✅ *GET THEM HERE: **bit.ly/37whl0e* ★ *QOTD: What do you think of Revel? Relevant in 2022? Will they be around in 2023?* ★ *MUSIC/MOVIES REFERENCED/PRODUCTS SHOWN - CLICK “SHOW MORE” in the description* ★ *RULES: Please be respectful. NO OUTSIDE LINKS, URLs, email addresses, etc.*
@@ohno-ohno-VW While I agree with that in theory, I believe that there is a bit of (negative) psychology involved when a product line goes this long without a refresh.
"I don't know why we haven't had Revel in before" IVE BEEN SAYING THIS FOR YEARS! Glad you finally brought some in. I love my Revel. The sound is fantastic and the fit and finish on the products is fantastic imo. They are the first speakers that I've actually let the aesthetic drive a purchase decision.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews I have the F228be. Eventually I'm planning on adding the c426 matching center but as I need to get a new center console made for that beefy center I've been dragging my feet on that lol. I love the sound of Revel but I admit I upgraded from my old speakers purely for the aesthetic initially. I needed a more female friendly design and the walnut finish contrasted with the white drivers is beautiful imo. You and I stand apart on their previous design aesthetic Andrew. I actually had an opportunity to get a awesome deal on the salon series on closeout when I was making my purchase and while performance wise the Salons were likely the superior choice I just wasn't a fan of the style. You guys always do great content, keep up the great work.
@@mcsnoopster I'm in the same boat need new center console that does large centers and a UST. Pretty sure I'm going to design one and commission a wood worker to make it.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews - I have the white version of these speakers, and love the simple, clean and understated design. They go with nearly every bit of decor. They're not a "design statement", and I'm 100% good with that. I'm son done with the fake wood veneer finishes these days.
I have a pair of these and love them! The build quality is outstanding. I'm no audio reviewer, but I'll just say they're amazingly clear without being clinical. Warm without feeling veiled. I just love how they sound! I power them with a Rogue ST100 and pair them with a small sub. Highly recommended! EDIT - I bought them close to $1,000. They're a killer deal at $600.
I have the M106 and love them. I have them paired with dual SVS Micros and I'm very happy with this setup. Glad to see you review Revel because I don't see a lot of reviews on UA-cam for their products. Hope to see more in the future.
I also picked these up when they went on closeout, and have been extremely happy with them for the 2 channel system I just built out for my home office. It's also always nice to hear the opinions of someone you hold in high regard aligns with your own findings. Thanks for the great videos, always enjoy learning from you and Kristi!
@@KristiWright I think your thoughts on these was spot on to my own! They're some of the best for straight up music listening, handling absolutely anything you can throw at them.
As Revel user myself and follower here are what I would answer to your questions : - This products is still relevant and it has not been replaced because probably no competitor at this price has beaten them in their blind test. Remember that every Revel speaker has to beat competition in double blind listening tests to be released to market. So the opposite is true, as long as they outperform competition, they won't update them. The Performa3 range is still sold and is even older........... - What I would like to see is a new top of the line Ultima 3. Ultima 2 are discontinued because their PerformaBe range gives 99% of their sound quality at cheaper price. So the next sep would be Ultima 3. The question is could they achieve significantly better speakers to justify selling them at increased price ? We'll see, but let's dream a little... - Lastly, Revel was founded by Harman as sister company to Mark Levinson, so they have to have a reference speaker line to sell with their uber expensive ML gear. Maybe they'll release new products soon, or maybe they're late because of covid (like JBL that was supposed to update their summit series in 2021, but still nothing on the horizon...). Who knows... I also completely agree with your remark concerning design, they were remarkable in the beginning, know aesthetically they are nothing special. With Ultima 2, they changed for a more form follows function design philosophy, now its 100 % science and engineering... And Harman being Harman, let's not forget cost savings everywhere, that's why they're behind in terms of fit and finish and build...
Since I decided to return the Burchardt S400 MKII (too boomy for my room and placement), I realized how much I like the my Wharfedale Diamond 225 in my office with the tube amp. Sometimes it just takes a reality check to become satified with what's already there. 🙂
Holy cow. I never thought this day would come. I feel like you reviewed these speakers just to appease my pleas. LOL I have had these speakers for about 18 months, running through my piddly Denon x2600H, and they are phenomenal. They far exceed my expectations. I chose them over the KEF R3, Sonetto 1, and the VLR Wood - all priced over 2x the cost of the Revel M16 at the time. The M16 speakers have a smooth sweet full sound in mids, plenty of texture, detail and sparkle without being fatiguing. The bass was enough for our room as it were, not boomy, but not overly tight either. ...but damn, they these speakers really sing when paired with a dialed-in sub. I have a pair of Polk LSi15 speakers in another room, and when I compared the M16 to the Polk LSi15 side-by-side (in the same room) - it blew my mind how much better these little bookshelve speakers really are, over those once ballyhooed Polk towers. The clarity of the little Revels is very impressive without being harsh or abrasive. We hear details in music and movies in the M16's, we had never head before through the LSi15. A big one for us was hearing the Individual raindrops hitting the train car in Prison of Azkaban. The Polk never resolved this detail. Everything we've thrown at them has sounded SO GOOD, from orchestral, piano, classic rock, acoustic, vocals, progressive metal, electronic, new age, R&B, blues, jazz.... Svrcina "Wish You Well" (acoustic version) just melts me every time it's played through these speakers. The waveguide on the M16 was designed to used the first reflection point on the wall, to increase sound stage. Then give these speakers a little juice (for me, it's above -65db - so not too much), and they really open up, and the soundstage expands exponentially. As in, the soundstage far exceeds the boundaries of our room, and the sound just surrounds you. Yes. It's a holographic experience. The off axis sound is crystal clear - unlike the Polk LSi15, which fades considerably once you're outside the boundaries of the speakers. My wife's reaction to the Revel M16 was very much like Kristi's. ...surprised at how good these little things sound - she absolutely LOVES them. She wants to the sell the Polk towers, and replace them with another pair of the Revel M16 speakers. I'm eyeing the Performa M106 as a replacement - I kinda want to know what the next level up in Revel sounds like. ;)
I upgraded from JBL 590s to Revel Performa3 F206. These are great smallish towers. The F208 are the bigger brothers. These are 3 way towers with aluminum dome tweeters. I think they look great in the polished walnut made by Italian craftsmen and assembled in Asia. I told my dealer I liked the Sf sound and he immediately pointed to these. He has never steered me wrong
Ordered the Revel M16s without listening to them first. I got exactly what I expected after watching your commentary and listening to Kristi’s take. They are indeed very different from the previous 600Ms but I enjoy both depending on the music and my mood. They will go into the bookshelf speaker rotation with the 600s and KEF LS50 Metas. Options are cool.
Ditto. I’ve been sitting on the fence over the Revel AND the Klipsch, so I ordered both. Based on reviews, I expected to love the Klipsch, but they just didn’t quite do it for me, while I’m absolutely keeping the Revels.
Hi Andrew thanks for the review. Friendly FYI, REVEL's M16 specs are well presented on their website. Low Frequency Extension=55Hz, 50Hz, 45Hz (-3 dB, -6 dB, -10 dB). REVEL also published a full SPIN which is far more data than nearly all manufacturers, it is a little harder to find but it is available. Additionally the speaker has been Klipple tested by ASR and folks can peruse the printed data and even download a complete Klipple data set which is about 2gb of data files. As far as -10db relevancy that is personal choice, in bass I prefer to see the -6db as standard spec in the bass region as -6db represents about 1/2 the perceived volume there. (In the midrange and treble -10db equal about 1/2 the perceived volume.) Additionally, typically there is sufficient room gain to support a speaker in room to its -6db point, in other words typically there will be close to 6db of room gain(or even much more) at that point so it will still be very useful output. YMMV. Be well. PS. After falling love with the M16's I upgraded to the M126be, I hope you get a chance to hear them - extremely dynamic for a monitor. Superb. (based on personal experience with dozens and dozens of speakers) REVEL is the real deal.
Thank you for the great review. I have owned these speaker for over two years. When I bought them I went to buy the Klipch 600m, which at the time was being raved about. None were in stock, but the dealer said saying I could trial the Revels until the 600M was in stock, then decide. He told me you will return the 600M’s, which after testing he was 100% correct, there was no competition for me. Since then I have built a system around them and they keep getting better. The one thing I would say which differs from your finding is the soundstage. My imaging is great and sound stage wide deep and often with the right recording holographic. At best it is like listening to surround sound, it’s amazing. I loved them so much I bought the F36 and that is another step up. At 600 dollars these are a steal, even if a new model comes out, they are a worthwhile purchase for anyone. One other point, I found they worked better with a little more power and the soundstage went from great to amazing when I added The Topping D70S MQA.
100% agree with the soundstage comment. The soundstage and imaging I get from my M16's in my space, is enormous. It exceeds the limitations of the boundaries of our listening space, and the sound just creates an envelope. Speaker placement isn't overly finicky to get good sound, but if you take the time and do it right, these speakers are definitely holographic when the volume is pushed a bit. One thing Revel mentions in their literature about these speakers - don't treat the first reflection point on the walls.
