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-   Revel Speakers (https://www.audioaficionado.org/forumdisplay.php?f=172)
-   -   Why no love for the Revel Salon 2's? (https://www.audioaficionado.org/showthread.php?t=15616)

mbovaird 08-19-2012 08:31 PM

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?

Volks 08-19-2012 09:11 PM

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.

audioguy3107 08-19-2012 09:12 PM

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!
:ttiwwp:

Volks 08-19-2012 09:19 PM

1 Attachment(s)
This is the exact setup i heard

Ritmo 08-19-2012 09:20 PM

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

jdandy 08-19-2012 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Volks (Post 351946)
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.

mbovaird 08-19-2012 10:17 PM

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. :)

http://www.audioaficionado.org/membe...3-img-6005.jpg

http://www.audioaficionado.org/membe...9-img-6010.jpg

http://www.audioaficionado.org/membe...1-img-6011.jpg

http://www.audioaficionado.org/membe...0-img-6012.jpg

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.... :D

Volks 08-19-2012 10:19 PM

Great Setup!!!!!:)

rscotth 08-19-2012 10:38 PM

Looks great Mike! Nice work.

mbovaird 08-19-2012 10:41 PM

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. :)


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