Welcome to the AudioShark Forums.
Results 1 to 26 of 26
  1. #1

    Revel Salon 2s In the House!

    For the past few months, I've been slowly auditioning for a new set of speakers. I listened to TADs, Magico's, and Rockports to name a few. My favorites are the TADs, followed by the Rockport Aviors. I still hope to own either of those fine speakers one day.

    But until that I day, I went ahead and purchased a pair of Revel Salon 2s. They were on my audition list, but a little lower in priority, given they were an older design. Man, I should have started there first because that would have saved me a lot of time! New out of the box, these speakers are fantastic!

    I've always read about their sweet treble, and now I totally understand! Revealing of low level detail in the most non-fatiguing, non-clinical way. When auditioning the S5s, Aviors, et al, I heard things on those systems I never heard on mine. I always blamed my Rowland amp, which is known to be a smooth fluid amp, but not he last word in detail and speed. I was dead wrong, it was my aging (but still awesome) 10Ts! Replaced my 10Ts with the Revels, everything else the same, and man, I'm hearing the same details (maybe more) than what I heard on the S5s and the Aviors! And in a less fatiguiing way! How did Voecks do this?! There's something about those beryllium tweeters!

    Soundstage is as wide and deep as I've heard before, but I have to say more well defined because I think of the low level detail retrieval. The mids seem rich, open, and smooth. Bass is deep and tight, but still a bit constricted given the new drivers. I'm confident it will be phenomenal once they open up.

    The speakers are power hungry. I'm not getting the bass slam out of these speakers yet because I don't think my 250wpc Rowland amp can keep up with them (though definitely better than I originally thought). But I'm working on that...

    Overall, extremely happy with what I'm hearing from the Salon 2s. Highly recommended!!


    Allen



  2. #2
    Audioshark
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Sarasota, FL
    Posts
    30,044

    Re: Revel Salon 2s In the House!

    Big Congrats!!! They are phenomenal speakers and they respond in spades the better the gear!
    My Systems: http://www.audioshark.org/showthread...481#post158481

    "We can hear everything we measure, but we can't measure everything we hear. Let your ears be your guide."

    Dealer for: Aqua Hi-Fi, Aurender, AudioQuest Cables & Power Products, Berkeley Audio, Block Audio (distributor), Boulder Amplifiers, Bowers & Wilkins (B&W), Bryston, Clarisys Audio Loudspeakers (distributor), Classe’ Audio, Degritter Record Cleaning Machines, Esoteric, Finite Elemente, FirstWatt, Focal Loudspeakers and Headphones, GigaFoil, Harbeth Loudspeakers, Hegel, HiFi Man, Innuos, ISO Acoustics, Keces Power Supplies, Kharma Loudspeakers and Electronics, Kuzma Turntables, Lumin, Luxman, Magico Loudspeakers, MBL Speakers & Electronics, MSB Technologies, MySonicLabs Phono Cartridges, Nordost Cables, Ortofon, Pass Labs, Quadraspire, Rega Turntables and Electronics, Shunyata Research, STAX, Stein Music Products, Stillpoints, Soulution, VAC, Vicoustics, Viva Audio, VPI Industries, WireWorld Cables.

    https://suncoastaudio.com/
    Phone: 941-932-0282
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Suncoast-Au...1105178279194/

  3. #3
    Super Moderator
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    NY
    Posts
    18,726

    Re: Revel Salon 2s In the House!

    Allen,

    That's so awesome!

    I am glad you are happy.
    Fleetwood Deville by Oswald Mills Audio, Vienna Acoustics Haydn Jubilee, Wharfedale Linton w/ stands, Klipsch RB-75, Klipsch RP-160M.

    Job INTegrated. Luxman L-595aSE

    NAD C 658 streamer.

    First Watt SIT-3, Job 250 Monos, NuForce STA200, AkitikA GT-102 amp, ASL Wave monos, Dennis Had 45 monos. Absolute Audio Labs PCF 25 amp (improved First Watt F7 super clone)

    Topping D90, RME Audio ADI-2 DAC FS, ModWright Ultimate Sony XA-5400ES.

    Burmester 948, McIntosh MCLK12, Kimber Kable, Siltech, Cardas, Avanti Audio cables.

  4. #4
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    NJ
    Posts
    2,427

    Re: Revel Salon 2s In the House!

    awesome!!!!! great choice, and congratulations!!!!!
    im sure theyll give many years of enjoyment!!
    Steve

    TUBES & VINYL
    Is there anything else?

    Rega/Ortofon/Viva 300b/KR

    Music Reference 2A3

    Altec/JBL

  5. #5

    Re: Revel Salon 2s In the House!

    Thanks guys! I'm totally psyched! Gotta work on upstream gear now...


    Allen



  6. #6
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    NJ
    Posts
    2,427

    Re: Revel Salon 2s In the House!

    haha !!! i see very big amps in your future!!!
    Steve

    TUBES & VINYL
    Is there anything else?

    Rega/Ortofon/Viva 300b/KR

    Music Reference 2A3

    Altec/JBL

  7. #7
    Super Moderator
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    NY
    Posts
    18,726

    Re: Revel Salon 2s In the House!

    Quote Originally Posted by Petro85 View Post
    haha !!! i see very big amps in your future!!!
    Something hot perhaps?
    Fleetwood Deville by Oswald Mills Audio, Vienna Acoustics Haydn Jubilee, Wharfedale Linton w/ stands, Klipsch RB-75, Klipsch RP-160M.

    Job INTegrated. Luxman L-595aSE

    NAD C 658 streamer.

    First Watt SIT-3, Job 250 Monos, NuForce STA200, AkitikA GT-102 amp, ASL Wave monos, Dennis Had 45 monos. Absolute Audio Labs PCF 25 amp (improved First Watt F7 super clone)

    Topping D90, RME Audio ADI-2 DAC FS, ModWright Ultimate Sony XA-5400ES.

    Burmester 948, McIntosh MCLK12, Kimber Kable, Siltech, Cardas, Avanti Audio cables.

  8. #8
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    State of Confusion
    Posts
    3,788

    Re: Revel Salon 2s In the House!

    Allen, that's great. I'm so happy for you that the Revels are giving you just what you wanted. Give them a chance to break in and you might be surprised at what that Rowland can do. Can't wait to see some pics of these and that new audio room of yours. Congrats!!!
    Doug



  9. #9
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Tennessee
    Posts
    1,093

    Re: Revel Salon 2s In the House!

    Allen...congrats!

    Dave
    "I must admit I felt a little uneasy
    When she bent down to tie the laces of my shoe"
    -Bob Dylan Tangled Up In Blue

    “The only escape from the miseries of life are music and cats...”
    ― Albert Schweitzer

    “A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and goes to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do.” - Bob Dylan

    "When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.”
    ― Jimi Hendrix

  10. #10
    Behavior Moderator (be nice police!)
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Lake Country, Georgia
    Posts
    4,347

    Re: Revel Salon 2s In the House!

    Allen, I'm so thrilled that you appreciate how underrated these speakers truly are. I auditioned speakers for 2 years until I heard the Salon 2's. I initially dismissed them because I thought with the metal drivers they would sound bright, I couldn't have been more wrong. They have,as Mike says, the best tweeter ever,bar none !!!

    Congrats !! And remember, they will respond in kind to what you feed them. I've personally never heard any amps or sources too good for these speakers !!!
    Mark


    Kharma DB9 Signature
    Pass Labs XP32......incoming
    Pass Labs X350.8
    Esoteric N-05XD
    VPI Avenger with Magnetic Drive
    Manley Chinook Phono Pre
    Ortofon Cadenza Black cartridge
    Kharma Elegance speaker cables
    Kharma Elegance interconnects
    REL Subs

  11. #11
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    NorCal
    Posts
    971

    Re: Revel Salon 2s In the House!

    Congrats Allen!!

    You have been a very busy man..
    Dewey,

    "If everybody is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking." - George S. Patton

  12. #12

    Re: Revel Salon 2s In the House!

    Quote Originally Posted by MDP View Post
    Allen, I'm so thrilled that you appreciate how underrated these speakers truly are. I auditioned speakers for 2 years until I heard the Salon 2's. I initially dismissed them because I thought with the metal drivers they would sound bright, I couldn't have been more wrong. They have,as Mike says, the best tweeter ever,bar none !!!

    Congrats !! And remember, they will respond in kind to what you feed them. I've personally never heard any amps or sources too good for these speakers !!!

    They are excellent speakers indeed and congratz!, but personally ive never felt they were underrated or underappreciated at all.....afterall they did win Speaker of the year in 2008(along with the Kef 207'2) and they have gotten amazing reviews over the years as well..........

  13. #13
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Ontario Canada
    Posts
    806

    Re: Revel Salon 2s In the House!

    Congrats Allen
    Judging by all the feed back I need to add these speakers to my audition list.
    Enjoy
    Barry

    Quote Originally Posted by socfan12 View Post
    For the past few months, I've been slowly auditioning for a new set of speakers. I listened to TADs, Magico's, and Rockports to name a few. My favorites are the TADs, followed by the Rockport Aviors. I still hope to own either of those fine speakers one day.

