Short answer: the AsciLab C6B. It ranks #6 of 203 bookshelf speakers by sound quality (rated 4.7/5) at $1,145 and is still sold new; the Revel Performa M22 ranks #151 (rated 3.3/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used.
The Revel Performa M22 is the deeper-bass option. Very flat frequency response from 200Hz to 10kHz. Its bass reaches about 46.9Hz before falling 3dB, against 54Hz for the AsciLab C6B. Watch for: 3dB bass boost around 100Hz.
The AsciLab C6B is the more accurate option. Two-way design pairing a 1” aluminum ceramic dome tweeter on a large waveguide with a 6” aluminum ceramic cone woofer, crossed over at 1.1kHz, plus a rear passive radiator. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 6.33 against 5.31 for the Revel Performa M22. The tradeoff: Bass rolls off around 50Hz in-room (F3 54Hz, F10 35Hz), so a subwoofer is needed for real extension below that.
Buy the AsciLab C6B. It is rated higher for sound quality and still sold new, while the Revel Performa M22 is discontinued.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Revel Performa M22 | AsciLab C6B | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $600 per pair used (about), Discontinued | $1145 per pair |
| Ranked | #151 of 203 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #6 of 203 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37.1Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) | 35Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 46.9Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 54Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms nominal, 2.6 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 85dB | 85.6dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 25mm tweeter + 200mm woofer | 6” Aluminium Ceramic Cone with cast Aluminium Chassis woofer, 1” Aluminium Ceramic Dome tweeter |
| Weight | 41.7 lbs (18.9 kg) | 18.5 lbs (8.4 kg) each |
| Dimensions | 14.5”H x 8.6”W x 11.9”D (368.3 x 219.1 x 301.6 mm) | 15.7”H x 8”W x 10.4”D (398.8 x 203.2 x 264.2 mm) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | passive radiator |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.31 | 6.33 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.26 | 8.28 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Revel Performa M22: $600 per pair used (about) Discontinued eBay
Same family: the Revel Performa C52 (center, rated 4/5).
Pros: Very flat frequency response from 200Hz to 10kHz. Distortion is well controlled through most of the range, with only a modest crossover-region bump around 2-4kHz. Measured bass extension of 46.9Hz (-3dB).
Cons: 3dB bass boost around 100Hz. On-axis response also droops below 150Hz and peaks above 4kHz, which the reviewer thought may sound a bit bright/light. Distortion rises substantially below 100Hz when driven hard. Discontinued.
Full Revel Performa M22 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37.1Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 46.9Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 14.5”H x 8.6”W x 11.9”D (368.3 x 219.1 x 301.6 mm) |
| Drivers | 25mm tweeter + 200mm woofer |
| Impedance | 4 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 85dB |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.31 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.26 |
| Weight | 41.7 lbs (18.9 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
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AsciLab C6B: $1145 per pair Ascilab eBay
Same family: the AsciLab C5B (smaller bookshelf, rated 4.2/5).
Pros: Two-way design pairing a 1” aluminum ceramic dome tweeter on a large waveguide with a 6” aluminum ceramic cone woofer, crossed over at 1.1kHz, plus a rear passive radiator. Unusual trait: horizontal radiation actually widens at higher frequencies instead of narrowing like most two-way designs, which keeps image focus and soundstage depth consistent whether you toe the speakers in or out (5-10° off-axis was the sweet spot in testing). Vertical radiation also stays wide straight through the 2kHz crossover region, so the sound doesn’t collapse when standing up: unusual at this price. CA2034 measurements show strong on-axis linearity, listening window, early reflections, and directivity. Midrange and tweeter distortion stay very low even at 96dB, holding up against a $5,900 Arendal speaker in that regard despite roughly a 5x price gap. At $1145 shipped to the US, the reviewer calls it the best-value bookshelf speaker he’s tested, rivaling speakers 2-5x the price. Measured bass extension of 54Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 85.6dB.
Cons: Bass rolls off around 50Hz in-room (F3 54Hz, F10 35Hz), so a subwoofer is needed for real extension below that. Low-frequency harmonic distortion increases substantially at 96dB versus 86dB, though it’s second-order and less audible than it looks on paper. Minimum impedance dips to 2.6 ohms (EPDR as low as 1.2 ohms), so it wants an amplifier comfortable driving 4-ohm loads, ideally 100W or more. At 102dB, compression noticeably eats into midrange, bass, and some treble output. Shipping to the US adds roughly $200 on top of AsciLab’s list price. Against the reviewer’s reference Audiofirst Fidelia at a similar price, has slightly less lower-midrange body (about 1dB difference) and a smaller perceived soundstage size.
Full AsciLab C6B review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 54Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 15.7”H x 8”W x 10.4”D (398.8 x 203.2 x 264.2 mm) |
| Drivers | 6” Aluminium Ceramic Cone with cast Aluminium Chassis woofer, 1” Aluminium Ceramic Dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 2.6 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 85.6dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.33 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.28 |
| Weight | 18.5 lbs (8.4 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | passive radiator |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons