Short answer: the Revel M126Be for better sound quality, the Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 for the lower price. The Revel M126Be ranks #28 of 100 bookshelf speakers at $4400. The Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 ranks #32 at $549, $3851 cheaper.
What the Revel M126Be offers: Two-way design pairing a 6.5” midwoofer with a 1” beryllium dome tweeter, the smaller sibling to the reviewer’s favorite Revel F226Be. Watch for: At $4,400/pair, the reviewer doesn’t consider it a strong value - an improvement over Revel’s less expensive M106 and Performa3 models, but not proportional to the price jump.
The case for the Emotiva Airmotiv XB2: Very neutral, linear frequency response at the recommended toe-out angle, with better directivity than the similarly-priced ELAC DB63. The tradeoff: Slight recessed upper-midrange around 2kHz from the tweeter-to-woofer handoff.
Buy the Revel M126Be if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| Revel M126Be | Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4400 | $549 |
| Ranked | #28 of 100 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #32 of 100 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 103Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 62Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 15.2"H x 8.3"W x 10.3"D (386.1 x 210.8 x 261.6 mm) | 12.8" x 8.5" x 11.5" (325 x 216 x 292 mm) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (4.9 ohms minimum, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal (safe with 8-ohm rated amps) |
| Sensitivity | 86.1dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 86dB (2.83V/1m, Manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | 6.5" Deep Ceramic Composite (DCC) Aluminum Cone with cast frame woofer, 1" Beryllium dome with acoustic lens waveguide tweeter | 1x 6" woven cone woofer, 1x 25x32mm AMT folded ribbon tweeter |
| Weight | 22 lbs / 10.0 kg each | 18.1 lbs / 8.2 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | Bass reflex, rear ported |
| Frequency Response | - | 48Hz - 27kHz (+3/-3dB, Manufacturer specified) |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 2.6kHz |
| Output Power | - | 125W continuous, 200W peak |
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- ELAC VELA BS 403 vs JTR Noesis 210HT
- ELAC VELA BS 403 vs JBL HDI-1600
- ELAC VELA BS 403 vs Philharmonic BMR (v1)
- Revel M126Be vs ELAC DB63
- Wharfedale Linton 85 vs Revel M126Be
The Two Speakers In Full
Revel M126Be: $4400 Crutchfield
Pros: Two-way design pairing a 6.5” midwoofer with a 1” beryllium dome tweeter, the smaller sibling to the reviewer’s favorite Revel F226Be. Wide, immersive stereo imaging - hard-panned sounds in test tracks localized 2-3 feet outside the physical speaker positions without losing pinpoint precision. Horizontal radiation of about 60-70°, landing right in the reviewer’s preferred range for an enveloping yet still well-focused soundstage. Extended bass-shelf tuning (similar in concept to the KEF R3 Meta) combines with in-room gain for a more linear low end rather than a boomy hump. Diffraction dips visible on-axis around 3kHz and 7kHz largely disappear in the estimated in-room response, since they fill in as you move off-axis. Distortion stays within 3% down to about 100Hz at both 86dB and 96dB output - strong performance for a 6.5” bookshelf woofer. Can be driven by a standard AVR thanks to a manageable 4.9-ohm minimum impedance.
Cons: At $4,400/pair, the reviewer doesn’t consider it a strong value - an improvement over Revel’s less expensive M106 and Performa3 models, but not proportional to the price jump. Bass tops out around 50Hz in-room; a subwoofer is still needed for real low-end extension. Vertical placement is fairly critical - there’s a notable hole in the response around the 1.7kHz crossover if you sit above the tweeter axis. Toeing the speaker out to a full 30° introduces a roughly 1dB discontinuity in the midrange along with high-frequency rolloff; the reviewer recommends staying close to on-axis or within about 10°. An unexplained jump in distortion appears right at the 1.7kHz crossover point under compression testing, which may be linked to an occasional “glaring” quality the reviewer noticed in the 2-3kHz region at very high volumes (92-93dB from 2 meters). A mild 2-3kHz forwardness occasionally stood out on some tracks, correctable with about 1dB of EQ, though the reviewer considers it minor.
Full Revel M126Be review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 103Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 15.2"H x 8.3"W x 10.3"D (386.1 x 210.8 x 261.6 mm) |
| Drivers | 6.5" Deep Ceramic Composite (DCC) Aluminum Cone with cast frame woofer, 1" Beryllium dome with acoustic lens waveguide tweeter |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (4.9 ohms minimum, measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 86.1dB (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 22 lbs / 10.0 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
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- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Revel M126Be vs ELAC VELA BS 403
- Revel M126Be vs Wharfedale Linton 85
- Revel M126Be vs Selah Audio Purezza
- Revel M126Be vs Dynaudio Heritage Special
- Revel M126Be vs ELAC DB63
- Revel M126Be vs Radiant Acoustics Clarity 6.2
- Revel M126Be vs JBL HDI-1600
- Revel M126Be vs Wharfedale Super Linton
- See all 10 comparisons
Emotiva Airmotiv XB2: $549 Emotiva
Pros: Very neutral, linear frequency response at the recommended toe-out angle, with better directivity than the similarly-priced ELAC DB63. Decent bass extension for a bookshelf (F3 at 62Hz). AMT folded-ribbon tweeter with a rotating waveguide for placement flexibility. Great value - rated a top-three performer for the money by Erin’s Audio Corner.
Cons: Slight recessed upper-midrange around 2kHz from the tweeter-to-woofer handoff. Sounds noticeably bright pointed directly at the listener - needs toeing out 10-20 degrees, crossfiring behind the head, for the most linear result. Elevated multi-tone distortion at higher output leads to some grainy, compressed mids when pushed. Irregular compression deviations affect dynamics at higher volume. Needs a subwoofer for real bass authority.
Full Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 62Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 2.6kHz |
| Dimensions | 12.8" x 8.5" x 11.5" (325 x 216 x 292 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 6" woven cone woofer, 1x 25x32mm AMT folded ribbon tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 48Hz - 27kHz (+3/-3dB, Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (safe with 8-ohm rated amps) |
| Output Power | 125W continuous, 200W peak |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (2.83V/1m, Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 18.1 lbs / 8.2 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | Bass reflex, rear ported |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 vs ELAC DB63
- Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 vs JBL HDI-1600
- Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 vs ELAC VELA BS 403
- Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 vs StarkSound Beta 5
- Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 vs Revel Concerta2 M16
- Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 vs Wharfedale Linton 85
- Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 vs ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62
- Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 vs Monolith Encore B6
- See all 9 comparisons