    But until that I day, I went ahead and purchased a pair of Revel Salon 2s. They were on my audition list, but a little lower in priority, given they were an older design. Man, I should have started there first because that would have saved me a lot of time! New out of the box, these speakers are fantastic!

    I've always read about their sweet treble, and now I totally understand! Revealing of low level detail in the most non-fatiguing, non-clinical way. When auditioning the S5s, Aviors, et al, I heard things on those systems I never heard on mine. I always blamed my Rowland amp, which is known to be a smooth fluid amp, but not he last word in detail and speed. I was dead wrong, it was my aging (but still awesome) 10Ts! Replaced my 10Ts with the Revels, everything else the same, and man, I'm hearing the same details (maybe more) than what I heard on the S5s and the Aviors! And in a less fatiguiing way! How did Voecks do this?! There's something about those beryllium tweeters!

    Soundstage is as wide and deep as I've heard before, but I have to say more well defined because I think of the low level detail retrieval. The mids seem rich, open, and smooth. Bass is deep and tight, but still a bit constricted given the new drivers. I'm confident it will be phenomenal once they open up.

    The speakers are power hungry. I'm not getting the bass slam out of these speakers yet because I don't think my 250wpc Rowland amp can keep up with them (though definitely better than I originally thought). But I'm working on that...

    Overall, extremely happy with what I'm hearing from the Salon 2s. Highly recommended!!

  14. #14
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Los Angeles
    Posts
    240

    Re: Revel Salon 2s In the House!

    Congrats! You will be busy listening your favorite music again and again.
    working progress

  15. #15

    Re: Revel Salon 2s In the House!

    Congrats on the speakers Allen, the smell of new speakers in the morning is phenomenal!!

  16. #16

    Re: Revel Salon 2s In the House!

    Congratulations! I'm breaking in my Studio 2s and am having a similar experience.

  17. #17
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    State of Confusion
    Posts
    3,788

    Re: Revel Salon 2s In the House!

    Hey Allen, there's a nice pair of MC1.2KW's over in the fish market...

    But seriously, have you given any thought to what you'd like to audition?
    Doug



  18. #18
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    3,837

    Re: Revel Salon 2s In the House!

    Congratulations Allen! Welcome to the Salon 2 club. I've had mine for about 3 yrs and still love them. Never get tired of listening to them.

    As others have already stated, they love good power. But, they sound fantastic.

    Mike

  19. #19
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Tuckahoe, NY
    Posts
    116

    Re: Revel Salon 2s In the House!

    Allen, that is truly fantastic that you have found speakers that can blow you away like that! You have a lot of "ear miles" so that evaluation, coming from you, is significant. Happy listening! They are now on my short list to audition.
    Ron

    Amplification: Sugden Signature A21SE integrated amp, LUMIN M1
    Digital Source: Sonictransporter i5 Roon core, Metrum Ambre streamer, Sonnet Morpheus DAC
    Analog Source: Clearaudio Concept Wood with Satisfy tonearm, nagaoka mp-200 cart, Graham Slee Reflex Gold phono pre
    Speakers: Revival Audio Atalante 3, DeVore 3XL
    Cabling/power: Auditorium speaker, Audience RCA, Audioquest Niagara, Shunyata, Audience PCs

  20. #20
    Audioshark
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Sarasota, FL
    Posts
    30,044

    Re: Revel Salon 2s In the House!

    Are pics coming?
    My Systems: http://www.audioshark.org/showthread...481#post158481

    "We can hear everything we measure, but we can't measure everything we hear. Let your ears be your guide."

    Dealer for: Aqua Hi-Fi, Aurender, AudioQuest Cables & Power Products, Berkeley Audio, Block Audio (distributor), Boulder Amplifiers, Bowers & Wilkins (B&W), Bryston, Clarisys Audio Loudspeakers (distributor), Classe’ Audio, Degritter Record Cleaning Machines, Esoteric, Finite Elemente, FirstWatt, Focal Loudspeakers and Headphones, GigaFoil, Harbeth Loudspeakers, Hegel, HiFi Man, Innuos, ISO Acoustics, Keces Power Supplies, Kharma Loudspeakers and Electronics, Kuzma Turntables, Lumin, Luxman, Magico Loudspeakers, MBL Speakers & Electronics, MSB Technologies, MySonicLabs Phono Cartridges, Nordost Cables, Ortofon, Pass Labs, Quadraspire, Rega Turntables and Electronics, Shunyata Research, STAX, Stein Music Products, Stillpoints, Soulution, VAC, Vicoustics, Viva Audio, VPI Industries, WireWorld Cables.

    https://suncoastaudio.com/
    Phone: 941-932-0282
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Suncoast-Au...1105178279194/

  21. #21

    Re: Revel Salon 2s In the House!

