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Revel M16 Speaker Review

How would the M16 serve in an HT, 24.25' x 19.1' x 10.5'. The plan would be M16 as LCR and S16 as Wides, Sides, and Backs (and then something comparable for tops).
Listening position is 11.33' from L/R. Main Amp is Buckeye 8 ch, NC502MP (325w). They would be 62" in from L and R walls and 32" from front wall. Using the SPL calcs at MLP is 106.68 Db. The S16s have a sensitivity of 90db and would driven by the Buckeye and a B&K 200 (200w) so SPL at LP is 106 as well.

Subs now include an RSL Speedwoofer 12s and a older Earthquake Supernova MKIV. Likely to get another 12s up front, and then 2 smaller 10s in the rear corners but that's another thread entirely.

Presently, my current LCR are BG Radias (both R17 and R520, depending on the day of the week) of which I'm irrationally fond. They fall off dramatically at around 100hz due to their own limitations (4" bass driver) and SBIR (I think; need some guidance here). I've overlaid the M16 response (black) over measures of the Radia (colored).

While M105s measure better than the M16s--they don't have the 100hz hump--I'm thinking said hump would be just fine, perhaps countering the room effect.

LCR Final.png


One concern I'm told is the room volume of 4887 cu.ft.; but the SPL calcs suggest to me that this will not be an issue. Currently, the room is very lively, with an RT60 over 1sec but weakest at 100hz. I'm working on a treatment plan, but do actually like the sound of the room now for music. But then again, I don't know what a really well balanced room sounds like--I'm merely adapted to the sound as is.

RT.png

Until now my plan has always been Kef's: Q6 for LCR and Q4 for surrounds (or some combination of 3160s and c200s--more expensive and complex install). The Revels are a less expensive but not enough to matter ultimately; and the final consideration was the aesthetics: I really like the design of the S16 which fits with my ultimate interior design concept. (Ok, to be honest I worked backwards. I saw the S16s first, and then from there traversed to M106 to M105 to M16. But here on ASR one must start with data...so there I fessed up. I'm a subjectivist! I said it! I'm free! Free at last!)
Thoughts?
Robert
 
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They are great speakers for the price. I don't think you'd want to try to get 105db at your listening seat with one of them. Even if it could handle that, there's likely compression and distortion at that point. Max power handling of 120 watts, and sensitivity of 86dB, point to that limitation. As do the test results.

The KEF Q6 meta can handle a bit more power with their dual drivers, so that might tip the balance in their favor. They can handle 200watts, with similar sensitivity, and even then KEF notes that they can only reach 109db at 1m. At your listening distance that probably means less than 105db at your seat, but even so, they can probably handle it a little better than the Revel. (No I don't see precise compression or distortion data to back that up, yet.)

So, neither is a bad choice and neither is obviously superior by a large margin. If the rest of the ecosystem pushes you to one or the other, that's a factor worth considering. Note that the S16 are being phased out, so don't spend months waiting (or be prepared to find them on the second hand market).
 
Thanks for the guidance. Would it a terrible idea to use the S16s with the Q6? I personally doubt I would be able to hear a tonal mismatch.
What would you suggest as tops? The key constraint is that I cant do in wall/ in ceiling install, everything is surface mount. Long story.
 
Personally I’d use the q4 on the walls and q8 on the ceiling.

In fact, if the Q meta series existed when I put my system together, I might not have used the Revel M16 and S16, if for no other reason than they have more form factors, have slightly better power handling/output, and I prefer a sealed box design in a bass managed system.....and, of course, the spins are good.


And since this line is new, it will be easier to buy, versus the S16 which I believe is being closed out.
 
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How would the M16 serve in an HT, 24.25' x 19.1' x 10.5'. The plan would be M16 as LCR and S16 as Wides, Sides, and Backs (and then something comparable for tops).
Listening position is 11.33' from L/R. Main Amp is Buckeye 8 ch, NC502MP (325w). They would be 62" in from L and R walls and 32" from front wall. Using the SPL calcs at MLP is 106.68 Db. The S16s have a sensitivity of 90db and would driven by the Buckeye and a B&K 200 (200w) so SPL at LP is 106 as well.

