Revel Performa3 Cabinet Defect

Hmm interesting in a bad way. They “out source” both the drivers and cabinets and they are “cheap” for their performance which I think hang with much more expensive speakers. My 228be had no issues of any kind but I am not super picky about visual stuff so maybe just missed something cosmetic (I never like the look). They sounded 100% perfect with a locked in center image so I have no reason to doubt driver matching. 
 

I have since moved on to their sister company JBL but I would buy a pair of Revels again. But this is all the effect of the way Harman is structured now. Their products are  low cost for their performance and something always have to give to reduce cost.
 

I would love to know how many speakers Revel sells and what their economies of scale are. I would image Revel is just a fraction of what JBL is. JBL is very small in two channel currently but claims they are in 70% of theaters and they also claim something like 95% (?) of all movies are master on JBL synthesis systems. I have no idea how many stages and churches use them but I see them everywhere. Is that money shared with Revel at all? Do their finances cross paths or are they siloed?  
 

I got the impression that JBL/Revel research teams were rolled in to one group awhile back and the M2 was the first joint flagship product. It was basically JBL pro drivers tuned using Harman’s research. Not sure they sell the M2 anymore. One of their engineers claimed the SCL-1 ($32,000 a pair) are the replacement but that is really a custom theater speaker. I would love to see the SCL-1 spit shined for two channel but then I could not afford it lol. 
 

anyway I am rambling but I am interested to see what the future of Revel will be. They have not brought out anything new and as good was the Be line is, it is really a step back from the ultima’s they no longer make. I feel like Harman is 100% in on JBL’s live performance, cinema, and luxury home cinema  with little thought paid to Revel. Revel really needs a new flagship from a marketing standpoint if they want to stay relevant. 

Interesting comment about the pairs not being matched. I know manufacturers that are science driven like Revel and they will usually sell speakers as matched pairs, marketing them as being within .5 db of each other and 1 db of the reference. I had such a good experience with the salon 1 and performa 2 f52 that I'm surprised at what's happening 

I had to go through two pairs of F228BE purchased brand new due to quality control issues. The first pair had a sanding/polishing distortion at the rear of the parabolic cabinet that you could see the underlying frame piece. The decals were crooked on the top. The second pair was better but still had crooked decals and off center plinths. Maybe their driver measurements are good enough that they don’t need matched pairs but mine were manufactured 8 and 9 months apart and both pairs never really imaged that well which is surprising given how good their numbers are.  My room is treated and tuned very well. Other speakers simply disappear so it was disappointing. Too bad because the overall tonality was nice. 

If they’re within warranty, request a replacement. Even if they are somewhat beyond the warranty period I would still attempt a resolution. Any blemishes like you described will severely impact resale value. 

@misterbobman FWIW, I've got a pair of F206 in my living room that I purchased new and are now around 5 years old or so.  When I picked them up, the salesman and I actually retrieved them from an unheated (i.e.  not environmentally controlled) metal outdoor storage container they were stored in over a cold and wet Massachusetts winter.  No problems with the cabinets.  What you are describing sounds like furniture, or any wood, for that matter, stored in a very dry environment.

It does happen from time to time - sorry to hear. My M126Be's are great looking and sounding speakers. 

Sorry to hear that.   I owned a pair of M106 and while they looked beautiful I think the bean counters at Harmon are ruining the brand.  They sounded good , which is /was paramount but after a few years the rubber trim at the top started to lift.  Good luck to anyone trying to buy parts for speakers….   I waited over 4 months for a replacement grill.  They ultimately had to open a new pair to get me one.   

Had problems with the veneer on some previous speakers. The veneer would show "splits" based on humidity. Not cracks but separation of the veneer. It's amazing how thin you can make this stuff. My guess is half the thickness of notebook paper.

The kicker is I didn't even like the look. Got NIB $8000 floorstanders for half price with free shipping, however.

When I bought my three Revel Studio2s, it was necessary for Revel to send me 6 because I kept getting defective ones.  2 were with cosmetic  issues in the veneer and one had a vertical crack in the veneer on one side from top to bottom.  

Get it replaced.

A couple of notes - we have no idea if the Revel Performas in the OP are brand new or 5 years old. Are they second hand?

Warranties often do not cover speaker finishes as the manufacturer cannot control where or how the speaker has be used. Sitting in direct sunlight?

Remember, your dealer does not set warranty conditions, the manufacturer and distributor in your country are the parties who have some control in this area. The dealer should assist with any problems but if you have purchased your speakers from across the country, then is the problem from shipping? Then you have to ship your speakers to be fixed - but where do you ship them? The dealer does not have a wood shop to rebuilt cabinet finishes.

Another point, often speaker cabinets are made in China, or Poland or Portugal whereas the rest of the speaker is made in Denmark or Germany or the UK. If you try to replace one speaker cabinet, it will, for sure, not match the other speaker cabinet which might be years old. Wood veneer fades, colours do not match when made in a different batch.

I had a pair (F208) just shipped off to TMR as a trade deal for a pair of Cantons. But they were perfect from day 1. No such hairline cracks on mine. They have a very thick high gloss finish. My guess is it’s the finish vs the wood. 

Your dealer should-have sent you a label to have  them picked up ,

and replaced them.That is not a good dealer.

Have a cabinet shop do the repair and refinish in what they feel will be closest option. It won’t matter. The main thing is the color. 

A stupid accident. Townshend Seismic Isolation Podium ......

Speakers are less stables

I have hated myself for weeks . And still do once in a while.

That must have been heartbreaking. Most folks can’t go out and just buy another one at that price.

One of my Audiovector R6 Arreté fell down to the ground.

As a result : cracks and bumps on the cabinet.

I have been looking for repair shop without much success.

Furniture repair shop and piano repair shop are the ones to look for.

Some shop are willing to repair my speaker . The issue here is the black piano lacquer . What kind of lacker finish ? Or is it synthetic finish , which requires special equipment and expertise .

I am waiting for Audiovector manufecturer answer , about the finish .

The manufecturer and dealers could not help me . They do not know anybody doing cabinet repairs . Audiovector do not sell cabinet only .