Revel F228Be, is it that far behind?

[balletboy]

Sounds to me like a set of Dynaudio Contour 60 or Sonus Faber Olympica Nova III would be more up your alley.

I've had Harbeth for years and can listen happily for many hours. A new music room demands a rethink and am listening to a pair of Focal Diablo III Evo, incredible detail retrieval and soundstage, but it's possibly a bit too much. Even the best live music is tiring after about 3 hours. I'm thinking the Sonus Faber Olympica Nova III may be a happy medium and am going to enquire about them tomorrow. Plus the wife likes the look of them. I enjoyed a pair of Dynaudio Contour 1.1 for over 10 years.

 

[Fjc20]

I agree with @Sal1950. That and possibly a component in your audio chain (dac/amp?).
Best boxes I’ve had.

That’s why I’m hoping when I get the arcam streamer it has ESS 9038. Hoping that helps but my hopes aren’t that high. Right now I’m running usb out of my computer right into the usb on the back of the musical Fidelity m6si.

 

[Fjc20]

I'm starting to think it may be the source material that both of you are listening too. As others here have hinted at, neither the Revels nor the JBL HDI's are going to gloss over harsh sounding recordings.. I have HDI 3600's and with music that leans to the bright side these speakers may reveal the flaws in recordings you didn't notice before. On the other hand, with great recordings you'll get a smoothness and inner detail you haven't noticed before also.
No the speakers aren't going to break-in, but you may break into listening to highly detailed reproduction.
The two sided sword of High Fidelity, Garbage In - Garbage Out.
Spend six months with them and see how you feel then.

I play qobuz and tidal.

 

[Fjc20]

Try less toe in.

I might try that today. I had them pointed toward the MP

 

[Sal1950]

Classical sounds the best out of them so far. Jazz and blues not so much.

As I quoted in my first post , I was more thinking about the music recording quality and genre than anything else.
Highly Revealing systems can reveal the flaws in the master tape in a manner you may not find pleasing.

 

[Fjc20]

As I quoted in my first post , I was more thinking about the music recording quality and genre than anything else.
Highly Revealing systems can reveal the flaws in the master tape in a manner you may not find pleasing.

Understand. But I been trying everything streaming qobuz and tidal audiophile recordings, sacds. From everything I played maybe 2 or 3 tracks sounded ok at best. So then I’m suppose to listen to only handful of tracks to enjoy my speakers. I sit listening and I’m like this doesn’t not sound like anything special. Like I said hoping new streamer will help some how when it comes in. I’m also thinking of just buying a schiit tube preamp to see if it helps. I’ll give them until January tho.

 

[andreasmaaan]

If I were in the market for passive floorstanders and aesthetics were not a criterion, I’d look at the F208 rather than the F228Be.

Objectively, performance is almost identical, other than some very slight differences in distortion, on-axis FR and directivity (which, taken as a whole, favour neither one nor the other). And the cost of the F208 is significantly lower.

 

[Fjc20]

If I were in the market for passive floorstanders and aesthetics were not a criterion, I’d look at the F208 rather than the F228Be.

Objectively, performance is almost identical, other than some very slight differences in distortion, on-axis FR and directivity (which, taken as a whole, favour neither one nor the other). And the cost of the F208 is significantly lower.

Thats what I was originally going to order then all the reviews how much better and dynamics the f228be was and then at the price I got the f228 I was like sure! I don’t know if they sound the same. But if they are closer to the warmer side or not as harsh I would have loved them. I have there outdoor speakers and love them. I was hoping they would sound like that just better.

 

[andreasmaaan]

Thats what I was originally going to order then all the reviews how much better and dynamics the f228be was and then at the price I got the f228 I was like sure! I don’t know if they sound the same. But if they are closer to the warmer side or not as harsh I would have loved them. I have there outdoor speakers and love them. I was hoping they would sound like that just better.

I'm sorry to hear that @Fjc20. FWIW, the chances of the F208 sounding significantly different are extremely low, so if you're not happy with the F228Be, it's extremely likely you'd feel the same about the F208.