After seeing your review, listening to Kristi’s comments and doing some more research about these speakers I decided to get them! I just received them today! My first impressions are great and I just can’t wait to put some hours on them. Thank you very much for what you and Kristi do!
Andrew and Kristi, The two of you have a unique and entertaining style of reviewing gear. On the topic of speakers being manufactured in gloss black and white, I think it's done because gloss black reminds people of grand pianos (class), and white matches up with any color. I notice the Focal Kantas speakers no longer offer as many color options as they once did, but they did keep the black gloss. I've always been a good roses wood veneer guy myself.
If you are contemplating the f36 towers of this speaker, then just go for it. I have been using a pair with an SVS SB2000 Pro subwoofer for more than a year now. The base is definitely more but it is tight if you can place it well in the room. It just adds a little weight and character to the sound down low. I compared it to a lot of $2,000 speakers side by side before buying, and it beats the lot hands down at the price point and also gets extremely close to speakers in five to six thousand dollar range. Try it out, I hope you will have similar experience to mine. PS I think I have said this before. I am a blind person and I really love the way you describe things like the physical appearance and finish. Both of you are amazing. Lots of love.
I agree with your analysis of the F36, I bought a pair after being amazed at the sound of the M16’s but these are a step up. I have two Paradigm Seismic 110 subs that take my system down to 20hz and it sounds awesome for both Music and AV. In an bigger room the difference is more marked too as one would expect. M16’s are still used as surrounds, and I have the concerto center speaker too. For me all the Concerto range come highly recommended.
@@colinwilby8803I just wish I could afford a pair of rel acoustics to go with this. A pair of HD 1205 will do the trick. Or 1508. The SVS can definitely hit harder but just feels a little sloppy .
Finally! So looking forward to enjoying this review 🎉 I’ve owned a pair of these since about 2019. Bought them after listening to well over a dozen speakers literally every day for several months at a large furniture and electronics store I used to work at. Love ‘em. Also, I always knew Kristi had amazing taste…
Thanks. Last week I was comfortable with the direction I was going in upgrading my HT. After you posted the Revel bookshelf speaker review, I ended down a rabbit hole. In a very short amount of time, the internet had me looking at the audio store just 20 minutes from my house. I presumed it had closed because I don’t go that way very often. So much easier these days to research and buy online. I was pleasantly surprised to find it still open There’s at least half-a-dozen listening rooms loaded with multiple sets of speakers, amps, and brands of equipment I’ve never heard of. One room also had crates of albums for vinyl listening. Long story short, the used M&K speakers from their website that drew me into the store didn’t sound all that good then sounded even worse when compared to some random floor standing speaker that just happened to be in the same listening room. I don’t remember the brand of speaker, but I do remember the $8000 price tag. After the M&K trial, I noticed they had Revel speakers, so I listened to a pair of Concerta2 F36s. Better than the M&K, less than the $8000 speakers. They allow shoppers to try demos in their own home. I’m comfortable buying equipment online based on a review but having the opportunity to try the actual speaker in my own space seems like the way to go. This weekend I’ll be lugging speakers down into my basement. Thanks again.
I really love much more the conversation that Krystie and you do than the review, much more good information on that. I have a pair of 20 years old B&W CM4 towers and it still good sounding compared with many speakers. Of course due the easy access to manufacturers to mechanical and acoustical simulation tools in recent years we saw a quality jump on new speakers that we do not see in the past, but i think that 5 years old still veeeeeery good today. Btw, one suggestion is found make more videos like this with “hidden gems” or good deals with old or not so old speakers. And waiting to Sunday to hear the news for Klipsch…
I got these during the lock down. I run them with a small sub crossed at about 70Hz. In general, I'd say they are "ok". They are "very nice". However, they don't "excite" me. Keep in mind I've been DJing private events for 30 years and am used to that super thick and punchy sound reinforcement type of feel you get at a concert...so that kind of sound is what i like. I actually had purchased the Focal Chora bookshelf speakers prior to buying these and I was astounded by those. The detail, the sound stage, the clarity, the vocal presence...was magnificent. Everything you said in your review of them I totally agree with. However, due to my DJing, I have very sensitive hearing in some frequencies and for some reason, when I listened to the Choras, my tinnitus would become really apparent. I found this extremely frustrating because I loved the speakers. I miss the Choras. Any thoughts Andrew?
I had a pair of those. Pretty much how I felt about them. I ultimately sold them to try a pair of Tekton Reference with the beryllium. Those worked out better for what I used them for. The Revels just have that American sound to them but are relaxed which is really nice. Be interesting to see it they replace it with something else. You nailed the review on these 👍
Great video as always Andrew and Kristi! QOTD part 1 answer: 4-5 year old speakers are still “new” in my book. I’m currently running Polk’s 2002 equal to today’s R200 (the RT35i model) and they sound fantastic. See you Sunday!
@@KristiWright I was initially somewhat disappointed, but I eventually did some measurements of my room. And with how low the Model 5s are to the ground, I got this telephone like quality out of them that I didn’t like. I got a miniDSP SHD and am now running room correction/DIRAC and I LOVE them.
@@GutekZ Dirac has done wonders for my speakers too. They had some crazy energy between 6-20k and a big dip at 80hz. I just closely followed the measurement with the target curve but corrected the bad peaks and nulls and the result was like I’d got a new hifi. It took many experiments with speaker placement and a/b testing tweaking the curve though to get it perfect. I wouldn’t want to run a home hifi without Dirac now
To answer your question Andrew (beginner audiophile -have a B&W +yamaha sys for 20years). I started playing around with diff setups recently, for now, buying stuff 2nd hand often more than 20yrs old, and its fun..is it relevant? No. Fun? Yes. So a 5 year old design, if good, will be fun. Some best designs don’t age 🤷♂️ you can get things that just work.
We bought the performa f206s a few years ago to replace my aging magnepan mg2a speakers. We immediately fell in love with the midrange. Open baffle speakers sound closer to live music imo, so they took a bit of getting used to. My wife was actually the deciding factor in our buying the revels. I watched the review mainly because I'm considering getting my FIL a pair. If there's a nice black Friday deal, we probably will.
Just bought these after so many people raving about these speakers and after hearing you and Kristi, I’m sold! Can’t wait to hear this compared to my Klipsch RP160M.
@@DuSlothster through Crutchfield on sale for about $750 for both. I like them, They would sound great in a medium room played moderately loud. They get better with higher volume
I owned these for 2 years and I'd for sure go for the Chora 806 around this price or Polk Reserve for sure. But we all have different taste. For me the Revel was just emotionless, I never felt like I was connecting to the music, technically it was good but I just wasn't engaged for whatever reason.
After watching your review on these speakers, I have realised that I tend to play at a louder volume. Also I happened to use the towers F36s And once you crank them up they do sound amazing. But at lower volumes I will agree with your comment. at louder volumes like 85 DB or more they can really outplay a lot of more expensive sets. .
@@sanketbhirud3975 Yeah I remember saying something like that in the vid that they were better at louder volumes. Now that Andrew has this larger room this review makes a lot of sense. Maybe my room size & listening habits were just a bad match for the speaker.
@@NemoPropaganda by the way thank you so much for your very descriptive reviews. I am a blind person and you are one of the very few people who I listen to as I can understand what you say . Keep up the great work
Hi both the M16 and the M106 speakers. Both punch well above their pay grade. Neither are overly fussy with speaker placement to get exceptional sound quality, but if you sit just inside the triangle - they become holographic AF. The M106 speakers are outstanding, with a little more detail and sparkle on the top end. If you found a pair for a $1,000 - I'm jelly. I bought mine on sale for $1,500/pair, and thought that was a great deal. Dial in a subwoofer with either of these speakers, and they really open up and sing.
@@craigjohnchronicles2504I’ve paired the 106s with an SVS Pro 1000 for a couple of years now and love them both sonically and aesthetically (gloss black)
@@authenticNL2 - I have them set up in my family room with a little old Denon x2600H. ...and they sound fantastic. ...It doesn't take much to get great sound from these - but I suspect the higher you go up the ladder, there's room for even more improvement.
Great review Andrew. I bought a pair of these about a year ago in the Sydney lockdown period and I run them with a Sunfire HRS8 sub. Control is via an NAD C658 BluOS pre and a vintage NAD 2600 amp. Very happy listening in my Dad chair.😊
Andrew: To your comment about exchanging them for the towers, i can say unequivocally, do it. The F36 towers are amazing speakers. When my mother was looking for something new to go with her new Sony TV, these happen to have just gone on sale. I told her she would struggle to find a better speaker in it's normal price range, and at $770, they're an absolute no brainer bargain. After having set them up, i was extremely pleased with how they sound. To the point that i sometimes wonder if i should have gotten a set of Performa3s instead of the Paradigm Founders that i purchased. They are REALLY good, especially for that money.
