Short answer: the Revel F328Be. It ranks #9 of 188 floorstanding speakers by sound quality (rated 4.7/5) at $19,359.90 and is still sold new; the Sony SS-CS3 ranks #177 (rated 2.8/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used. The Sony SS-CS3’s replacement, the Sony SS-CS3 M2, is rated 3.0/5.
The Revel F328Be is the more accurate choice. CEA2034 spinorama shows a quite flat on-axis response with superb directivity and efficiency above 90dB. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 6.40 against 4.11 for the Sony SS-CS3. The catch: Vertical directivity is asymmetric: the reviewer recommends staying between -20 and +40 degrees relative to the tweeter axis, reflecting the driver layout of this three-way tower.
What the Sony SS-CS3 does well: Affordable entry-level floorstanding tower offering solid sensitivity (88.6dB SPL at 2.83V/1m), making it easy to power with standard budget AVRs. The tradeoff: Severe cabinet and driver resonances plague the passband between 100Hz and 600Hz, imparting audible coloration and chesty resonances to male vocals and acoustic instruments.
Buy the Revel F328Be. It is rated higher for sound quality; the Sony SS-CS3 is no longer sold new.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Revel F328Be | Sony SS-CS3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $19,359.90 per pair | $450 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #9 of 188 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #177 of 188 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 74Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 72Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 50.9”H x 13.5”W x 17.6”D (1292.9 x 342.9 x 447 mm) | 36.3”H x 9.1”W x 10.2”D (922 x 230 x 260 mm) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (3 ohms minimum, measured by Audio Science Review) | 6 ohms nominal |
| Drivers | Three 8” (200mm) 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 | 0.75 in. supertweeter, 0.98 in. polyester main tweeter, dual 5.12 in. MRC woofers |
| Sensitivity | 91dB (measured, Audio Science Review) | 88.6dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 112.4 lbs (51 kg) each | 25.4 lbs (11.5 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, front |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.40 | 4.11 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.81 | 6.65 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Revel F328Be compares with other leading options:
- GR-Research NX-Treme vs Revel F328Be
- KEF Blade Two Meta vs Revel F328Be
- MoFi SourcePoint V10 Master Edition vs Revel F328Be
- MoFi SourcePoint 888 vs Revel F328Be
- Radiant Acoustics Clarity 66 vs Revel F328Be
Prices on this page were last checked October 9, 2026 at 8:01 AM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time 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.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Revel F328Be: $19,359.90 per pair Crutchfield eBay
Same family: the Revel M126Be (bookshelf, rated 4.3/5), the Revel F226Be (smaller floorstanding, ranked lower, rated 4.6/5), the Revel F228Be (smaller floorstanding, ranked lower, rated 4.5/5) and the Revel C426Be (center, rated 4/5).
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows a quite flat on-axis response with superb directivity and efficiency above 90dB. Predicted in-room response is extremely accurate, with a smooth ~5dB downward slope from bass to treble that suits typical rooms without correction. Early reflections sum very nicely with the direct sound. Horizontal beamwidth of about ±70 degrees is wide and quite smooth. At 96dB SPL/1m distortion stays easily below the reviewer’s audibility threshold across nearly the whole range. Measured bass extension of 74Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 91dB.
Cons: Vertical directivity is asymmetric: the reviewer recommends staying between -20 and +40 degrees relative to the tweeter axis, reflecting the driver layout of this three-way tower. Impedance dips to a minimum of 3 ohms with an additional resonance-driven phase swing, calling for an amplifier comfortable with a demanding load. Very expensive and very heavy (51 kg each).
Full Revel F328Be review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 74Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 50.9”H x 13.5”W x 17.6”D (1292.9 x 342.9 x 447 mm) |
| Drivers | Three 8” (200mm) 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 ohms minimum, measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Sensitivity | 91dB (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.40 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.81 |
| Weight | 112.4 lbs (51 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Revel F328Be vs MoFi SourcePoint 888
- Revel F328Be vs Radiant Acoustics Clarity 66
- Revel F328Be vs Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Tower
- Revel F328Be vs MoFi SourcePoint V10 Master Edition
- Revel F328Be vs KEF R5 Meta
- Revel F328Be vs KEF Blade Two Meta
- Revel F328Be vs Revel F226Be
- Revel F328Be vs GR-Research NX-Treme
- See all 39 comparisons
Sony SS-CS3: $450 per pair Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Sony SS-CS3 M2, ranked higher, estimated 3/5.
Same family: the Sony SS-CS5 (bookshelf, rated 3.5/5).
Pros: Affordable entry-level floorstanding tower offering solid sensitivity (88.6dB SPL at 2.83V/1m), making it easy to power with standard budget AVRs. Harmonic distortion remains reasonably low at moderate listening levels (86dB SPL) when high-pass filtered above 80-100Hz with a dedicated subwoofer. Front-ported design allows relatively close placement to front boundaries without excessive port occlusion. Measured bass extension of 72Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 88.6dB.
Cons: Severe cabinet and driver resonances plague the passband between 100Hz and 600Hz, imparting audible coloration and chesty resonances to male vocals and acoustic instruments. Irregular frequency response peaks and dips make automated receiver room correction difficult to equalize effectively. Poor low-frequency extension (F3 of 72Hz, F10 of 39Hz) for a floorstander, combined with rapid distortion escalation below 80Hz at higher SPLs (96dB+). Supertweeter driver adds crossover complexity without providing audible high-frequency benefit within the human hearing spectrum. Discontinued.
Full Sony SS-CS3 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 72Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 36.3”H x 9.1”W x 10.2”D (922 x 230 x 260 mm) |
| Drivers | 0.75 in. supertweeter, 0.98 in. polyester main tweeter, dual 5.12 in. MRC woofers |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal |
| Sensitivity | 88.6dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.11 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.65 |
| Weight | 25.4 lbs (11.5 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons