Revel PerformaBe M126Be

Incredible sound, impeccable craftsmanship

Revel paid a visit to our headquarters prior to the launch of their Performa M126Be bookshelf speakers. Luckily for me, they had arranged an extended listening session for us. Read on for a closer look at what the M126Be is all about, along with my listening impressions.

The magic all starts with the beryllium tweeter

The secret to the M126Be's great sound is its uniquely designed beryllium tweeter. You may have heard of beryllium back in chemistry class (it proudly carries the atomic number 4 on its virtual nametag).

Beryllium is several times stiffer than aluminum or titanium tweeter diaphragms. And it's also super-lightweight, so it moves quickly and in a very controlled fashion — two key attributes of a high-quality tweeter. I found that the M126Be created detailed, neutral, and non-fatiguing sound — even at extended high listening levels.

An acoustic lens waveguide for great sound in every seat

One of the most impressive attributes of the M126Be is its off-axis listening. The beryllium tweeter uses an acoustic lens waveguide, which helps it produce remarkably accurate sound, even if you're sitting off to the side of the "sweet spot." The soundstage holds up convincingly, just like it might at a live show.

Impressively hard-hitting bass 

Revel paired its beryllium tweeter with a 6-1/2" Deep Ceramic Composite (DCC) aluminum cone woofer. Let me tell you, the bass that this speaker produces is startlingly good for its size. I had to confirm with Revel's trainer that there was in fact no subwoofer playing when I listened to the M126Bes — the bass was that tight and impactful.

Tested by instrument and by ear

Revel's world-class speaker design and testing facility features an anechoic chamber and the latest high-tech measurement gear. But some of their most critical test instruments are the ears of their trained listening panel. When working on a new design, Revel's engineers set up a series of controlled auditions comparing their design to several competing speakers.

Speakers under comparison sit on a rotating platform, and each model is moved into the identical position by a computer-controlled belt drive system. An acoustically transparent screen hides the speakers from the listeners to avoid visual bias. These double-blind listening tests provide an essential reality check, and help the engineers correlate measurements with what listeners actually hear and prefer.

Get the most out of your stand-mount speakers

I'm a proponent of using high-quality speaker stands with bookshelf speakers. They help improve the sound by giving your speakers a stable, vibration-free platform. When shopping for stands, remember that the ideal height will place the tweeters roughly level with your ears, for maximum clarity.

Speaker stands also give you more placement flexibility, since you won't be limited to a space on your shelf or table. Keeping your speakers away from the wall or the corner of a bookshelf can also prevent excessively boomy bass. Many stands even offer built-in cable management for a neat, clean install.

Revel's sturdy matching Revel M Stands are an excellent choice to use with a pair of the M126Bes. The speakers mount securely to the stand platforms with supplied screws. Need more help? Contact one of our Advisors for an specific recommendation for your setup.