So happy to see you two review some Revel speakers. I'm looking forward to more in the future. Maybe some Revel Performa 3 products next, with or without the Be tweeters... Either way, keep up the great work! 😉👍
Good call, Kristi! I also opted to keep these despite using Model 5s for my main system. The Revel are also great in near field, so I’m thinking of maybe using them in a desk kind of setup some day.
I have a pair of White M16's powered with a Creek Evo Integrated Amp and I mostly play vinyl through them. I agree with other reviewers of this speaker that quiet listening is so so but when you get them going they are fantastic. I love the design of the speaker as well. Thank you for doing a great review of them. I never thought have having them painted but that is an interesting idea. Cheers
I went from my first hifi speak, KEF Q350s, to Performa M106s and have enjoyed their neutrality and solid bass for a few years now, upgrading other parts of my system, but not the speakers. I have been looking at Arendal 1723s monitors recently. Would probably be a lateral move, trading excellent midrange for dynamics.
Ive worked in the car business for 30 years and it is becoming very hard to impress me with new bells and whistles. In fact when I get into a new car I turn off most of the automated features that really just get in the way of the driving experience. I guess to me hifi is kind of the same way at this point we are splitting hairs with improving the existing products, so it is not surprising to me that a quality speaker 3 years ago is still a quality speaker today. To me it’s about the aesthetic, and the sound signature you want with all the great ones on the market today there is surely something out there for everyone.
Great video! I love my Revel home theater with Performa3 F208, C208, and Concerta2 F36s as surrounds. You should look at exchanging the M16s and getting the F36s! I’m thinking about getting some M106s as new surrounds and moving the F36s to the master bedroom. I can’t wait to see what Revel does with the Ultima3 line whenever those come out. I wouldn’t be too concerned about the F36s having too much bass for music. I’m like Kristi in that I don’t like a ton of boomy bass for music. I feel the bass on Revel towers is very controlled and punchy.
Greetings, I invested on a pair of Concerta’s 3.5 Towers…wonderful sound in my small man cave (even after living with the RP-600, Linn, KEF, Advent Large Speakers. Lifelike, enjoyable, involving music. Highly recommended
Thank you for the review! Any recommendations for amplifiers sub $600 that could be paired with these? Also how would these compare to the Wharfedale Diamond 12.2.
I snagged a pair after this review and I'm currently running them with an Emotive TA100 Integrated (New current model is the TA1). The Emotiva does really well driving these and make for a great pairing with my SVS Micro 3000 for a 2.1 setup. I did test an Arcam SA30 which really brought them to life but I wasn't fond of the lack of a sub out and the Dirac that's included only accommodating 2 channels. If your looking for a budget amp to power these I would definitely look at Emotiva!
Thnx again the coolest 😎 couple reviewers 💪🏼, always enjoy the Robinson’s. Appreciate the fact u guys are willing purchase the speakers, come on show them some ❤️ Revel & send them some reference towers, so that the Robinson’s don’t have to spend on their own dime 👌🏼
Well Andrew I guess I have to wait for Sunday. Living with the 600M for over two years and now pull duty as my rear channel speakers, has been a great experience. I have always been curious about the Revel brand. With respect to Klipsch, a big announcement is coming on 5-16-22. Cheers
Hi there. Love your reviews. Always informative with a nice fun factor feel about them. Question ... have you considered reviewing Martin Logan 60XTI as your tower speakers? I know they are a few years old, but it would be good to hear what you think of them and how they stack up to equivalent mid-spec towers. Cheers
Andrew has always been a fan of MartinLogan. We've made many attempts to reach out to them for reviews but they never acknowledge our emails or requests.
I somehow knew you'd like these! I got the F35 towers myself (in white finish) and find them to be the perfect middle ground between the bigger F36 and F16 in my listening space! They are stellar with all kinds of music I want to listen to!
what is your listening space like? i have the m16 and am thinking of going for the f35 towers but only have a smallish room (16 square meters) so might be overkill! i have subwoofers so don't need the extra base, just like the fullness of towers
@@leech-myster-funk2677 My space is a lively living room with plenty of fabrics, around 21 sqm. I find the F35's sound their very best placed a bit away from the wall behind them. Snappier bass (they are dual ported after all) and improved soundstaging. If you already own the M16 and run subwoofers... PERHAPS it wouldn't make sense to change to the F35 (?). Only a home-demo could answer that. Fullness of towers are of course a good point, but in theory you should also be able to achieve that will well-integrated subs.
@@audiovideotech9777 sucks for that. My r53 has a GP engine suspension and trans swap . My r56 is jcw and my classic mini is a Honda swap engine and power train. The looks are backed up by the power.
Interesting when I demo'd the M16 they had the widest soundstage I have ever experienced, this was compared next to 1st gen LS50's and MA Silver 100. The room was incredibly wide, I'm talking 50ft+ wide which obviously played a huge role in the soundstage.
Good idea. I did the same a few months ago. Bought the Klipsch RB81ii, brand new though out of production for almost 10 years. Bookshelf with 8 inch woofer. They are keepers for me. Still some left here in Europe. Paid 418 Euro for pair. Good deal. Yes I think I hear the "U" curve but quite lively. Not too bright as may be thought. Good bass. Thanks for the info.
I compared the Concerta2 line with Performa3 and ended up with F208s up front and M115 side surrounds. Wow. Two years later, im still astounded by them. I recommend auditioning the F208 towers at A&B TV here in Austin. Ask for Harlan. They can do amazing things on pricing…
I don't doubt that the 208s are nice. The Performa3 redesign however never sat right with me. I know looks are subjective and the Performas are far from ugly, but all that said, I feel the Concerta2s actually look a bit more streamlined and, dare I say, high-end compared to Performa. Now, sound-wise I'm sure Performa is great, so I may have to check them out!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Thanks, Andrew. I guess what I’m wondering is how they sound different, and whether you think still think the Auroras are still the best bang for your buck pair for HT under 2K.
@Kristi Wright no problem. I like to hear your thoughts on the products, they are often more relatable to me as a person who is not totally immersed into the world of hi-if.
excellent review on speakers that are quite the deal. I'm saving up for KLh model 7s but this would be a pretty sweet option for a smaller room. Kristi bringing the heat on this review.
The value of older speakers is not lost on me, as I bought my Vandersteen Model 1B's for $400. They are not too far off the current Model Ci+ for $1887. Richard Vandersteen's designs hold up very well. The bookshelves that I am considering are Wharfdale 12.1, Acoustic Energy AE100 MkII, and now, the Revel M16.
I ordered a pair of these right when they went on sale. I watched this video a couple days after I ordered and it helped me feel good about the purchase. I just re-watched after having them for a few days, and I have to say, you really nailed your description of them I just sat here nodding with everything you said. About the bass being good down to the point where it disappears, about the highs being clear and airy but not fatiguing, about the dynamics being ever so slightly held back, yup, yup, yup. Except when you kind of knocked the soundstage, because for me these have the clearest, most compelling soundstage of any bookshelf speaker I've listened to. Significantly better than the Elac UniFi 2.0, which I had right before these, and which I thought were really good in this area until I got the Revels. Admittedly I haven't really tried listening for that while out of position, so maybe that's the difference. Thanks for the great review.
The sound stage on the Revels is expansive - especially when you get the speakers positioned in a good spot in the room (pulled from the side and front walls a bit, then position yourself a bit closer than you'd expect. Give them a little juice, and they really open up.
Thank God you finally reviewed Revels. Would love to hear your take on the F206’s. Been using them in a home theater and stereo setup with a JL audio F112 sub for a few years and have felt zero desire to look at upgrading. Loved the review Andrew/Kristi!
Sir Have you listened to Any Salk Speakers. Songtower 2, Song 3s etc or any of the Philharmonic Speakers BMR monitor or BMR Towers. If not Would u please Sir and Maam?
Another great and informative video. My question is how do you think these Revels would compare against another of your top picks, the Wharfdale Dentons? Thanks for your time and keep up your wonderful work!
Completely different sound. If you like that laid back, warm sound, then you'll love the Dentons. Me personally? I prefer these over the Dentons hands down.
Hello Andrew, thank you fir all the great reviews. I really want to buy these speakers before they run out and need a reasonably priced integrated amp to drive them. I noticed two of the amps you tested aren't 4 olm stable so my question is is that safe, I was considering the bluesound power node?. BTW, bought the Klipsch fives after your review and love them.
Just got a pair used yesterday but they were in literally new condition. 500 including stands. Couldn’t pass it up. Listened to them quite a bit last night. I’ve been very impressed so far. If blindfolded, I could easily believe they were a more expensive tower speaker.
About time....you finally reviewed Revel Speakers that I have been asking for. I have the Revel Concerta II F36 Towers and the Revel Concerta II C25 Center Channel and they blow me away for movies and music. Great video....Bravo
Great review as always! I have Bowers and Wilkins 805 Nautilus and was looking to upgrade. I have them paired to a Peachtree 150. Do you think I should replace the B and W’s or upgrade my amplifier? Thanks Andrew.
