|
Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: Revel Performa m20 Speakers by jonbee General speaker questions for audio and home theater. |
For Sale Ads |
12.228.10.1
Model: Performa m20 Category: Speakers Suggested Retail Price: $2000 Description: two-way ported monitor Manufacturer URL: Revel Manufacturer URL: Revel
Review by jonbee ( A ) on April 15, 2002 at 22:55:05
IP Address: 12.228.10.1Add Your Review
for the Performa m20
I've had a few days to take the measure of these, and I must say that I liked them very well when I first heard them, and I like them better as every day goes by. At this point I can say that they present the natural fabric of the music as well or better than any speaker I have ever heard, at any price. They do all the audiophile things like soundstage, image, dynamics etc. ranging from well to great, but what they do exceedingly well is to portray a balanced,grainless and integrated portrait of the instruments. One of the things that first made me sit up and take notice was acoustic steel string guitar. The treble event of the steel and the woody, bassier body tones were balanced not just in volume and harmonic accuracy but in time. As a former guitarist I cna say that I've never heard the natural true sound of this instrument, whether solo or in ensemble, presented as convincingly. Another sound I've never heard right from a stereo is massed strings in an orchestra. I go regularly to the Seattle Symphony, and there I hear the woody bodies of the violins overlaid with a fine sheen from the strings, in balance, neither shrill nor thick. Beneath this is the body of the string basses with the rosiny sound of the bowing. I've never heard these in exact proportion, with all the detail intact, like with these speakers. It's breathtaking, and makes you forget all the analysis. I was watching the Master's golf tournmament on TV the other day, and as a sometime birdwatcher I was hearing bird songs from outside my room that were unknown to me (also, I live on the 14th floor!). I puzzled over this for quite some time before realizing that the birds were in Atlanta and being broadcast along with the tournament coverage. It was downright spooky, and amazing in its realism as well. In my system, there is no hint of excess brightness, or any other coloration I can detect. Your mileage will vary, of course, but in my system and room, they are magical.
Product Weakness: Not as much 3-D holographic space between instruments as the Quad ESL 63, Apogee Diva, or Merlin VSM. Product Strengths: Supremely balanced, natural presentation of instrumental signatures. Tight, musical bass to the mid to high 30's. Gorgeous cabinets
Associated Equipment for this Review: Amplifier: Bel Canto EVO 200.2 Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): CJ PFR Sources (CDP/Turntable): Sony 7000 as transport, Genesis time lens,Sony 333 SACD,MSB Gold DAC Speakers: Merlin VSM GenIIIRC, Legacy Impact sub,GR Paradox1 Cables/Interconnects: Goertz TQ, Mapleshade Golden Helix Music Used (Genre/Selections): lots Room Size (LxWxH): 22 x 18 x 8 Room Comments/Treatments: Two walls of glass Time Period/Length of Audition: 4 days Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Monster Cable 2000(front end only) Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
Topic - REVIEW: Revel Performa m20 Speakers - jonbee 22:55:05 04/15/02 ( 17)
- Revel Performa m20 Speakers - SteveM324 16:13:29 04/16/02 ( 3)
- Re: Revel Performa m20 Speakers - Powell 19:33:04 04/16/02 ( 1)
- Re: Revel Performa m20 Speakers - SteveM324 05:04:19 04/17/02 ( 0)
- Re: Revel Performa m20 Speakers - jonbee 18:41:04 04/16/02 ( 0)
Where does the Paradox 1 fit in? - Mr. Noodle 08:13:16 04/16/02 ( 6)
- Re: Where does the Paradox 1 fit in? - Mr. Noodle 10:51:49 04/16/02 ( 3)
- Re: Where does the Paradox 1 fit in? - jonbee 11:08:33 04/16/02 ( 2)
- Re: Where does the Paradox 1 fit in? - Mr. Noodle 12:27:05 04/16/02 ( 1)
- Re: Where does the Paradox 1 fit in? - calsaint 20:02:22 04/16/02 ( 0)
I agree with jonbee....... - Cut-Throat 10:31:06 04/16/02 ( 0)
Re: Where does the Paradox 1 fit in? - jonbee 10:04:13 04/16/02 ( 0)
Nice Review..... - Cut-Throat 07:09:36 04/16/02 ( 1)
- Re: Nice Review..... - jonbee 07:33:19 04/16/02 ( 0)
how would you say they compare to the Merlin - RonyW 05:49:14 04/16/02 ( 3)
- Re: how would you say they compare to the Merlin - jonbee 07:53:59 04/16/02 ( 2)
- Re: how would you say they compare to the Merlin - bobbypalkovic 10:08:19 04/16/02 ( 1)
- Re: how would you say they compare to the Merlin - jonbee 11:21:51 04/16/02 ( 0)