Revel Owners Thread - Page 98

Originally Posted by 4DHD 

With the C208, you made the right choice. With the C205, if they had raised the tweeter above the center of dual the 5", that would have eliminated a big part of my objections. Although, as I noted, I'd like to hear how the 205's rotated WG changes things.

Originally Posted by lsdec 

The F208 are really really good speakers. Very close to the Studio2 with a better finish at a fraction of the price. I listened to them side by side and also the F208 & F206 side by side.

I only looked at the C205 and the C208 and said, "ok C208 it is". :-)

Be prepared to wait 6 weeks + for them though. I'm pretty annoyed that I have to wait until March (hopefully that'll be it) for speakers ordered in the 2nd week of January.

My patience is running thin... I decided on the gloss black though.

Originally Posted by duc135 

I have the Philharmonic 3 (based on your comparison to the Salon2) and can say, if this is the case, I no longer want the Salon2. I currently own the Performa2 F52 and still can't say the Phil3 is better than the F52. I'll concede that the Phil3 has more clear highs and more authoritative bass, but it doesn't give me that warm fuzzy that the F52 does.

I've been playing with placement of both the speakers and acoustic treatments in my room for the last few weeks and still have yet to get the Phil3 to move me the way the F52 does. The highs are clear, but the overall soundstage makes it seem like I'm on the balcony listening to a street performance. This has been remedied by raising the speakers by 5". The soundstage is large and wide, but does not expand outside the physical location of the speakers.

The bass, while more prominent than the F52 at low master volume levels, cause problems at higher volumes. I specifically chose the Phil3 over the Phil2 for the added low end. I was hoping to not have to use my subs when listening to 2 channel music. When running the speakers full range at above average volumes (75+ dB), the bass drivers will bottom out (with a very scary sounding noise) preventing me from turning the volume up anymore. I'm not listening to rap or hip hop either. This is while listening to Alicia Keys. So I have no choice, but to run them small with subs. The F52 had no such problem.

Recently, I let my brother-in-law borrow my F52 to audition them and without any room treatments or testing, I heard the sound of the F52 and they still gave me that warm fuzzy feeling. This is in a room with wood floors, 20' sliding glass doors on the left and a 25' x 3' window on the right. The speakers were tucked in the corners with, at most 10" of space between the front and side walls. There is one rug in the middle of the room, but nothing in front of the speakers themselves and large hard leather sofas.

I am now in the search for possibly replacing my F52s. I am following this thread closely for the consensus on the new F208 or possibly stepping it up to the Studio2s. After all this babbling, I STILL am lusting for the Salon2s.


See my post above. While the Phil3 is a good speaker and I would have loved them had I never heard my Revel F52, I would not say they are close to the Salon2 unless the Salon2 is also not as good as my F52s. I would highly doubt that though. With my F52s I would spend my days literally waiting to get home just to listen to them. This is EVERY day. With the Phil3, not so much. I enjoy listening to them, but I can just as well be online and have the news on in the background. Don't get me wrong. When I do listen to them with my music, they do sound very good, but it's not something I make a point to do for enjoyment. I'm still playing around with placement, amount of fiberfill in the upper cabinet, foam attenuation pads for the RAAL tweeters and my room treatments. Still trying to give the Phil3 a fair shake, but it's not looking good.

I'm probably the only one who hasn't sung high praises for the Phils.

Originally Posted by duc135 

As much as I love my F52 and know the F208 will be just as good or better, I'm thinking that the Be tweeter in the Studio2 will give better clarity in the top end. I still think the Ultima2 floorstanders are dead sexy to boot.

No worries on the wait. I had to wait 6 months for my Phil3s and they came with minor cosmetic damage and not even close to the color I had wanted.

Originally Posted by howaboutthat41 

Perhaps sell the Phils, redeploy the F52s, and then get Salons or Studios? Tough to hear of someone moving speakers that impress him as much as the F52s work for you. Might you also consider auditioning the Ultimas while you still have the Performas, lest you perhaps even prefer your current set?

Originally Posted by lsdec 

Thanks 4D. LOL! You can't let that C205 go, can you. That's funny stuff.