Well you could get these plus a sub for likely less than the KEF package you're suggesting. Do I think you'd be missing anything by doing so? Not really. But the final choice is yours. Thanks for watching!
It is tempting but my understanding is they don't play well at low volumes. Need to have that. Also, what's up with some reported tweeters overheating? The frequency curve does look good however.
So Andrew (or Kristi)…. If these speakers are on closeout, how much are they now compared to how much were they then? This would be a speaker system I would highly consider now (or even the newer and upgraded versions that may emerge then). Revel was always a brand I considered. I just thought that I couldn’t afford back then. These Concerta’s DEFINITELY disproved all of that. I can build a nice affordable high-end audio system around these speakers for entry-level money. That’s VERY refreshing to think about. 👍🏾👍🏾 -Charles-
I'm getting Nervous about my 600M Honestly the speakers have been a GREAT Re-Introduction to Audio and NOT LIVE Performance Gear. What would I buy NEXT? _Those smaller KENWOODS sound nice (how you described them) and fit's my Home._ I have the money for the Technic 1200 mkc7, but comparing them to your Audio-Technic LP140s?
Thanks for this review! I own the F35's and truly enjoy them. They handle a wide variety of musical styles with ease (like the m16's) and the music sounds great coming off a TCL TV, through an Arcam SA10 via optical. Yes, I need a better source! They are paired with an SVS SB2000 sub. You can't go wrong with the Concerta2 lineup.
Huh, as soon as I saw it has a metal dome tweeter I had already written it off as “not for me.” This is a good reminder that I need to keep an open mind about this stuff.
Passive speaker technology doesn’t seem to advance at the same pace as powered audio equipment. As such I would expect any passive speaker that was outstanding at its original MSRP to still be a great value 5 years later and 30% lower in price.
Me too. I got a pair of Jamo C93ii bookshelves + Jamo C910 10” Powered Subwoofer + a Bluesound Powernode streamer/ amp. All based on reviews and I'm happy with this combo.
I have the F36 and they blew away everything else in the price range at the store. I had never heard of Revel before going in, but they sold themselves compared to B&W, Sonus, Focal, etc. We have a huge room (200 inch projector screen is just half the wall) and they have no problem, paired with an SVS SB16. The Concerta2 center works well, too. The soundstage and 3D imaging fill the room to the point that even in 2-channel direct mode I have had to get up and walk around to be sure the center, surrounds and heights weren't playing.
Not surprising. I auditioned Sonus Faber Sonetto 1 ($1,800/pair) , KEF R3 ($2,000/pair) and the Vandersteen VLR wood ($1,600/pair) and much preferred the Revel M16 ($810/pair outlet pricing at the time). I have mine paired with the REL HT1003 sub for both movies and music. Once you dial in a sub with the M16, they really shine.
I was lucky enough to get my pair of the Dynaudio Emit M20’s, before they discontinued this pair, and brought out a revised version of this speaker. For most people this old version is not much to look at, but I love them. The new version of the Emit M20 is not as good looking to me, and doesn’t go down quite as far, according to their specs, though you can’t always rely on specs, as they could be more or less. They are also more expensive than the old ones. The full retail price of the old M20 was $1299.00 AUD, and the new ones are $1599.00 AUD, so in my opinion they are considerably more. I was lucky and scored my M20’s for $1050.00, and they also chucked in so decent copper speaker cable too! Love my M20’s and I’m sure I will for years to come!
Hi Andrew, another awesome review!! I've seen you mention the JBL L100 classic speakers, but have you ever heard or reviewed the JBL Synthesis SCL-2 through 8 in-wall/ceiling speakers for home theater? Thanks!!
And ya got me! The first thing I was thinking was, "Hmm. I'm wondering if he is going to compare this to the Klipsch?" And there ya go! Waiting till SUNDAY?! I was about to curse you out! :-) Really curious about the comparison. The Klipsch RP600 are in my sights (and a subwoofer - just not sure which one) and now I see this! Well..here's to Sunday!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Yep I prefer the Revel. I use them as nearfield desktop. While the 607 had more sparkle and was happier closer to the wall, the M16 need the port to be blocked in my settup and a +3db at 50hz in Roon to really make these speaker pure fun and enjoyable for all day listening. I sometime miss the "what??!" high of the 607, but this is better at everything.. While the 607 was master of "some things" and harsh at most.
Hello, I am a big fan, I hope you can answer an essential question before making the purchase, I fully trust your criteria. If I buy a Polk Audio Legend L200, is it an improvement against the Revel Converta 2 M16?
I can't speak directly to the Legend L200, but the Revel M16 was a definitive upgrade from my Polk LSi15 speakers in terms of detail and soundstage. ...I added a sub to round out the lower end, and the spacial imagine opened even further.
First off, I want to congratulate you on your youtube channel! I’ve enjoyed your reviews a lot! Your honest take on equipment and sincere recommendations have facilitated a couple of purchases for me in the past..however, I wanted to ask you if you believe that you may be able to review the Kaya S12 from Vivid Audio any time soon? I’ve read a lot about them, and I am really curious about them..it is a size able investment and I wonder what they would sound like in a real house with a more moderate and affordable integrated amp..
20+ years ago, imho, most speakers sounded pretty lacklustre. Now, most speakers sound pretty good at their price point. It may just be that the improvement curve is levelling off, so there's not been much improvement over the last few years. And if so, that's maybe not such a bad thing
✅ *GET THEM HERE: **bit.ly/37whl0e*
★ *QOTD: What do you think of Revel? Relevant in 2022? Will they be around in 2023?*
★ *MUSIC/MOVIES REFERENCED/PRODUCTS SHOWN - CLICK “SHOW MORE” in the description*
★ *RULES: Please be respectful. NO OUTSIDE LINKS, URLs, email addresses, etc.*
A good product can last for years, no need to update it if it performs well.
@@ohno-ohno-VW 100% correct!
@@ohno-ohno-VW While I agree with that in theory, I believe that there is a bit of (negative) psychology involved when a product line goes this long without a refresh.
@@KristiWright You don't like the Klipsch RP-600M. OK! Have you heard the RP-500M?
@@gaborszabo2880 I did not care for them. No, I have not heard the 500Ms.
"I don't know why we haven't had Revel in before"
IVE BEEN SAYING THIS FOR YEARS! Glad you finally brought some in. I love my Revel. The sound is fantastic and the fit and finish on the products is fantastic imo. They are the first speakers that I've actually let the aesthetic drive a purchase decision.
Do you have these speakers, or a different Revel speaker? Thank you for watching!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews I have the F228be. Eventually I'm planning on adding the c426 matching center but as I need to get a new center console made for that beefy center I've been dragging my feet on that lol. I love the sound of Revel but I admit I upgraded from my old speakers purely for the aesthetic initially. I needed a more female friendly design and the walnut finish contrasted with the white drivers is beautiful imo.
You and I stand apart on their previous design aesthetic Andrew. I actually had an opportunity to get a awesome deal on the salon series on closeout when I was making my purchase and while performance wise the Salons were likely the superior choice I just wasn't a fan of the style. You guys always do great content, keep up the great work.
@@mcsnoopster I'm in the same boat need new center console that does large centers and a UST. Pretty sure I'm going to design one and commission a wood worker to make it.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews - I have the white version of these speakers, and love the simple, clean and understated design. They go with nearly every bit of decor. They're not a "design statement", and I'm 100% good with that.
I'm son done with the fake wood veneer finishes these days.
I have a pair of these and love them! The build quality is outstanding. I'm no audio reviewer, but I'll just say they're amazingly clear without being clinical. Warm without feeling veiled. I just love how they sound! I power them with a Rogue ST100 and pair them with a small sub. Highly recommended!
EDIT - I bought them close to $1,000. They're a killer deal at $600.
These with tubes, nice! Thank you for sharing!
I have the M106 and love them. I have them paired with dual SVS Micros and I'm very happy with this setup. Glad to see you review Revel because I don't see a lot of reviews on UA-cam for their products. Hope to see more in the future.
I also picked these up when they went on closeout, and have been extremely happy with them for the 2 channel system I just built out for my home office. It's also always nice to hear the opinions of someone you hold in high regard aligns with your own findings. Thanks for the great videos, always enjoy learning from you and Kristi!
Thanks for watching!!
They're great! Appreciate you sharing!
@@KristiWright I think your thoughts on these was spot on to my own! They're some of the best for straight up music listening, handling absolutely anything you can throw at them.
As Revel user myself and follower here are what I would answer to your questions :
- This products is still relevant and it has not been replaced because probably no competitor at this price has beaten them in their blind test. Remember that every Revel speaker has to beat competition in double blind listening tests to be released to market. So the opposite is true, as long as they outperform competition, they won't update them. The Performa3 range is still sold and is even older...........
