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Post by briank on Mar 20, 2014 11:16:27 GMT -5
BrianK, how big is your room? Using the "merlin" tool on SVS's site, its interesting that they recommend dual SB13 Ultra's with the F208's. but only 1 with the F206. Not sure if they presume anyone buying an F208 has a much bigger space, or?.... My current room is 12x20 with 8 foot ceilings, so I figured between the F208's deeper ability and the SB13 Ultra, I should have enough air moving. Also, if I may be so crass, what kind of % off list did you get on your Performa3's? My room is 15 x 18 with 8 ft ceilings but it's open to the kitchen at one end. Counting the Kitchen it's about 3700 cubic ft. The SB13 was adequate for HT but I wanted more Drama and Impact. For example there is a scene in "Casino Royale" where the Dozer crashes through pipes and a building. This scene was a little uneventful with the SB13 and JL 112 while it was mildly "startling" with the Sub 15. Has I not heard the Sub15 I wouldn't have known I was missing anything. It just brings more of the Action into your room. I bought my speakers from TJ at HiFi Buys in Nashville TN at a nice discount. |
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Post by patricksf on Mar 20, 2014 11:34:47 GMT -5
BrianK, how big is your room? Using the "merlin" tool on SVS's site, its interesting that they recommend dual SB13 Ultra's with the F208's. but only 1 with the F206. Not sure if they presume anyone buying an F208 has a much bigger space, or?.... My current room is 12x20 with 8 foot ceilings, so I figured between the F208's deeper ability and the SB13 Ultra, I should have enough air moving. Also, if I may be so crass, what kind of % off list did you get on your Performa3's? My room is 15 x 18 with 8 ft ceilings but it's open to the kitchen at one end. Counting the Kitchen it's about 3700 cubic ft. The SB13 was adequate for HT but I wanted more Drama and Impact. For example there is a scene in "Casino Royale" where the Dozer crashes through pipes and a building. This scene was a little uneventful with the SB13 and JL 112 while it was mildly "startling" with the Sub 15. Has I not heard the Sub15 I wouldn't have known I was missing anything. It just brings more of the Action into your room. I bought my speakers from TJ at HiFi Buys in Nashville TN at a nice discount. Gotcha. Yes, I should have mentioned that my room also opens up to the Entry then dining room. Guess I'll try it and see. That Sub 15 is beautiful, but starting at $3500 (I presume that is the black ash version) I could do 2 SVS SB13 Ultras for a tad less. I've never done dual subs, but some argue its preferable? |
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Post by briank on Mar 20, 2014 11:51:12 GMT -5
My room is 15 x 18 with 8 ft ceilings but it's open to the kitchen at one end. Counting the Kitchen it's about 3700 cubic ft. The SB13 was adequate for HT but I wanted more Drama and Impact. For example there is a scene in "Casino Royale" where the Dozer crashes through pipes and a building. This scene was a little uneventful with the SB13 and JL 112 while it was mildly "startling" with the Sub 15. Has I not heard the Sub15 I wouldn't have known I was missing anything. It just brings more of the Action into your room. I bought my speakers from TJ at HiFi Buys in Nashville TN at a nice discount. Gotcha. Yes, I should have mentioned that my room also opens up to the Entry then dining room. Guess I'll try it and see. That Sub 15 is beautiful, but starting at $3500 (I presume that is the black ash version) I could do 2 SVS SB13 Ultras for a tad less. I've never done dual subs, but some argue its preferable? I got a good deal on the Piano Black Sub 15.  Can't wait to try it in my system. |
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Post by audiosyndrome on May 18, 2014 16:50:38 GMT -5
Dual subs help to mitigate room modes giving a more even bass response throughout the listening room. Two 13s might work better than one 15 in a typical setup. Sigmund Linkwitz recommends QUAD subs to effectively eliminate room modes.  Russ |
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Post by Porscheguy on May 18, 2014 16:58:01 GMT -5
Hoping maybe someone already has a similar set up that can help describe the results of mixing one of these 2 speaker series with Emo gear attached. I currently have a UMC-200 and a Gen II XPA-5. I'm auditioning the Revels and Kef's, but of course in both cases they are being fed by very different pre/pro's or AVR's, and as such yield different results than what I'm likely to hear with my emo gear. I'm planning on a full 5.1 with the R700 as the largest for Kef, or the 206's for Revel. Any input from any current owners of either would be much appreciated. Of course if Emo finally announces some great info around their "new" speaker line in the near future that suggests they may be in the same ballpark as what I'm cross shopping, I may just have to hold off. But we shall see!  Why would Emotiva amps sound different from any other well made power amps? It's the speakers that have their own sonic signature, the hardware has very has very little to do with it in my opinion. KEF's and Revels don't sound anything alike in my view, both are good though.. |
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Post by jony1600 on Jun 3, 2014 17:28:33 GMT -5
Has anyone heard of Philharmonic audio? The Philharmonic 3 was compared favorably to the revel salon, plus it costs much less(3500/pair)
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Post by briank on Jun 3, 2014 17:37:22 GMT -5
Has anyone heard of Philharmonic audio? The Philharmonic 3 was compared favorably to the revel salon, plus it costs much less(3500/pair) I know a guy with both and while the Phil is a nice speaker the Revel Salon is the definite winner. If you want a great speaker for less coin than the Salon then the Revel F208 is a great choice. |
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Post by mercury on Jun 3, 2014 21:28:38 GMT -5
Talking about Revel speakers, I just want to share this. Had a blast setting up and listening to these speakers at my cousins place. Thanks!  |
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Post by mercury on Jun 3, 2014 21:52:18 GMT -5
 Thanks! |
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Post by patricksf on Aug 15, 2014 17:09:03 GMT -5
Anyone here have the chance to listen to the Ascend Acoustics Sierra Tower and Horizon with the RAAL tweeters?
I'd decided on the Revels from what I'd auditioned, but then found these and I'm thinking about ordering a set to audition at home. I can't seem to find any negative reviews on them. I realize they are smaller than the F208, closer to the F206 probably, but that is actually a plus for my room and a moot point really since I'll be pairing them with a Sub for 2.1 music.
Any one have any 1st hand experience with them vs. Revel Performa3's?
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Post by Porscheguy on Aug 15, 2014 17:24:52 GMT -5
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Post by briank on Aug 15, 2014 21:22:46 GMT -5
Anyone here have the chance to listen to the Ascend Acoustics Sierra Tower and Horizon with the RAAL tweeters? I'd decided on the Revels from what I'd auditioned, but then found these and I'm thinking about ordering a set to audition at home. I can't seem to find any negative reviews on them. I realize they are smaller than the F208, closer to the F206 probably, but that is actually a plus for my room and a moot point really since I'll be pairing them with a Sub for 2.1 music. Any one have any 1st hand experience with them vs. Revel Performa3's? My previous speakers utilized a RAAL tweeter and I currently have the Revel F208's. Overall I think the RAAL is a slightly better tweeter as far as detail and realism go. The F208 tweeter has a little bit better off axis performance and is less picky about recording quality. The Revel Salon tweeter gives the best of both worlds and would be my first choice but out of my price range at the moment. The F208 overall is a really smooth sounding and well balanced speaker. Def want to either bi-wire or replace its brass terminal connecting straps with copper wire for best performance. |
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Post by sct on Aug 16, 2014 8:57:44 GMT -5
Both KEF and Revel use incredible amounts of engineering and decades of experience in designing their speakers. I do not think that you could go wrong with either speaker, both are truly outstanding products. I am envious of the dilemma you are facing, good luck on your purchase!
SCT
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Post by dac0964 on Aug 16, 2014 15:37:31 GMT -5
If the OP haven't decided yet on his next speakers, I'd like to throw into the mix the Dynaudio Excite X34. It's perfect for a medium size room (12 x 21). I auditioned this and Kef R700 at a dealer's showroom (with untreated walls) and liked the X34 better. The dealer had Parasound gears but it doesn't matter. I have emo amps and the X34 sound fantastic in my listening area (living-dining).
When I auditioned the two speakers, the X34 have deeper and quicker, tighter bass. It also has a smoother mid. The clarity and separation are also more distinct than the R700. Just MHO.
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Post by patricksf on Aug 16, 2014 22:21:37 GMT -5
Those Dynaudio's do look nice, but I'm pulling the trigger on the Ascends, with an E15 SE Rythmik sub. Having the Revels and Kef's with a JL Audio sub to compare it to (I took notes from my 2 prior auditions with those speakers) we'll see if the RAAL tweeters live up to the hype! The sealed enclosure for the mid driver on these should also be interesting.
I'll be sure to post an update after I get them in and set up and put thru their paces.
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Post by djoel on Aug 17, 2014 0:48:45 GMT -5
I currently own Ascend Towers with Raal tweeters and they're great sounding more like an above 5K speaker. I've owned a set of B&W 802N before the Ascends they're awesome but their highs are not as good as the Towers, the mids are as I recall similar to the B&W's, the bass on the 802n they're just brutal. While the Towers bass aren't too bad in my room for music, they wouldn't cut for movies, and you'll need the Rythmik sub in a larger room for sure.
I've owned Infinity, Overture 3, Infinity Intermezzo, Def Tech Mythos St, Dali Helicon 400, Energy Veritas V2.4 and few others I can't recall at the moment, what I've notice from all the these speakers were the tweeter. I always though of myself a Midrange guy, I've always love the warm, lush sound. Yet the tweeter tends to be what calls out to me, either done wrong or right. Most speakers do high wrong, at least to me! I think the Ascend Towers highs feels right, sounds either like someone is pouring battery acid in my ears, nor too polite.
I like them.
Good luck, and let us know what you think.
Djoel
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Post by patricksf on Aug 17, 2014 15:44:01 GMT -5
Thanks for the info Djoel. From what I could find online, the RAAL version of the towers and horizon do seem to be pretty special according to those that have heard them. I'll find out soon enough! Pretty high praise to say they are on par or better than 802N's in the highs and mid... Bass, as you noted, I'd expect the B&W's to stomp all over them.
Very similar to you, the Tweeters are what jump out at me on most speakers, good or bad.
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Post by trmoore2 on Sept 21, 2015 13:49:35 GMT -5
Glad you like them. Just FYI, these need about a month to break-in. They will sound a little loose in the bass at first and the treble will be a little dull. I turned up the treble control by 1.5 db at first and found myself turning it down .5 db about once a week. I finally ended up at "0" after about 30 days. The bass tightened up too after a few weeks. I also found a subtle but nice improvement replacing the brass jumpers with some AQ gold plated copper jumpers. I have a pair of the F208's and love them. I have always wondered about the "break-in" theory, since I've had them a year and notice no difference in the sound quality or "bass tightening." So I emailed Harman Luxury Audio. Their feedback on "break in": "Breaking In" our loudspeakers should have no effect on the performance or sound quality of the speaker. Over time, you may perceive the speakers have changed or improved because you may have adapted to their sound. That is a psychological effect that is not related to any physical change to the loudspeaker itself. Unfortunately this one of the many audiophile myths that, in most cases, has little scientific merit." |
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Post by Boomzilla on Sept 21, 2015 16:16:05 GMT -5
I used some Q series KEF concentrics & wasn't impressed with the tonal balance. If I ever get a chance, I'd like to try the LS50s or the Blades. Yes - Subwoofers DO significantly augment bookshelf speakers.
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Post by vneal on Sept 21, 2015 16:28:30 GMT -5
I have never owned KEFS or Revels but have heard both models.Both sound good . My ears prefer the Revels.
I have owned 6 different pair of Thiels and think they are not keeping up with the competition. They are power hungry also. JMHO
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