Worthy Upgrade from Revel Studio 2s?

[gsibble]

I adore my Revel Studio 2s but am curious what a good upgrade path is. They are incredibly neutral and transparent. Not worried too much about price. But from everywhere I read they are already almost perfect speakers.

So if you had these and a nice budget (not over $50k), what would you upgrade to for a noticeable difference?

Thanks!

 

[jcarys]

You say you adore your speakers, yet also want to upgrade? You can get tons of recommendations here, but at this price level, the only way for you to be sure is to audition a lot of speakers and let your ears make the decision. From the last Axpona, my short list would be Perlisten and Dali Epikore as potential options.

 

[gsibble]

You say you adore your speakers, yet also want to upgrade? You can get tons of recommendations here, but at this price level, the only way for you to be sure is to audition a lot of speakers and let your ears make the decision. From the last Axpona, my short list would be Perlisten and Dali Epikore as potential options.

I guess I need to know what to audition!

 

[staticV3]

The Studio2 has some directivity issues that more modern designs do not:


If I was looking for floorstanders with such a budget, then it'd have to be the Ascilab BX10C with the matching top speaker, the Kii Three BXT, or the GGNTKT M3.

If it has to be passive, then probably a KEF Blade, Ascilab C8T, Perlisten S7t Special/Black edition, or something Magico.
Though whether those would be an upgrade is debatable.

 

[Svend P]

I don't know if there is much to upgrade to. Amirm who has the Salon 2 would buy a pair of Genelecs:

I have such a hi-fi speaker. But if I had to do it again, I would have been seriously tempted to get the Genelec 8361A.

Palmer ORBIT 11 Cardioid Coaxial 3-way studio monitor (MSRP 799€/899$)

There are literally tens of thousands of great-sounding reference tracks mixed on loudspeakers that would never score highly in objective measurements So? How do you know they wouldn't be even better with proper studio monitors? Or produced faster. . There you have your metrics, and those...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Luvchampagne]

Salon2. Have not auditioned them side by side with the Studio2 but there's a thread on here about whether Salon2 are still SOTA. Can find them used from $7k+. Tmr is selling a pair for that.
I do have to say that once you get accustomed to the Revel methodology, going to non neutral speakers is tough. Bought my GF some F36 and obviously not Salon2 but still an impressive speaker.
I auditioned the Ascilab c8c with bx8c that people have compared to D&D 8C and Kii Three. Excellent speaker but not in the same ballpark as Salon2.

 

[Paul7777x]

Either of Kefs Blade Metas should be on an audition list at your potential budget.

Especially if the big Genelecs aren’t to taste.

 

[middlemarch]

Salon2. Have not auditioned them side by side with the Studio2 but there's a thread on here about whether Salon2 are still SOTA. Can find them used from $7k+. Tmr is selling a pair for that.
I do have to say that once you get accustomed to the Revel methodology, going to non neutral speakers is tough. Bought my GF some F36 and obviously not Salon2 but still an impressive speaker.
I auditioned the Ascilab c8c with bx8c that people have compared to D&D 8C and Kii Three. Excellent speaker but not in the same ballpark as Salon2.

Would love input from anyone who has done a side by side. I have the Studio 2s but every once in a while look at the used Salon 2s and wonder...

 

[Purité Audio]

We took some Salon 2’s in part-ex, some years ago now, the customer eventually decided upon a pair of Grimm LS1s after hearing Kii and D&D, wouldn’t have been my choice however , C8C/BX8C not as good, ‘raises eyebrows’.
Keith

 

[Luvchampagne]

Interesting. I've heard from others that it gives Kii and d&d 8c a decent comparison. Care to share? Noone can duplicate that comparison.

 

[Purité Audio]

Yes I had them at home after the part-ex, set up next to the 8cs/Kiis, both cardioid of course, i just thought the 8cs in particular were clearer and had better bass, also of course much more adjustable .
I have only literally just received the C8Cs and they are imho perhaps the best I have heard ( with the usual caveat of selecting a design for suitability).
Keith

 

[Oddball]

I adore my Revel Studio 2s but am curious what a good upgrade path is. They are incredibly neutral and transparent. Not worried too much about price. But from everywhere I read they are already almost perfect speakers.