- What I would like to see is a new top of the line Ultima 3. Ultima 2 are discontinued because their PerformaBe range gives 99% of their sound quality at cheaper price. So the next sep would be Ultima 3. The question is could they achieve significantly better speakers to justify selling them at increased price ? We'll see, but let's dream a little...
- Lastly, Revel was founded by Harman as sister company to Mark Levinson, so they have to have a reference speaker line to sell with their uber expensive ML gear. Maybe they'll release new products soon, or maybe they're late because of covid (like JBL that was supposed to update their summit series in 2021, but still nothing on the horizon...). Who knows...
I also completely agree with your remark concerning design, they were remarkable in the beginning, know aesthetically they are nothing special. With Ultima 2, they changed for a more form follows function design philosophy, now its 100 % science and engineering... And Harman being Harman, let's not forget cost savings everywhere, that's why they're behind in terms of fit and finish and build...
Since I decided to return the Burchardt S400 MKII (too boomy for my room and placement), I realized how much I like the my Wharfedale Diamond 225 in my office with the tube amp. Sometimes it just takes a reality check to become satified with what's already there. 🙂
Comment of the year! Like what you like and don't always believe the grass is greener elsewhere.
Holy cow. I never thought this day would come. I feel like you reviewed these speakers just to appease my pleas. LOL
I have had these speakers for about 18 months, running through my piddly Denon x2600H, and they are phenomenal. They far exceed my expectations. I chose them over the KEF R3, Sonetto 1, and the VLR Wood - all priced over 2x the cost of the Revel M16 at the time. The M16 speakers have a smooth sweet full sound in mids, plenty of texture, detail and sparkle without being fatiguing. The bass was enough for our room as it were, not boomy, but not overly tight either. ...but damn, they these speakers really sing when paired with a dialed-in sub.
I have a pair of Polk LSi15 speakers in another room, and when I compared the M16 to the Polk LSi15 side-by-side (in the same room) - it blew my mind how much better these little bookshelve speakers really are, over those once ballyhooed Polk towers. The clarity of the little Revels is very impressive without being harsh or abrasive. We hear details in music and movies in the M16's, we had never head before through the LSi15. A big one for us was hearing the Individual raindrops hitting the train car in Prison of Azkaban. The Polk never resolved this detail.
Everything we've thrown at them has sounded SO GOOD, from orchestral, piano, classic rock, acoustic, vocals, progressive metal, electronic, new age, R&B, blues, jazz.... Svrcina "Wish You Well" (acoustic version) just melts me every time it's played through these speakers.
The waveguide on the M16 was designed to used the first reflection point on the wall, to increase sound stage. Then give these speakers a little juice (for me, it's above -65db - so not too much), and they really open up, and the soundstage expands exponentially. As in, the soundstage far exceeds the boundaries of our room, and the sound just surrounds you. Yes. It's a holographic experience.
The off axis sound is crystal clear - unlike the Polk LSi15, which fades considerably once you're outside the boundaries of the speakers.
My wife's reaction to the Revel M16 was very much like Kristi's. ...surprised at how good these little things sound - she absolutely LOVES them. She wants to the sell the Polk towers, and replace them with another pair of the Revel M16 speakers. I'm eyeing the Performa M106 as a replacement - I kinda want to know what the next level up in Revel sounds like. ;)
I upgraded from JBL 590s to Revel Performa3 F206. These are great smallish towers. The F208 are the bigger brothers. These are 3 way towers with aluminum dome tweeters. I think they look great in the polished walnut made by Italian craftsmen and assembled in Asia. I told my dealer I liked the Sf sound and he immediately pointed to these. He has never steered me wrong
Nice! I loved my Ultimas!!
Ordered the Revel M16s without listening to them first. I got exactly what I expected after watching your commentary and listening to Kristi’s take. They are indeed very different from the previous 600Ms but I enjoy both depending on the music and my mood. They will go into the bookshelf speaker rotation with the 600s and KEF LS50 Metas. Options are cool.
Ditto. I’ve been sitting on the fence over the Revel AND the Klipsch, so I ordered both. Based on reviews, I expected to love the Klipsch, but they just didn’t quite do it for me, while I’m absolutely keeping the Revels.
Hi Andrew thanks for the review. Friendly FYI, REVEL's M16 specs are well presented on their website. Low Frequency Extension=55Hz, 50Hz, 45Hz (-3 dB, -6 dB, -10 dB). REVEL also published a full SPIN which is far more data than nearly all manufacturers, it is a little harder to find but it is available. Additionally the speaker has been Klipple tested by ASR and folks can peruse the printed data and even download a complete Klipple data set which is about 2gb of data files. As far as -10db relevancy that is personal choice, in bass I prefer to see the -6db as standard spec in the bass region as -6db represents about 1/2 the perceived volume there. (In the midrange and treble -10db equal about 1/2 the perceived volume.) Additionally, typically there is sufficient room gain to support a speaker in room to its -6db point, in other words typically there will be close to 6db of room gain(or even much more) at that point so it will still be very useful output. YMMV. Be well. PS. After falling love with the M16's I upgraded to the M126be, I hope you get a chance to hear them - extremely dynamic for a monitor. Superb. (based on personal experience with dozens and dozens of speakers) REVEL is the real deal.
Thank you for the great review. I have owned these speaker for over two years. When I bought them I went to buy the Klipch 600m, which at the time was being raved about. None were in stock, but the dealer said saying I could trial the Revels until the 600M was in stock, then decide. He told me you will return the 600M’s, which after testing he was 100% correct, there was no competition for me. Since then I have built a system around them and they keep getting better. The one thing I would say which differs from your finding is the soundstage. My imaging is great and sound stage wide deep and often with the right recording holographic. At best it is like listening to surround sound, it’s amazing. I loved them so much I bought the F36 and that is another step up. At 600 dollars these are a steal, even if a new model comes out, they are a worthwhile purchase for anyone. One other point, I found they worked better with a little more power and the soundstage went from great to amazing when I added The Topping D70S MQA.
100% agree with the soundstage comment. The soundstage and imaging I get from my M16's in my space, is enormous. It exceeds the limitations of the boundaries of our listening space, and the sound just creates an envelope. Speaker placement isn't overly finicky to get good sound, but if you take the time and do it right, these speakers are definitely holographic when the volume is pushed a bit.
One thing Revel mentions in their literature about these speakers - don't treat the first reflection point on the walls.
After seeing your review, listening to Kristi’s comments and doing some more research about these speakers I decided to get them! I just received them today! My first impressions are great and I just can’t wait to put some hours on them. Thank you very much for what you and Kristi do!
Hope you enjoy!
Andrew and Kristi, The two of you have a unique and entertaining style of reviewing gear. On the topic of speakers being manufactured in gloss black and white, I think it's done because gloss black reminds people of grand pianos (class), and white matches up with any color. I notice the Focal Kantas speakers no longer offer as many color options as they once did, but they did keep the black gloss. I've always been a good roses wood veneer guy myself.
Thank you so much!
Thank you watching, Keith!
Love it! He actually blushed there.......LOL
Think about the "down and dirty" comparisons a little more often. It really worked!
I've been saying this for years, these have always been a great speakers!
Hi Andrew, the Revel M16 is now $990 a pair, and the Polk R200 $600. Is the M16 still a good choice over the R200?
If you are contemplating the f36 towers of this speaker, then just go for it. I have been using a pair with an SVS SB2000 Pro subwoofer for more than a year now. The base is definitely more but it is tight if you can place it well in the room. It just adds a little weight and character to the sound down low.
I compared it to a lot of $2,000 speakers side by side before buying, and it beats the lot hands down at the price point and also gets extremely close to speakers in five to six thousand dollar range.
Try it out, I hope you will have similar experience to mine.
PS I think I have said this before. I am a blind person and I really love the way you describe things like the physical appearance and finish.
Both of you are amazing. Lots of love.
So kind of you to say. Thank you for watching, Sanket!
I agree with your analysis of the F36, I bought a pair after being amazed at the sound of the M16’s but these are a step up. I have two Paradigm Seismic 110 subs that take my system down to 20hz and it sounds awesome for both Music and AV. In an bigger room the difference is more marked too as one would expect. M16’s are still used as surrounds, and I have the concerto center speaker too. For me all the Concerto range come highly recommended.
@@colinwilby8803I just wish I could afford a pair of rel acoustics to go with this.
A pair of HD 1205 will do the trick. Or 1508.
The SVS can definitely hit harder but just feels a little sloppy .
@@andrewrobinsonreviews "Thank you for WATCHING."
LOL!
I'm going straight to heck for laughing at this.
Hello ….
Really love the new visual when mentioning equipment used.
Simply but satisfying.
Love from scotland 🏴
Finally! So looking forward to enjoying this review 🎉
I’ve owned a pair of these since about 2019. Bought them after listening to well over a dozen speakers literally every day for several months at a large furniture and electronics store I used to work at. Love ‘em.