I wouldn't expect changes to electronics, DACs, streamers etc. to make any significant difference either, so if you're not happy with your speakers, I'd now look at either replacing them, or looking at the room/setup.

What's your room like and how have you got them set up atm? Perhaps we can offer some suggestions for improvements if there's any scope to make changes from your end (before you decide to ditch the speakers completely).

 

[Fjc20]

I'm sorry to hear that @Fjc20. FWIW, the chances of the F208 sounding significantly different are extremely low, so if you're not happy with the F228Be, it's extremely likely you'd feel the same about the F208.

I wouldn't expect changes to electronics, DACs, streamers etc. to make any significant difference either, so if you're not happy with your speakers, I'd now look at either replacing them, or looking at the room/setup.

What's your room like and how have you got them set up atm? Perhaps we can offer some suggestions for improvements if there's any scope to make changes from your end (before you decide to ditch the speakers completely).

Room was still a little under construction. I have now added a rug. And I ordered acoustic absorbing panels for behind the speakers. 2in. Thick. Using new speaker cable 12 gauge from Mogami not the mono price 16gauge in the pic. Room on either side of speakers are open.

 

[andreasmaaan]

Room was still a little under construction. I have now added a rug. And I ordered acoustic absorbing panels for behind the speakers. 2in. Thick. Using new speaker cable 12 gauge from Mogami not the mono price 16gauge in the pic. Room on either side of speakers are open.

Has the rug helped?

Anyway, it looks to me like a very large, open room. IME, when neutral speakers (as those are) do not sound good in a room like this, it is often an issue with the bass response.

Do you have any way of (a) measuring your in-room bass response at the listening position or (b) EQing the speakers to correct for the bass response in-room?

A second thought would be that you effectively have no sidewalls there (or at least, they are way out of the picture). And there are a lot of reflective surfaces in the room, and a large distance between you and the speakers.

In such circumstances, I would tend to recommend speakers with more narrow directivity. So, if you do decide to return/sell the Revels and replace them with something else, I would look at speakers with a horn/waveguide (e.g. KEF Reference series, JBL 70xP series, etc.) or with some other means of directivity control (e.g. Kii Three, D&D 8C).

But I'd look into the possible bass response issues first if I were you

 

[Fjc20]

Has the rug helped?

Anyway, it looks to me like a very large, open room. IME, when neutral speakers (as those are) do not sound good in a room like this, it is often an issue with the bass response.

Do you have any way of (a) measuring your in-room bass response at the listening position or (b) EQing the speakers to correct for the bass response in-room?

A second thought would be that you effectively have no sidewalls there (or at least, they are way out of the picture). And there are a lot of reflective surfaces in the room, and a large distance between you and the speakers.

In such circumstances, I would tend to recommend speakers with more narrow directivity. So, if you do decide to return/sell the Revels and replace them with something else, I would look at speakers with a horn/waveguide (e.g. KEF Reference series, JBL 70xP series, etc.) or with some other means of directivity control (e.g. Kii Three, D&D 8C).

But I'd look into the possible bass response issues first if I were you

My MP is 8ft away from speakers. Picture just makes it look longer then it is. Rug helped very slightly. Hoping my panels help some. Weird cause before these I had jbl HDI 1600. And the bass was awesome with those. These sound like they lack and they definitely don’t sound like they dig in the 20s or 30s. I’m starting to truly believe I might just have to keep playing them and let my self get use to the new sound. Cause for the most part every time I bring in a new speaker. I hate it. Then I start to warm up to it. Maybe some just take a little longer then others. Listening to Diana Krall Christmas songs. From Qobuz and I’m enjoying it right now. I believe I have a mic to use with REW. but I might buy something from miniDSP to use Dirac to help out with the sound since I can’t go crazy with treating the room due to WAF.

 

[Robh3606]

That looks like a very lively room and you look far away from them. How is the lowend??

Rob

 

[Fjc20]

That looks like a very lively room and you look far away from them. How is the lowend??

