F208 first impressions
 

Rather than repeat myself endlessly here, I'll simply say that I ordered some Salon2s well over a month ago but haven't received them yet although the rest of my basic system has been in place for weeks. Growing increasingly desperate I ordered up a pair of F208s to fill in until my Salon2s get here. They arrived yesterday (the Performas, that is). My wife and I humped the pair to our second floor listening room and I have only stopped listening since then to collect coffee, MREs and attend to the most minimal requirements of the human body.

My impressions:

As my room is dedicated, there are no constraints beyond dimensions regarding where I put stuff. I'd previously decided to use the short wall for a display flanked by the speakers and that's how I set up yesterday. It hasn't taken long to position the Revels in the room, and in my case they seem a bit more sensitive (in respect to placement) to low frequencies than they do to imaging considerations, but I have given them ample room to breath and they seem to like that. At this time they are symmetrically placed (toed in to the listener) 40" from the rear wall (to rear of cabinet) and 38" from the side walls to the nearest cabinet boundary. In this position they give satisfying low end and a wide, fairly deep and well balanced soundstage with a truly excellent phantom center image for solo voices and instruments.

Since moving here and assessing the room, I came to the conclusion that it was a bit on the dead side. That has not fully played out for these Revels and I have ended up using the F208's HF cut (the full -1dB for now, very useful and non-intrusive) to achieve a balance I like. I find no need for the foam plugs. The balance top to bottom is sweet with no bothersome resonant peaks in the mid and high end (I like it painless) and a refined balance between bass, treble and the sumptuous, detailed and revealing mid-band these speakers are capable of. I am ready to install the spikes, which I'll do today.

The rest of the system (redundant data if you've read me here before) cnsists of MC stuff: C52 and MC452, an Oppo 105 (transport only) and Blue Jeans cables. I'm using the C52s DAC connected by a BJ coax as it sounds better to us than the (same) ESS chip (run as a balanced connection to the C52) in the Oppo that has nonetheless gotten rave reviews.

When I first fired up my new rig last night using my calculated speaker locations my initial sense was utter disappointment. A few minutes spent playing with the Oppo's settings (and switching to the McDAC) resolved a lot of that. Within an hour or so we had a better balance of tones. I soent the rest of the night listening and incrementally nudging the speakers closer to the rear and side walls to optimize bass response (MORE!).

So what do I think? Well, the McIntosh stuff makes a delicious mating with Revels. The end product is plenty of suds, all the resolution of fine detail you could want. There's the hoped for "I never heard that before" in my "I thought I knew you" library, the balance between detail, sound staging, frequency extension and imaging is true high end stuff and I could live with these speakers for a long, long time. Music pours out of them under the firm control of the MC452's silky background It's such a treat!

I do have Ultima 2s on the way so I'm curious just how much better they might do in my room, but I could be happy with these Performa 2s and never feel deprived. They're really excellent. A bravura performance and first impression that has justified my decisions. At least to me :D

Again, thanks to this this forum that was one of the instrumental data points in
my selection of the Mc equipment. With so many superb options on the market, even an experienced consumer can be understandably bewildered.

Thank you Lew for your first impression of MC452 and F208 speakers. Will be looking forward to Salon2 review as well. Should be researching and testing speakers soon.
AJ

Glad you are up and running Lew. I have read good reviews of the F208. I have an older model, the F52s which I use for front channel theater duty and know they fight above their weight.

I look forward to reading about your pleasure with the Salons. They will be a step (or two) up.

Craig

U guys giving me the mc452 upgrade bug. Been thinking about it.

The salon 2s are very coherent and have zero listener fatigue. Heard them at the akg store in Manhattan.

I'd say that's true for the 208s as well. Easy to sit and listen for hours, even to technically lesser recordings. Not to say I wouldn't have been overjoyed with any of a dozen other options...this was a confusing "shop" for me because it took me away from my pro audio roots, but in the end, they served me to the extent that I knew what I didn't want and to a somewhat lesser extent, what I did.