I know you love Revel - I read your other posts where you put the Performa3 as your wallpaper etc. It's all good.

Yes, the C205 seems a bit off and same w/ having just one set of binding posts for the C205 & F206 too - but I'm sure sonically, they are great. I know the F206 is, because I heard it on 2 separate occasions.

Originally Posted by 4DHD 

Having two binding posts is never needed. That's a marketing gimmick, unless someone is going to run an active XO.
And then the internal XO needs to go. Having two sets of binding posts is akin with some JBLs having an ultra tweeter (20K~45Khz). Totally not necessary.

Originally Posted by howaboutthat41 

Unless you want to freak out your pets!

Originally Posted by howaboutthat41 

Perhaps sell the Phils, redeploy the F52s, and then get Salons or Studios? Tough to hear of someone moving speakers that impress him as much as the F52s work for you. Might you also consider auditioning the Ultimas while you still have the Performas, lest you perhaps even prefer your current set?

Originally Posted by lsdec 

Yes make no mistake. The studio2s top end, mid-range, bass (tightness), maybe imaging was all better than the F208. The dynamics was a toss up and so was the deep bass. And it better be bc that's how it seems Revel designed it. And once I get the F208s home, I won't be a/b'ing it with the studio2s.

It was nice to see the F208 right next to the Studio2s where they looked like they were peers. That made the decision to go w performa3s pretty easy. Choosing btw F206 and F208 took some time though bc they were close.

Originally Posted by bthrb4u 

I might have a little to much time on my hands lol. But actually, the reasoning behind me trying to take some of the heat was because if someone were to get on me about something it would have been miniscule compared to the argument that was going on here between a person i find to be pretty awesome to read his comments and someone who i find to be quite a troll himself who is obsessed with hearing himself talk and over analyzes other people conversations and turns it into a big debate because someone had an opinion. Guess he's never heard of reasoning. Hate to see what his love life is like lol. No names mentioned.

Originally Posted by duc135 

I had to wait 6 months for my Phil3s and they came with minor cosmetic damage and not even close to the color I had wanted.

Originally Posted by AcuDefTechGuy 

A few disadvantages with ID companies. I bet you will probably never buy another ID brand speaker.

Originally Posted by duc135 

I wouldn't discount them out yet. I still have faith in ID companies. I know it probably sounded like I was bashing on Dennis and his Philharmonic series speakers, but I'm not. I'm a VERY anal person when it comes to details so I may be a bit harsh in my critiques about fit and finish. This is why I do all the renovations in my house as well as perform maintenance on my own bikes (the non-motorized kind). Dennis did tell me that the lead time was going to be over 3 months so I knew I was in for a wait. Had I never had the pleasure of experiencing the Revel F52, I would probably be gushing all over the Phil3 as I do now with my F52.

Could also be that all the high praise I read for the speakers built up a higher than usual expectation from me. It happens to me with movies as well. If I watch a movie that has really good reviews, I usually end up thinking it was merely ok after watching it. On the other hand, when I go watch a movie with mediocre reviews, I usually end up liking it much more since my expectations were so low.

One experience will not make me jaded against all others in the same industry. I actually do like the speakers and would recommend them to others if the conditions were right. I don't know of any other speaker in that price range that sound as good as the Phils.

Originally Posted by AcuDefTechGuy 

Well, I have the Salon2, B&W 802D2, Linkwitz Orion3, & KEF Reference 201/2. And I think my Phil3 can dance with any of them just fine. You won't see me say they're equals any time soon, but I think my Phil3 hold their own in my room & for me.

Some guys who have been to my house tell me my Salon2 & 802D2 sound "much" better than my Phil3 during unblinded comparisons. It seems like you feel the same as they do. But I feel differently.

Perhaps you need to find a way to do a blinded comparison between the F52 vs Phil3.

Originally Posted by duc135 

I am now in the search for possibly replacing my F52s. I am following this thread closely for the consensus on the new F208 or possibly stepping it up to the Studio2s. After all this babbling, I STILL am lusting for the Salon2s.