So if you had these and a nice budget (not over $50k), what would you upgrade to for a noticeable difference?

Thanks!

Why would you want to upgrade and what would you be looking for?

Also anything else to upgrade in the system? Might give you more bang for the buck?

 

[Luvchampagne]

Aha. I misunderstood you. I misread your post as saying the c8c was not comparable..thank you for your insight.

 

[Everett T]

I adore my Revel Studio 2s but am curious what a good upgrade path is. They are incredibly neutral and transparent. Not worried too much about price. But from everywhere I read they are already almost perfect speakers.

So if you had these and a nice budget (not over $50k), what would you upgrade to for a noticeable difference?

Thanks!

RBH active, Perlisten and a few others. Depends on if this is a stereo or multichannel setup. If you're satisfied with the Revels I'd probably stick with them. Also, one thing that can be improved upon is a higher level of dynamic playback, which might not be an issue for you in your room.

 

[Oddball]

RBH active, Perlisten and a few others. Depends on if this is a stereo or multichannel setup. If you're satisfied with the Revels I'd probably stick with them. Also, one thing that can be improved upon is a higher level of dynamic playback, which might not be an issue for you in your room.

While we don't know what OP is really after - I love the RBH active suggestion. Going from civilized Studios to RBH SVTRS-FRS would be an experience. Like going from Central Park to a real jungle. The verge would not be trimmed so nicely but it would roar in spades.

 

[Everett T]

While we don't know what OP is really after - I love the RBH active suggestion. Going from civilized Studios to RBH SVTRS-FRS would be an experience. Like going from Central Park to a real jungle. The verge would not be trimmed so nicely but it would roar in spades.

Agreed, no question about dynamics, lol.

 

[Imakeller]

Once you get to a certain level, “upgrade” really translates to “want to try something different” and the reason is “just because.” And that’s perfectly fine. The cost for incremental gains from the Revel Studio2 is pricey. The OP’s post and profile tells us nothing about their current system, listening application (movies, music, stereo, surround?), and room. I’d be looking at top notch subwoofers to augment the Studio2’s, and potentially a state of the art processor, but keep the Studio2’s. Or maybe get Salon2’s and move the Studio2’s to surrounds, if this isn’t a strictly stereo system.

 

[Luvchampagne]

Once you get to a certain level, “upgrade” really translates to “want to try something different” and the reason is “just because.” And that’s perfectly fine. The cost for incremental gains from the Revel Studio2 is pricey. The OP’s post and profile tells us nothing about their current system, listening application (movies, music, stereo, surround?), and room. I’d be looking at top notch subwoofers to augment the Studio2’s, and potentially a state of the art processor, but keep the Studio2’s. Or maybe get Salon2’s and move the Studio2’s to surrounds, if this isn’t a strictly stereo system.

Wow. What a system. Salon2 fronts and Studio2 surrounds. Amazing. I saw a pair of Studio 2s for 4k+ and was serious about getting them. Unfortunately would have to ship them half way across the US and then the only place to install them would be as HT fronts. Debated with myself and decided it was overkill.

 

[Imakeller]

Wow. What a system. Salon2 fronts and Studio2 surrounds. Amazing. I saw a pair of Studio 2s for 4k+ and was serious about getting them. Unfortunately would have to ship them half way across the US and then the only place to install them would be as HT fronts. Debated with myself and decided it was overkill.

Unless the OP is strictly 2-channel, that’s how my mind would be thinking. I have Salon2 L/R and would love to add another Salon2 as a center and Studio2’s as front wides. It won’t happen overnight, and it’s definitely overkill, but a guy has to have goals, right?! Maybe this will get the OP thinking about that option.

P.S. $4k+ for a nice set of Studio2’s on the secondary market is a steal IMHO!

 

[Luvchampagne]

But $4k+ plus shipping gets you to 5k. Then you're close to 7k for a set of salon2. What a strange way my mind works