The Mc calls little attention to itself although one thing you get right away is how big the sound is relative to the speaker size. Bass is not as fully extended as it would be with a bigger speaker, but it's all there in good balance and however tight and defined as they recorded it. Differences in recording qualities/equipment selections and useages are immediately obvious if you know what to listen for. On multitracked studio recordings you hear the reverb quality, microphone variations (especially on solo voices) and that sort of thing. Rosin on bows is nice (:)), or if it's a heavily/near field mic'd (or maybe an electric violin like a Zeta) you hear that too. I can't tell exactly if it's a Zeta or just has some sort of pickup that alters the way a violin sounds, but you can make out the fact that the fiddle has been processed or treated in some way.
Massed voices (try the Glory soundtrack for instance) sound luscious and orchestral works sound like the real thing.

On certain recordings, the thing produces an effect they used to call "presence." It's not a word I see used much anymore in reviews, but it's a real enough feeling. You know....a wavefront of sound that feels immediate and "here." I love that.

It's the kind of thing that's satisfying to my audiophile side, but like most of us, I prefer just to get lost in the music. My system does that for me so I'm ecstatic.

Gotta go spin some more tunes!

Again, it's really nice that all of you take pleasure in my pleasure. My feminine side wants to say it's sweet. My masculine side says......let's have a beer!

:music: Thanks, Craig! It's required patience.

We did well, AJ! :)

I thought they were too bright at first, during break in, I also had to run the tweeters at -1, but after break in, the tweeters became as sweet as anything I have heard. But, it does take constant running for at least 2 weeks.

I fell in love with the 208's (after break in) and they replaced the B&W802D2 in my music listening area. 802s are now the HT speakers, still amazing speakers, but I prefer the 208's for music. That the $5k Revels sound better to my ear than $15K 802D2's might sound crazy, but as you can hear for yourself - they are truly fantastic.

Can't wait to hear your impressions if you A/B the 208's with the Salons. Would be interesting to blind test them like I did with the 802s.

Good to know that there's more to look forward to. It's probably my imagination but every time I listen, it seems to sound better.

Do it! Life's short.

In the case of the bigger Revels, it's pretty clear you need an amp with cojones. After just a few days, I've already speculated that anything with less current/power than the C452 would have left me wanting.

These speakers can absorb a lot of clean power.

Ditto for me as well...break-in and falling in love! I had planned on using the F208's as a bridge to SF Olympica's and love these so much that I have no desire to do that now.

Congrats Pampero! :cheerstoast:

Thanks, Dad! A few days ago I nudged the HF (call it a pad?)up a 1/2 dB, then yesterday went for the full output. It keeps getting better.

The F208s are revealing of the source. The Duh moment: Better recordings sound better, weaker ones are not as articulate or satisfying, but it's a rare instance indeed when the Revels don't make music.

The outstanding balance of trait of these transducers, how they get so much right and so little wrong, is their strong suit. Truly excellent value and it's all about balanced performance. In retrospect, they weren't even that hard to set up, but they do respond to small adjustments.

I am eager to get the Salon2s, but now they can come when they come. Like you I've developed an attachment to the F208s that may make it hard to sell them once the big boys get here. It will be interesting to see what four times the money buys in respect to improved performance. I no longer have lingering doubts about the Revel team's ability to hit the target in the 10 ring. The F208s are easy to love, and the plethora of reviews are on the money. Couldn't be happier with them especially in consideration of their price.

I agree as well, thus my purchase of the Studio 2's .......

Kudos to the 208, but how come we have a celebratory thread here without pictures?
Not nice...

TRUTH!

Pampero - this is your thread, so no disrespect on me putting some pics up :thumbsup:


http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h5...pseurcqplm.jpg


http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h5...pspknwqx56.jpg


The 802's are iconic and better looking IMO.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h5...psfukntdee.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h5...psdtwswrlm.jpg


At the Harmon store in NYC. 208 vs Salon 2's - the Salons bass response is spectacular, you would swear there is a sub hidden somewhere in the room. The 208's that we A/B'd weren't broken in, so the highs sounded incredibly detailed and smooth by comparison on the Salons.


http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h5...psxilykkfj.jpg


Not sure if we're allowed to post links to web sites, so I wont do it, but if you google "revel trifecta" Thomas J Norton compares the 208, 206 and Studio 2 at Harman's MLL. Worth taking a look at.

Very, very nice Pio! I remember your thread about the SVS footers. They look so nice under your 208's. :tresbon:

Now is Pampero's turn....:banana:

OK! Stand by as I rise to the challenge! I can't top Pio, I can only join him.:music:

Place needs some decorating, :sigh:but the basics are coming together.