Rob

I have added a rug. I also bought absorbing panels for behind speakers. I’m only 8ft away. Picture was taken with wide lens. Just looks like it. Lower end isn’t great. But I can always add a subwoofer. I might add eventually

 

[andreasmaaan]

My MP is 8ft away from speakers. Picture just makes it look longer then it is. Rug helped very slightly. Hoping my panels help some. Weird cause before these I had jbl HDI 1600. And the bass was awesome with those. These sound like they lack and they definitely don’t sound like they dig in the 20s or 30s. I’m starting to truly believe I might just have to keep playing them and let my self get use to the new sound. Cause for the most part every time I bring in a new speaker. I hate it. Then I start to warm up to it. Maybe some just take a little longer then others. Listening to Diana Krall Christmas songs. From Qobuz and I’m enjoying it right now. I believe I have a mic to use with REW. but I might buy something from miniDSP to use Dirac to help out with the sound since I can’t go crazy with treating the room due to WAF.

The HDI1600 have narrower directivity which is controlled down to a lower frequency, which means a higher ratio of direct sounds to reflections, plus a slight bump in the mid-upper bass which would add some warmth/thickness (not to mention more bass distortion). I’d expect the 228s to sound a bit more controlled/restrained/tight in the bass. If room modal issues or cancellation from a first reflection are causing a dip in the mid-bass, this would be more apparent with the Revels.

Best ofc to measure and find out. Would highly recommend doing that before making any further decisions

In the meantime, fiddling with the distance between the speakers the wall behind them is also probably a good idea.

 

[Fjc20]

Makes sense. The bass is definitely tighter on the revels. If I ever get the chance and the wife and kids are out I will try to measure. I can only have so much room to come out into the room due to being in the way. I could maybe try and put them closer to the wall and see if I get a bump in the bass. Also have the port plugs to tame it slighting. Do you think adding those gagi feet things. Will help out? I have the floor spike things in there now. Well not the spike part but the other side is a rounded dull side. I did realize after installing those it help clean up the sound a bit.

 

[andreasmaaan]

Makes sense. The bass is definitely tighter on the revels. If I ever get the chance and the wife and kids are out I will try to measure. I can only have so much room to come out into the room due to being in the way. I could maybe try and put them closer to the wall and see if I get a bump in the bass. Also have the port plugs to tame it slighting. Do you think adding those gagi feet things. Will help out? I have the floor spike things in there now. Well not the spike part but the other side is a rounded dull side. I did realize after installing those it help clean up the sound a bit.

Adding feet will make no appreciable difference. Plugging the port will, but likely in the opposite direction! And I’d try moving them closer to the wall rather than further away to begin with. Good luck

 

[Martini]

I'm curious on whether you might be getting some high freq. reflection directed to your listening position from the TV screen. The tweeters on the 228 are mounted rather high; are you able to tilt the screen up for a session to test?

 

[Sal1950]

Listening to Diana Krall Christmas songs. From Qobuz and I’m enjoying it right now. I believe I have a mic to use with REW. but I might buy something from miniDSP to use Dirac to help out with the sound since I can’t go crazy with treating the room due to WAF.

I haven't been ignoring you but @andreasmaaan has been giving you solid advice. The idea of introducing some DRC is a good one. Either a miniDSP-Dirac box or a new preamp that includes DRC. A UMIK-1 is $75 and REW is free, start there , learn to do the measurements and see what you rig looks like. After that you can start making changes with whatever and bring the response around to something you love. Everything is always reversible just by pulling the plug.

 

[Robh3606]

I have added a rug. I also bought absorbing panels for behind speakers. I’m only 8ft away. Picture was taken with wide lens. Just looks like it. Lower end isn’t great. But I can always add a subwoofer. I might add eventually

That is a big room when you take into account the open architecture of the space. They are really in the middle of all that space combined with no sidewalls. Placement could be contributing to issues you are having. Best of luck sorting things out. I have a pair of F206's I use with a sub.

Rob