
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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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Revival Audio Atalante 5: $5000 Don Better Audio
Pros: Strong, punchy mid-bass at moderate-to-loud volumes with no port chuffing or excursion strain even pushed hard - a rarity at this price. Good bass extension for the class (F3 42Hz, F10 30Hz), reaching about 40Hz in-room with authority. Distortion is very low (under 1% through most of the range) and compression is well controlled outside the extreme top octave. Striking build and looks, with a large 12” woofer and 3” dome midrange that give real visual presence.
Cons: A pronounced on-axis peak around 4kHz creates real glare/shoutiness on some material, and combined with a mid-bass emphasis that overshadows lower-midrange detail at higher volumes, tonal balance can feel inconsistent - the reviewer described some tracks as sounding notably different from the neutral mix. Imaging precision is looser than more directivity-controlled designs (coaxial or waveguide speakers), with instrument placement sounding a bit fuzzy rather than pinpoint. Horizontal directivity fluctuates between about 40-60 degrees rather than staying constant, worst right around the mid/tweeter crossover. Needs real room to breathe - at least 2-3 feet from the rear wall in ported mode (about a foot if sealed via the included port bungs), and benefits from 5-10 degrees of toe-out to tame the top end.
Full Revival Audio Atalante 5 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 30Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 42Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Country of Origin | France |
| Crossover Frequency | 450Hz, 3.5kHz |
| Dimensions | 28" x 16.5" x 14" (710 x 420 x 355 mm) |
| Drivers | 1.1" (28mm) dome tweeter, 3" dome midrange, 12" woofer |
| Frequency Response | 28Hz - 22kHz -3dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (3.2 ohms minimum, measured above 80Hz, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Output Power | 30-200W recommended |
| Sensitivity | 88.6dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 72.8 lbs / 33 kg (73 lb) |
| Woofer Cabinet | 3-way, switchable ported/sealed via port bungs |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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