Subs now include an RSL Speedwoofer 12s and a older Earthquake Supernova MKIV. Likely to get another 12s up front, and then 2 smaller 10s in the rear corners but that's another thread entirely.

Presently, my current LCR are BG Radias (both R17 and R520, depending on the day of the week) of which I'm irrationally fond. They fall off dramatically at around 100hz due to their own limitations (4" bass driver) and SBIR (I think; need some guidance here). I've overlaid the M16 response (black) over measures of the Radia (colored).

While M105s measure better than the M16s--they don't have the 100hz hump--I'm thinking said hump would be just fine, perhaps countering the room effect.

View attachment 415591

One concern I'm told is the room volume of 4887 cu.ft.; but the SPL calcs suggest to me that this will not be an issue. Currently, the room is very lively, with an RT60 over 1sec but weakest at 100hz. I'm working on a treatment plan, but do actually like the sound of the room now for music. But then again, I don't know what a really well balanced room sounds like--I'm merely adapted to the sound as is.

View attachment 415587
Until now my plan has always been Kef's: Q6 for LCR and Q4 for surrounds (or some combination of 3160s and c200s--more expensive and complex install). The Revels are a less expensive but not enough to matter ultimately; and the final consideration was the aesthetics: I really like the design of the S16 which fits with my ultimate interior design concept. (Ok, to be honest I worked backwards. I saw the S16s first, and then from there traversed to M106 to M105 to M16. But here on ASR one must start with data...so there I fessed up. I'm a subjectivist! I said it! I'm free! Free at last!)
Thoughts?
Robert

What would be the objective of your change and what volumes are you actually looking to achieve at MLP?
 
I typically listen at 75 to 82, peak around 88.
As to the "change": if you mean changing from the existing speakers to something new? Well admittingly I figured that what I have is rather out of date and I'm suffering from upgraditis.
 
I typically listen at 75 to 82, peak around 88.
As to the "change": if you mean changing from the existing speakers to something new? Well admittingly I figured that what I have is rather out of date and I'm suffering from upgraditis.
If your average level with movie dialog is 80 db then movie peaks are 100db. Thats how movies are mixed.
 
I typically listen at 75 to 82, peak around 88.
As to the "change": if you mean changing from the existing speakers to something new? Well admittingly I figured that what I have is rather out of date and I'm suffering from upgraditis.

Apologies for my density here, but to be sure, are those volumes baseline and not including dynamic peaks?

Point being that if you're regularly listening at that volume as baseline, at your distance I would not count on a single bookshelf speaker to reliably and cleanly produce it without distortion and/or compression. Something larger and/or with more drivers may be a better solution, and I say this as a former M16 owner who used them in a home theater application.
 
F35 on sale at Crutchfield 400 each
Not bad at all, 50% off! If one can accept the white color, that's a very good deal.

Usually such a sale means Revel themselves are discounting it, so calling or emailing a Revel dealer directly might get you a better price than Crutchfields.

These would have higher output capability than the bookshelf sibling.
 
Apologies for my density here, but to be sure, are those volumes baseline and not including dynamic peaks?

Point being that if you're regularly listening at that volume as baseline, at your distance I would not count on a single bookshelf speaker to reliably and cleanly produce it without distortion and/or compression. Something larger and/or with more drivers may be a better solution, and I say this as a former M16 owner who used them in a home theater application.
Sorry, I'm the one being dense, or at least not transparent. I was just eyeballing the SPL from a meter while watching Force Awakens, and it was 75 to 82 in the loud parts, and 88 in the really big boom explosions.

That all said, I went entirely sideways and just bought 3 Kali IN-8 v2 from Guitar Center; while not actually on sale, I called and asked for discount and the agent took off $32 from each (net $367 from $399). From the reviews by Erin, and the comments in review thread they should do just fine for "mid field" listening, which is precisely where I sit (11.3ft), without the compression issues pointed out above. As a side benefit, I free up 3 channels from my main amp. And yes, my processor has XLR outputs (Monoprice HTP-1).
 
Bought 2 F36 from Crutchfield in gloss white for my GF. Paid $$1060 for the pair. Can't beat that deal. Surprisingly good. Better with Adcom GFA555 but nearly as good with much cheaper Crown XLS1502 with the added benefit of fans and DSP. Helped me dial it in much better. :):)
 
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