AudioAficionado.org  

Go Back   AudioAficionado.org > Manufacturers Forums > Revel Speakers

Revel Speakers The Science of Sound

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 08-19-2012, 08:31 PM
mbovaird mbovaird is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 2,445
Default

After an exhaustive search, I ended up with the Revel Salon 2's. I've owned the Salon 2's for about 3 months now. They are not only a great looking speaker, but they deliver a very neutral sound and an absolutely massive wide and deep soundstage. I am currently powering them with McIntosh 2301's and let me be honest, they sound gorgeous, but they are overwhelming even the 2301's. A knock against the Salon 2's is their incredible thirst for power. They are very inefficient. A pair of McIntosh 1.2's are possibly in my future.

I found the Salon 2's to be very room sensitive. After weeks of talking to the good folks at Revel, constantly asking "where's my bass?" trying to sort through the lack of bass, it turned out the problem was my room. Some room acoustics and the incredible McIntosh MEN220 room correction and I now have the speakers I knew I always had!

My question is this, why do these speakers not get a whole lot of respect? I see people on forums constantly asking for suggestions and the usual culprits are always mentioned, Sonus Faber, B&W, DynAudio, Wilson, etc....but rarely the Salon 2's. Why? Are they just not as well known? Do they look too much like a traditional speaker? Is it their inefficiencies to drive? Are they just not for many folks tastes? I'm just curious. All the other speakers mentioned are wonderful in their own right....so I'm curious why not the Salon 2's? Are they a hard speaker to "love" in an audition?

I also wanted to get a thread going for the Revel Salon 2 owners out there (come on, there must be a few!)

I would love to know what other Salon 2 owners are using as amps. What about your success with placement? What do you have your settings (on the back of the speaker) set to? Have you considered anything else since owning the Salon 2's?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 08-19-2012, 09:11 PM
Volks Volks is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: CANADA/ALBERTA
Posts: 4,326
Default

I listen to the Revel Salon 2 hooked up to a complete Mark Levinson setup and they are beautiful sounding speakers in every way.......yes they like power ,but with the right amps you are rewarded with a rich mid-range and clean even bass ,but for me the Kef Reference 207/2's edged the Revel Salon 2 out...........actually Stereophile gave the Kef 207/2s and the Revel Salon 2 both tied for 2008 "Speaker of the Year" if i recall.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 08-19-2012, 09:12 PM
audioguy3107's Avatar
audioguy3107 audioguy3107 is offline
Go Dawgs
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Posts: 5,468
Default

I don't know, I've always read great things about them other than the standard stuff where they may not appeal to all listeners etc. etc. How 'bout some pics of the setup? Sounds nice!
__________________
Library: Speakers: Avalon Acoustics Isis, Subwoofers: (2) REL Acoustics 212SE Amplification: D’agostino Momentum preamplifier, D’agostino S250 stereo amplifier Digital: dCS Rossini CD/SACD transport, dCS Rossini DAC/streamer/master clock. Analog: Brinkmann Taurus table, Lyra Etna Lambda, Audio Research Ref. Phono 3
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 08-19-2012, 09:19 PM
Volks Volks is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: CANADA/ALBERTA
Posts: 4,326
Default

This is the exact setup i heard
Attached Images
File Type: jpg IMG_1501.jpg (98.6 KB, 318 views)
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 08-19-2012, 09:20 PM
Ritmo Ritmo is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Florida
Posts: 4,053
Default

mbovaird,

There are a few Salon 2 owners here in AA.

These are wonderful speakers with excellent dynamics and terrific top to bottom performance. I can listen to them for hours without any fatigue.

I drive them with an ARC solid state amp - DS450. This amp does an adequate job with them. But they do consume all the DS sends their way. Tubes are probably not the best match for them. I know even some SS amps don't do well with them - Ayre monos can overheat severely if played loud. I do plan to do an eventual upgrade of the amp - not sure what yet.

If you want to stay with McIntosh, the 601s may be an option or, to your point, possibly 1201s.

Thanks,
Mike
__________________
Mike
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 08-19-2012, 10:01 PM
jdandy's Avatar
jdandy jdandy is offline
Merry Christmas to all



 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: North Central Florida
Posts: 53,224
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Volks View Post
I listen to the Revel Salon 2 hooked up to a complete Mark Levinson setup and they are beautiful sounding speakers in every way.......yes they like power ,but with the right amps you are rewarded with a rich mid-range and clean even bass ,but for me the Kef Reference 207/2's edged the Revel Salon 2 out...........actually Stereophile gave the Kef 207/2s and the Revel Salon 2 both tied for 2008 "Speaker of the Year" if i recall.
Michael.......I also heard the Revel Salon 2's with Mark Levinson No. 33H mono amplifiers (300 watts) about three years ago. The were set up in a small dealer show room (12' x 15' x 8'), with a number of acoustic panels on the walls and two bass traps in the corners behind the speakers. The CD player was the Mark Levinson No. 390S that drove the amplifiers direct. The system sounded excellent. The Revel Salon 2's created a realistic sound stage, and the three 8" titanium cone woofers produced a rich, solid bass response in the room. I remember listening to Diana Krall, "Temptation" from The Girl In The Other Room CD. Her voice and piano were in the room, and the acoustic bass and jazz guitar were perfect in the mix.

