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| Model: | Performa3 F206 |
| Category: | Speakers |
| Suggested Retail Price: | $3500 |
| Description: | FloorStanding 3-way |
| Manufacturer URL: | Revel |
| Model Picture: | View |
| Review by photomensch on October 14, 2016 at 07:20:20 IP Address: 68.199.5.168 | Add Your Review for the Performa3 F206 |
Summary
If you're reading this review you probably know there are many audiophile-class speakers priced between $2500 and $4000. The Revel Performa3 F206 3-way floor standing model is one that delivers a lot for the money. It has a neutral tonal balance with no exaggerated lower mid-range or annoying peaks in the highs. In addition, it offers plenty of satisfying bass. The F206's great value is supported by a realistic presentation that should delight lots of listeners regardless of music preference.
The Challenge
With about a dozen choices available in my price range, from at least six reputable companies, it was challenging to decide what speaker would best suit my requirements and taste. So, I started by reading the usual publications and built a short list of three floor standing designs that closely met my priorities for performance, price, build quality, footprint, height, appearance, ingenuity and dealer support.
After a thorough evaluation, which included listening, I decided to buy the Revel Performa3 F206.
Performance Highlights
My preference for gauging improvements to my audio system is to listen to familiar well recorded piano music, vocalists and large orchestras. In that regard, the F206 convincingly delivers the sparkling sounds of a piano, whether jazz or classical; the gentle vibrato of Annie Lennox, as on her "Nostalgia" LP; the wonderfully resonant harmony of James Taylor and JD Souther on Mobile Fidelity's CD "Dad Loves His Work"; and the shimmering strings on Channel Classic's SACD "Tchaikovsky's 6th Symphony" with the Budapest Festival Orchestra.
The F206 handles soft and loud musical passages with ease, delivering a sense of realism supported by musical details that convey nuances, inventiveness and excitement that musicians frequently generate, whether from a vocalist, guitarist, keyboardist, drummer, etc. or even the venue.
Setup
The position of my F206 speakers approximate a "Cardas Near Field Setup," with the distance between centers about 6.5 feet, the maximum for my listening area due to furnishing constraints. My "sweet spot" is about six feet from the center point between speakers. After experimenting, toe-in is less than two degrees even though my previous setup was about 10 degrees. This is a great benefit because less toe-in yields a wider soundstage. I attribute this to the ingenuity of the F206's tweeter/acoustic lens wave guide. Its dispersion characteristics produce a well-focused sonic image in my room with minimal toe-in.
The decision to remove grills for general listening will be a personal one. With grills on the sound is more relaxed and although a sense of space is somewhat diminished, the soundstage is solid. While on the subject of grills, they attach using hidden magnets so no hardware is visible when the grills are on or off; this provides for enhanced aesthetics.
Break-in Period
I estimate it took over 120 hours to satisfactorily break-in my F206s, which requires a lot of patience - unless you're able to run 24/7. During this time there were periods when the highs did not consistently improve, and at times even regressed. But keep the faith because the results are well worth the wait, especially when the sound literally wraps around the speakers.
To Bi-wire or Not to Bi-wire?
The F206 only has one pair of speaker terminals, which I view as a benefit because it's simple and eliminates additional connection points, as well as jumpers that could introduce unwanted interactions with speaker cables. I would feel differently if I had plans to bi-amp my speakers.
Excellent WAF
My wife is quite content with the glossy dark walnut finish she picked because it fits our current décor better than Revel's glossy piano black option. Footprint is nominally 10" (W) x 14" (D), and height is 42", all of which are on a par with my previous speakers. Additionally, my choice of the F206s was unconditionally vindicated when my wife, who almost never comments about what I'm listening to, called to me from the kitchen to say it sounded like Karrin Allyson (on "Many a New day") was in our living room.
System Warts.
The F206's has an unforgiving analytical personality. As a result, its high resolving ability could expose warts in the program material or downstream components, which might not be to everyone's liking. In my case, I had to upgrade the two 5687 tubes in my preamp, which made a significant difference.
