Revel F35 Speaker Review

[MarkBee123]

We sat down with some friends and did a sighted "shoot out" if you will, of 4 sets of speakers: B&W DM7 MK2, Monitor Audio Bronze B4, Monitor Audio Silver RS6, and the Revel F35s. We have a small house so the speakers were about 6 feet from us. We used Tidal to stream via a Chromecast audio to the optical input of a Rotel RC1572 MK2 preamp and Rotel RB1050 power amp. Ultimately we all agreed that the Revels were significantly nicer sounding than the other speakers. The bass was substantial and tight with no boominess. The upper mid range was more present and overall the imaging and definition were significantly better that the other speakers. Next, as one might expect were the RS6s and as I said before, the distinction was not overwhelming as they had excellent low bass and were overall well balanced without any harshness from the tweeters. Less upper midrange presence and a bit less low bass. In many ways, the choice is close to user preference. The B&Ws were third, they had excellent low bass and outstanding highs, perhaps the best of all the speakers for certain female vocal tracks and string orchestral music, but the upper midrange was seriously lacking in much of the music we played. However, the bass was impressive considering the single 6 inch driver and 6 inch passive radiator in large sealed cabinet and held it's own against all the other ported speakers. The last place went to the B4s which had a boominess in the bass and again a lack of upper midrange, not as dramatic as the B&Ws but definitely not there compared to the F35s and RS6s. The smaller drivers and previous gen technology showed compared to the RS6s, but the tweeters represented themselves well and perhaps with better placement and a different room the boominess might not be as significant factor. Overall, all the speakers did well and considering the various price points from $200 for the B&Ws and B4s, $350 for the SR6s per pair used I would think one could be very happy with them and save the significant $1760 list price, or the $800 price I paid for the F35s. If not for the major price break on the white F35s I likely would not have even considered them, and been quite happy with the SR6s.

 

[Howie Dern]

Amplifier issue with F35's
I recently bought the F35's new. Hooked them up to a 1980's Yamaha M-50 power amp that had been repaired about 3 years ago. The amp is rated down to 4 ohm loads (200W). This amp had been driving a pair of Philharmonic AAM's (Parts Express BR-1 kit version) for the last couple of years. After about 30 minutes with the F35's at very moderate volume, the amp exhibited a loud pop and smoke poured out. I figured the aged amp just had another problem - bad timing. Then I swapped in an old Onkyo TX-840 receiver that had previously also been successfully driving an identical pair of AAM's for quite some time. After a few days of occasional use, the left channel started to distort and about 15 minutes later everything went quiet but the Onkyo's lights were still on.

So I'm wondering what's going on. Why would two amps be killed by the F35's? Or what else might be going on? Thanks for any help on this. I really like the F35's and need to figure out if I repair the M-50 amp, which I also like, and try again or if I move on to a different amp - maybe one that's rated for 2 ohm loads?

 

[tw 2022]

Amplifier issue with F35's
I recently bought the F35's new. Hooked them up to a 1980's Yamaha M-50 power amp that had been repaired about 3 years ago. The amp is rated down to 4 ohm loads (200W). This amp had been driving a pair of Philharmonic AAM's (Parts Express BR-1 kit version) for the last couple of years. After about 30 minutes with the F35's at very moderate volume, the amp exhibited a loud pop and smoke poured out. I figured the aged amp just had another problem - bad timing. Then I swapped in an old Onkyo TX-840 receiver that had previously also been successfully driving an identical pair of AAM's for quite some time. After a few days of occasional use, the left channel started to distort and about 15 minutes later everything went quiet but the Onkyo's lights were still on.

So I'm wondering what's going on. Why would two amps be killed by the F35's? Or what else might be going on? Thanks for any help on this. I really like the F35's and need to figure out if I repair the M-50 amp, which I also like, and try again or if I move on to a different amp - maybe one that's rated for 2 ohm loads?

i've not heard that the f35's are that hard to drive... i'm really sorry about the amps (that sucks), i hope you get some decent answers here...

 

[kyuu]

The F35s should not be causing issues with any half-decent amplifier. The impedance curve is pretty standard stuff for modern tower speakers:

Combined with 90dB sensitivity, they are not difficult to drive. You don't need an amp rated for 2 ohm loads.

Either you've gotten unlucky with two bad amps, there's a problem with the F35s, or something else is going on with your setup. You didn't hear any clipping, heavy distortion, or other weirdness before the amps gave out did you?

Where did you buy the speakers from? If it was a dealer perhaps you can have them test them to make sure you didn't get a bad speaker.

 

[Howie Dern]

Thanks for the replies.

Yes, I saw Amir's measurements and figured the M-50 would be more than enough. Also I don't know how a speaker can take out an amp unless its shorted. This does not appear to be the case. Maybe there's another way?

When I first set up the F35's I simply disconnected the banana plugs from the AAM's and plugged then into the F35's. After the M-50 blew I checked all connections and the speaker wires before connecting the substitute amp. Before, the second amp gave out, I heard some fuzzy, crackly "distortion" in the left channel. I swapped the speaker connections and the distortion moved to the right channel so it wasn't the speaker itself. Shortly after that the second amp quit.

I bought the speakers from a dealer but they were shipped so will be a pain to involve them unless I want to return which I'm trying to avoid.

Maybe just bad luck but figured the ASR community would be helpful with ideas.

 

[Laserjock]

Maybe a simple ohmmeter might see if there’s much of a difference between the two

 

[Howie Dern]

Across the terminals, both speakers measure the same, 5.9 ohms. Note that it is not a very good meter - open is clear but a short stills measures 1 or 2 ohms.

