Revel 126be

[Sde]

Hi Everyone,

First time post. So, to start right away. I purchased the Revel M126Be some time ago, great speakers on many levels but I find them to be unbalanced in a certain way. Especially voices sound too metallic to me, also cymbals and claps - trying to explain - are too pronounced and not in balance.

Can this be corrected using drac or room acoustics or is this just me that needs to look for other speakers.

I have been searching for the perfect speaker for years but haven’t found it yet. Best I heard since a while were the Spendor A4.2, at least they were a more easy listen too

 

[Burnsy1]

It could have to do with the acoustics in your room, or whatever calibration you are using - not using. The Revel uses a metal dome tweeter while I think the spendor uses a soft dome - textile tweeter which could be more your preference.

The Revel is a very well regarded speaker in terms of balance... we'd need to know more about your setup in order to provide more guidance.

 

[Digital_Thor]

That particular speaker seems to have a slight distortion mode in the midrange, which Erin describes as a "glare". Maybe this is what you hear.
Have you ever considered the KEF R3 Meta?

 

[staticV3]

first thing I'd try is apply the EQ preset below which addresses the glare:

Preamp: -4.6 dB

Filter  1: ON PK Fc    41 Hz Gain +2.95 dB Q 0.83
Filter  2: ON PK Fc   113 Hz Gain +2.92 dB Q 0.37
Filter  3: ON PK Fc   166 Hz Gain -2.55 dB Q 1.55
Filter  4: ON PK Fc   270 Hz Gain -1.25 dB Q 2.31
Filter  5: ON PK Fc  2245 Hz Gain -1.45 dB Q 2.98
Filter  6: ON PK Fc  5347 Hz Gain -1.38 dB Q 1.75
Filter  7: ON PK Fc 11882 Hz Gain -1.57 dB Q 1.55

Filters 5-7 reduce glare.
Filters 1-4 mostly remove the stock bass notch, which may or may not work for your environment.

 

[Sde]

That particular speaker seems to have a slight distortion mode in the midrange, which Erin describes as a "glare". Maybe this is what you hear.
Have you ever considered the KEF R3 Meta?

From KEF I have only heard the LS5. I listened to quite a few speakers and for the moment Spendor sounds best. Maybe because of the soft dome - different materials. Not sure yet, still learning. Difference in speakers is huge that’s one thing I am sure of

 

[Sde]

first thing I'd try is apply the EQ preset below which addresses the glare:

View attachment 538951

Preamp: -4.6 dB

Filter  1: ON PK Fc    41 Hz Gain +2.95 dB Q 0.83
Filter  2: ON PK Fc   113 Hz Gain +2.92 dB Q 0.37
Filter  3: ON PK Fc   166 Hz Gain -2.55 dB Q 1.55
Filter  4: ON PK Fc   270 Hz Gain -1.25 dB Q 2.31
Filter  5: ON PK Fc  2245 Hz Gain -1.45 dB Q 2.98
Filter  6: ON PK Fc  5347 Hz Gain -1.38 dB Q 1.75
Filter  7: ON PK Fc 11882 Hz Gain -1.57 dB Q 1.55

Filters 5-7 reduce glare.
Filters 1-4 mostly remove the stock bass notch, which may or may not work for your environment.

Is this for Dirac? Never used it before but the Bluesound Node 130 should have support for it.

 

[staticV3]

Is this for Dirac?

That's a generic Parametric EQ configuration, nothing to do with Dirac.

It can be loaded into lots of different EQ software, as well as into hardware if it supports Parametric EQ (miniDSP, WiiM, etc.)

 

[Sde]

It could have to do with the acoustics in your room, or whatever calibration you are using - not using. The Revel uses a metal dome tweeter while I think the spendor uses a soft dome - textile tweeter which could be more your preference.

The Revel is a very well regarded speaker in terms of balance... we'd need to know more about your setup in order to provide more guidance.

Setup is Arcam A25+, Bluesound Node N130, Revel M126Be. For the moment I haven not found speaker that beat my RMEDAC2FS with HD650

 

[Sde]

That's a generic Parametric EQ configuration, nothing to do with Dirac.