Also, I always knew Kristi had amazing taste…
Thanks. Last week I was comfortable with the direction I was going in upgrading my HT. After you posted the Revel bookshelf speaker review, I ended down a rabbit hole. In a very short amount of time, the internet had me looking at the audio store just 20 minutes from my house. I presumed it had closed because I don’t go that way very often. So much easier these days to research and buy online. I was pleasantly surprised to find it still open
There’s at least half-a-dozen listening rooms loaded with multiple sets of speakers, amps, and brands of equipment I’ve never heard of. One room also had crates of albums for vinyl listening. Long story short, the used M&K speakers from their website that drew me into the store didn’t sound all that good then sounded even worse when compared to some random floor standing speaker that just happened to be in the same listening room. I don’t remember the brand of speaker, but I do remember the $8000 price tag. After the M&K trial, I noticed they had Revel speakers, so I listened to a pair of Concerta2 F36s. Better than the M&K, less than the $8000 speakers. They allow shoppers to try demos in their own home. I’m comfortable buying equipment online based on a review but having the opportunity to try the actual speaker in my own space seems like the way to go. This weekend I’ll be lugging speakers down into my basement. Thanks again.
I really love much more the conversation that Krystie and you do than the review, much more good information on that. I have a pair of 20 years old B&W CM4 towers and it still good sounding compared with many speakers. Of course due the easy access to manufacturers to mechanical and acoustical simulation tools in recent years we saw a quality jump on new speakers that we do not see in the past, but i think that 5 years old still veeeeeery good today. Btw, one suggestion is found make more videos like this with “hidden gems” or good deals with old or not so old speakers. And waiting to Sunday to hear the news for Klipsch…
Nailed it, nailed it, nailed it. Bullseye review of this speaker! I LOVE Revel.
I got these during the lock down. I run them with a small sub crossed at about 70Hz. In general, I'd say they are "ok". They are "very nice". However, they don't "excite" me. Keep in mind I've been DJing private events for 30 years and am used to that super thick and punchy sound reinforcement type of feel you get at a concert...so that kind of sound is what i like. I actually had purchased the Focal Chora bookshelf speakers prior to buying these and I was astounded by those. The detail, the sound stage, the clarity, the vocal presence...was magnificent. Everything you said in your review of them I totally agree with. However, due to my DJing, I have very sensitive hearing in some frequencies and for some reason, when I listened to the Choras, my tinnitus would become really apparent. I found this extremely frustrating because I loved the speakers. I miss the Choras. Any thoughts Andrew?
I had a pair of those. Pretty much how I felt about them. I ultimately sold them to try a pair of Tekton Reference with the beryllium. Those worked out better for what I used them for. The Revels just have that American sound to them but are relaxed which is really nice. Be interesting to see it they replace it with something else. You nailed the review on these 👍
Would love to hear KRISTI'S playlist :D
Great video as always Andrew and Kristi! QOTD part 1 answer: 4-5 year old speakers are still “new” in my book. I’m currently running Polk’s 2002 equal to today’s R200 (the RT35i model) and they sound fantastic. See you Sunday!
Used to run these in my setup before I got the KLH Model 5s. These are fantastic speakers and were criminally underrated when they first came out.
How are you liking the Model 5s?
@@KristiWright I was initially somewhat disappointed, but I eventually did some measurements of my room. And with how low the Model 5s are to the ground, I got this telephone like quality out of them that I didn’t like. I got a miniDSP SHD and am now running room correction/DIRAC and I LOVE them.
@@GutekZ Dirac has done wonders for my speakers too. They had some crazy energy between 6-20k and a big dip at 80hz. I just closely followed the measurement with the target curve but corrected the bad peaks and nulls and the result was like I’d got a new hifi. It took many experiments with speaker placement and a/b testing tweaking the curve though to get it perfect. I wouldn’t want to run a home hifi without Dirac now
To answer your question Andrew (beginner audiophile -have a B&W +yamaha sys for 20years). I started playing around with diff setups recently, for now, buying stuff 2nd hand often more than 20yrs old, and its fun..is it relevant? No. Fun? Yes. So a 5 year old design, if good, will be fun. Some best designs don’t age 🤷♂️ you can get things that just work.
We bought the performa f206s a few years ago to replace my aging magnepan mg2a speakers. We immediately fell in love with the midrange. Open baffle speakers sound closer to live music imo, so they took a bit of getting used to. My wife was actually the deciding factor in our buying the revels.
I watched the review mainly because I'm considering getting my FIL a pair. If there's a nice black Friday deal, we probably will.
Finally! Been waiting a long time for this great review and that's an excellent sale. Thank you both very much!
Hi! Great review again. How would u compare/rate the M16's to ELAC Uni-fi B52's? Thanks and have a great day!
Just bought these after so many people raving about these speakers and after hearing you and Kristi, I’m sold! Can’t wait to hear this compared to my Klipsch RP160M.
Hey did you get them? If so, how are they?
@@DuSlothster through Crutchfield on sale for about $750 for both. I like them, They would sound great in a medium room played moderately loud. They get better with higher volume
I owned these for 2 years and I'd for sure go for the Chora 806 around this price or Polk Reserve for sure. But we all have different taste. For me the Revel was just emotionless, I never felt like I was connecting to the music, technically it was good but I just wasn't engaged for whatever reason.
After watching your review on these speakers, I have realised that I tend to play at a louder volume.
Also I happened to use the towers F36s
And once you crank them up they do sound amazing.
But at lower volumes I will agree with your comment.
at louder volumes like 85 DB or more they can really outplay a lot of more expensive sets. .
@@sanketbhirud3975 Yeah I remember saying something like that in the vid that they were better at louder volumes. Now that Andrew has this larger room this review makes a lot of sense. Maybe my room size & listening habits were just a bad match for the speaker.
@@NemoPropaganda by the way thank you so much for your very descriptive reviews. I am a blind person and you are one of the very few people who I listen to as I can understand what you say .
Keep up the great work
@@sanketbhirud3975 Thank you brother!! You're actually the second blind viewer that's commented on that, I'm happy to help!!
Just bought 3 of these to replace my LCR which were triangle borea speakers. No regrets 😁
You convinced me to consider these and I wound up finding a pair of revel M106 for $1000 and got those instead. They're insanely good.
Hi both the M16 and the M106 speakers. Both punch well above their pay grade. Neither are overly fussy with speaker placement to get exceptional sound quality, but if you sit just inside the triangle - they become holographic AF.
The M106 speakers are outstanding, with a little more detail and sparkle on the top end. If you found a pair for a $1,000 - I'm jelly. I bought mine on sale for $1,500/pair, and thought that was a great deal.
Dial in a subwoofer with either of these speakers, and they really open up and sing.
@@craigjohnchronicles2504I’ve paired the 106s with an SVS Pro 1000 for a couple of years now and love them both sonically and aesthetically (gloss black)
@@craigjohnchronicles2504 Hi, what amp did you use to power the M16's?
@@authenticNL2 - I have them set up in my family room with a little old Denon x2600H. ...and they sound fantastic. ...It doesn't take much to get great sound from these - but I suspect the higher you go up the ladder, there's room for even more improvement.
@craigjohnchronicles2504 Thank you for responding man, cheers!
Great review Andrew. I bought a pair of these about a year ago in the Sydney lockdown period and I run them with a Sunfire HRS8 sub. Control is via an NAD C658 BluOS pre and a vintage NAD 2600 amp. Very happy listening in my Dad chair.😊
Andrew: To your comment about exchanging them for the towers, i can say unequivocally, do it. The F36 towers are amazing speakers. When my mother was looking for something new to go with her new Sony TV, these happen to have just gone on sale. I told her she would struggle to find a better speaker in it's normal price range, and at $770, they're an absolute no brainer bargain. After having set them up, i was extremely pleased with how they sound. To the point that i sometimes wonder if i should have gotten a set of Performa3s instead of the Paradigm Founders that i purchased. They are REALLY good, especially for that money.
So happy to see you two review some Revel speakers. I'm looking forward to more in the future. Maybe some Revel Performa 3 products next, with or without the Be tweeters... Either way, keep up the great work! 😉👍
Hey Andrew! Will you ever review the NHT C-3, or the Classic 3's? Some of the best 3 way bookshelf speakers I've heard sub 1k price.
Good call, Kristi! I also opted to keep these despite using Model 5s for my main system. The Revel are also great in near field, so I’m thinking of maybe using them in a desk kind of setup some day.
Appreciate the support!! Sounds like you have two really awesome sets of speakers to chose from. Thanks again.
🤗 Thank you!
I have a pair of White M16's powered with a Creek Evo Integrated Amp and I mostly play vinyl through them. I agree with other reviewers of this speaker that quiet listening is so so but when you get them going they are fantastic. I love the design of the speaker as well. Thank you for doing a great review of them. I never thought have having them painted but that is an interesting idea. Cheers
I went from my first hifi speak, KEF Q350s, to Performa M106s and have enjoyed their neutrality and solid bass for a few years now, upgrading other parts of my system, but not the speakers. I have been looking at Arendal 1723s monitors recently. Would probably be a lateral move, trading excellent midrange for dynamics.