Bottom Line
The F206 speakers are providing the value and enjoyment I expected, with the promise of heightening my music appreciation as I discover "new" music that's been hidden in my collection. Given the numerous speakers in my price range, I'm very delighted with the choice I made.
| Product Weakness: | Unforgiving analytical personality, which might not be to everyone's liking. |
| Product Strengths: | Neutral and satisfying tonal balance with plenty of bass. |
| Amplifier: | Odyssey Audio Kismet 200w/200w monoblocks |
| Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): | Modwright SWL 9.0 SE |
| Sources (CDP/Turntable): | Marantz SA 8004/Rega P5 with speed control |
| Speakers: | Revel F206 |
| Cables/Interconnects: | Cardas Clear Light Speaker Cables/Cardas Parsec ICs |
| Music Used (Genre/Selections): | Jazz, Classical, Vocal, Small and Large Ensembles |
| Room Size (LxWxH): | 20 x 14 x 12 |
| Room Comments/Treatments: | Neutral |
| Time Period/Length of Audition: | Two Months |
| Type of Audition/Review: | Product Owner |
Just saw your review on the Revel F206es from 2014. I am strongly considering purchasing the 206s--which I have listened to at a dealer twice--and the matching C205 center and really appreciate your excellent review. Assuming you still have the F206s or held onto them for a relatively long time, did they hold up well? Any issues you discovered since your 2014 review--good or bad--that you can share to help me with my final decision?
BTW, other speakers I have considered: Revel F36 (heard at dealer), Monitor Audio Silver 300 (heard at dealer) and 500, Paradigm Premier 800F (heard at dealer), PSB Imagine T and T2, ML Motion 60XT. Currently running Klipsch RP-280Fs, which I have enjoyed immensely. But with my aging ears, they can be a bit fatiguing at times.
great read I enjoyed it.
I liked your Performance Highlights. I use The Beatles. Simply because I've heard them on everything from the early Japanese transistor radios to $200k stereos and everything in between. Just know every nuance, chair squeak, engineers voices and odd tonal sounds. Just my comparison.
Enjoy
Hi Airtime,
I appreciate your feedback. These speakers have renewed my interest in vinyl. But I still think the quality of pressings too low and prices too high.
Cheers.
So far, I've never seen one.
My evaluation was based on performance, price, build quality, footprint, height, appearance, ingenuity and dealer support.I felt the F206 provided so much value for the money it would be petty to emphasize the negatives. Having said that, here are a few:
The F206's has an unforgiving analytical personality. As a result, its high resolving ability could expose warts in the program material or downstream components, which might not be to everyone's liking. In my case, I had to upgrade the two 5687 tubes in my preamp, which made a significant difference.
There is no bi-wire capability. Bass response is not the lowest but to get more in a full range speaker like the F208 could cost about 30 to 40% more than the F206.
Not every room can accommodate a near field setup, which is what I found provides ideal performance in my environment.
I struggle to list more.
I think they are tremendous value, but my questions were about their nits.
Best,
Erik
Nice review!
Couple of questions:
1. What other floorstanders did you get to listen to?
2. Did you listen to jazz, especially horns very much during audition or after?
Thanks,
Erik
I brought three CDs with me when I went shopping:
DMP Big Band Jazz - Carved in Stone; Karrin Allyson - Many a New day; and Reference Recordings - Saint Saens Symphony N0. 3.
Since buying the F206s I've listened to many more at home. One that's especially good is with cornet player Warren Vache, joined by tenor sax, bass, piano and drums. It's a Benny Carter Tribute and demo quality.
I also love Chet Baker and Paul Desmond on Mobile Fidelity Concierto. All of these sounded great before but are significantly better now.
Hope that answers your question.
Bring what you know - good job
I can't think of any other way to go through the selection process. Thanks.
Very good questions. Listening wasn't my only evaluation criterion. I eliminated Tritons because: setup would be challenging in my asymmetric room; height would be distracting; and WAF was low.
The PSB T2 Tower was a close second to the F206 but I thought build quality not as good; WAF somewhat lower; and highs not as smooth.
I would have considered the Tannoy Revolution XT8F but discovered distribution in the NY/NJ metro area was nonexistent. Even Tannoy HQs in Canada wasn't a help, suggesting a dealer who was 200 miles from me.
I'll answer your second question in another post.
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