Short answer: both are discontinued, so this only matters if you are buying used. Used, the Revel Performa M22 is the better pick: it ranks #165 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality (rated 3.3/5), against #216 (rated 2.2/5) for the Yamaha NS-10. If you want one new, the Revel M126Be replaces the Revel Performa M22 and is rated 4.3/5 at $4,400.
The Revel Performa M22 is the more accurate, deeper-bass pick. A discontinued Revel bookshelf speaker with a large 8 inch woofer and a very flat midrange. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 5.31 against 2.24 for the Yamaha NS-10. Its bass reaches about 46.9Hz before falling 3dB, against 126Hz for the Yamaha NS-10. The tradeoff: 3dB bass boost around 100Hz.
What the Yamaha NS-10 does well: A legendary sealed studio monitor that can sit close to a wall, with distortion better than expected for its age. Watch for: A pronounced peak of about 7dB above the midrange average around 1.7kHz gives the sound a forward, bright, or “tinny” character: this is the real underlying issue, and it wasn’t actually fixed by the “Studio” revision.
Buy the Revel Performa M22 only if you find one used in good condition; both are discontinued, and it is the better rated of the two. For a new speaker, buy the Revel M126Be, which replaces the Revel Performa M22.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Measured Differences
- Bass depth: the Revel Performa M22 reaches 46.9 Hz (3 dB down) against 126 Hz for the Yamaha NS-10, more than an octave deeper. Low bass that the other only hints at comes through with real weight.
- Efficiency: the Yamaha NS-10 is rated at 90.2 dB sensitivity against 85 dB for the Revel Performa M22, so it plays as loud with roughly a third of the amplifier power.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Revel Performa M22 | Yamaha NS-10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $600 per pair used (about), Discontinued | $499 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #165 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #216 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37.1Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) | 75Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 46.9Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 126Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms nominal, 5.4 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 85dB | 90.2dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 25mm tweeter + 200mm woofer | 7.1” woofer, 1.4” soft dome tweeter |
| Weight | 41.7 lbs (18.9 kg) | 9.5 lbs (4.3 kg) |
| Dimensions | 14.5”H x 8.6”W x 11.9”D (368.3 x 219.1 x 301.6 mm) | 15”H x 8.5”W x 7.8”D (382.0 x 215.0 x 198.0 mm) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | sealed |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.31 | 2.24 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.26 | 5.63 (spinorama.org) |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Revel Performa M22: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Audio Science Review and GR-Research.
- Yamaha NS-10: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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