It can be loaded into lots of different EQ software, as well as into hardware if it supports Parametric EQ (miniDSP, WiiM, etc.)

Ok so this can be done with for example MiniDSPFlex that is place between Bluesound Node and Arcam A25+ amp? Hard to consider a MiniDSP purchase before knowing I will be able to resolve the issue.

 

[Digital_Thor]

From KEF I have only heard the LS5. I listened to quite a few speakers and for the moment Spendor sounds best. Maybe because of the soft dome - different materials. Not sure yet, still learning. Difference in speakers is huge that’s one thing I am sure of

I've owned the LS50Meta and now the R3Meta. Different all together. Your shifting from a all-in-one to a dedicated midrange and woofer... also from 2 to 3 way. Materials do not play this type of role you think they do... especially if done right. Usually harder domes/cones actually work more precisely like a piston. The tricky part is to avoid the break-up resonance. But KEF since 2018, know very well how to do that.

 

[Sde]

I've owned the LS50Meta and now the R3Meta. Different all together. Your shifting from a all-in-one to a dedicated midrange and woofer... also from 2 to 3 way. Materials do not play this type of role you think they do... especially if done right. Usually harder domes/cones actually work more precisely like a piston. The tricky part is to avoid the break-up resonance. But KEF since 2018, know very well how to

 

[Sde]

I have indeed read a lot of good things about the R3. Another thing that keeps bugging me is the floorstander vs bookshelf speaker narrative

 

[kyuu]

The Bluesound Node seriously can't do parametric EQ? I would return/sell it and get a Wiim Ultra, then you can try the EQ settings to see if it addresses your complaint.

As a free method if you're reluctant to try that, just connect a PC as a source temporarily and use free EQ software such as Equalizer APO with the Peace frontend.

 

[Sde]

The Bluesound Node seriously can't do parametric EQ? I would return/sell it and get a Wiim Ultra, then you can try the EQ settings to see if it addresses your complaint.

As a free method if you're reluctant to try that, just connect a PC as a source temporarily and use free EQ software such as Equalizer APO with the Peace frontend.

Nope it can not. It can only use Dirac if license is bought separately. The connect a laptop option might be a good one to test. Thanks for the info

 

[Sde]

That's a generic Parametric EQ configuration, nothing to do with Dirac.

It can be loaded into lots of different EQ software, as well as into hardware if it supports Parametric EQ (miniDSP, WiiM, etc.)

Could it be a good idea to buy the MiniDSP flex anyway to filter the lows and send directly to my AVI active sub. Would this improve sound in general on the Revels since they are more a ease not processing the lower frequency band?

 

[Paul7777x]

Nope it can not. It can only use Dirac if license is bought separately. The connect a laptop option might be a good one to test. Thanks for the info

That surprises me. I had assumed at least a few PEQ slots as a minimum these days.

Not worth whatever asking price imo then.

 

[kyuu]

Could it be a good idea to buy the MiniDSP flex anyway to filter the lows and send directly to my AVI active sub. Would this improve sound in general on the Revels since they are more a ease not processing the lower frequency band?

Shouldn't be necessary as the Bluesound Node does at least have a subwoofer out which I believe implements a proper crossover.

 

[Sde]

Shouldn't be necessary as the Bluesound Node does at least have a subwoofer out which I believe implements a proper crossover.

Crossover on how many hz for the revels? Thanks

 

[kyuu]

Crossover on how many hz for the revels? Thanks

My naive guesstimate based on the measurements would be something in the range of 80-100Hz. Probably err closer to 100Hz, checking by ear to see if you can localize the bass to the subwoofer (blind), and only lowering it if you are encountering bothersome localization of the bass.

Best would be to use measurements to find the ideal crossover point (to minimize peaks or dips through the crossover region). Proper bass management requires a little more than just following simple rules-of-thumb, but if you don't want to go through the measurement procedures or pay for software to automate the process then just futzing until it sounds OK to your ear will have to do. You'll want to test with the subwoofer's polarity switch/knob set to different positions as well, assuming it has one.

 

[Paul7777x]

Shouldn't be necessary as the Bluesound Node does at least have a subwoofer out which I believe implements a proper crossover.

Without even a rudimentary number of PEQ slots I can’t see how that’s particularly useful.