Ive worked in the car business for 30 years and it is becoming very hard to impress me with new bells and whistles. In fact when I get into a new car I turn off most of the automated features that really just get in the way of the driving experience. I guess to me hifi is kind of the same way at this point we are splitting hairs with improving the existing products, so it is not surprising to me that a quality speaker 3 years ago is still a quality speaker today. To me it’s about the aesthetic, and the sound signature you want with all the great ones on the market today there is surely something out there for everyone.
One of the best speakers in the world for money!
Great video! I love my Revel home theater with Performa3 F208, C208, and Concerta2 F36s as surrounds. You should look at exchanging the M16s and getting the F36s! I’m thinking about getting some M106s as new surrounds and moving the F36s to the master bedroom. I can’t wait to see what Revel does with the Ultima3 line whenever those come out. I wouldn’t be too concerned about the F36s having too much bass for music. I’m like Kristi in that I don’t like a ton of boomy bass for music. I feel the bass on Revel towers is very controlled and punchy.
Loved this review, especially the interaction between y'all. Also loved the "vs" segment.
Just wanted to thank Kristie, I got the Tannoy Gold 7 for my home office & gaming setup, and they are immense!
Fantastic speakers!! So happy to know you are enjoying them.
@@KristiWright I’ll defo be taking both of your advice when I update my living room in a couple of years time (post renovations!) :)
another great review thank you! The klipsch forte are not your reference towers? or they belong to a different category?
We no longer have the Forte IVs but that doesn't mean that they aren't amazing.
Greetings, I invested on a pair of Concerta’s 3.5 Towers…wonderful sound in my small man cave (even after living with the RP-600, Linn, KEF, Advent Large Speakers.
Lifelike, enjoyable, involving music.
Highly recommended
Thank you for the review! Any recommendations for amplifiers sub $600 that could be paired with these?
Also how would these compare to the Wharfedale Diamond 12.2.
I snagged a pair after this review and I'm currently running them with an Emotive TA100 Integrated (New current model is the TA1). The Emotiva does really well driving these and make for a great pairing with my SVS Micro 3000 for a 2.1 setup. I did test an Arcam SA30 which really brought them to life but I wasn't fond of the lack of a sub out and the Dirac that's included only accommodating 2 channels. If your looking for a budget amp to power these I would definitely look at Emotiva!
Thnx again the coolest 😎 couple reviewers 💪🏼, always enjoy the Robinson’s. Appreciate the fact u guys are willing purchase the speakers, come on show them some ❤️ Revel & send them some reference towers, so that the Robinson’s don’t have to spend on their own dime 👌🏼
Well Andrew I guess I have to wait for Sunday. Living with the 600M for over two years and now pull duty as my rear channel speakers, has been a great experience. I have always been curious about the Revel brand.
With respect to Klipsch, a big announcement is coming on 5-16-22. Cheers
Hi there. Love your reviews. Always informative with a nice fun factor feel about them. Question ... have you considered reviewing Martin Logan 60XTI as your tower speakers? I know they are a few years old, but it would be good to hear what you think of them and how they stack up to equivalent mid-spec towers. Cheers
Andrew has always been a fan of MartinLogan. We've made many attempts to reach out to them for reviews but they never acknowledge our emails or requests.
@@KristiWright Bummer .. maybe one day hey! Keep up the great reviews.
I somehow knew you'd like these! I got the F35 towers myself (in white finish) and find them to be the perfect middle ground between the bigger F36 and F16 in my listening space! They are stellar with all kinds of music I want to listen to!
what is your listening space like? i have the m16 and am thinking of going for the f35 towers but only have a smallish room (16 square meters) so might be overkill! i have subwoofers so don't need the extra base, just like the fullness of towers
@@leech-myster-funk2677 My space is a lively living room with plenty of fabrics, around 21 sqm. I find the F35's sound their very best placed a bit away from the wall behind them. Snappier bass (they are dual ported after all) and improved soundstaging. If you already own the M16 and run subwoofers... PERHAPS it wouldn't make sense to change to the F35 (?). Only a home-demo could answer that. Fullness of towers are of course a good point, but in theory you should also be able to achieve that will well-integrated subs.
How is no one commenting on the "f-ing missionary," comment. I died laughing! 🤣
You're only the second person all day to catch it or mention it at least.
@@KristiWright I caught it!!! 😂
Your intro in my Mini Cooper s with focal speakers and mackintosh amps sounds insane listening to your review back from Los Angeles to San Diego
I have a 2003 Mini Cooper S that looks like a GP1.
@@audiovideotech9777 sucks for that. My r53 has a GP engine suspension and trans swap . My r56 is jcw and my classic mini is a Honda swap engine and power train. The looks are backed up by the power.
@@waterlover my R53S has a Alta 17% S/C Pulley, Alta Open box Intake, Akrapovic Full Exhaust and a Blistein B12 Suspension.
@@audiovideotech9777 nice upgrades for sure, makes a good 192 horses with those upgrades add a remap and you have a nice 205 C00PER S
Interesting when I demo'd the M16 they had the widest soundstage I have ever experienced, this was compared next to 1st gen LS50's and MA Silver 100. The room was incredibly wide, I'm talking 50ft+ wide which obviously played a huge role in the soundstage.
Good idea. I did the same a few months ago. Bought the Klipsch RB81ii, brand new though out of production for almost 10 years. Bookshelf with 8 inch woofer. They are keepers for me. Still some left here in Europe. Paid 418 Euro for pair. Good deal. Yes I think I hear the "U" curve but quite lively. Not too bright as may be thought. Good bass. Thanks for the info.
I compared the Concerta2 line with Performa3 and ended up with F208s up front and M115 side surrounds. Wow. Two years later, im still astounded by them. I recommend auditioning the F208 towers at A&B TV here in Austin. Ask for Harlan. They can do amazing things on pricing…
I don't doubt that the 208s are nice. The Performa3 redesign however never sat right with me. I know looks are subjective and the Performas are far from ugly, but all that said, I feel the Concerta2s actually look a bit more streamlined and, dare I say, high-end compared to Performa. Now, sound-wise I'm sure Performa is great, so I may have to check them out!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Happy to demo mine for ya!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews I have had the Performa3 m106s for a year and love them. Wondering why they don’t get more attention
I have this speaker! how funny, seeing it reviewed here. I love it
Thanks for the video! How do these compare to the Heco Aurora 700s? Which is better for home theater?
Well the 700s are a tower, so they're going to be different. Either is going to be good for home theater use IMHO.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Thanks, Andrew. I guess what I’m wondering is how they sound different, and whether you think still think the Auroras are still the best bang for your buck pair for HT under 2K.
An Art Car style speaker would be cool. BMW has had a series of Art Cars over the years, all with wildly different looks.
Appreciate you hanging out to watch the entire video!
@Kristi Wright no problem. I like to hear your thoughts on the products, they are often more relatable to me as a person who is not totally immersed into the world of hi-if.
excellent review on speakers that are quite the deal. I'm saving up for KLh model 7s but this would be a pretty sweet option for a smaller room. Kristi bringing the heat on this review.
The value of older speakers is not lost on me, as I bought my Vandersteen Model 1B's for $400. They are not too far off the current Model Ci+ for $1887. Richard Vandersteen's designs hold up very well. The bookshelves that I am considering are Wharfdale 12.1, Acoustic Energy AE100 MkII, and now, the Revel M16.
I auditioned the Vandersteen VLR wood speakers. I kept the Revel M16 - they were much preferred over the Vandy's...
great review! do these sound better than Paradigm .7 Atoms ?
Thanks!
We wouldn't know. Paradigm does not answer our emails.
I ordered a pair of these right when they went on sale. I watched this video a couple days after I ordered and it helped me feel good about the purchase. I just re-watched after having them for a few days, and I have to say, you really nailed your description of them I just sat here nodding with everything you said. About the bass being good down to the point where it disappears, about the highs being clear and airy but not fatiguing, about the dynamics being ever so slightly held back, yup, yup, yup. Except when you kind of knocked the soundstage, because for me these have the clearest, most compelling soundstage of any bookshelf speaker I've listened to. Significantly better than the Elac UniFi 2.0, which I had right before these, and which I thought were really good in this area until I got the Revels. Admittedly I haven't really tried listening for that while out of position, so maybe that's the difference. Thanks for the great review.
How much were they?
@@joaquinbarreto9398 $345 each or ~$700 for the pair. I'm not seeing them anywhere for that price currently.
@@dkeener13 darn. Thx for letting me know. I thought it was around that. I'll just wait till they go back down if they do.
The sound stage on the Revels is expansive - especially when you get the speakers positioned in a good spot in the room (pulled from the side and front walls a bit, then position yourself a bit closer than you'd expect. Give them a little juice, and they really open up.
Thank God you finally reviewed Revels. Would love to hear your take on the F206’s. Been using them in a home theater and stereo setup with a JL audio F112 sub for a few years and have felt zero desire to look at upgrading. Loved the review Andrew/Kristi!
