Speaker Comparison: Revel F226be vs Kef R3 Meta (and Revel F206)

Описание: Sorry this was a quickly made video and I glossed over some major points. First of all, all three speakers mentioned are quite neutral which I like. The Kefs definitely sound more snappy, and quick noises such as guitar plucks are much cleaner making things sound more real and “live” while the Revels are a bit slower and skip over quick transients. The R3’s bass sounds a bit different, slightly warmer and thicker compared to higher up the frequencies where things are more neutral. The 226be is more transparent in the bass region, more extended and is smootherl. I know materials shouldn’t matter but I can’t help wondering if it’s because the Kef bass driver is an aluminum and paper hybrid while the midrange is just aluminum. The Kef bass overall actually sounds a little more textured and detailed than the Revels, but with less low end extension and not as refined sounding.

The Kef R3 and F206 fall into a similar price bracket, but the same differences apply, Kefs are more focused while the 206 is more open and vague in imaging. I would definitely pick the R3 over the M106s. I felt like the tweeter of the M106 (and F206) could not handle being crossed so low and they did not blend seamlessly into the 6 1/2” woofer. That is why I upgraded to the F206 which helped the tweeter a lot and improved midrange and I would probably go with the F206 over the R3, but I do still feel that the non-beryllium Performa tweeter falls just a tad short and can sometimes sound grainy and peaky. I do think that tweeter is still a little better sounding than the one in the Kef R series, but it’s a much closer battle.

The F226be tweeter is just amazing. Compared to both other speakers, the highs sound more extended and much more refined. The Kef’s midrange sounds great on easier tasks, but falls apart when things get more demanding and they start to lose composure. The F226be lacks really sharp imaging and focus, but they sound much more robust and able to take on anything in the recording. Hope this helps!

DAC used: Topping D90LE
Amp: Cambridge Audio 851A