    Guys, thanks for the kind words. I'm extremely happy with the Salon 2s! If anyone is considering a dynamic speaker in the 20-50K price range, would definitely add the Salon 2s on that list! Super smooth tweeter and great balance top to bottom!


    Allen



  22. #22

    Re: Revel Salon 2s In the House!

    Quote Originally Posted by joeinid View Post
    Something hot perhaps?
    Quote Originally Posted by dlb2 View Post
    Hey Allen, there's a nice pair of MC1.2KW's over in the fish market...

    But seriously, have you given any thought to what you'd like to audition?
    Haha, I'll be sticking with SS. While I love the sound of tubes, I like the low maintenance of SS.

    Doug, before my Rowland I had a Krell FPB300 that drove my 10Ts. Love the sound and grip they had on the speakers. The Krell then had a warm, almost tubey sound, even more so than the Rowland that replaced it! I hear Krell's newer Evo amps are smoother, quieter, faster, and more neutral than prior generations so I'm strongly considering something from that camp...


    Allen



  23. #23

    Re: Revel Salon 2s In the House!

    Quote Originally Posted by roncagg View Post
    Allen, that is truly fantastic that you have found speakers that can blow you away like that! You have a lot of "ear miles" so that evaluation, coming from you, is significant. Happy listening! They are now on my short list to audition.


    Ron, whenever you want to come over, just give me ring, and bring your bike! I have more Youn Sun Nah CDs we can tryout!


    Allen



  24. #24

    Re: Revel Salon 2s In the House!

    Quote Originally Posted by Mike View Post
    Are pics coming?
    How about when the listening room is done? Should be 3-4 weeks now, though. Still need to get a carpet installed.


    Allen



  25. #25
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    State of Confusion
    Posts
    3,788

    Re: Revel Salon 2s In the House!

    Quote Originally Posted by socfan12 View Post
    How about when the listening room is done? Should be 3-4 weeks now, though. Still need to get a carpet installed.
    Might as well get it right the first time. It will be worth it. I'm kicking myself for not getting dedicated lines put in before my cabinets went up. Now to do it means moving all my stuff.
    Doug



  26. #26
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Sunny South Florida
    Posts
    315

    Re: Revel Salon 2s In the House!

    Allen Congrats!! work the speakers let them break in then judge the amp, Rowland are great amp
    Enjoy!
    Angel

    Nakamichi Dragons
    Nakamichi CR-7A
    Nakamichi ZX-9
    The Elite Super Metal Cassettes
    AMG Viella 12 Turntable
    ARC Reference Phono 2SE, Benz LP S
    ARC Reference 10
    ARC Reference 150
    Sonus Faber Amati Futura's
    Isoclean Transformer 3030G, amp direct to wall
    Isoclean, Nirvana, Vahalla

AudioShark - The Best High End Audio Discussion forum.

AudioShark forum is a leading forum site for High End Audio Discussion, Stereo System Discussion, Home Theater System Discussion, Best Home Stereo System Discussion, Home Theater Installation Discussion etc.

The AudioShark forum was created for sharing the passion of high-end Audio. We have Audiophiles from all over the world participating and sharing their knowledge. From novice to experts, you will find a friendly environment for discussing about High End Audio, Stereo System, Home Theater System, Home Stereo System, Home Theater Installation, Amplifiers, Speakers, Subwoofers, Integrated System, Acoustic treatments & Digital Room Corrections and many more.

At AudioShark, we also have incorporated an exciting Marketplace where members can peruse terrific buys on used gear, as well as meet dealers and discuss the purchase of new gear.

We are as crazy about this hobby as you are! So come on in and join us! Audioshark.org the Friendliest Audio Forum!

Industry Participation Disclosure : The owner and administrator of Audioshark is the owner of Suncoast Audio LLC in Sarasota Florida. Suncoast Audio has a full brick and mortar presence in Sarasota with several great show rooms with many world class brands. More information can be found at http://www.suncoastaudio.com

Audioshark is a community of like minded individuals. Audioshark welcomes participation from all manufacturers and owners of all brands and products. It is our belief that online forums provide a community of like minded audiophiles and music lovers to encourage the growth of this wonderful hobby.

Sincerely,
The Audioshark.org Team

Revel Salon 2s In the House!

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •