Build quality, musicality, neutrality, huge soundstage, no listener fatigue and an overall warmth and sweet sound.

Not too big, but very heavy. But, the weight of the speaker (240 lbs. each) only contributes to its overall performance. There''s a lot of bracing and cabinetry work that makes it a winner.

One of the most dynamic, involving, yet non-fatiguing speaker ever produced. It does it all and looks terrific. Built like a tank and sounding like a fine musical instrument, the Revel Ultima Salon sets the standard for musical reproduction that keep you coming back to listen again and again. Fit and finish is remarkable. A great study in comtemporary industrial design. A true work of art with a relatively small footprint considering the sound that it''s able to produce.

Similar Products Used:

PSB Stratus Gold i''s, Martin Logan Prodigy.

Fabulous looks, very cohesive and dynamic sound, a wise soundstage, and excellent imaging.

Could sound "faster" and have more midrange definition

I have lived with Wilson Audio speakers for the past 8 1/2 years. While they were nice, I grew tired of listening to them, they started to become a source of fatigue and not enjoyment. While they seamed accurate and defined, it seemed like I should be wearing a lab coat to listen to them. Accurate yes, fun factor no! I began the search for new speakers several years ago, not an intense search, but a casual one. The other speakers that I had listened to are really irrelevant, as the Revel Salons are the speakers that I had finally settled on. I am fortunate to have a dedicated and purpose built sound room, complete with acoustic isolation and treatments, as well as separate electical and grounding implemenation. I use the full suite of Mark Levinson Reference audio equipment, lashed together with Transparent Audio Reference Signature XL balanced interconnects and speaker cabling. My Number 32 Preamp is fed by a PS Audio Power Plant inputed to 220V. I output in the SS1 multiwave square wave format. I use another PS Audio Power Plant in the identical configuration for my 31.5 transport, and 30.6 processor. The look of the Revel Salons had intrigued both my wife, as well as me. They were designed by the same three people who had designed the exteriors of my Levinson gear. We both love the way that they look together and the way that our soundroom now looks. (They are gloss black with the aluminum side panels.) These speakers were designed using Levinson equipment, so I thought that this would be a synergistic match. Well... It turns out that these speakers have a beautiful sound that match their beautiful looks! I can now listen for hours on end before I fatigue. The highs can have a little sizzle, but this can be tamed with turning down the tweeter control. I have settled for the .5db level on the front tweeters, and that seems to have done the trick. I am extremely critical, and I have yet to hear the perfect speaker. Every speaker on the market today is a compromise. In that context I have to say that I have never heard a better speaker before, and certainly not in my system! The sound is dynamic and cohesive. There is information that I have never heard before from each and every one of my CD's. Low end information, dynamic information, both of the macro and micro scale, correct imaging height, and soundstaging information of both an increased width and depth of that all important "stage"! These speakers do miniaturize the image height and depth relative to the actual event, but every speaker that I have ever heard, with the exeption of the Genesis Model Ones, does this miniaturization act to a greater or lesser degree. One needs a very large soundroom and etremely large speakers, if they are that concerned about absoulute soundstage size and height. These speakers do, however, present a larger image than any my previous speakers. The toneality of these speakers can only be decribed by one word - "Sweet!" These speakers play all different types of music, from rock, to jazz, to classical with equal aplomb! Every type of music is served up at it's best with these wonderful listening tools! The Revel Salons are a very easy listen. I look forward to spending some of my free time, on a daily basis, listening to them. I am truly enjoying my music more than ever, and I think that is what counts in the end! As I have stated earlier, there is no perfect loudspeaker on the market today. Each design is a compromise. One has to "settle" for the least compromised that is both within his budget as well as in the context of his audio system. I am settling on the Revel Salon speakers for the forseeable future. I'm delighted!

Similar Products Used:

Wilson Audio Model 5.1 & 3, Crosby Modified Esl-63 Quads

clean clear correct fast dynamic etc

I could write a very long and detailed review on the sound of these speakers but looking at the other reviews its all already been said.

I would however urge any buyer of these speakers to choose better amps than Mark Levinson. The problem with speakers this good is people tend to hear their music sound better than they ever imnagined it could, decide its perfect and go home happy with their choice. Thats cool but you can do even better!

These speakers are good enough to warrant the most immaculate upstream component path you can find.

Unfortunately the problem with the Madrigal / Proceed / Levinson / Revel conspiracy is quite simply that the Revels are so good they can reveal the imperfections of Mark levinson gear.

This unfortunately is something most consumers wont get to know because the dealers keep the Revels connected to levinson gear most of the time.

Dont get me wrong, Levinson amps are great, Im just saying that for the Revel salons you need something much better.

eg: any Gryphon amplifier (http://www.gryphon-audio.dk)

I spent quite some time buying amplifiers using the Salons as a reference speaker and believe me you dont know what
your missing out on if you just assume you need Levinson gear with Revel speakers.

I would reccomend these speakers to anyone, but urge anyone thinking about them to listen to the other speakers I mentioned above as well and to also try to find a gryphon amp (and Im sure there might be one or 2 other amps out
there as well that perhaps also would show the Levinson amps are less than perfect.)

