Revel F208 Tower Speaker Review

[phoenixdogfan]

Wow, hats off to you @amirm - this is a big & heavy speaker you've managed to measure like no one else. Thank you.

$5000 for the pair is surprisingly low given some of the big names in this business are selling crappy $20K speakers. Throw in a Hypex amp and we are still under $7K. I almost bought these speakers, but decided to get the JBL 708P + Rythmik FM8s - good value especially given I get 3 8" drivers.

I think there are going to be bargains on the street price for these. They are an older design (date back to 2014) and there is a newer model (F228be) which if it doesn't entirely supplant and replace it, is so simlar to it in size, form factor, and performance that dealers will be anxious to get them off their floor.

 

[amirm]

I think there are going to be bargains on the street price for these. They are an older design (date back to 2014) and there is a newer model (F228be) which if it doesn't entirely supplant and replace it, is so simlar to it in size, form factor, and performance that dealers will be anxious to get them off their floor.

F228Be is twice as expensive. As such it will definitely not replace the F208.

 

[GXAlan]

F228Be is twice as expensive. As such it will definitely not replace the F208.

Do you have a Performa Be to test?

 

[amirm]

Do you have a Performa Be to test?

I do not.

 

[airs]

Time for @GXAlan to get some new speakers!

 

[watchnerd]

F228Be is twice as expensive. As such it will definitely not replace the F208.

Yeah....

I'm not clear if the F228Be is worth $5k more just to get Be drivers.

 

[airs]

Yeah....

I'm not clear if the F228Be is worth $5k more just to get Be drivers.

Still grinning ear to ear with these F208

Who knew the Immaculate Collection was in Q Sound?

 

[watchnerd]

Still grinning ear to ear with these F208

Who knew the Immaculate Collection was in Q Sound?

Madonna?

 

[GXAlan]

Time for @GXAlan to get some new speakers!

@amirm has a couple of my toys.

 

[Asinus]

For anyone who has heard the new Be-based version, how would you compare the old vs new?

It's 2x the price...

It is not night and day but you can tell the improvement after a few of your favorite tracks, the treble sounds "sweeter" and it can render complex orchestral pieces better, on the looks department I don't care much for the white cones. The bigger motors supposedly allow the Be to handle better heat and in turn dynamic compression but I have not pushed them that hard.

IMO if you have the cash, go for the 228Be but the 208 will be enough for most and you can invest in subs or amps. It is the same situation as other high end audio devices, 50% of the price gets you 90% of the performance. As a matter of fact, I have also heard 208s alongside 126Bes and I think the 208s are a better bargain unless you put them in a 4 square meter room.

 

[RichB]

It is not night and day but you can tell the improvement after a few of your favorite tracks, the treble sounds "sweeter" and it can render complex orchestral pieces better, on the looks department I don't care much for the white cones. The bigger motors supposedly allow the Be to handle better heat and in turn dynamic compression but I have not pushed them that hard.

IMO if you have the cash, go for the 228Be but the 208 will be enough for most and you can invest in subs or amps. It is the same situation as other high end audio devices, 50% of the price gets you 90% of the performance. As a matter of fact, I have also heard 208s alongside 126Bes and I think the 208s are a better bargain unless you put them in a 4 square meter room.

Friends don’t let friends pay list price

- Rich

 

[carlob]

These things are huge

 

[Laserjock]

This things are huge

View attachment 63406

 

[Asinus]

Friends don’t let friends pay list price

- Rich

I'd assume a friend would give you a similar discount or even a larger one on the older models so the price ratio would hold.
But you mention a fair point, in some listings available to employees the 208 are around 60% of the 228 price and the 126 make more sense so I suppose dealers could have similar wiggle room.

 

[carlob]

Quick measurements without any EQ. Please note that this is not the final location, I'll move in a month so it's temporary.

 

[airs]

Quick measurements without any EQ. Please note that this is not the final location, I'll move in a month so it's temporary.

View attachment 63433

Interesting! Boundary switches off and tweeters at 0? What is your room like?

 

[carlob]

Boundary off, tweeters at 0. Measures with and without the messy coffee table are pretty much the same

 

[tuga]

Quick measurements without any EQ. Please note that this is not the final location, I'll move in a month so it's temporary.

View attachment 63433

Could you make the vertical "Y" scale 50dB-wide?
Otherwise any speaker will look flat.

 

[QMuse]

Boundary off, tweeters at 0. Measures with and without the messy coffee table are pretty much the same
View attachment 63435

I'm sure those books on the table will seriously affect FR.

Btw, I think it would be better if you move speakers apart as they seem too close to each other considering distance to LP. I also suggest you use MMM RTA pink noise when measuring from LP.

 

[carlob]

Could you make the vertical "Y" scale 50dB-wide?
Otherwise any speaker will look flat.

Here you go. As I said I'm not going to spend a lot of time to optimize this room, I'll be moving soon. Will probably run Dirac later.