Any thoughts on the upcoming Ls 60's?
Sir Have you listened to Any Salk Speakers. Songtower 2, Song 3s etc or any of the Philharmonic Speakers BMR monitor or BMR Towers. If not Would u please Sir and Maam?
Another great and informative video. My question is how do you think these Revels would compare against another of your top picks, the Wharfdale Dentons? Thanks for your time and keep up your wonderful work!
Completely different sound. If you like that laid back, warm sound, then you'll love the Dentons. Me personally? I prefer these over the Dentons hands down.
Thanks for your input Kristi. Always appreciate it!
If you like a softer, rounder somewhat vintage-y sound then the Dentons will be your thing. Appreciate you tuning in.
Hello Andrew, thank you fir all the great reviews. I really want to buy these speakers before they run out and need a reasonably priced integrated amp to drive them. I noticed two of the amps you tested aren't 4 olm stable so my question is is that safe, I was considering the bluesound power node?. BTW, bought the Klipsch fives after your review and love them.
Just got a pair used yesterday but they were in literally new condition. 500 including stands. Couldn’t pass it up. Listened to them quite a bit last night. I’ve been very impressed so far. If blindfolded, I could easily believe they were a more expensive tower speaker.
I really enjoy your reviews.....THANKS
Thanks for watching!
About time....you finally reviewed Revel Speakers that I have been asking for. I have the Revel Concerta II F36 Towers and the Revel Concerta II C25 Center Channel and they blow me away for movies and music. Great video....Bravo
Hope you enjoy it!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Since you love the Revel M16's, you both will totally love the F36's Towers even more.
Great review as always! I have Bowers and Wilkins 805 Nautilus and was looking to upgrade. I have them paired to a Peachtree 150. Do you think I should replace the B and W’s or upgrade my amplifier? Thanks Andrew.
Upgrade your amp 100%
Thank you.
Imho, excellent video, the information of which I directly devoured. Thank you a lot, Kristi and Andrew 👏
I like this little bit different idea…great video as usual, you two
Glad you enjoyed it! It was fun for us too.
Hi Andrew. Will upgrading from Elac DBR62 to Revel M16 be an improvement?
No
Great review. Would you recommend either this with a subwoofer or LS50 Meta with a subwoofer?
Well you could get these plus a sub for likely less than the KEF package you're suggesting. Do I think you'd be missing anything by doing so? Not really. But the final choice is yours. Thanks for watching!
I want a pair of these now..... in white!
I have the Revel m105 and c205 and they are amazing when paired with a great amplifier.
Don't doubt it!
It is tempting but my understanding is they don't play well at low volumes. Need to have that. Also, what's up with some reported tweeters overheating?
The frequency curve does look good however.
I love my F208s. If I needed a pair of bookshelf speakers, I’d sure enough buy them.
So Andrew (or Kristi)….
If these speakers are on closeout, how much are they now compared to how much were they then?
This would be a speaker system I would highly consider now (or even the newer and upgraded versions that may emerge then).
Revel was always a brand I considered. I just thought that I couldn’t afford back then.
These Concerta’s DEFINITELY disproved all of that.
I can build a nice affordable high-end audio system around these speakers for entry-level money.
That’s VERY refreshing to think about.
👍🏾👍🏾
-Charles-
he mentioned in the video that they used to be 1000$ and now they are 700$, there is a link in the description to the closeout sale
I'm getting Nervous about my 600M Honestly the speakers have been a GREAT Re-Introduction to Audio and NOT LIVE Performance Gear. What would I buy NEXT? _Those smaller KENWOODS sound nice (how you described them) and fit's my Home._ I have the money for the Technic 1200 mkc7, but comparing them to your Audio-Technic LP140s?
Thanks for this review! I own the F35's and truly enjoy them. They handle a wide variety of musical styles with ease (like the m16's) and the music sounds great coming off a TCL TV, through an Arcam SA10 via optical. Yes, I need a better source! They are paired with an SVS SB2000 sub. You can't go wrong with the Concerta2 lineup.
Huh, as soon as I saw it has a metal dome tweeter I had already written it off as “not for me.” This is a good reminder that I need to keep an open mind about this stuff.
Not all metal domes are treated the same.
Passive speaker technology doesn’t seem to advance at the same pace as powered audio equipment. As such I would expect any passive speaker that was outstanding at its original MSRP to still be a great value 5 years later and 30% lower in price.
Hell stuff that sounded great 40 years ago still sounds good
How would they compare with my Wharfedale Diamond 10.2? I’m happy with them, but looking for the next level. Thanks
I bought my Jamos (yeah yeah not super high end) on a deep sale thanks to your review and love them.
Thanks for your work
No shame in liking what you like! We are still very much a fan of Jamo speakers.
Me too. I got a pair of Jamo C93ii bookshelves + Jamo C910 10” Powered Subwoofer + a Bluesound Powernode streamer/ amp. All based on reviews and I'm happy with this combo.
I have the F36 and they blew away everything else in the price range at the store. I had never heard of Revel before going in, but they sold themselves compared to B&W, Sonus, Focal, etc. We have a huge room (200 inch projector screen is just half the wall) and they have no problem, paired with an SVS SB16. The Concerta2 center works well, too. The soundstage and 3D imaging fill the room to the point that even in 2-channel direct mode I have had to get up and walk around to be sure the center, surrounds and heights weren't playing.
... aaaand just bought a pair of these through the link for the office.
Not surprising. I auditioned Sonus Faber Sonetto 1 ($1,800/pair) , KEF R3 ($2,000/pair) and the Vandersteen VLR wood ($1,600/pair) and much preferred the Revel M16 ($810/pair outlet pricing at the time). I have mine paired with the REL HT1003 sub for both movies and music. Once you dial in a sub with the M16, they really shine.
Nooooo, the M16 are "backordered" after accepting the order. Cancelled it since they'll likely never be in stock.
I was lucky enough to get my pair of the Dynaudio Emit M20’s, before they discontinued this pair, and brought out a revised version of this speaker. For most people this old version is not much to look at, but I love them. The new version of the Emit M20 is not as good looking to me, and doesn’t go down quite as far, according to their specs, though you can’t always rely on specs, as they could be more or less. They are also more expensive than the old ones. The full retail price of the old M20 was $1299.00 AUD, and the new ones are $1599.00 AUD, so in my opinion they are considerably more. I was lucky and scored my M20’s for $1050.00, and they also chucked in so decent copper speaker cable too! Love my M20’s and I’m sure I will for years to come!
Hi Andrew, another awesome review!! I've seen you mention the JBL L100 classic speakers, but have you ever heard or reviewed the JBL Synthesis SCL-2 through 8 in-wall/ceiling speakers for home theater? Thanks!!
Refreshing review. More please!
And ya got me! The first thing I was thinking was, "Hmm. I'm wondering if he is going to compare this to the Klipsch?" And there ya go! Waiting till SUNDAY?! I was about to curse you out! :-) Really curious about the comparison. The Klipsch RP600 are in my sights (and a subwoofer - just not sure which one) and now I see this! Well..here's to Sunday!
I just changed my BW 607 to these M16. You were right, the 607 arer harsh ! :p
So you prefer the M16? Yes, the 600 Series is a bit "in your face", which can be too much for some. Thanks for tuning in and sharing!
While I admit I'm confounded by the 606/607, some people really seem to like them. :)
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Yep I prefer the Revel. I use them as nearfield desktop. While the 607 had more sparkle and was happier closer to the wall, the M16 need the port to be blocked in my settup and a +3db at 50hz in Roon to really make these speaker pure fun and enjoyable for all day listening.
I sometime miss the "what??!" high of the 607, but this is better at everything.. While the 607 was master of "some things" and harsh at most.
Hello, I am a big fan, I hope you can answer an essential question before making the purchase, I fully trust your criteria. If I buy a Polk Audio Legend L200, is it an improvement against the Revel Converta 2 M16?
I can't speak directly to the Legend L200, but the Revel M16 was a definitive upgrade from my Polk LSi15 speakers in terms of detail and soundstage. ...I added a sub to round out the lower end, and the spacial imagine opened even further.
My favorite channel and it's not even close.
Thank you so much! Appreciate that.
Thank you, Nick. We really appreciate you.
First off, I want to congratulate you on your youtube channel! I’ve enjoyed your reviews a lot! Your honest take on equipment and sincere recommendations have facilitated a couple of purchases for me in the past..however, I wanted to ask you if you believe that you may be able to review the Kaya S12 from Vivid Audio any time soon?
I’ve read a lot about them, and I am really curious about them..it is a size able investment and I wonder what they would sound like in a real house with a more moderate and affordable integrated amp..
Thank you so much for watching! We have no immediate plans to review Vivid Audio.
20+ years ago, imho, most speakers sounded pretty lacklustre. Now, most speakers sound pretty good at their price point. It may just be that the improvement curve is levelling off, so there's not been much improvement over the last few years. And if so, that's maybe not such a bad thing