Full Range Speakers, under $5k

[Krunok]

As an overall package, I do think they are genuine alternatives to Performa3s (though I suspect Revel has the edge in compression and distortion due to the Klippel work and SB Acoustics drivers).

Funny thing about distortion is that we care so much of it in the front line of our chain (DACs, preamps, amps) but at the very end of the chain, where one would expect the distortions to matter most (as it is in the range of 0.1%-0.5% even for very good speakers) it seems that it is simply not the case.

Again I remember the fact that Toole's 500 pages book has only 2 pages about speakers distortion and the conclusion is pretty much this:

"In the general population of consumer loudspeakers, it has been very rare for distortion to be identified as a factor in the overall subjective ratings. This is not because distortion is not there or is not measurable, but it is low enough that it is not an obvious factor in judgments of sound quality at normal foreground listening levels."

 

[carlosmante]

Revel Performa3 F206

https://www.soundstagenetwork.com/i...&catid=77:loudspeaker-measurements&Itemid=153


Revel Performa3 F206, crossover

http://highfidelity.pl/@main-405&lang=en

$ 1.750 x2 = $ 3.500 and then you look at the cheap crossover . Unfortunately it is usual, regardless of the price.

View attachment 34646

99 cents crossover.

 

[Krunok]

99 cents crossover.

Yep. Not even gold-plated.

 

[riker1384]

The PSB Stratus Gold-i (or the original version, just called the Gold) goes very deep. It was discontinued about a decade ago and it goes for about a grand on the used market. It's 90 pounds though, so you'll probably have to forget about shipping and see if you can find a pair locally.

https://www.stereophile.com/content/psb-stratus-gold-loudspeaker-1997-measurements

 

[watchnerd]

Cerwin Vega XLS 215.

The muscle car of speakers, an Alpha man's speaker, like Conan it will crush the Revel and see your enemies driven before you.

Review:

http://www.cerwinvega.com/content/pdf/AudioVideoRevolution-XLS-Review-Reprint.pdf

Life is short ride, own a brute while you still can and before you shuffle off to a nursing home.

 

[FrantzM]

Cerwin Vega XLS 215.

The muscle car of speakers, an Alpha man's speaker, like Conan it will crush the Revel and see your enemies driven before you.

Review:

http://www.cerwinvega.com/content/pdf/AudioVideoRevolution-XLS-Review-Reprint.pdf

Life is short ride, own a brute while you still can and before you shuffle off to a nursing home.

This is an interesting suggestion. back in the days REG of TAS fame reviewed it and liked it. TAS REVIEW CLICK HERE At its low price it deserves audition and I, for one, would like to see its measurements. Could it be the Atom of speakers?

 

[maty]

Cerwin Vega XLS 215 crossover

https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/crossover-upgrade-i-need-advice.763607/

Upgraded

If the loudspeakers cost $ 3500 like Revel Performa3 F206, spending at least 1% on the filter components (at wholesale price) does not seem like a crazy expense, I think. At least $ 20.

BTW, Cerwin Vega XLS 215 crossover does not have electrolytic capacitors like Revel!

 

[Krunok]

If the loudspeakers cost $ 3500 like Revel Performa3 F206, spending at least 1% on the filter components (at wholesale price) does not seem like a crazy expense, I think. At least $ 20.

BTW, Cerwin Vega XLS 215 crossover does not have electrolytic capacitors like Revel!

I rarely agree with Maty, but he has the point here - electrolytic caps should really have no place in a XO of such expensive speakers.

 

[Ron Texas]

RE: R11

https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/1300-kef-r11-loudspeakers
https://www.soundstagehifi.com/inde...nded-reference-component-kef-r11-loudspeakers

Note the funky dip at 60hz.
There is a Best Buy/Magnolia less than a mile from my home which has these set up.
I have no idea where I could find a pair of Canton's.
Nearest retailer for Revel is in Austin, 3 hours away. Local Revel resellers are home automation/theater guys with no inventory.

 

[617]

I would actually be tempted to EQ the response like this:

View attachment 34647

The suckout at 3k is almost certainly a peak off axis. I would not equalize without seeing polars.

 

[Ron Texas]

I rarely agree with Maty, but he has the point here - electrolytic caps should really have no place in a XO of such expensive speakers.

What would we do without Maty?

 

[617]

RE: R11

https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/1300-kef-r11-loudspeakers
https://www.soundstagehifi.com/inde...nded-reference-component-kef-r11-loudspeakers
View attachment 34656
Note the funky dip at 60hz.
There is a Best Buy/Magnolia less than a mile from my home which has these set up.
I have no idea where I could find a pair of Canton's.
Nearest retailer for Revel is in Austin, 3 hours away. Local Revel resellers are home automation/theater guys with no inventory.

I guarantee you the dip at 60hz is a measurement anachronism and not the actual response. Maybe the port resonance for example.

 

[Krunok]

RE: R11

https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/1300-kef-r11-loudspeakers
https://www.soundstagehifi.com/inde...nded-reference-component-kef-r11-loudspeakers
View attachment 34656
Note the funky dip at 60hz.
There is a Best Buy/Magnolia less than a mile from my home which has these set up.
I have no idea where I could find a pair of Canton's.
Nearest retailer for Revel is in Austin, 3 hours away. Local Revel resellers are home automation/theater guys with no inventory.

I wouldn't really pay attention to it - this was done in-room and dip like that could easilly be fixed.

 

[Krunok]

The suckout at 3k is almost certainly a peak off axis. I would not equalize without seeing polars.

It exists in the same shapes in 15 and 30deg measurement. No harm equalizing it and try to listen how it would sound.

 

[617]

Regarding electrolytic- I use them for prototyping and yes they might drift in value in 30 years but they don't sound different from foil caps. I don't use them in final crossovers but there are q lot of very good speakers using electrolytics, especially for big values on woofer circuits. Same for the iron core inductors, which nobody has mentioned. If I had the choice between revel drivers and electrolytics or cheaper drivers and polypropylene I'd choose revel every time.

 

[617]

Regarding your bass concerns. People tend to measure bass by looking at the f3. This is only part of what makes great bass. A speaker making 40hz with two 8 inch drivers will be able to produce a lot of musical bass very very loud with great impact. My last big speakers were similar, two Dayton reference 22cm per side. Four 8 inch drivers is a lot of surface area and I don't think you will be dissatisfied. You could easily end up with a speaker that does 30hz but with more distortion at a lower spl.

 

[617]

It exists in the same shapes in 15 and 30deg measurement. No harm equalizing it and try to listen how it would sound.

Yeah it cool be a cone edge resonance, which would explain why it wasn't corrected.

 

[Krunok]

Regarding electrolytic- I use them for prototyping and yes they might drift in value in 30 years but they don't sound different from foil caps. I don't use them in final crossovers but there are q lot of very good speakers using electrolytics, especially for big values on woofer circuits. Same for the iron core inductors, which nobody has mentioned. If I had the choice between revel drivers and electrolytics or cheaper drivers and polypropylene I'd choose revel every time.

Once they dry out they will seriously affect sound as transfer characteristic of the XO would change.

And you are inventing a choice where there shouldn't be one: with a speaker of that price range you should get both, a good driver and foil caps.

 

[Krunok]

Yeah it cool be a cone edge resonance, which would explain why it wasn't corrected.

And how exacty would they corrected that with passive design?

 

[maty]

About the dip, the interesting graph is at your listening point and not directly in front.

KEF Q100 has a slight V response on axis, but if you listen at 30-40-50º the graph is other.

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...inimum-phase-vs-linear-phase.8762/post-225351