Originally Posted by duc135 

I wouldn't discount them out yet. I still have faith in ID companies.

Originally Posted by 4DHD 

Having two binding posts is never needed. That's a marketing gimmick, unless someone is going to run an active XO.
And then the internal XO needs to go. Having two sets of binding posts is akin with some JBLs having an ultra tweeter (20K~45Khz). Totally not necessary.

Originally Posted by lsdec 

Yes. I do know all this but nevertheless on speakers retailing at $3500/pair, they should be there.

Originally Posted by 4DHD 

I would rather have the money put into something useful, like biased crossovers.

Originally Posted by bthrb4u 

how long do those batteries last before needing to be replaced?

Originally Posted by lsdec 
And I don't care about any future Revel releases or what they have in the "works". I'm sure Ultima2 owners itching for an upgrade does and of course they should along with anyone else who is looking for an upgrade.

Originally Posted by neutralguy 

The Salon2 is every bit worth lusting after. I've auditioned many competitors in the price range, (e.g. B&W 800D, Dynaudio Sapphire, Wilson Sophia) and the Salon2 was so far above the others that it was the easiest speaker decision I've ever had. Since then, I have listened to dozens of high end speakers in passing at shows, from the likes of Giya, Focal, Rockport, etc, and almost none of them impress me anymore. The only ones I thought were a competitor to the Salon2 were the JBL Everest and TAD Reference One. And of course, the Studio2. I'm pretty doubtful that I can order those 2 correctly in a blind test, or even tell them apart, and I've had them both but in different rooms.

Like you, I still look forward to coming home every day and listening to my Salon2.

Originally Posted by AcuDefTechGuy 

I agree that once you achieve this level of greatness (Salon2, Studio2, KEF Blade, TAD R1, Everest, etc), it's really impossible to beat it.

But other speakers may still come "close" or "close enough". The question is how close? And that is a very subjective topic.

Originally Posted by Milt99 

duc135, a question about your disatisfaction with the finish etc., on the Philharmonics.
Did you ever contact Dennis about it?
I understand that ding etc., may not be worth the hassle but I'm sure he would have made some sort of accommodation.
Just curious as Dennis is a good guy.

Originally Posted by Milt99 

It also sounds to me that you maybe selling the "wrong" speakers as it were.

Originally Posted by Milt99 

Someone earlier mentioned that their Revels gave them the warm and fuzzy.
I know exactly what you mean.

Originally Posted by Milt99 

As much as I've lambasted certain reviewers over the years, there are a handful that I follow, respect and generally find that my taste, values and listening methods, etc., coincide with.

I was unable to hear Studio2s prior to buying them but had heard their predecessors and other speakers in the Revel line over the years and really liked how they reproduced recorded music.
I read all of the Kal Rubinson, John Atkinson & Fred Kaplan's Revel reviews several times over and the reviews on Secrets, Home Theater, Home Theater Review(meh) and all of the other sites that have reviewed Revel speakers.

As much as I've come to agree with many them, no one nailed it so precisely for me as Robert Harley on TAS.
I'd love to post the relevant passage but if you're interested, the review is easy enough to find.
Although he is reviewing the Salon2, over the month I've had the Studios, I've had the exact same experience.

In a nutshell, he states how he is always fascinated by how certain recorded musical nuances are revealed by certain components.
I've been re-listening to discs that I've heard inumerable times over the years with different systems and simply put, the Studios bring out the absolute best in every recording I've auditioned.
A lot of speakers these days have a ruthless quality about them. It's like the playback system is better than the recording and makes it apparent in no uncertain terms.
The combo I have now, I feel brings out the musical best in what I'm hearing without fatigue, grain or glare.
While each recording has it's own signature, some are expansive, others no so much, so far they've all had one thing in common they put a huge smile on my face and mental immersion into the music.
It sounds like real people singing and playing real instruments. The detail is astounding while remaining in context with the whole.

Originally Posted by duc135 

I think the Revel brand will also be an easier sell than the Phils. Not only that, I can get more for the F52 than I can for the Phil3.

Please contact a local dealer for a quote on the products that you are interested in.

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