Revel F206 Tower Speaker Review

[whit]

Question here for owners. Last night as I was listening to some music, pretty loudly I might add, I noticed that one of the speakers sounded a bit distorted, but more like something was rattling on the inside when certain very specific low frequencies were being played in this one particular song I was listening to.

The "one particular song" part makes me wonder if it might be in the source material. Is there somewhere to find a recording that's just a frequency sweep, and use that to see if the speaker cabinet has a rattle at a specific pitch?

 

[BJL]

If you're happy with your screen height, nope! I run an M105 there and they work well together.

I enjoyed these speakers in the L/R positions so much that I ended up buying an additional three so that I have the F206 as L/C/R and side surrounds. Never been happier. I also took advantage of the flash sale at Crutchfield a couple of weeks ago and bought a pair of F36s for the back surround and a pair of F35s for the (atmos) front wide. Great speakers!

My ears are thankful for this review, my bank account, not so much ...

 

[JohnnyNG]

Which has long happened already (interesting comparison starting at 21:08)

I've owned the Q990C soundbar used in this comparison for a few months now and, for what it is at its price, have absolutely no complaints. I've had a dedicated 7.1.4 Atmos theater setup before and movie/TV sound isn't really a priority any longer as the kids have grown.

 

[Pieter1267]

Any of you Revel F206 owners want to share how these are doing at a bigger loudness level? Above 90 or higher? Specifically im wondering anything between 100hz and above, lowerbass levels if you like.

 

[nathan]

You mean like this?

 

[Pieter1267]

You mean like this?

View attachment 411860

More or less. So I can deduct they run fine at 100db, and at 102 (wich is very loud indeed) some slight issues appear (but still good) at 102?

 

[fjhuerta]

More or less. So I can deduct they run fine at 100db, and at 102 (wich is very loud indeed) some slight issues appear (but still good) at 102?

Alternatively, you can do what I did: add a big dual 12" subwoofer running from 50Hz and down, and not worrying about the distortion in the low bass. It did a noticeable improvement to my system.

 

[Robbo99999]

More or less. So I can deduct they run fine at 100db, and at 102 (wich is very loud indeed) some slight issues appear (but still good) at 102?

The thing to bare in mind is that those measurements are done at only 1 metre distance, so if your listening distance is greater than 1 meter then you'll get a lower measured SPL (volume) but with the same level of distortion. Conversely if you turn up the volume to compensate for the increased distance then you get even more distortion of course. Yeah, so good to bare in mind that these distortion measurements are done at 1 meter.

 

[staticV3]

The thing to bare in mind is that those measurements are done at only 1 metre distance, so if your listening distance is greater than 1 meter then you'll get a lower measured SPL (volume) but with the same level of distortion. Conversely if you turn up the volume to compensate for the increased distance then you get even more distortion of course. Yeah, so good to bare in mind that these distortion measurements are done at 1 meter.

Equally good to bear in mind that these are anechoic (ish) measurements of a single speaker.

Two of them will add 3dB to the total SPL and room reinforcement will typically add some 3-6dB as well.

 

[Robbo99999]

Equally good to bear in mind that these are anechoic (ish) measurements of a single speaker.

Two of them will add 3dB to the total SPL and room reinforcement will typically add some 3-6dB as well.

Yes, and by room reinforcement you mean added bass I guess.

 

[rynberg]

Yes, and by room reinforcement you mean added bass I guess.

Being in a room will result in higher sound levels at distance across much of the frequency spectrum, due to reflections, it's not just added "bass".

 

[robh36062]

I have a pair with a 14" subwoofer in my Livingroom. They can get loud and still stand good. However if you want to listen at 102db I would look for a more sensitive system.

Rob

 

[Pieter1267]

I have a pair with a 14" subwoofer in my Livingroom. They can get loud and still stand good. However if you want to listen at 102db I would look for a more sensitive system.

Rob

Wich Revel models do you think have better or higher output? 226? 208?

 

[robh36062]

I am looking at it from sensitivity point of view. The base is 88 a pair is 91 db 1 meter. So to run at 102 lets make it easy and say 10 db so 10 watts @ 1 meter. Listening distance of 12 ft and add 6 db more power to keep the level the same and now your at 4X and you looking at 40 watt average.

So how big a room, listening distance and available amp power.

Assuming you mean 102 average.

Rob

 

[Cadillacofminds]

Random user being subjective here, if you apply a very little bit of attenuation at 4978.17hz and toggle the filter on and off, I really think most people will find that the cancelations in the ceiling and floor bounce early reflections in the region do not result in the area being free from excessive energy, being too shrill

 

[Cadillacofminds]

Trying to say, attenuation in that region seems to me to definitely be an improvement

 

[Cadillacofminds]

aaah, I got myself mixed up, the big dips in the floor and ceiling bounces are more around the xover point, where I also have some attenuation going. ...These seem to do better when they're not aimed exactly at the ears, with some attenuation at the xover region and where the directivity and on-axis response peak between 4 and 5khz, no?

 

[staticV3]

These seem to do better when they're not aimed exactly at the ears

Yup:

 

[CapMan]

Yup:
View attachment 413145 View attachment 413146

That was my experience - small amount (10-15 degrees max) of toe in from firing straight ahead

 

[Cadillacofminds]

So glad Mr. staticV3 posted those . So useful and it induced me to pay some attention to what Mr. MZKM posts(ed) at the beginning. This one horizontal directivity plot accessed after the link makes me realize the left and right axes are not nearly symmetrical, why is that?