Would you swap Revel F206 for 126Be even up?

[Deleted member 43957]

I have two pairs of 206's, a pair each in my 2 channel and HT set up. I like them and have exhausted my end game trek with the purchase, and subsequent sale of the Salon2's (which I covered in depth in another thread). I have an opportunity to buy a used pair of 126Be locally at a price equivalent to the value of the 206's, resulting in an even swap in a 3 way deal essentially. Without going through a list of peripheral, non-audio, pros and cons (shipping, etc.) I'm thinking that this is a low-risk proposition, since I could decide to sell either, once I've heard them in my room. However, for the purpose of this post, forget that and give your opinion assuming that you have to sell the 206's first to buy the 126Be's, would you do it? Why or why not? All speakers are in 9/10 condition and equal in all other ways, boxes, etc.

My thoughts are that it's about the Be tweeter. The biggest downside is my reluctance to add sub(s) to the bookshelf speakers and try to manage them, without hypering myself into a frenzy. So, for this exercise, assume no sub with either pair. I've been listening to the 206's without subs for a couple years and accept the tradeoff but may feel different with the non-floor stander.

Assume a 48 hour window of opportunity. What do you do?

 

[Power Pop 23]

I am biased - I prefer the aesthetic of a Revel F206 to a Revel 126Be on a stand. I don't recall the thread, but it is my recollection Amir 'liked' a posting that considered the price premium for the beryllium tweeter to be excessive.

 

[RichB]

I have a pair or 126Bes in my office/game room wall mounted.
Generally, I don't like bookshelf speakers that require stands, they are top heavy.
I only wall mount bookshelves. Of course, you get no help from Revel, so home grown solutions are required.

The Bes tweeter is very nice and worth it.
I would investigate other options, like finding some other dealer options and moving to a 226Bes or 228Bes.
PM me if you would like, but significant savings may change the equation...

- Rich

 

[Deleted member 43957]

I don't like bookselves either. I've owned the M16's, same form factor as 126's, and prefer flood standing speakers. I'm focused on this as a local deal that fell into my lap for good price and a 10 minute drive. I've had Salon2's, so I'm not looking to jump back onto the gear carousel.

I am biased - I prefer the aesthetic of a Revel F206 to a Revel 126Be on a stand. I don't recall the thread, but it is my recollection Amir 'liked' a posting that considered the price premium for the beryllium tweeter to be excessive.

I agree about aesthetics. However, at the price that I'm getting these, there is no premium for the tweeter like comparing the MSRP's... or minimal depending how you value what you're losing between the two choices.

So, your answer is no, you wouldn't make the even swap, considering all factors including ease of transaction?

 

[Power Pop 23]

Yes, my answer is no - but again, I prefer aesthetic of a 2.0 configuration to a 2.1 configuration. My time with a Revel beryllium tweeter is all of about six hours.

 

[Deleted member 43957]

Yes, my answer is no - but again, I prefer aesthetic of a 2.0 configuration to a 2.1 configuration. My time with a Revel beryllium tweeter is all of about six hours.

Understood. Thanks for your insight.

 

[Power Pop 23]

FYI

I am expecting at least one new series of loudspeakers from Revel in 2025 but am uncertain of the timing. Madrona Digital confirmed to me in April 2024 that Revel had confirmed there would be a series of loudspeakers to succeed the discontinued Performa3 series, but not the timing. I don't know if it means anything but Crutchfield is showing a fraction of the number of free-standing Revel loudspeakers that they have recently. Perhaps new models are due soon - which may affect the market for earlier Revel loudspeakers.

 

[Deleted member 43957]

FYI

I am expecting at least one new series of loudspeakers from Revel in 2025 but am uncertain of the timing. Madrona Digital confirmed to me in April 2024 that Revel had confirmed there would be a series of loudspeakers to succeed the discontinued Performa3 series, but not the timing. I don't know if it means anything but Crutchfield is showing a fraction of the number of free-standing Revel loudspeakers that they have recently. Perhaps new models are due soon - which may affect the market for earlier Revel loudspeakers.

