Short answer: the Revel M126Be for better sound quality, the Revel Concerta2 M16 for the lower price. The Revel M126Be ranks #31 of 105 bookshelf speakers at $4400. The Revel Concerta2 M16 ranks #41 at $600, $3800 cheaper.
The case for the Revel M126Be: Two-way design pairing a 6.5” midwoofer with a 1” beryllium dome tweeter, the smaller sibling to the reviewer’s favorite Revel F226Be. The catch: 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.
What the Revel Concerta2 M16 offers: CEA2034 spinorama shows an on-axis response that’s essentially flat from 200Hz to 10kHz, with some bass boost around 100Hz. The tradeoff: Harmonic distortion shows a notable peak around 80Hz and a sharp spike around 350Hz, plus the woofer appears to get a bit unhappy right before handing off to the tweeter.
Buy the Revel M126Be if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Revel Concerta2 M16 if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| Revel M126Be | Revel Concerta2 M16 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4400 | about $600 used |
| Ranked | #31 of 105 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #41 of 105 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 41.6Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 103Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 60.1Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 15.2"H x 8.3"W x 10.3"D (386.1 x 210.8 x 261.6 mm) | 14.8"H x 8.6"W x 10.8"D (374.7 x 218.4 x 273.3 mm) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (4.9 ohms minimum, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 6 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 86.1dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 86dB |
| Drivers | 6.5" Deep Ceramic Composite (DCC) Aluminum Cone with cast frame woofer, 1" Beryllium dome with acoustic lens waveguide tweeter | 25mm tweeter + 165mm woofer |
| Weight | 22 lbs / 10.0 kg each | 32 lbs / 14.5 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, rear |
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- ELAC VELA BS 403 vs JTR Noesis 210HT
- ELAC VELA BS 403 vs JBL HDI-1600
- Revel M126Be vs Emotiva Airmotiv XB2
- Revel M126Be vs ELAC DB63
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 Emotiva Airmotiv XB2
- Revel M126Be vs Dynaudio Heritage Special
- Revel M126Be vs Radiant Acoustics Clarity 6.2
- Revel M126Be vs ELAC DB63
- Revel M126Be vs JBL HDI-1600
- See all 11 comparisons
Revel Concerta2 M16: about $600 used
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows an on-axis response that’s essentially flat from 200Hz to 10kHz, with some bass boost around 100Hz. Predicted in-room response is very nice, with just extra bass and a bit of roll-off above 20kHz - the reviewer calls it “nice!” Distortion is well controlled through most of the range at both test levels.
Cons: Harmonic distortion shows a notable peak around 80Hz and a sharp spike around 350Hz, plus the woofer appears to get a bit unhappy right before handing off to the tweeter. Cumulative spectral decay (waterfall) shows some lingering resonances in the 300Hz-1kHz region. The reviewer cautions not to over-cover the cabinet/grille area with thin fabric, as it can audibly affect the top-end response.
Full Revel Concerta2 M16 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41.6Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60.1Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 14.8"H x 8.6"W x 10.8"D (374.7 x 218.4 x 273.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 25mm tweeter + 165mm woofer |
| Impedance | 6 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 86dB |
| Weight | 32 lbs / 14.5 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Revel Concerta2 M16 vs JBL HDI-1600
- Revel Concerta2 M16 vs ELAC DB63
- Revel Concerta2 M16 vs ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62
- Revel Concerta2 M16 vs Emotiva Airmotiv XB2
- Revel Concerta2 M16 vs ELAC DBR62
- Revel Concerta2 M16 vs Yamaha NS-800A
- Revel Concerta2 M16 vs Definitive Technology Demand D11
- Revel Concerta2 M16 vs Technics SB-C700
- See all 13 comparisons