Revel M16 Speaker Review

[YSC]

GREEN = PRE
BLUE = POST

Measurements are with both rear ports stuff with acoustic foam and around 2 meters out from from wall...


View attachment 312801

correction to in room flat at MLP isn't a good idea, also not good for full range correction.... try to do only cut only EQ below 200hz and leave the others intact should be much better

 

[aido78]

cool, will try the suggestions out.

 

[dominikz]

cool, will try the suggestions out.

Let us know how it goes

Measurements are with both rear ports stuff with acoustic foam and around 2 meters out from from wall...

I'd also suggest to unplug the ports - especially if you don't have a sub. Room EQ and loudspeaker positioning should take care of the bass bloom, and the port should give you more headroom and LF extension.

EDIT: In case it helps, I did quite a lot of experimentation with my M16; here's links to a few posts that might be useful:

• Quasi-anechoic spinorama and various basic measurements
• Distortion, effects of plugging the port and EQ presets (based on quasi-anechoic data)
• Listening impressions and measurements of various EQ presets and port plug
• Some experimentation with room EQ in REW

 

[aido78]

brilliant thanks.

 

[KRACER]

I found the subwoofer used in m16 on a second-hand item website in China. They look the same and the price is very cheap, only RMB 125 yuan.

 

[Laserjock]

View attachment 318270I found the subwoofer used in m16 on a second-hand item website in China. They look the same and the price is very cheap, only RMB 125 yuan.

Just need one more, two cabinets, two tweeters and two crossovers and you’ll have a pair of speakers.

 

[marX]

Love my Revel M16s. Fantastic compared to the Kef Q350 and their Reference floorstanders. Very natural sounding with the Fosi V3 amp, in my subjective opinion.

 

[AVKS]

I've been using an Android phone as a streamer for years and just recently gained the ability to connect to my work computer instead (Spotify HQ--> E50). My lord, I swear that bumping the Android audio processing out of the chain has made a very notable difference in the audio quality, not so much night and day per se but much better in terms of dynamics and general clarity.

Now, I put that comment in here because I have M16s on my desk and feel they represented any change very well but ended up swapping them out for some B&W 607s that a friend insisted I try... my lord, that was an unpleasant time. Putting the Revels back on the desk just made it clear how pleasing and effortless these speakers are. I'm not a big EQ guy so only a couple of db down on that midbass hump and the magic is just there, no fuss and no muss. Very nice to just relax and enjoy the music without reaching for EQ every song.

 

[Yorkshire Mouth]

What’s the closest you’d position these for listening?

Could you get away with 1.5m (5’)?

 

[Pauper]

I've been using an Android phone as a streamer for years and just recently gained the ability to connect to my work computer instead (Spotify HQ--> E50). My lord, I swear that bumping the Android audio processing out of the chain has made a very notable difference in the audio quality, not so much night and day per se but much better in terms of dynamics and general clarity.

Now, I put that comment in here because I have M16s on my desk and feel they represented any change very well but ended up swapping them out for some B&W 607s that a friend insisted I try... my lord, that was an unpleasant time. Putting the Revels back on the desk just made it clear how pleasing and effortless these speakers are. I'm not a big EQ guy so only a couple of db down on that midbass hump and the magic is just there, no fuss and no muss. Very nice to just relax and enjoy the music without reaching for EQ every song.

Same here . I replaced Dali Spektor 2’s with M16’s and loving them. The Dali’s are very good by the way. Using them with a Cambridge CXA61

 

[AVKS]

What’s the closest you’d position these for listening?

Could you get away with 1.5m (5’)?

Mine are 2' or less from my ears and 2.5-3' between them. They sound great. 5' will be fine.

 

[dominikz]

What’s the closest you’d position these for listening?

Could you get away with 1.5m (5’)?

While I was doing measurements on my pair I noticed that after around 0,75m/2,5ft away there is no significant change to the direct sound response. So 5ft/1,5m should definitely be more than far enough.

 

[Yorkshire Mouth]

Thanks everyone.

I’ve emailed Revel for their own thoughts.

 

[nathan]

Am I reading the specs right on these versus the S16 speakers in the same lineup. These obviously go lower by an octave so in situations without a subwoofer these would be preference. But the S16 is several decibels more sensitive and has slightly higher power handling, so in theory could get notably louder without distress?

 

[Chromatischism]

I have 4 of them for surround duty and while they don't produce much bass they are very impressive for their size. Very neutral and have no trouble getting loud.

 

[rynberg]

Am I reading the specs right on these versus the S16 speakers in the same lineup. These obviously go lower by an octave so in situations without a subwoofer these would be preference. But the S16 is several decibels more sensitive and has slightly higher power handling, so in theory could get notably louder without distress?

I would not use the S16s as mains...they are tuned to roll off higher in the bass. The cabinet and design is a compromise to achieve a low-profile on wall configuration and I would never get them over the M16 for mains. I say this as someone who uses the S16 as surrounds in conjunction with F206 and C208 mains.

 

[nathan]

Good to know. I don't need bass. In fact I prefer sealed speakers that roll off a little below 80hz, to comply with the THX approach to bass management with the right kind of controlled roll off. And the fact they don't go so low means they can have higher output for their size, as well.

I would love to see someone do a compression comparison between the two. Seems a reasonable assumption the S16 will compress less than the M16, so if the M16 was enough in my space, replacement them with the S16 (space is at a premium) should work just fine?

 

[Alice of Old Vincennes]

Good to know. I don't need bass. In fact I prefer sealed speakers that roll off a little below 80hz, to comply with the THX approach to bass management with the right kind of controlled roll off. And the fact they don't go so low means they can have higher output for their size, as well.

I would love to see someone do a compression comparison between the two. Seems a reasonable assumption the S16 will compress less than the M16, so if the M16 was enough in my space, replacement them with the S16 (space is at a premium) should work just fine?

Use S16 only for surround. No comparison to M16.

 

[Laserjock]

Plus you could use the bungs and make the M16 sealed if preferred

 

[Alice of Old Vincennes]

Also, don't fixate on THX and sealed speakers. Ultra expensive speakers have ports. I prefer sealed subs only because don't like the additional output. I'm in the minority.