Im giving the speakers 5 because theyre basicly perfect, but 4 for value because I feel they are slightly over-priced. (no Im notcrying poor, the amatis are more expensive but you can here what you pay for when you compare them all, dont believe the hype - shop around)

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anyone buying these should also check out :
sonus faber amati, b&w N801, vienna acoustics mahler

everything

did not hear one

wow what a speaker.i am working on getting a pair.

Similar Products Used:

wilson thiel psb many others

excellent high frequency detail. Bass adjustment useful to fix bass alignment

lack of impact and hit factor in the chest compared to N801. Additionally, the mid seems falsely detailed.

I just recently auditioned the Watt Puppy 6 speakers. This was in a large, heavily sound damped room aprox 24x27 wide. My impression was very favorable. Now I write after listening to my favorite music on the Revel Salons. The Salons are beautiful period. The music is detailed, let me correct myself, VERY DETAILED. So much detail-hyper-detail, is this detail really in these recordings? If this mass of detail is really in the recordings I have found an incredible new reference for low level listening. If the mass of detail is false, well so what, we all dream of a Mclaren F1 for driving pleasure it is a matter of what we "settle" for. Some feel when they drive a Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche they have the same. NOT EVEN CLOSE!!! I will be most happy to quote on quote settle with great detail. These days real is only what is percieved.

Similar Products Used:

N801 speakers, Dunlavy SCIV speakers

I had listened to the Salons with a previous all Rowland setup. What I heard was not worth 2 stars. I had thus maligned the Revel in my review of the von Schweikert VR-7. Well, much apologies to Revel. This time around, I heard it with a proceed front-end with Levinson 333 amps.
The sound was huge, natural, with great bass heft and speed.
I agree with previous reviewers on its overall 5.0 quality. I also agree with a previous reviewer (bless his ears) that these speakers are better than the Grand Slamms at more than 5 times the cost. I do want to add the sound is a trace bright. Perhaps Levinson Reference gear would ameliorate the situation. Also the image depth was not up to the best that I have heard from Venture audio and von Schweikert audio. Perhaps one should not be surprised that Revels sounded at their best with Levinson. They are sourced from the same company. My non-synergistic experience of Revels with Rowland suggests that system matching will be important if you should choose the Revels.
Conversely, if you already own the Nautilus 800 series or dynaudio Evidence, I would look other than Levinson to power those speakers. It's that synergy thing again, folks. Finally, the Revels' space-age monolithic appearance is stunning in a love it or hate it kinda way. Give the Salons a listen with Levinson Reference and you will experience edge of the art.

When Stereophile says it is "not unreasonably priced"...well, never think i would say this, yes, price is OK (as much as i stopped believing in that source). Simply, the best i've heard, even better than my previous reference, Audio Physic Virgo.
Unbelievable good imaging, absolutely beatiful and precise bass, the sound is simply floating in space. Tone, sweetness, ease at loud levels, they have it all. Talk about detail!. I also heard them with Mark Levinson's, and with a small Pass Aleph 3, and, believe me, this little wonder performs way better then the Levinson.
Would like to be a millionare to have a pair of these. Or sell my car. Right, perhaps i'll do that.

While not having the opportunity to purchase (yet... ;) a pair of these amazing speakers, I did have the good fortune to stop by my local audiophile store, Definitive Audio (www.definitve.com) while they were breaking in a pair of the Salon's.
I walked in on the 6th day of the break in. The entire system was Levinson with Transparent Audio interconnects and cables.

How did they sound? In a word. Inconceivable.

Too good to be true. I am aware of the other aspects/components that go into a audiophile system, but this was beyond belief. I heard a good assortment of music, Rachmaninov, Clapton, and some Spanish Guitar I didn't catch the name of.

The 7th track of Clapton Unplugged, Layla, was phonominal. I will swear to this day that I heard guitar plucking coming from LEFT of the left speaker. I've never heard imaging like that before. I'm Very familiar with this CD as I frequently practice my Guitar with this song, and I had never heard such a transparent reproduction of audio.

Had I not bought a new car but a week before, I would not have hesitated for a MOMENT to purchase these. Regardless of price, the ability to lose yourself in music like that is invaluable.

Definatley worth the listen, and if you can justify it (thank god I'm single) purchase them. Make sure you check out www.Definitive.com

p.s. I wish I could pick 6.0, no other speaker I've ever listened to came close.

Outstanding sound, effortless

none

Love 'em to death. The looks are not for everyone, but I love the style and most importantly the sound. They are expensive, but the quality is there. Enjoy.

Neutral tonal balance. Never harsh or fatiguing. Deep (around 20hz), tight bass. Lightning fast transient response. Dynamic and exteremely detailed. Superb imaging for a large floorstander. The closest I've heard yet to live music.

None

None of the speakers mentioned above come close to the Salons. Not even the supposedly-great Wilson X-1 Grand SLAMMs sound this good at five times the price.

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Vienna Acoustics Mahler, Verity Parsifal, Avalon Opus, Sonus faber Amati Homage