What is next step after Revel F206?

[starfly]

I’ve owned the Revel F206 towers for almost 6 years now. Very happy with the sound quality, they sound great. Last year I paired them with 2 10” subs to round out the lows, and added a C206 center speaker.

I might never upgrade as they’re already so good, but if I did, I’m wondering what the next step up would be where there’s a noticeable improvement in sound quality. Open to any brands, doesn’t just have to be limited to Revel.

Thoughts? Oh and I should add, I’m not looking at $10k+ speakers. Ones that cost more than the F206 did sure, but not into ridiculous pricing territory either

 

[staticV3]

IMO, there are no clear upgrades over the F206 at reasonable prices, especially since you're using subwoofers.

The one thing you could try are Coax towers from KEF or MoFi. Different, objectively superior, but not necessarily audibly preferable.

 

[kyuu]

The one thing you could try are Coax towers from KEF or MoFi. Different, objectively superior, but not necessarily audibly preferable.

I would say objectively different rather than superior. But yeah, asides from moving up to one of the Revel Be models it's hard to imagine a straight upgrade. Maybe the Revel W228Be to eliminate SBIR.

 

[RVG]

I’d take a look at the very impressive, excellent value Philharmonic Audio products, https://philharmonicaudio.com

Their larger offerings include a very impressive and popular far-field monitor running about $2k/ pair and two models of towers b/w $4200 and $4500/ pair. Tariffs may affect future pricing, you can inquire at AVS (see link at bottom) or e-mail Philharmonic Audio: [email protected]. New stock is always in the pipeline, wait time is none to a few months. No dealers, these are sold direct to customer. They are an excellent company with top notch support.

Large monitors, maybe with your subs: F3 in-room for me is ~32Hz. I feel no need for subs, music only though.

The BMR Monitor (Price EACH)

philharmonicaudio.com

“BMR Towers” that will not require subs, low end extension in-room to 25 Hz. I have an F3 of 20Hz in-room. These would be my recommendation for the OP:

The BMR Tower (Price EACH)

philharmonicaudio.com

Home Theatre Towers, would pair with subs:

The HT Tower (Price EACH)

philharmonicaudio.com

Reviews:

Reviews

philharmonicaudio.com

and in-house measurements:

Measurements

philharmonicaudio.com

I own the BMR Monitors, the BMR Towers and their Ceramic Mini speakers. I learned about them here at ASR. Philharmonic Audio is very much an ASR type of company.

You can find a lot of info and direct questions to the designer (Dennis Murphy) and production manager (Ken Linn, aka “Internova”) on their AVS thread, they and their fans will reply quickly with honest, evidence based information:

https://www.avsforum.com/threads/philharmonic-audio-dennis-murphy.1348949/page-1709#replies

OP - It is my experience that these are very much in-line with what you own and all three are a significant enough improvement upon the F206 that I think it’s very worth your efforts to have a look. Best wishes on your journey for even better sound. The F206 are a very good tower.

 

[Matt34]

No affiliation.

Revel Performa F226Be Floorstanding Speakers; Black Pair

Buy, sell, and trade thousands of pre-owned audio gear. All tested, certified, and backed by our 100% Happiness Guarantee, with expert HiFi guides to help you at every step.

tmraudio.com

 

[Kal Rubinson]

I’ve owned the Revel F206 towers for almost 6 years now. Very happy with the sound quality, they sound great. Last year I paired them with 2 10” subs to round out the lows, and added a C206 center speaker.

I might never upgrade as they’re already so good, but if I did, I’m wondering what the next step up would be where there’s a noticeable improvement in sound quality. Open to any brands, doesn’t just have to be limited to Revel.

Thoughts? Oh and I should add, I’m not looking at $10k+ speakers. Ones that cost more than the F206 did sure, but not into ridiculous pricing territory either

This is a common request and, in such cases as this where the present speaker is subjectively (to you and me) and objectively excellent, I always ask why you are asking? Sound quality, per se, is too vague. What, if any, aspects of the performance do you find in need of improvement (even if based on hearing other speakers)? If you can't say, sit tight until you can.

 

[middlemarch]

Very much concur with Kal. When my mind wanders in those (upgrade?) corridors, it's not to get better sound, since it seems to me that at some point most very objectively good loudspeakers will sound very much alike. It's mostly to satisfy curiosity. Such as, what would a big JBL horn system (M2 or 4367) sound like in my room, or now that I can experience broad directivity, what would a narrow directivity speaker sound like? But the answers in those cases might be negative, so not worth a blind purchase. So I suspect the itch probably isn't worth the scratch.

But if anyone volunteered the loan of something in these categories for a few weeks...

 

[starfly]

This is a common request and, in such cases as this where the present speaker is subjectively (to you and me) and objectively excellent, I always ask why you are asking? Sound quality, per se, is too vague. What, if any, aspects of the performance do you find in need of improvement (even if based on hearing other speakers)? If you can't say, sit tight until you can.

Well I was just really wondering if there is anything better for not too much more extra money. It’s starting to sound like there isn’t anything much better with these price constraints in mind. Or maybe slightly better or slightly different, but that wouldn’t be worth the cost and hassle.

I was mostly just wondering about it. Maybe it’s also that I’m so used to the sound my mind starts to think if it could be better. I sometimes need to remind myself that I have a very good system already.

 

[wwenze]

Is coaxial even objectively superior now that we have preference curves which include the room reflection outcomes of speaker directivity?

We need a large listener group study between three speakers with similar FR ( <-- how to define?) but:

1) One being tweeter with no waveguide
2) One is tweeter with waveguide
3) One coaxial
3.1) Coaxial with directivity control or coaxial without?
4) One omnidirectional
5) One "wall of sound"

Anyway, no more narrow directivity for me, which rules out a number of coaxial. We should add directivity width to the list of things that need to be checked too.

 

[Norcal]

Have you measured/optimized the speaker/room interaction? If you haven’t, maybe that is an avenue you can explore to get more out of what you have.

 

[tw 2022]

I’ve owned the Revel F206 towers for almost 6 years now. Very happy with the sound quality, they sound great. Last year I paired them with 2 10” subs to round out the lows, and added a C206 center speaker.

I might never upgrade as they’re already so good, but if I did, I’m wondering what the next step up would be where there’s a noticeable improvement in sound quality. Open to any brands, doesn’t just have to be limited to Revel.

Thoughts? Oh and I should add, I’m not looking at $10k+ speakers. Ones that cost more than the F206 did sure, but not into ridiculous pricing territory either

Honestly, if you really like what you have: why chase unicorns?... If you do decide to try something new : I 2nd the Philharmonic audio idea.... Bmr towers....

 

[Laserjock]

Ascend Acoustics too… not sure about the March Audio towers but the stand mount seem good.

 

[bluefuzz]

I’m so used to the sound my mind starts to think if it could be better.

The grass is always greener ;-)

I would suggest, rather than seeking to 'upgrade' your speakers, which by all indications will only be at best 'different', you should perhaps explore new genres of music you haven't yet investigated. If you're bored with the sound of your system then maybe it's the music you listen to? Challenge your taste! Listen to something you 'know' you don't like and maybe you'll find some new aural delights. There's always something new to be discovered.

Or maybe just go and read a book ...

 

[Marc v E]

I’ve owned the Revel F206 towers for almost 6 years now. Very happy with the sound quality, they sound great. Last year I paired them with 2 10” subs to round out the lows, and added a C206 center speaker.

I might never upgrade as they’re already so good, but if I did, I’m wondering what the next step up would be where there’s a noticeable improvement in sound quality. Open to any brands, doesn’t just have to be limited to Revel.

Thoughts? Oh and I should add, I’m not looking at $10k+ speakers. Ones that cost more than the F206 did sure, but not into ridiculous pricing territory either

Like others I would keep what you have.

Personally, I find that dynamic eq, as in "changing the volume of high, low and mid frequencies independently and automatically based on volume" one of the nicest things to have. I like listening at low volumes. Some avrs have it. The rme adi dac has it too.

Another thing to consider is clearing up the imaging by moving the speakers more into the room, or adding some acoustic panels.

 

[LTig]

.... Maybe it’s also that I’m so used to the sound my mind starts to think if it could be better. I sometimes need to remind myself that I have a very good system already.

Just visit a highend audio show, that should cure the itch.

 

[Jim Creek]

After six years there will always be something better, new technology, exotic wood-pulp woofers from Denmark, powered eq’ed speakers, concentric drivers, you-name-it. The upgrade bug never quits until you decide enough is enough.

 

[starfly]

Like others I would keep what you have.

Personally, I find that dynamic eq, as in "changing the volume of high, low and mid frequencies independently and automatically based on volume" one of the nicest things to have. I like listening at low volumes. Some avrs have it. The rme adi dac has it too.

Another thing to consider is clearing up the imaging by moving the speakers more into the room, or adding some acoustic panels.

I’ve already done quite a bit of experimenting with Room EQ (Audyssey on my Denon. Also tried Dirac but Audyssey gave me the same measured results so Dirac wasn’t worth the cost. Using the pro version of Audyssey that does calibration from your laptop).

Basically right now in the listening room, given the placement limitations of the speakers and subs, it’s about as good as it gets currently. Speakers spaced about 10ft apart and 10ft from listening position, about 1-2ft from the walls. F206 crossed over at 120hz to subs (yes it’s high, but that provided the best measured response so I just went with that). I moved around both subs a lot and found a spot that was a reasonable compromise between aesthetics and sound quality.

Anyway, based on all the feedback here I’m gonna not bother upgrading these speaker as it sounds like any actual upgrade would mean throwing A LOT more money at it. Like a hell of a lot more, which isn’t worth it to me.

So I’ll just find something else to scratch that itch with (it all really started as I upgraded the studio monitors in my office and then suddenly I was like, what else can I upgrade? But the office will be a more dramatic improvement as I’m going from monitors with 5” woofers to 8” woofers, so much more low end)

 

[Oddball]

120hz? That is a point to think of your entire setup and what went so wrong that you had to go this high with the crossover. With big towers or decent bookshelves people often do 80hz and for a good reason as they would not be able to localise the subs.

 

[kemmler3D]

I’ve already done quite a bit of experimenting with Room EQ (Audyssey on my Denon. Also tried Dirac but Audyssey gave me the same measured results so Dirac wasn’t worth the cost. Using the pro version of Audyssey that does calibration from your laptop).

Basically right now in the listening room, given the placement limitations of the speakers and subs, it’s about as good as it gets currently. Speakers spaced about 10ft apart and 10ft from listening position, about 1-2ft from the walls. F206 crossed over at 120hz to subs (yes it’s high, but that provided the best measured response so I just went with that). I moved around both subs a lot and found a spot that was a reasonable compromise between aesthetics and sound quality.

Anyway, based on all the feedback here I’m gonna not bother upgrading these speaker as it sounds like any actual upgrade would mean throwing A LOT more money at it. Like a hell of a lot more, which isn’t worth it to me.

So I’ll just find something else to scratch that itch with (it all really started as I upgraded the studio monitors in my office and then suddenly I was like, what else can I upgrade? But the office will be a more dramatic improvement as I’m going from monitors with 5” woofers to 8” woofers, so much more low end)

If it's an option, room treatments would be a way to achieve real upgrades in sound without spending crazy money. EQ and proper speaker placement help, but if you have a free hand to put acoustic treatment in the room, you can take it to another level.

 

[starfly]

120hz? That is a point to think of your entire setup and what went so wrong that you had to go this high with the crossover. With big towers or decent bookshelves people often do 80hz and for a good reason as they would not be able to localise the subs.

That was what measured to be the most linear response from 200hz all the way down to 20hz. At other crossover points there were peaks and valleys that were harder to correct.

Setup is in the living room so there’s only so much I could experiment with placement before I’d have to start putting stuff in spots where it’s just in the way.