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...psgwigdpav.jpg

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...ps6yxtgboq.jpg
Oh my! You're even bigger than you look!

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...psjhpoiw6t.jpg

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...pshmdjksou.jpg
Mighty beasts slink away in your commanding presence!

It's not clear in the photos, but at the moment, every component has its own circuit. That will change as components are added, but there's enough now to support what I have and more can be added as needed.

Compared to most folks here, my system is obviously very simple. It will remain that way for now as I'm happy with what I have but I'll have to see how the Salons take to the room. Treatment is always an option. I'm all digital now, and next thing is to organize streaming.
I'm embarrassed to say I haven't addressed the cabling, but honestly, I've just been enjoying the music.

looking good, keep enjoying the music Lew, I know my Revel's assure me of that !!

Thanks, Dave! Voecks has a stellar team on staff.

LOL - says the guy that's getting Salons soon :banana:

PS- IMO, Salons are the very best you can get. I've listened to a bunch of speakers, and the Salons are the complete package.

Pampero - have the tweeters smoothed out a bit?

Thanks for the pics. the speakers are awesome and the room very cool:yes:

Thanks. Good read, and interesting to see how well the F208 faired.

My friend just replaced his Revel F30 with the F208 and he absolutely loves them. Amazingly, we did a head-to-head comparison of the F208 to the Studio 2 on two separate occasions and we both preferred the smoother treble and bigger soundstage of the F208. The F208 just produced superior musicality in our opinion. However, the Studio 2 did have better bass response.

Best,
Ken

That was my impression as well Ken. After break-in the sweet, smooth treble and large soundstage won me over.

I auditioned the Studio2 in my room and loved the highs. This is quite high praise for the F208, IMO.

Added subs
 

A few weeks ago there was a flash sale on jbl.com on a JBL subwoofer, from $800 to $250 a piece. I got 2, figured why not at such a great price. Anyways, integrated them into the 208 system - all I can say is :banana::banana::banana:

As I recall, when I first got here not that long ago, you had a pair of Salon2s for sale. Do you reckon the same outcome had the F208s been run off against the Salons? This is of course of some considerable consequence to me.

The LF performance of the F208s is quite satisfying in my room. The absolute weight of a larger speaker's performance is absent, but the F208s are not slouches in this area. Bass is tight, tuneful and well defined with very little if any overhang or annoying resonances. When I put the spurs to them, they acquit themselves quite well and the balance between lows, mids and highs is right on the money. No doubt a lot of this has to do with our new room which seems to suit these speakers very well.

It has crossed my mind more than once that these things with a couple of subs could be the right solution here but I'm committed to the Salon2s at this point so I'll wait and see.

Thanks. I agreed to buy this house because of the room. Not that my wife's decision required that I agree but at least she threw me this bone. :D

Anyone compare the 206 with the 208?

I've said before and I'll say it again, the F208's represent the best 10k 'box' speaker on the market ..........and they are half that price !! although I still prefer the Studio 2's for what I believe to be greater coherence and definitely better bass response.

Hi Lew,

In my opinion, the Revel Salon 2 sound significantly better than both the Studio 2 and the F208. The Salon 2 has the best implementation of a beryllium tweeter I've ever heard (better than the Magico S7 IMHO). It is smooth and effortless and blends seamlessly with the midrange. This is due to the two midrange drivers (higher and lower), which provide a smoother transition to the tweeter and allow a higher crossover frequency than on the Studio 2. The Salon 2 are more linear than the Studio 2 and F208 from top to bottom, more transparent, have a bigger soundstage, more weighty presentation and tighter, more powerful and impactful bass.

I would rank them as follows:
Salon 2 = 10.0
F208 = 8.5
Studio 2 = 8.0

No tomatoes please!

Ken

Hi Lew,

One additional note. The Salon 2 require more power than the F208 to sound their best. This is due to more drivers that are more heavily damped than the F208. I used Pass Labs XA-100.5 monoblocks to drive them which worked wonderfully.

Best of luck,
Ken

Thanks Ken. That's what I've heard from other people I trust as well. Having them in the room tells all. I'm eager to have that happen! I should'a bought yours! They were an exceptionally good deal.......and I'd have them already!

I've got the 452 for now, The F208s can soak up a ggodly part of that before I think..... "that's enough." At that point though, the room is fully energized at a level I find uncomfortable.

To be clear, I believe the MC452 should do the job.