The Salon 2's I auditioned to were the piano black finish, although my preference is the mahogany finish. From the photos I had seen I had expected the speakers to be larger, but they were only 11" wide, and just under 55" tall. When the lights were turned down in the room, the Revel's easily disappeared. I was impressed with this pair of speaker, as well as the Levinson CD player and amplifiers.
__________________
Dan



STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital cable, Sonos Connect, PurePower 2000, Stillpoints, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Wireworld, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario
LIVING ROOM - McIntosh C2300, MC75 (2), MR85, Magnum Dynalab 205, Simaudio MOON Neo 260D-T, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil, Aurender N100H, Shunyata Sigma USB cable, Micro Seiki DD40, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, Nakamichi BX-300, Sony 60ES DAT, PS Audio P10, Furutech Flux 50, Sonos Connect, Stillpoints, Wireworld, Kimber, PMC EB1i, JL Audio f113
VINTAGE - McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, Sony DTC-59ES DAT, McIntosh 4300V, JBL 4312A
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 08-19-2012, 10:17 PM
mbovaird mbovaird is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 2,445
Default Here you go....

No laughing at my make shift stand for the mc207.....I'm waiting on my amp stand. Acoustic Treatments are also on their way. Thanks to Dan for all his help! Center speaker soon to be replaced by the Voice2.....and down the road.....cables.....all in good time.









P.S. except for the TV, the mounted screen and the two Seaton Submersives, ALL of what you see (and a few you don't see) has been acquired within the last 90 days:

Revel Salon 2's
(2) McIntosh 2301's - w/Gold Lion Tubes
McIntosh 1000 c/t/p
McIntosh MX151
McIntosh MEN220
McIntosh MCD1100
Oppo 95
AVID Volvere TT/SME 309/Dynavector XX2MKII MC
(2) APC S20 Power Conditioners
(2) APC S15 Power Conditioners
Sony HW30AES 3D/1080p Projector
Stewart Grayhawk Screen (motorized)
(2) Seaton Submersives Piano Black/Glossy finish
Mac Mini
Logitech Squeezebox
Mirage OMD-C2
(4) Mirage OMD-R
(2) Mirage OmniCan OC-65
TV is some 55inch Samsung 8000 thingamajig.
Fully balanced (XLR) throughout

My 401K wasn't making me money anyway....
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 08-19-2012, 10:19 PM
Volks Volks is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: CANADA/ALBERTA
Posts: 4,326
Default

Great Setup!!!!!
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 08-19-2012, 10:38 PM
rscotth's Avatar
rscotth rscotth is offline
Senior Member

 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Florida/NY
Posts: 1,364
Default

Looks great Mike! Nice work.
__________________
Florida

Dan D'Agostino Momentum HD Preamp
Dan D'Agostino Momentum Phono Preamp
Dan D'Agostino Momentum M400 MxV x 3
Dan D'Agostino Momentum S250
dCS Vivaldi Apex DAC
dCS Vivaldi Upsampler
dCS Vivaldi Clock
Wilson Audio Alexia 2, Yvette & Mezzo
REL No.32 x 2
REL Carbon Special x 2
AVID Acutus Ref SP, Roon Nucleus+
McIntosh MX151, MVP881
HRS SXR Signature Audio Stand
Transparent Gen5Ref throughout!

New York

Dan D'Agostino Momentum HD Preamp
Dan D'Agostino Momentum M400 MxV x 2
dCS Rossini Dac
dCS Rossini Clock
Wilson Audio Alexia 2
REL No.25 x 2
Roon Nucleus+
Transparent Gen5Ref throughout!
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 08-19-2012, 10:41 PM
mbovaird mbovaird is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 2,445
Default

Thanks for the help on the TT Scott.
P.S. the biggest record store in the U.S. (in St. Petersburg, FL) is called Bananas (they have two locations in St. Petes). I went there today and walked out with an arm full of shiny new LP's.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Audioaficionado.org tested by Norton Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:17 PM.



Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.10
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
©Copyright 2009-2023 AudioAficionado.org.Privately owned, All Rights Reserved.
Audio Aficionado Sponsors
AudioAficionado Subscriber
AudioAficionado Subscriber
Inspire By Dennis Had
Inspire By Dennis Had
Harmonic Resolution Systems
Harmonic Resolution Systems
Wyred4Sound
Wyred4Sound
Dragonfire Acoustics
Dragonfire Acoustics
GIK Acoustics
GIK Acoustics
Esoteric
Esoteric
AC Infinity
AC Infinity
JL Audio
JL Audio
Add Powr
Add Powr
Accuphase - Soulution
Accuphase - Soulution
Audio by E
Audio by E
Canton
Canton
Bryston
Bryston
WireWorld Cables
WireWorld Cables
Stillpoints
Stillpoints
Bricasti Design
Bricasti Design
Furutech
Furutech
Shunyata Research
Shunyata Research
Legend Audio & Video
Legend Audio & Video