Short answer: the Revel Performa M22. It ranks #63 of 84 bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $600; the Polk Reserve R100 ranks #65 and costs $649, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Revel Performa M22 offers: Very flat frequency response from 200hz to 10khz. Watch for: 3dB bass boost around 100hz.
What the Polk Reserve R100 offers: Compact cabinet, unusually useful bass for its size and well-controlled woofer breakup. Watch for: Erin measured only about 85dB sensitivity and the impedance reaches 3.6 ohms, so it is neither efficient nor an entirely benign AVR load.
Buy the Revel Performa M22. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Polk Reserve R100 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip both of these and look higher up the 84 bookshelf speakers instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Revel Performa M22 | Polk Reserve R100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | About $600 used | $649/pair |
| Ranked | #63 of 84 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #65 of 84 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 40Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 49Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 58Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 68Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 3.6 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 85dB | 85dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 25mm tweeter + 200mm woofer | 1" Pinnacle ring-radiator tweeter; 5.25" Turbine Cone midwoofer |
| Weight | 41.7 lbs / 18.9 kg | 12.2 lb each |
| Dimensions | 14.5"H x 8.6"W x 11.9"D (368.3 x 219.1 x 301.6 mm) | 12.8"H x 6.5"W x 10.2"D |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, rear X-Port |
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More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- ELAC DB63 vs Polk R200
- SVS Prime Bookshelf vs Emotiva Airmotiv B2+
- Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ vs Klipsch RP-600M
- ELAC DB63 vs Revel Performa M22
- Revel Performa M22 vs Yamaha NS-10
The Two Speakers In Full
Revel Performa M22: About $600 used
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.
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.
Full Revel Performa M22 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 40Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 58Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| 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 |
| Weight | 41.7 lbs / 18.9 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
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Polk Reserve R100: $649/pair Amazon Polk Audio
Pros: Compact cabinet, unusually useful bass for its size and well-controlled woofer breakup. Erin measured F3/F10 points of 68Hz/49Hz, and the X-Port vent avoids much of the chuffing and pipe resonance common to budget rear ports. The 5.25-inch Turbine Cone woofer and 1-inch Pinnacle ring-radiator tweeter produce good detail at moderate levels, while listening roughly 20° off-axis reduces part of the elevated top octave.
Cons: Erin measured only about 85dB sensitivity and the impedance reaches 3.6 ohms, so it is neither efficient nor an entirely benign AVR load. The treble runs roughly 3dB above the midrange and becomes aggressive above about 85dB SPL. A directivity discontinuity through the woofer/tweeter crossover means EQ cannot fully repair the power response, and a 400Hz impedance feature plus 500Hz-1kHz response irregularity suggests a cabinet or system resonance. Substantial low-frequency compression at higher playback levels limits clean dynamics.
Full Polk Reserve R100 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 49Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 68Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 12.8"H x 6.5"W x 10.2"D |
| Drivers | 1" Pinnacle ring-radiator tweeter; 5.25" Turbine Cone midwoofer |
| Impedance | 3.6 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 85dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 12.2 lb each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear X-Port |
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