 

[Power Pop 23]

Crutchfield is again offering the Revel Concerta2 'F35' floor-standing loudspeaker in High Gloss White for $400 each and orders are expected to ship after January 29, 2025. The High Gloss White variant of the Revel Concerta2 'F36' floor-standing loudspeaker is currently $600 each at Crutchfield.

 

[rageworm]

Crutchfield is again offering the Revel Concerta2 'F35' floor-standing loudspeaker in High Gloss White for $400 each and orders are expected to ship after January 29, 2025. The High Gloss White variant of the Revel Concerta2 'F36' floor-standing loudspeaker is currently $600 each at Crutchfield.

Ordered a pair of f36 earlier this week and it seems like I got two out of the last speakers in their warehouse, as I've checked a few hours later on the day when I placed an order and white f36 for $600/ea was no longer available. UPS delivered them this morning and so now I'm excited about my weekend

 

[MarkBee123]

Ordered a pair of f36 earlier this week and it seems like I got two out of the last speakers in their warehouse, as I've checked a few hours later on the day when I placed an order and white f36 for $600/ea was no longer available. UPS delivered them this morning and so now I'm excited about my weekend

I love my F35s, you are gonna be really happy!

 

[rageworm]

Well, speakers look and sound great. But not without a grain of salt... Every box was double taped like it's an open box product. I've contacted their support asking why is this, she said it was the last 2... Which doesn't explain why it's re-taped. I insisted on answer, she said someone from warehouse will reach out to me next week. What a luck. Anyone else got them new, but re-taped? Maybe that's what harman does for some weird reason, but... I doubt that.

 

[kyuu]

Only reason I can think of if they aren't open box is perhaps they open the box to check for shipping damage when they arrive at the warehouse? Interested to know what Crutchfield says. Ordered my AVR from them with zero issues, but never ordered speakers.

 

[Blumlein 88]

I had some direct shipped after a dealer purchase. They had not been opened. It being the last pair it could be any number of reasons. So how do you like them so far? White was a good choice for your decor.

 

[rageworm]

I had some direct shipped after a dealer purchase. They had not been opened. It being the last pair it could be any number of reasons. So how do you like them so far? White was a good choice for your decor.

I'm actually quite impressed with them! Build quality is superb, and they sound fantastic! They sound "fuller" than HDI-1600 they're replacing, this is a large space, so all of my tower speakers sound better here, I just enjoyed that amazing crispiness of HDI's tweeter more, and so HDIs+speedwoofer was a compromise I could get by with.
Now these, these sound, I don't even know, neutral? I don't want to put in all these crazy words here, but I love the sound. For a long time I believed I love nothing else but JBL sound only. I even planned to buy JBL Studio 698, but then saw these on sale in white for $600/ea instead of $1100, and since I've heard a lot of good things about revel f35/f36, I figured I'll give it a try, especially since I wouldn't buy them for $2200, if I wanted to spend that kinda money I'd go for hdi-3600/3800, I know I'm biased, but it is what it is. And so to my surprise, I discovered something else I really like!
Now, I have that bad taste in my mouth because they've sent me open box instead of new factory sealed speakers, however speakers themselves look and feel new, and I know it's sick, but it bothers me. I just really wanna see what CF reply is going to be.
Oh, I appreciate your comment about decor and speakers. I've posted it on Reddit in "hometheater" sub and boy was that huge mistake. I was annihilated for putting my TV high and above the fireplace. Took some effort to explain those smartasses they don't know a crap and there is nowhere else to put it in this living room area, picture cropped perfectly and so there's a large window on the right and stairs on the left, behind there's a dinning area/kitchen. There's literally nowhere else to put it. Decided to go extra mile and just say it here just in case, as I'm still pissed about amount of idiots on Reddit who think they know my house better... However, I don't expect to see any bullying nonsense here, Reddit is a craphole after all.
Thanks again!

 

[kyuu]

Well, above a fireplace is suboptimal due to how high it forced the TV to be. But most setups are forced to be suboptimal in some way due to layout and other factors. No sense in beating anyone up about it. If it works for you that's what ultimately matters.

They do make pull down TV mounts to help with that, if you're interested.

Also have to agree: the white works great in your space.

 

[Blumlein 88]

Well, I had a fireplace in the way. Fixed it. Hung a large projector screen which drops down and you don't see the fireplace. I consider it suboptimal fireplace positioning myself. There are always compromises.

 

[tw 2022]

Well, above a fireplace is suboptimal due to how high it forced the TV to be

not to mention that the fireplace becomes unusable...a "santa chute" only...

 

[rageworm]

not to mention that the fireplace becomes unusable...a "santa chute" only...

It is very usable. Knock it off

 

[tw 2022]

It is very usable. Knock it off

ok , good luck with that .... btw , giving "orders" doesn't register as very sociable .... so good luck with that as well...

 

[rageworm]

Well, I had a fireplace in the way. Fixed it. Hung a large projector screen which drops down and you don't see the fireplace. I consider it suboptimal fireplace positioning myself. There are always compromises.

No compromises here. TV is in its perfect spot in *this* space. It's either this or no tv downstairs at all, some would choose no tv at all, because of all the "believes" and other people's opinions, and I don't. I prefer to think with my own head and rely on solutions that work best for me. Some people would prefer to have no tv at all in this situation, I get that, even if that could work for them perfectly fine, considering their own height, height of their couch and a distance from it, a hight of the countertop and and bar stools that are behind the couch and so on. TV is perfectly viewable from living room space, dining area, countertop sitting spot, and the kitchen.
For serious watching, I do have a large room upstairs with projector setup and also 75 inch tv sitting low(!!!, everyone can exhale) on a tv stand, also for watching stuff and gaming. No compromises.
At this point I hope we could stop discussing my TV placement and maybe talk about... Speakers?
Thanks