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$5k Pair Full Range Speaker Shootout - Help me pick

Hi Guys,

Around the holidays I will be purchasing a pair of (roughly) $5k/pair full range stereo speakers for use in a 2-channel only system. My current JBL Synthesis HDI-1600’s will be accompanied by the matching HDI-4500 Center Speaker and likely an Arcam AVR30 and used exclusively for Home Theater use.


Here’s what I’m currently considering for the 2-Ch speakers. If you all could relay any experiences or impressions you’ve had with these specific speakers, or speakers in their range, it would surely help me make the right choice. I know a lot of people say "I listen to all genre’s", but I truly do have an enormous digital music collection that spans all genre’s. Everything from current EDM and Pop to High Res Classical, Audiophile tester type selections, every one of Rolling Stone Magazine’s top 500 albums of all time in FLAC (classic rock and funk heavy), etc. I like to put all of this content on shuffle and just listen to whatever happens.

2-ch system will continue to be powered as follows:

Digital - Foobar2000 --> SMSL SU-8 v2 --> Classe CAP-151

Analog - Technics SL1300mkII --> Ortofon 2M Red --> NAD PP-3 --> Classe CAP151


The speaker choices:

JBL L100 Classic

https://ibb.co/yhjJHn1

Revel Performa F208

https://ibb.co/TK4PNBD

B&W 702 S2

https://ibb.co/D4qPFcH
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Showing 5 responses by dougeyjones

dougeyjones's avatar
dougeyjones OP
163 posts
 
@mn2bttb & helomech

I’m leaning Revel, if my listening room is never going to be bigger than say, 20x12’, should I spring for the F208 or should I save a bit and go with the F206? It looks like they use the same mid/tweet and the only difference is the 8" woofers get swapped for 6.5" in the F206. Another difference is that the F206 is not offered in the high gloss Mahogany, which is a bummer for me.. I could do gloss black or white, but would prefer the Mahogany..

I have a Martin Logan Dynamo 10" sub that I like very much to provide bottom fill regardless of which way I go.
dougeyjones's avatar
dougeyjones OP
163 posts
 
F206 does come in mahogany?! That makes my decision easier.. I’ll be able to afford more electronics. 
dougeyjones's avatar
dougeyjones OP
163 posts
 
lol @ European apartment speakers.. 

Gonna be honest, I think Klipsch Cornwalls are hideous, and I don’t want a project, which they would be. 

Looks like it’ll be F206/F208 depending on which are available in mahogany. 
dougeyjones's avatar
dougeyjones OP
163 posts
 
I do have two subs, and can split the bottom end off on my Martin Logan Dynamo 10” for music. Have a Sunfire True EQ 12” for HT. Though I wasn’t planning on using a sub for my 2-Ch setup. 

Totem is a good suggestion, I’ve loved their gear since I first heard them at the Alexis Park hotel @ CES in Vegas a few years in a row. 

I’ll check that out. 
dougeyjones's avatar
dougeyjones OP
163 posts
 
@justineasbach 
Bright? Harsh? 

That hasn’t been my experience with any of the Ultima or Performa lines that I’ve heard in the past. That actually is good info to hear, because it basically rules out the B&W for me, if you found it to be civilized where the Revel is not.


Maybe I like my treble a little hot then.. 


I’m also quite partial to the high gloss walnut finish they offer the F208 in. For those of you who said my integrated amp won’t be enough Yuice for these speakers, I’m gonna worry about that when I get there. 
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