Thanks, but that really has no bearing on the question at hand... which is... 48 hours on the clock... 206 vs 126Be... no other concerns, options or considerations... that's the confines of my question that I seek perspective.

 

[Laserjock]

Same finish? What stands?

 

[Deleted member 43957]

Same finish? What stands?

Same finish, yes. Stands to be determined and not included in the transaction. My question is more about the value of the deal from owners or past owners of both. "Paying too much for the tweeter" isn't the case as described, same price to buy 126's as to sell the 206's. There is usually about $1k difference in the used market between these two examples. That's NOT the case here, it would be a wash. Under those conditions, what would you do?

 

[Blumlein 88]

If the room is very large I would stick with the larger speakers.

 

[rkeman]

Same finish, yes. Stands to be determined and not included in the transaction. My question is more about the value of the deal from owners or past owners of both. "Paying too much for the tweeter" isn't the case as described, same price to buy 126's as to sell the 206's. There is usually about $1k difference in the used market between these two examples. That's NOT the case here, it would be a wash. Under those conditions, what would you do?

Go for it! If nothing else, it will be a learning experience. The F206 is discontinued and is less likely to gain in value where as the 126Be are a current model and should hold value.

 

[RichB]

Go for it! If nothing else, it will be a learning experience. The F206 is discontinued and is less likely to gain in value where as the 126Be are a current model and should hold value.

I agree. Then, shop around for floor standing BEs. In my experience, Revels can be had for 40% off. Sometimes, (online) dealers have specials too.

Opportunities arise, money can be saved. Recently, there was an amazing special on BEs if you where willing to get gray. They look nice too.

- Rich

 

[Blumlein 88]

In regard to a learning experience or just a life experience it all depends. I purchased all my speakers 2nd hand, and quite often if I tripped into a better than average deal I'd buy them and live with them awhile. Learned a lot that way. Cost was nothing or close enough. I'm older now and I wouldn't necessarily pass up the experience, but I'm not as gung ho about it just for the experience. Plus shipping costs relatively speaking are much higher on large speakers than once was the case. So transaction cost if you don't sell locally are larger than in the past.

So the decision is up to you. Sounds like it would be a zero cost thing. You seem to have some enthusiasm for it. So there is no objective way to aid you in your decision as it is a subjective one.

 

[Deleted member 43957]

In regard to a learning experience or just a life experience it all depends. I purchased all my speakers 2nd hand, and quite often if I tripped into a better than average deal I'd buy them and live with them awhile. Learned a lot that way. Cost was nothing or close enough. I'm older now and I wouldn't necessarily pass up the experience, but I'm not as gung ho about it just for the experience. Plus shipping costs relatively speaking are much higher on large speakers than once was the case. So transaction cost if you don't sell locally are larger than in the past.

So the decision is up to you. Sounds like it would be a zero cost thing. You seem to have some enthusiasm for it. So there is no objective way to aid you in your decision as it is a subjective one.

I've been "on the wagon" since selling my Salon2's in Sept. 2023. This feels like a threatened "relapse" for the dopamine aspect of the deal. I think that I've peaked and talking myself off the ledge toward the status quo of my speakers. I told a friend recently that I've hacked my brain to get that "reward" from deals that "look good" but don't connect. It includes the chase... but not the other costs as you mentioned, $, shipping, etc. I'm serious about this actually... it was an interesting realization. This 126/206 deal fits the criteria exactly. I just needed to hear it reverb off of this post... lol.

My name is Tony... and I'm an audio transactionoholic (Group responds... "Hello Tony")

It's has been 516 days since my last audio transaction...

From and including: Friday, September 29, 2023
To and including: Tuesday, February 25, 2025

Result: 516 days​

I'm going to pass on the 126's... (One day at a time)